The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay

by Mary Averling

A ghost must team up with the living girl she’s been haunting in order to defeat a monster out of her nightmares and save her little brother, from the author of The Curse of Eelgrass Bog.

Maudie isn’t your typical twelve-year-old girl—she’s the ghost of one. Along with her best friend Kit and little brother Scratch, she haunts a cottage in the woods, doing her best to scare off the vacationers and forget her old life.

But everything changes when Kit and Scratch go missing. Maudie knows something terrible must have happened, and she’s right: Longfingers—a monster from her own nightmares, with spidery fingers and needle-sharp teeth—has stolen her friends away.

Longfingers makes Maudie a twisted deal: find the key to a door in a mysterious cabin, or she’ll never see her friends again. With nobody else to turn to, Maudie has to beg for help from Gianna, the living girl she’s been haunting. Together, the girls search for a way to thwart the monster and save Maudie’s friends.

But Maudie’s keeping secrets about the cabin and her friends. Unless she finds a way to finally face the truth, she may never be able to rescue her friends from Longfingers’s grasp.

Genres: Middle Grade, Horror, Fantasy, Mystery, Ghosts, Paranormal, Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published February 4, 2025

About the author

Mary Averling grew up across England and Canada, never far from the woods. She has degrees from the University of Victoria and Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. Her debut, The Curse of Eelgrass Bog, was a Bram Stoker Award Finalist, a Junior Library Gold Standard Selection, an ALA Rainbow List Pick, and one of BookPage's Top 10 Books of 2024. She is currently working toward her PhD in Kamloops, British Columbia, where she lives surrounded by all the magical, spooky, heartfelt books she can find.

She is represented by Kelly Sonnack at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is nothing like what I anticipated! The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay starts off as a middle grade spooky novel that leans heavily into the traditional "ghost haunting" element and quickly shifts into something completely and totally different. Averling handled grief, anger, and fear with such care and compassion and really challenged the main character to face her fears in completely unexpected ways. I think that this is one of those novels that you have to just pick up and dive into it. Averling wrote with a unique and captivating voice and I'm excited to pick up her other novel soon!

[Mary Averling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is for everyone who likes their ghost stories ✨weird✨ and their summers spooky. If you're into locked doors and midnight woods, I hope you'll come visit Bitterfly Bay in Feburary 2025!

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Averling is writing middle grade books I wish I could have read when I was younger. If you’re familiar with her debut THE CURSE OF EELGRASS BOG she truly transported you to the world she created. Same is true for THE GHOSTS OF BITTERFLY BAY… this would make for a great summer read that gives a bit of a campy vibe. As with her first book she delivers an uneasy buildup to the reader which gives her writing a distinct voice. This one felt very modern fairy tale to me and Gianna’s storyline of her Book she has written with her sister will leave future writers inspired. Perfect as a stand-alone but I would not be opposed to revisiting these characters or the mysteries cabin on Ponderosa Island.

Thank you Penguin Kids
Releases 2/4

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with Mary Averling’s books. The Ghosts Of Bitterfly Bay is filled to the brim with magical happenings from ghosts to girls changing into birds, to weird doors, with a world that is so expertly built it felt like it contained multiple universes.

Most of all, it’s a book that exemplifies why MG horror is such a necessary genre. It’s scary in the best way (come on weird doors are terrifying), but it also allows for such a comfort of growing from that fear. The future is scary, but there is such promise that you will be brave enough to face it, and that you are fully capable of doing so.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay by Mary Averling.

This was an emotional, heartfelt, and delightfully creepy tale perfect to read in the fall. Averling subverts the typical ghost story here, stretching the boundaries of what supernatural truly means. She also deftly discusses grief, fear, and loneliness, which makes this book a must read for kids and adults alike. If you’d like to read a story that delivers some unique thrills and chills as well as a fully fleshed out main character coming to terms with her personal hardships, pick this book up!

Thank you to the author and publisher for sending me an ARC!

[Bayley Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Mary Averling’s books will always make you feel something. This book is beautiful and hauntingly spooky. It’s a must read for any kid who loves horror--it's an instant classic! The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay is filled with magic and ghosts and as always, so so much heart. I couldn’t put down this little book with odd doors in this dreamy town. I adore Mary’s writing and forever pick up every book she writes!

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[kelisliveshere˚₊⋆ ʚɞ ⋆₊˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok what the flip??? Completely disregard the fact that it took me two weeks to finish this, that was entirely my fault.

Holy crap was this good. I read The Curse of Eelgrass Bog and knew that I absolutely had to read more. Let it be known that was my intro to middle grade horror and Mary Averling is taking the cake! These are books I’d read with my hypothetical and far from existing children!

So heartwarming and so sad and omg my poor Maudie. Also that twist??? I’m actually so proud of myself for considering it because it was soooo unexpected!!! BECAUSE WHAT??? Ugh please never stop writing.

[Dayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE GHOSTS OF BITTERFLY BAY was not what I was expecting.

It had some creepy moments, for sure, but not at all what I thought it would be. There were some interesting aspects, but it was kind of boring, too.

I don't have much else to say about this book because I zoned out a lot while reading it because I wasn't fully connected.

Although, I do think younger fans of horror would enjoy this!

Happy reading!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book from Mary Averling - not quite as strong as Curse, this one is a bit more fantastical and I thought some of the world building or explaining of magic/spirits was a little rushed or not fully fleshed out, but the actual story itself and journey we follow again our MC Maudie with was beautiful, heartfelt, and a great read for young or adult readers. Lots to take from this book as it explores fear, primarily, of both death and being alive. I really loved this one.

[Shane Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotion-filled roller coaster that will keep you guessing until the very end. It's unlike any ghost story I've ever read. Creepy, magical, and absolutely wonderful!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Maudie, Scratch, and Kit are eagerly awaiting guests at the Mayflower Cottage, a rental cabin in the woods. Why? They are ghosts, and they like to have a contest to see who can scare the guests the quickest. They have very set rules, but the newest visitors seem to be tough to scare. Gianna, her older sister Juno, their Dad, and dog Polly all seem to take the small pranks the ghosts play in stride. Maudie has some scares of her own; she knows that her past involved a car accident, but her brother Scratch doesn't remember. Both of them, however, have the same creature haunting their dream; Longfingers, who just seems wrong. When Maudie sees a decrepit house on Ponderosa Island that appears and then disappears, she feels she needs to investigate it. It's eerie and she tells Scratch and Kit to stay away, but of course they don't and are soon missing. Maudie knows she needs help, and since Gianna has spent a lot of time reading about ghosts and spells, Maudie manages to reach through the veil from her world into Gianna's. The two travel to the island, and find that there are portals to other worlds, and that some of the doors turn them into soulbirds. They fly to Bridewell College, of which Maudie has vague memories, and meet a ghost boy named River as well as Dr. Pathak, who tells Gianna that Maudie is NOT a ghost, because she's hung around for over a year. What exactly happened to Maudie and Scratch in the accident? She tells Gianna what she knows, and things become complicated. Long finger is still a threat, but his identity turns out to have a surprising twist. Gianna, who is sad that Juno is going off to college and doesn't spend as much time compiling their book of magic, is glad to be able to ask her sister for help. Will Maudie and Scratch be able to figure out what their true place in the world is?
Strengths: This had a good number of hair raisging elements; the cabin in the woods, Ponderosa Island and the reappearing house, and the children who were maybe ghosts and were maybe demons. Gianna's interest in the supernatural makes her an excellent choice to help Maudie, and her expertise comes in handy. This had a lot of innovative aspects to it, like the soul birds (who doesn't want to be able to fly around), the portals to other worlds, and the ability to travel through the veil to communicate. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged, and the cover is downright creepy!
Weaknesses: The middle of this bogged down a bit with the complicated explanations of Maudie's past.
What I really think: This is a good choice for people who want spine-chilling supernatural books like Young's What Stays Buried, Salerni's The Carrefour Curse, or this author's The Curse of Eelgrass Bog.

[Deotima Sarkar]

There's something quietly spellbinding about The Ghosts of Bitterly Bay by @maryaverling . From the moment I stepped into Maudie's ghostly world, I was hooked—not just by the eerie woods and creepy creatures, but by the emotional pull of a story that speaks to memory, friendship, and what it means to be truly seen.
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Maudie, our ghostly heroine, resides with her best friend Kit and little brother Scratch in Mayfly Cottage. The three of them have turned scaring off the living visitors who wander into their house into a game. All of that is reversed when Gianna shows up—a living girl who is not so easily intimidated and who observes more than most people. She is fearless, inquisitive, and resolute in ways that are a stunning counterpoint to Maudie's careful reserve.
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The actual tension starts when the villainous Longfingers appears—spooky, enigmatic, and somehow connected to Maudie's past that she doesn't remember. When her ghost siblings disappear, Maudie has to fight more than just a monster; she has to face the shards of who she once was, and who she is now. I adored how the mystery was not about outside spooks but about healing inside.
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What actually lingered with me was the ambiance: the sea wind, the cracking woods, and that ramshackle, groaning cottage were so real to me. It was the journey of the emotions that was hardest to hit though—how pain and terror turn into specters we harbor, and how the bonds of friendship and integrity can illuminate our paths out of there.
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This is not a ghost story. It's about clinging to the ones you love, even when they are gone. About rewriting the stories you tell yourself. And about how sometimes courage can look a lot like asking for assistance.
The Ghosts of Bitterly Bay is softly haunting, creeping, and hauntingly strong. The ideal reading experience for any one who has ever felt perhaps a little misplaced between worlds
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#Qotd: Do you have a favourite ghost? 👻 Obviously fictional 😃
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{Ghost stories for kids Middle grade mystery, Spooky but heartwarming reads, books, viral }
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[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

In most ghost stories, the spirits of the departed are haunting the living. But what happens when ghosts are not the spookiest elements of a story? It has been nearly a year since Maudie, Kit, and Scratch became ghosts, and while they enjoy playfully haunting the visitors to Mayflower Cottage, there is a darkness that obscures the memories of the fateful day that led to their current existence. And when a creature from Maudie’s imagination becomes real and captures her ghostly companions, Maudie must break the rules and team up with an unlikely hero in order to get her friends back. This compelling middle grade novel turns the traditional ghost story on its head, first by guiding readers to empathize with the ghosts themselves, and subsequently by building an additional layer of fear on top of the narrative’s spooky foundation. Using descriptive language, brief chapters, and rich characters, the narrative sweeps readers into a version of the world that feels possible despite its fantastic nature. Because the interactions among the characters are familiar, readers will be able to recognize similar moments in their own lives. And, as a lightly spooky horror story, this book grants young readers just enough adrenaline to spark their own imaginations as they observe the steps the characters in the story must take in order to overcome their individual fears. Filled with adventure, heart, and danger, this multifaceted story is a positive addition to library collections for confident middle grade readers.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In THE GHOSTS OF BITTERFLY BAY, for the past year Maudie has lived as a ghost in a remote cottage with her brother Scratch and best friend Kit. They spend their days competing to see who can scare visitors to the cottage. The latest visitors, a horror writer and his two daughters, take the attempts at haunting in stride and Maudie soon finds that Gianna, the girl she has been trying to haunt, is highly interested in the supernatural world. Things change when a strange cabin appears out of nowhere on an island. Maudie warns Scratch and Kit not to investigate, but they soon go missing. She is convinced that Longfingers, a character she has made up and now finds haunting her dreams, is responsible and that the cabin holds the key to their disappearance. At a loss and desperately wanting to reunite with the pair, Maddie defies the rules for interactions with the living and forms an unlikely alliance with Gianna in hopes of reuniting with her brother and friend.

The creepy appearing cabin provides an appropriate atmospheric setting for the big events in the story, which is filled with twists and turns as unlikely duo Maudie and Gianna collaborate to find Scratch and Kit while conquering Maudie’s own fears, rooted in the fateful events that happened the year before. The book delivers a well-developed supernatural world with a mix of mystery and horror and unique magical elements that will draw in readers seeking supernatural scares

[Molly Haniszewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't mean to read this book in one sitting, but I couldn't put it down. As with Eelgrass Bog, this story explores grief and memory in such an interesting way. Maudie, her little brother Scratch, and her best friend Kit are ghosts haunting a cabin near Bitterfly Bay. Scratch has lost his memories and doesn't know how they got here. Maudie knows, and she does her best to keep any of them from remembering. But Longfingers, a creatures from her nightmares and the scary stories she tells her brother, starts appearing and threatens to take Scratch and Kit away forever if Maudie doesn't do what he wants. Maudie is forced to stop haunting a living girl and befriend her instead to try and stop Longfingers.

The mystery and tension of this book kept me so riveted the entire time. The supernatural twist at the end completely blew me away. While it's not a particularly lighthearted book, it does a great job of showing how people work through their grief and come to face difficult truths, even if those truths are painful. Absolutely fantastic.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0

MG
Fantasy Horror
Ghost story

Set in Canada

12yo Maudie is a ghost girl that haunts a rental cabin in the woods alongside her brother, Scratch, and friend, Kit, but when Scratch and Kit are taken by Longfingers, Maudie must convince the latest vacationers, specifically the youngest daughter, Gianna, for help.

Very enjoyable! I love ghost stories but almost never get the story from the ghosts’ point of view so this was quite refreshing!

I read The Curse of Eelgrass Bog last year and see similarities in storytelling between the two, including but not limited to the fantastic female friendships in both.
They also both have a hint of witchy fantasy or supernatural elements that I can’t help but love. I especially enjoy how the fantasy elements keeps this ghost story from being overly scary (although there are some very creepy moments!)
There’s balance… and a happy ending!

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maudie, her brother Scratch, and their friend Kit have been ghosts for just about a year now. Scratch has huge gaps in his memory--he doesn't remember how they became ghosts, but Maudie does. She doesn't like thinking about it, so she invents ghost stories to distract herself, her brother, and their friend. Soon, though, her monster creation, Longfingers, proves to be very real and very dangerous. When Longfingers kidnaps Scratch and Kit, Maudie figures out how to engage the help of a human beyond the veil in order to rescue them and banish Longfingers. Readers discover gradually that very little is as it seems, and that life for ghosts can be more complicated than anyone can imagine. The many layers to Maudie's story and some terrific plot twists, with a suitable helping of creepiness kept me reading right till the end.

[Jenna Lee-Yun · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Mary Averling's debut middle grade, The Curse of Eelgrass Bog, I have been looking forward to reading her sophomore book since it was announced, and I was not disappointed! This beautiful, haunting story has everything I have come to expect from this talented author: gorgeous prose, clever use of language, evocative descriptions, curious magic, just the right amount of creepy-eeriness, and so much heart. Maudie, the protagonist, is relatable and complex, and the high-paced mystery kept me guessing and gasping throughout. I'll be recommending this ghost story about family, friendship, and fear of all kinds to middle-grade readers for years to come!

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Averling, author of The Curse of Eelgrass Bog, totally pulled me into her world with The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay. This book has everything ... ghosts, girls turning into birds, creepy doors that lead who-knows-where and somehow it all fits together in this wild, magical world that makes you want to keep turning the pages. It’s weird and unpredictable in the best way. It's a perfect scary book for middle grade readers. It gives kids the space to feel afraid and then shows them how to carry on anyway.

[Layla S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was to good. I swear it was unsuspecting and had you reading endlessly. You could feel your heart break as you read this book as a tear rolled down your cheek. You felt as if you were there. Watching it from birds eye view. It was so good that I will probably read it again! You could feel the characters feelings you could envision the pain. The happy moments had you smiling as wide as Longfingers. It was so intertwined and was definitely my new favorite book!


Rating: infinite/100



Age rating: 10+

[Joshua V · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Some places never forget… and some ghosts never let go."

Mary Averling crafts a haunting and beautifully atmospheric tale in The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay, blending mystery, supernatural elements, and a touch of eerie nostalgia that lingers long after the final page. This book is perfect for those who love ghost stories with depth, heart, and a chilling sense of the past refusing to stay buried.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maudie is a ghost and spends her days with her ghost friend and ghost brother haunting people who come to stay in their cabin. Just as Maudie’s dreams turn dark and she starts dreaming of a monster named Longfingers, a mysterious cabin re-appears across the lake. When her friend and brother decide to explore the cabin, they disappear. With the help of a human friend who somehow can see Maudie, she sets off to find her brother and her friend.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a perfect, quick listen for spooky season! This was such a heartwarming children’s horror story. It was perfectly spooky for the Halloween season without being too dark. The underlying to es are way more mature than I expected, and I wasn’t mad about it. I loved being on the journey with the characters and my heart was with them the entire time. Such strong kids to be going through what they are! ❤️‍🩹🏡💜👻

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Averling has created an amazing and delightfully spooky world with The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay. From her lifelike characters to a captivating story, Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay hooks you from the very first page and keeps you guessing all the way to the end! I literally couldn’t put this down—if you haven’t already, be sure to check out this fantastic book!

[Maria Futch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun quick read for me. I got all the magical vibes I needed from this. Don’t let it fool you I think this book is great for everyone and anyone who enjoys a good magic, ghost, locked doors type of book. Trust me you won’t regret it. Finished it the same day.

[Stan Yan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read! The end of chapter 1 was a great twist, and the rest didn't disappoint. There was plenty of spooky, and I kept trying to guess what was happening, and she still surprised me at the end. A unique twist on a paranormal book.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect with this one, and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. Wildly imaginative with just the right amount of heart and constant tension. This book was a real treat.

[Jenn Hopp · Rating 3 out of 5]

"If you are afraid of the dark, the best thing to do is to blow out the candle."

A sort of "ignore and override" basic ghost story about avoiding the truth and how friends can help you find a way to face your fears, knowing that the outcome is unknown.

[Shana Targosz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a delightfully eerie read! I read an advanced copy and loved every moment. Full review to come.

[Sarah Goethem · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully dark and strange story, equal parts creepy and heartfelt.
This is a story about sorrow and anger and escapism, and finally, facing the truth.