What do you think?
The Last Resort #1
The Last Resort
Twelve-year-old Lila has two goals:
1. Win back the friends who ditched her for being "too dramatic"
2. Stop being so dramatic
But then Lila's estranged Grandpa Clem dies, throwing a wrench in her plans. Now she'll have to spend the summer in Ohio while her parents decide what to do with Grandpa Clem's creepy Victorian Inn. It's supremely unfair. How can she show off the "new and improved" Lila from so far away?
Even worse, strange things keep happening. En route to Ohio, the family gets into a scary car accident. No one's hurt, but the remainder of the trip is... odd. At every rest stop, Lila sees people in weird old-fashioned clothes. People no one else can see or hear...
Lila convinces herself it's just her overactive imagination until the day of the funeral when she spots an old man sitting in her grandfather's favorite chair. She does a double take -- it's him, Grandpa Clem. He tells Lila that he didn't die of a heart attack, he was murdered. Possibly by someone who wants to control the inn. Because it's not a normal bed & breakfast; it's a portal between the land of the living and the realm of the dead. A hotel for ghosts passing onto the afterlife.
With the help of her skeptical brother, Caleb, and their new ghost-obsessed neighbor, Teddy, Lila -- the girl who's vowed to be less dramatic -- must uncover her grandfather's killer AND stop the evil spirits desperate to make their way back into the human world.
1. Win back the friends who ditched her for being "too dramatic"
2. Stop being so dramatic
But then Lila's estranged Grandpa Clem dies, throwing a wrench in her plans. Now she'll have to spend the summer in Ohio while her parents decide what to do with Grandpa Clem's creepy Victorian Inn. It's supremely unfair. How can she show off the "new and improved" Lila from so far away?
Even worse, strange things keep happening. En route to Ohio, the family gets into a scary car accident. No one's hurt, but the remainder of the trip is... odd. At every rest stop, Lila sees people in weird old-fashioned clothes. People no one else can see or hear...
Lila convinces herself it's just her overactive imagination until the day of the funeral when she spots an old man sitting in her grandfather's favorite chair. She does a double take -- it's him, Grandpa Clem. He tells Lila that he didn't die of a heart attack, he was murdered. Possibly by someone who wants to control the inn. Because it's not a normal bed & breakfast; it's a portal between the land of the living and the realm of the dead. A hotel for ghosts passing onto the afterlife.
With the help of her skeptical brother, Caleb, and their new ghost-obsessed neighbor, Teddy, Lila -- the girl who's vowed to be less dramatic -- must uncover her grandfather's killer AND stop the evil spirits desperate to make their way back into the human world.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
February 5, 2026
✰ 3 stars ✰
We're kinda thrown into The Last Resort - a double entendre at its finest - upon eleven-year-old Lila and her family's arrival at Castle Hill Inn, after her eccentric Grandpa Clement's recent passing. Where the claustrophobic space, the eerie darkness, the hush of silence all around of this cryptic haunted house is only deepened by the many strange ghostly flickers appearing before her. 👻
I would have rated this slightly higher if Lila had not been such a -- brat. I know she can't help herself for being such a drama queen who overreacts to everything, despite her attempted intentions to to be a rock, strong and steady, and her frustrations for her own ignorance about her grandfather is valid, but, uff. 😮💨 It is a middle grade read for tweens, so my middle-aged mind should be more forgiving and understanding, but, phew; she hit a nerve on more than one occasion.
“I thought you didn’t believe in the afterlife.”
“I guess I don’t. But I want to. There’s comfort in it.”
With lighthearted comedy with touches of making new friendships and discovering new interests, I enjoyed seeing the Trionics - Lila, her younger brother, Caleb and their neighbor, supernatural Phandom member, Teddy - figure out the setbacks and dangers in a believable way that also fit their personalities, despite having zero murder-solving experience, that is. 🕵️ I liked Teddy's matter-of-fact patience and tolerance of Lila's overbearing attitude, and even Caleb's slow acceptance of the paranormal was sincere. Lila's own moment to shine against evil also nicely played out.
There were a few things that bothered me. The long-winded rambling sentences to heighten the tension and fear were annoying, at times. 😵 Also, the way the mystery was addressed felt a little haphazard and unclear. In the attempt to be scary, it stayed a little vague - purposeful, perhaps, because it's the start of the series, but I did get a bit tangled at times as to who was who and how would each ghost tie into Lila's current predicament. 😵💫
“Life was much less threatening in the daylight.”
Still, it is a decent spooky story filled with fear and adrenaline and screeching, screaming, shrieking nightmares that were scary. It's always a bittersweet feeling when it comes to tortured, lost spirits and their unfinished business, and this one truly was a tragic unfortunate tale that fortunately the Trionics were finally able to put their hearts at ease and souls to rest. 🕊️
“Remember... Fear gives them power.”
We're kinda thrown into The Last Resort - a double entendre at its finest - upon eleven-year-old Lila and her family's arrival at Castle Hill Inn, after her eccentric Grandpa Clement's recent passing. Where the claustrophobic space, the eerie darkness, the hush of silence all around of this cryptic haunted house is only deepened by the many strange ghostly flickers appearing before her. 👻
I would have rated this slightly higher if Lila had not been such a -- brat. I know she can't help herself for being such a drama queen who overreacts to everything, despite her attempted intentions to to be a rock, strong and steady, and her frustrations for her own ignorance about her grandfather is valid, but, uff. 😮💨 It is a middle grade read for tweens, so my middle-aged mind should be more forgiving and understanding, but, phew; she hit a nerve on more than one occasion.
“I thought you didn’t believe in the afterlife.”
“I guess I don’t. But I want to. There’s comfort in it.”
With lighthearted comedy with touches of making new friendships and discovering new interests, I enjoyed seeing the Trionics - Lila, her younger brother, Caleb and their neighbor, supernatural Phandom member, Teddy - figure out the setbacks and dangers in a believable way that also fit their personalities, despite having zero murder-solving experience, that is. 🕵️ I liked Teddy's matter-of-fact patience and tolerance of Lila's overbearing attitude, and even Caleb's slow acceptance of the paranormal was sincere. Lila's own moment to shine against evil also nicely played out.
There were a few things that bothered me. The long-winded rambling sentences to heighten the tension and fear were annoying, at times. 😵 Also, the way the mystery was addressed felt a little haphazard and unclear. In the attempt to be scary, it stayed a little vague - purposeful, perhaps, because it's the start of the series, but I did get a bit tangled at times as to who was who and how would each ghost tie into Lila's current predicament. 😵💫
“Life was much less threatening in the daylight.”
Still, it is a decent spooky story filled with fear and adrenaline and screeching, screaming, shrieking nightmares that were scary. It's always a bittersweet feeling when it comes to tortured, lost spirits and their unfinished business, and this one truly was a tragic unfortunate tale that fortunately the Trionics were finally able to put their hearts at ease and souls to rest. 🕊️
December 14, 2025
Not bad, just okay for me. Interesting enough to get me to finish it but *shrugs* The way it was advertised when I saw it on Amazon, expected something different.
The grandfather isn't in it very much :( was hoping for more about him and his life as the kids were trying to solve the mystery .
I did like the characters and the ghost lore/mythology (whatever you want to call it), and the cute dog gave me some smiles :).
The ending was cool and kind of exciting but the one character's motivation when it was revealed felt rushed and very thin to me.
Another part of the ending was sweet though.
This is another one I'll donate to my library, that way others can enjoy it more than I did and get swept up in the story.
The grandfather isn't in it very much :( was hoping for more about him and his life as the kids were trying to solve the mystery .
I did like the characters and the ghost lore/mythology (whatever you want to call it), and the cute dog gave me some smiles :).
The ending was cool and kind of exciting but the one character's motivation when it was revealed felt rushed and very thin to me.
Another part of the ending was sweet though.
This is another one I'll donate to my library, that way others can enjoy it more than I did and get swept up in the story.
April 17, 2026
The Last Resort is a good lesson in friendship, jealousy, and revenge!
What Worked: I'm always looking for more middle grade horror to try out to help beef up my recommendations. The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly appears to be the first book in a new Scholastic based series where a different writer tackles a different "horrific" scenario in each installment. As the first in the series, I think that this novel does a good job setting the tone for the rest of the books. There is wonderful exploration of complications that come with friendship, familial expectations, and the feelings of jealousy. Though it isn't outright scary, there are some pretty spooky moments that will keep readers enticed.
What Didn't Work: The pacing of this novel didn't always work for me. There were moments where I thought that the novel was interesting and moments where it felt a little flat.
Overall, this was a solid read with some pretty interesting character development. I definitely plan on picking up the other books in the series.
What Worked: I'm always looking for more middle grade horror to try out to help beef up my recommendations. The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly appears to be the first book in a new Scholastic based series where a different writer tackles a different "horrific" scenario in each installment. As the first in the series, I think that this novel does a good job setting the tone for the rest of the books. There is wonderful exploration of complications that come with friendship, familial expectations, and the feelings of jealousy. Though it isn't outright scary, there are some pretty spooky moments that will keep readers enticed.
What Didn't Work: The pacing of this novel didn't always work for me. There were moments where I thought that the novel was interesting and moments where it felt a little flat.
Overall, this was a solid read with some pretty interesting character development. I definitely plan on picking up the other books in the series.
Read
July 12, 2025so much heart with an equal amount of SPOOKS! don’t be fooled just because it’s a middle grade. it was haunting even for an adult audience.
honored to be the publicist for this book :”)
honored to be the publicist for this book :”)
November 29, 2025
I inhaled this - it's just the right degree of scary with the perfect amount of sad. Only reason I'm rounding down instead of up is because I wanted to read the resolution for Mary, Timothy, and Bridget in the book, not as a tie-in game.
...which I'm still about to go look up and play. But still. it's the principle of the thing.
...which I'm still about to go look up and play. But still. it's the principle of the thing.
December 2, 2025
Little different direction for this middle grade author who has received the Newberry Award both in 2018 and in 2025 as well as a Newberry Honor in 2021, but it sure was fun! The 12-year-old protagonist, who is often accused of being overly dramatic but is working on toning things down (but how can she when there are ghosts involved) learns that her grandfather has passed away. She and her family travel to her grandfather's inn where she realizes that her grandfather may not have really died of natural causes after all!
August 3, 2025
Book Report: The Last Resort
At First Glance: This looks like an eerie summer read 👀
The Gist: Lila's estranged Grandpa Clem dies, throwing a wrench in her plans. Now she'll have to spend the summer in Ohio while her parents decide what to do with Grandpa Clem's creepy Victorian Inn. Even worse, strange things keep happening.
My Thoughts: For all those that love a good ghost story The Last Resort feels like a tale that should be shared over a campfire eating a delicious s’more. I love a book that takes place over the summer months and the ambience is there with a backdrop of a creepy, dusty old inn, that is now Lila’s home for the summer. This reminded me of books I loved when I was a kid… if memory is serving me right there was no technology except for a use of a computer at the library?! So it felt nostalgic in the sense kids were outside playing with their neighbors. Very made for Disney movie vibes, think Halloweentown. That is a big compliment IMO. I was also pleasantly surprised to see it’s going to be a series, which I think will be so fun! I also had a friend reach out and bring to my attention the interactive ghost aspect the finished copies will have. I read mine on netgalley and saw the blank pages where I believe they will be inserted. Then watched a post on Instagram on how it will work and it looks so fresh and fun!
My Question for Erin: There’s something nostalgic about The Last Resort…it reminded me of those mysterious summer days as a kid when the world felt big. Did you draw on that kind of childhood wonder while writing Lila’s story?
Thank you Scholastic for the arc!
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
At First Glance: This looks like an eerie summer read 👀
The Gist: Lila's estranged Grandpa Clem dies, throwing a wrench in her plans. Now she'll have to spend the summer in Ohio while her parents decide what to do with Grandpa Clem's creepy Victorian Inn. Even worse, strange things keep happening.
My Thoughts: For all those that love a good ghost story The Last Resort feels like a tale that should be shared over a campfire eating a delicious s’more. I love a book that takes place over the summer months and the ambience is there with a backdrop of a creepy, dusty old inn, that is now Lila’s home for the summer. This reminded me of books I loved when I was a kid… if memory is serving me right there was no technology except for a use of a computer at the library?! So it felt nostalgic in the sense kids were outside playing with their neighbors. Very made for Disney movie vibes, think Halloweentown. That is a big compliment IMO. I was also pleasantly surprised to see it’s going to be a series, which I think will be so fun! I also had a friend reach out and bring to my attention the interactive ghost aspect the finished copies will have. I read mine on netgalley and saw the blank pages where I believe they will be inserted. Then watched a post on Instagram on how it will work and it looks so fresh and fun!
My Question for Erin: There’s something nostalgic about The Last Resort…it reminded me of those mysterious summer days as a kid when the world felt big. Did you draw on that kind of childhood wonder while writing Lila’s story?
Thank you Scholastic for the arc!
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
October 19, 2025
my third novel from kelly and my favorite, plot-wise, I think. solid middle-grade ghost story with themes of friendship and trusting yourself, very intrigued to read the next one and see what's in store for the last resort. 4 stars!
September 30, 2025
Lila's estranged grandfather passes away and leaves his Inn to her father. The family packs up to go spend the summer at the Inn while Lila's parents get things settled and get the Inn ready to sell. On their way to the Inn Lila starts experiencing weird things and sees people that her family can't see. She realizes she can see and communicate with ghosts. She sees her grandpa's ghost who tells her he was murdered and that the Inn is a portal between the afterlife and the land of the living. Lila works together with her brother and her new neighbor to try to figure out who would want to kill her grandpa.
I enjoyed the story and there were definitely some pretty creepy things happening, but I do think the story was kind of dragging along in the middle and then the end felt a bit rushed. I think fans of paranormal, spooky middle grade will enjoy this.
Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. #TheLastResort #NetGalley
I enjoyed the story and there were definitely some pretty creepy things happening, but I do think the story was kind of dragging along in the middle and then the end felt a bit rushed. I think fans of paranormal, spooky middle grade will enjoy this.
Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. #TheLastResort #NetGalley
July 18, 2025
This was a great spooky read, perfect for younger middle grade students. I wish I could have seen the interactive elements - can’t wait for it to be published. I will be recommending this to my readers who like spooky ghost stories,
September 25, 2025
This was actually a pretty scary ghost story! I was reading it by myself at night and had to put it away because it was too creepy!
Lila’s family is staying at her late grandfather’s house, which has a portal to the afterlife in the attic. Lila is a medium and can see and communicate with the ghosts. They want her help because someone seems to have closed the portal and let evil spirits pass back through into our world.
I think a lot of parents will find this a little too intense…my 12 year-old would definitely have nightmares and end up in bed with me if she read this.
It does have the insight into the social/emotional world of middle schoolers that Erin Entrada Kelly is known for, but not enough for me to say I recommend this one.
Lila’s family is staying at her late grandfather’s house, which has a portal to the afterlife in the attic. Lila is a medium and can see and communicate with the ghosts. They want her help because someone seems to have closed the portal and let evil spirits pass back through into our world.
I think a lot of parents will find this a little too intense…my 12 year-old would definitely have nightmares and end up in bed with me if she read this.
It does have the insight into the social/emotional world of middle schoolers that Erin Entrada Kelly is known for, but not enough for me to say I recommend this one.
March 4, 2026
3.5 Great paranormal murder mystery for upper elementary, younger teens, and/or sensitive readers wanting to dip their toes into the realm of murder mysteries with something not too scary or intense. Fun!
September 20, 2025
Book 1 in a new multi-author MG spooky series with the first by @erinentrada
🏨
Lila is miserable having to leave Arizona to travel with her family to Ohio for several weeks when her eccentric grandpa dies. On the way to settle her grandpa’s estate, Lila has a near-death experience in the car and can now see ghosts in a town full of them. When she meets her Grandpa Clem as a ghost he tells her he was murdered. Lila, her new friend and her brother work together to figure out who killed him and why.
👻
Upper middle grade horror is killing it lately! This series will be a hit for fans of Mary Downing Hahn, R.L. Stine and Ellen Oh. I adored Lila’s character (too dramatic? Maam, that’s a super power!) I’ve already downloaded the second in the series releasing later this year!
CW: death of a grandparent, grief, loss, death of a spouse, car accident, murder, bullying, fire
🏨
Lila is miserable having to leave Arizona to travel with her family to Ohio for several weeks when her eccentric grandpa dies. On the way to settle her grandpa’s estate, Lila has a near-death experience in the car and can now see ghosts in a town full of them. When she meets her Grandpa Clem as a ghost he tells her he was murdered. Lila, her new friend and her brother work together to figure out who killed him and why.
👻
Upper middle grade horror is killing it lately! This series will be a hit for fans of Mary Downing Hahn, R.L. Stine and Ellen Oh. I adored Lila’s character (too dramatic? Maam, that’s a super power!) I’ve already downloaded the second in the series releasing later this year!
CW: death of a grandparent, grief, loss, death of a spouse, car accident, murder, bullying, fire
November 8, 2025
Not my favorite Kelly novel. The ghosts and ghouls were a bit much. Not something I’d recommend to a middle grade reader.
March 12, 2026
Fun, creepy book for kids. The digital element of scanning the books QR code to "talk" with ghosts is an added delight. Cant wait to read the sequel.
August 21, 2025
Lila is having trouble connecting with her best friends and intends to spend the summer committing to "the Neapolitans," so she can assure that their seventh grade is the best year ever. together. But her plans are upended when her dad receives news that his estranged father, a grandfather Lila has never met, has passed away. Now they have to travel from Arizona to Ohio to attend a funeral and settle his estate.
On the way to Ohio strange things start to happen. Lila starts seeing people that the rest of her family cannot see. When she arrives, she is greeted by a neighbor, Teddy, who calls HER grandfather Grandpa Clem. Teddy confirms that the people Lila is seeing are ghosts. Grandpa Clem and his business partner have been connected to the "other side." She soon realizes that these spirits have unfinished business and she is in the position to help them complete it.
This was a very interesting twist on a good ghost story. It is not overly scary, but will give some chills to your younger readers. Some explored themes are family, friendship, and the afterlife. If your kiddos are into that sort of thing, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to 5th & 6th grade readers. It was a little cheesy for my personal taste, but would definitely be a good intro to the spooky category for tweens.
On the way to Ohio strange things start to happen. Lila starts seeing people that the rest of her family cannot see. When she arrives, she is greeted by a neighbor, Teddy, who calls HER grandfather Grandpa Clem. Teddy confirms that the people Lila is seeing are ghosts. Grandpa Clem and his business partner have been connected to the "other side." She soon realizes that these spirits have unfinished business and she is in the position to help them complete it.
This was a very interesting twist on a good ghost story. It is not overly scary, but will give some chills to your younger readers. Some explored themes are family, friendship, and the afterlife. If your kiddos are into that sort of thing, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to 5th & 6th grade readers. It was a little cheesy for my personal taste, but would definitely be a good intro to the spooky category for tweens.
August 25, 2026
I am a middle grade horror fan for life and this is just a great example of why. I have already picked up the sequel! THE LAST RESORT by Erin Entrada Kelly has all the nostalgic horror I look for when reading middle grade as an adult. We've got Victorian gothic vibes, ghosts and the paranormal, a spooky mansion, and themes of friendship and family. There's some really neat worldbuilding and a different take on being a "ghost whisperer" if you will. And our ragtag trio of ghost hunters are just a fun team to spend time with on the pages.
So eager to read the next one already! The "series" has a different author so far for each installment, so I am not sure how they will all connect. But if the next two share anything I enjoy with this first book, then I am in for some fun, spooky reading!
So eager to read the next one already! The "series" has a different author so far for each installment, so I am not sure how they will all connect. But if the next two share anything I enjoy with this first book, then I am in for some fun, spooky reading!
November 13, 2025
Lila is shattered to leave her home, and long-time friends, who have not recently been so friendly, behind in Arizona for the summer. After her grandfather died in Ohio, her family is obliged to make the drive and clean up his affairs. But once they arrive, grandpa seems not to be gone,nor many other ghosts.
This new multi-author series from Scholastic is a must have for elementary libraries. Its interactive element will suck them in. (Although I found the chatting with the ghosts quite tedious). The story in itself is pretty standard for middle-grade. Just scary enough. Kelly’s skilled writing shines through.
This new multi-author series from Scholastic is a must have for elementary libraries. Its interactive element will suck them in. (Although I found the chatting with the ghosts quite tedious). The story in itself is pretty standard for middle-grade. Just scary enough. Kelly’s skilled writing shines through.
August 21, 2025
This was a fun and spooky one that young readers are likely to enjoy.
Meeting grandpa doesn't usually go this way, but I found it to be a touching though odd way to get in touch with a lost loved one. I wanted to know more about / get to see more of the baddie here.
I do understand the final version will have some kind of interactive ghost element that my copy doesn't yet have. That could move the needle on my rating. I'll have to return when it's published.
Meeting grandpa doesn't usually go this way, but I found it to be a touching though odd way to get in touch with a lost loved one. I wanted to know more about / get to see more of the baddie here.
I do understand the final version will have some kind of interactive ghost element that my copy doesn't yet have. That could move the needle on my rating. I'll have to return when it's published.
August 16, 2025
This was fun and cute! I really like the extraordinarily anxious main character who is also brave. Plenty of GHOSTS!! I pretty much always like what Erin entrada Kelly is putting down; the other books in this series are going to be written by other authors and I’m most interested to see who they are and what they do.
August 21, 2025
I was able to read this in one day, which I take as a good sign, as I was invested in the characters. I think our FMC was portrayed quite well for a middle schooler, and I loved the setting of the story. The things that hold me back from giving this 5 stars or even 4 stars are that the ending feels a tad rushed, with the resolution coming too quickly, and also, I had hoped that the friendship situation had some sort of resolution.
Overall, it was certainly enjoyable to read!
Overall, it was certainly enjoyable to read!
July 17, 2026
I listened to this as an audiobook so I'm not sure what the puzzles were that we could solve. While they may have been a fun addition they weren't something necessary. The story on its own was very enjoyable. I really liked the character growth. It was well paced and had a very satisfying ending. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was pretty good. Would recommend to to kids who are into ghosts and mysteries.
October 9, 2025
Geard for young adults but even as an adult I enjoyed it. Excited to share this read with my students!
February 26, 2026
3.5/4 Fun mystery ghost story for upper middle grade.
September 8, 2026
More for younger readers like middle school. Didn't keep me as captivated, liked the storyline though. Got resolved pretty quickly.
October 19, 2025
Cute. Good characters. A light little ghost story.
November 2, 2025
a good middle grade ghostly mystery, with bonus mg kid growth and self awareness.
May 15, 2026
Story of girl who sees ghosts now that her grandfather has passed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews