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The Last Resort #1
The Last Resort - the first book in a must-read spooky series where you can talk to ghosts!
Enter the world of The Last Resort! Ghosts from the
story will emerge from the pages of the book, allowing readers to
talk to spirits from the past and help solve the mystery!
Twelve-year-old Lila has two goals for the
Win back the friends who ditched her for being "too dramatic".
Stop being so dramatic.
But then Lila's estranged Grandpa Clem dies. Now she'll have to
spend the summer in Ohio while her parents decide what to do with
Grandpa Clem's creepy Victorian Inn. 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 no one else can see or hear...
On the day of the funeral, Lila spots an old man sitting in her
grandfather's favorite chair. It's Grandpa Clem. And he didn't
die of a heart he was murdered. Possibly by someone
who wants to control the inn. Because it's not a normal
bed & 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 must uncover her grandfather's
killer AND stop the evil spirits desperate to make their
way back into the human world.
A groundbreaking, spooky new series that allows readers to talk
to ghosts and help to solve the mystery themselves!
The next evolution in storytelling from New York Times
bestelling, Newbery Medal Winning author, Erin Entrada Kelly
story will emerge from the pages of the book, allowing readers to
talk to spirits from the past and help solve the mystery!
Twelve-year-old Lila has two goals for the
Win back the friends who ditched her for being "too dramatic".
Stop being so dramatic.
But then Lila's estranged Grandpa Clem dies. Now she'll have to
spend the summer in Ohio while her parents decide what to do with
Grandpa Clem's creepy Victorian Inn. 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 no one else can see or hear...
On the day of the funeral, Lila spots an old man sitting in her
grandfather's favorite chair. It's Grandpa Clem. And he didn't
die of a heart he was murdered. Possibly by someone
who wants to control the inn. Because it's not a normal
bed & 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 must uncover her grandfather's
killer AND stop the evil spirits desperate to make their
way back into the human world.
A groundbreaking, spooky new series that allows readers to talk
to ghosts and help to solve the mystery themselves!
The next evolution in storytelling from New York Times
bestelling, Newbery Medal Winning author, Erin Entrada Kelly
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2025
72 people are currently reading
7135 people want to read
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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 :”)
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!
October 19, 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.
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
August 22, 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 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!
October 9, 2025
Geard for young adults but even as an adult I enjoyed it. Excited to share this read with my students!
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.
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 31, 2025
2 time Newbery award-winner Erin Entrada Kelly truly does write it all! Hilarious YA rom-com ON AGAIN AWKWARD AGAIN, warm and wonderful MG HELLO UNIVERSE, YOU GO FIRST, THOSE KIDS FROM FAWN CREEK, MG sci-fi FIRST STATE OF BEING, and early reader Marisol Rainey books and now she kicks off a new eerie ghost series for middle grade readers.
Lila is about to start 7th grade and if she is going to keep her two best friends by her side as they begin a great new adventure, she has got to figure out a way to “dial it down a notch.” Her flair for the dramatic is beginning to cause a rift and she is determined to display a calm, collected, steady as a rock Lila, even if it kills her. But the family receives news of the death of her estranged grandfather and she ends up in Ohio to settle his affairs. Friendship plans on hold, Lila discovers that Grandpa Clem’s aging Castle Inn is inhabited by ghosts and she can see, hear and talk to them and one of those ghosts is her grandfather who tells her he was murdered. Hoping to solve the crime and send Grandpa Clem through the portal in the inn so he can join his beloved wife on the other side, the preteen enlists the help of neighbor Teddy and eventually her younger brother Caleb in her efforts but the ghosts are growing in number and townspeople, plus her family, are beginning to suffer the ill effects of terrible nightmares involving their greatest fears.
Kelly’s descriptions of the Ohio town, the inn, and her grandfather’s creepy business partner Blight Howler are crystal clear, the “trionic” team of Lila, Teddy and Caleb firmly established as the heroes of this new series, and the potential and powers of the portal establish the center point moving into book 2 which will be written by award-winning author Jasmine Warga. Readers in grades 4-7 are sure to be a little shivery as they read the series opener and imagination will have them anticipating the next installments and that doesn’t even include the special features Scholastic will be including in this series. My arc only contained regular illustrations of some of the ghosts in the mansion but those in the final format can be scanned by the reader’s phone, revealing a ghost that will talk to them and answer questions (thx to AI, I assume). There will be an online “portal” to challenges and mysteries to be solved.
Final verdict? Solid scary book series for those who love ghost stories but don’t want to be afraid to turn off the lights or be inundated with slash ‘em and gash ‘em types of horror. The series opener is not as scary as Hahn’s Wait Till Helen Comes but has the depth of characters and plot as the queen of MG scary books do. Highly recommended for collections serving grades 4-7. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence is appropriate to the genre and completely bloodless. Characters are diverse in personality and Kelly identifies some characters as white, dark-skinned, brown or other varied skin tones but does not clearly establish racial heritage.
Thanks for the print arc, Scholastic!
Lila is about to start 7th grade and if she is going to keep her two best friends by her side as they begin a great new adventure, she has got to figure out a way to “dial it down a notch.” Her flair for the dramatic is beginning to cause a rift and she is determined to display a calm, collected, steady as a rock Lila, even if it kills her. But the family receives news of the death of her estranged grandfather and she ends up in Ohio to settle his affairs. Friendship plans on hold, Lila discovers that Grandpa Clem’s aging Castle Inn is inhabited by ghosts and she can see, hear and talk to them and one of those ghosts is her grandfather who tells her he was murdered. Hoping to solve the crime and send Grandpa Clem through the portal in the inn so he can join his beloved wife on the other side, the preteen enlists the help of neighbor Teddy and eventually her younger brother Caleb in her efforts but the ghosts are growing in number and townspeople, plus her family, are beginning to suffer the ill effects of terrible nightmares involving their greatest fears.
Kelly’s descriptions of the Ohio town, the inn, and her grandfather’s creepy business partner Blight Howler are crystal clear, the “trionic” team of Lila, Teddy and Caleb firmly established as the heroes of this new series, and the potential and powers of the portal establish the center point moving into book 2 which will be written by award-winning author Jasmine Warga. Readers in grades 4-7 are sure to be a little shivery as they read the series opener and imagination will have them anticipating the next installments and that doesn’t even include the special features Scholastic will be including in this series. My arc only contained regular illustrations of some of the ghosts in the mansion but those in the final format can be scanned by the reader’s phone, revealing a ghost that will talk to them and answer questions (thx to AI, I assume). There will be an online “portal” to challenges and mysteries to be solved.
Final verdict? Solid scary book series for those who love ghost stories but don’t want to be afraid to turn off the lights or be inundated with slash ‘em and gash ‘em types of horror. The series opener is not as scary as Hahn’s Wait Till Helen Comes but has the depth of characters and plot as the queen of MG scary books do. Highly recommended for collections serving grades 4-7. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence is appropriate to the genre and completely bloodless. Characters are diverse in personality and Kelly identifies some characters as white, dark-skinned, brown or other varied skin tones but does not clearly establish racial heritage.
Thanks for the print arc, Scholastic!
April 28, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Lila Clements is not thrilled that she and her parents, along with her younger brother Caleb, have to travel from Arizona to Castle Hill, Ohio when her grandfather dies. Her father, an actuarial scientist, hasn't had a good relationship with the man since his mother died and the father bought an large, old home to run as a bed and breakfast. On the car trip, the father has to hit the brakes suddenly, and after that, Lila starts to see ghosts, starting with a lot of customers at a diner who aren't there. Once they reach Castle Hill, Lila meets Teddy Hamed, who was good friends with her grandfather. Teddy is not surprised about the ghost sightings, and lets Lila know that there are some rooms in the inn that she doesn't want to stay in for very long. Mr. Clements is surprised that the house wasn't left to Mr. Howler, the grandfather's business partner. When Lila runs into her grandfather's ghost in the hallway, she finds out that he was likely murdered, and sets out with Teddy and Caleb to try to solve this mystery. Things get trickier when there seems to be a portal on the fourth floor that isn't working properly, and there is an evil spirit named Grimsbane who is working against the kids. There are a number of ghosts hanging around the house, including four year old Bonnie, Mary, a Victorian ghost, and a young boy named Timothy. Lila's family is all having nightmares, since ghosts feed on people's fear. Lila also has to contend with some friend drama with Ava and Lexi who are back in Arizona. While the three friends have been close (I love that they call themselves the Neapolitans, since they are a brunnette, red head, and blonde!), Lila tends to over react and needs to always "dial it down a notch". Ava and Lexi think she is childish. Is it overreacting if you can actually see ghosts, and they seem to mean your family harm? Will Lila, Teddy, and Caleb manage to fix the portal because the Clements family has to head back to Arizona? Once this book is published, there will be a website that can be accessed via the QR codes in the book, and readers can "talk" to several of the characters.
Strengths: If middle grade literature, and especially the late, great Betty Ren Wright, has taught me nothing else, it's that if you are a tween who has to move to or visit an older home, it's going to be haunted. This had enough of a twist to it that I kept turning the pages to find out more about the grandfather, and the inclusion of friend drama will please actual middle grade readers. Having a local character to help out was good, and the house itself was fascinating. Four floors! Great! The parents don't get too involved, but I was glad to see Caleb and Lila get along fairly well. It doesn't hurt that Lila has to learn to "dial down" some of her reactions to things; it's something a lot of tweens could do! This is probably my favorite of Kelly's books, although a bit of a departure from her realistic titles like The Land of the Forgotten Girls, or her science fiction themed The First State of Being.
Weaknesses: I'm not sure that readers are necessarily going to access the online content through QR codes. Also, the friend drama wasn't resolved as well as it could have been.
What I really think: There's always a need for books with creepy houses, and this will be a great book to add to a Halloween display along with Oh's Spirit Hunters or Haru: Zombie Dog Hero, Urban's Almost There and Almost Not, or Strong's The Secret Dead Club.
Lila Clements is not thrilled that she and her parents, along with her younger brother Caleb, have to travel from Arizona to Castle Hill, Ohio when her grandfather dies. Her father, an actuarial scientist, hasn't had a good relationship with the man since his mother died and the father bought an large, old home to run as a bed and breakfast. On the car trip, the father has to hit the brakes suddenly, and after that, Lila starts to see ghosts, starting with a lot of customers at a diner who aren't there. Once they reach Castle Hill, Lila meets Teddy Hamed, who was good friends with her grandfather. Teddy is not surprised about the ghost sightings, and lets Lila know that there are some rooms in the inn that she doesn't want to stay in for very long. Mr. Clements is surprised that the house wasn't left to Mr. Howler, the grandfather's business partner. When Lila runs into her grandfather's ghost in the hallway, she finds out that he was likely murdered, and sets out with Teddy and Caleb to try to solve this mystery. Things get trickier when there seems to be a portal on the fourth floor that isn't working properly, and there is an evil spirit named Grimsbane who is working against the kids. There are a number of ghosts hanging around the house, including four year old Bonnie, Mary, a Victorian ghost, and a young boy named Timothy. Lila's family is all having nightmares, since ghosts feed on people's fear. Lila also has to contend with some friend drama with Ava and Lexi who are back in Arizona. While the three friends have been close (I love that they call themselves the Neapolitans, since they are a brunnette, red head, and blonde!), Lila tends to over react and needs to always "dial it down a notch". Ava and Lexi think she is childish. Is it overreacting if you can actually see ghosts, and they seem to mean your family harm? Will Lila, Teddy, and Caleb manage to fix the portal because the Clements family has to head back to Arizona? Once this book is published, there will be a website that can be accessed via the QR codes in the book, and readers can "talk" to several of the characters.
Strengths: If middle grade literature, and especially the late, great Betty Ren Wright, has taught me nothing else, it's that if you are a tween who has to move to or visit an older home, it's going to be haunted. This had enough of a twist to it that I kept turning the pages to find out more about the grandfather, and the inclusion of friend drama will please actual middle grade readers. Having a local character to help out was good, and the house itself was fascinating. Four floors! Great! The parents don't get too involved, but I was glad to see Caleb and Lila get along fairly well. It doesn't hurt that Lila has to learn to "dial down" some of her reactions to things; it's something a lot of tweens could do! This is probably my favorite of Kelly's books, although a bit of a departure from her realistic titles like The Land of the Forgotten Girls, or her science fiction themed The First State of Being.
Weaknesses: I'm not sure that readers are necessarily going to access the online content through QR codes. Also, the friend drama wasn't resolved as well as it could have been.
What I really think: There's always a need for books with creepy houses, and this will be a great book to add to a Halloween display along with Oh's Spirit Hunters or Haru: Zombie Dog Hero, Urban's Almost There and Almost Not, or Strong's The Secret Dead Club.
August 29, 2025
First, I LOVE Erin Entrada Kelly. Second, I love this cover! Third, The Last Resort is just as spooky and spine-chilling as it is hilarious and endearing! Lila is an incredibly real twelve-year-old girl who readers of all ages will instantly connect with. Her tendency to overreact and flair for drama has led to her reputation with both friends and family as being over dramatic.
The story begins with Lila facing problems that are entirely appropriate and normal for a girl her age. Summer break has just started, and Lila is on a mission to reinvent herself and repair her fractured friendship with her two besties, Ava and Lexi. Just as she begins to adopt her new cool, calm, and collected persona, Lila’s parents break the news that her estranged Grandpa Clem has passed away. Now, she will have to spend the summer in Ohio while her parents decide what to do with Grandpa Clem’s creepy old Victorian Inn. How can she possibly show off the "new and improved" Lila to her friends from so far away?
As soon as the family embarks on their road trip from Phoenix to Castle Hill, Ohio, strange things start happening. First, the family is involved in a car accident where, in reality, Lia could have been seriously injured, but miraculously is not. Then, at every stop, Lila starts to see people in weird old-fashioned clothes - people that no one else seems to see or hear. Lila’s strange visions continue once they arrive at Grandpa Clem’s. Still, Lila convinces herself it's just her overactive imagination at work until she encounters an old man lingering outside her parents' bedroom door, and she quickly recognizes him as Grandpa Clem. He tells Lila that he didn't die of a heart attack, but was murdered, possibly by someone who wants control of the inn. Because the Inn is not just a creepy old Victorian turned bed and breakfast, but rather a portal between the land of the living and the realm of the dead—a hotel for ghosts passing onto the afterlife.
Reading this novel with my nine-year-old daughter was such a fun and rewarding experience. Mainly because it was comforting to have someone beside me reading at bedtime when (not to give too much away) we turned the page and were scared silly by some seriously spine-tingling surprise illustrations! It also created opportunities for conversations about friendship dynamics, grief, and where our loved ones go after they pass away. As a bonus, my daughter was able to tell her school librarian that she had read an ARC of Erin Entrada Kelly’s latest middle-grade novel when she returned to school this past week!
Entrada Kelly’s enthusiasm for all things horror is reflected in her writing, drawing in amateur ghost hunters with her well-developed characters, captivating storyline, and clear explanations of the supernatural. Her unique ability to create empathy-driven stories is once again on full display in her first foray into horror writing. I loved Lila’s journey and am so excited that it doesn’t end here. Not only is there a promise of Book 2, but there is also an interactive experience that will allow readers to enter the world of The Last Resort, accessible via a QR code located at the end of the final book. Check out the preview and The Last Resort trailer on Scholastic Kids: https://kids.scholastic.com/kid/books...
Thank you, Scholastic and Net Galley, for the ARC!
The story begins with Lila facing problems that are entirely appropriate and normal for a girl her age. Summer break has just started, and Lila is on a mission to reinvent herself and repair her fractured friendship with her two besties, Ava and Lexi. Just as she begins to adopt her new cool, calm, and collected persona, Lila’s parents break the news that her estranged Grandpa Clem has passed away. Now, she will have to spend the summer in Ohio while her parents decide what to do with Grandpa Clem’s creepy old Victorian Inn. How can she possibly show off the "new and improved" Lila to her friends from so far away?
As soon as the family embarks on their road trip from Phoenix to Castle Hill, Ohio, strange things start happening. First, the family is involved in a car accident where, in reality, Lia could have been seriously injured, but miraculously is not. Then, at every stop, Lila starts to see people in weird old-fashioned clothes - people that no one else seems to see or hear. Lila’s strange visions continue once they arrive at Grandpa Clem’s. Still, Lila convinces herself it's just her overactive imagination at work until she encounters an old man lingering outside her parents' bedroom door, and she quickly recognizes him as Grandpa Clem. He tells Lila that he didn't die of a heart attack, but was murdered, possibly by someone who wants control of the inn. Because the Inn is not just a creepy old Victorian turned bed and breakfast, but rather a portal between the land of the living and the realm of the dead—a hotel for ghosts passing onto the afterlife.
Reading this novel with my nine-year-old daughter was such a fun and rewarding experience. Mainly because it was comforting to have someone beside me reading at bedtime when (not to give too much away) we turned the page and were scared silly by some seriously spine-tingling surprise illustrations! It also created opportunities for conversations about friendship dynamics, grief, and where our loved ones go after they pass away. As a bonus, my daughter was able to tell her school librarian that she had read an ARC of Erin Entrada Kelly’s latest middle-grade novel when she returned to school this past week!
Entrada Kelly’s enthusiasm for all things horror is reflected in her writing, drawing in amateur ghost hunters with her well-developed characters, captivating storyline, and clear explanations of the supernatural. Her unique ability to create empathy-driven stories is once again on full display in her first foray into horror writing. I loved Lila’s journey and am so excited that it doesn’t end here. Not only is there a promise of Book 2, but there is also an interactive experience that will allow readers to enter the world of The Last Resort, accessible via a QR code located at the end of the final book. Check out the preview and The Last Resort trailer on Scholastic Kids: https://kids.scholastic.com/kid/books...
Thank you, Scholastic and Net Galley, for the ARC!
August 22, 2025
It’s the summer before seventh grade and after being constantly told by her parents, her younger brother, and her two best friends that she’s too dramatic, twelve-year-old Lila is determined to become a new person. She will be cool, calm, and collected. But then she learns that her grandfather (someone she’s never met and barely knows anything about) has died and instead of spending her summer winning back her best friends, she’s headed to Ohio with her family to take care of her grandfather’s estate. Along the way, they almost get into a serious car accident while Lila was unbuckled trying to retrieve her phone that fell under the seat. And as much as Lila wants to be cool and calm… she’s pretty sure she’s now seeing ghosts.
Things get worse once they arrive at Castle Hill Inn; not only does the place LOOK haunted, it is, but only Lila can see the spirits. When her grandfather’s ghost appears and tells Lila he was murdered, she has to figure out who did it so that he can pass on. Oh, and Lila is a high channel (someone that can interact with spirits) and the inn has a portal to the afterlife. As weird things start to happen at the inn and people in town begin suffering from nightmares, Lila is convinced something is wrong with the portal and she’s the only one who can make things right. Enlisting the help of her younger brother Caleb and Teddy, the boy next door, the kids scramble to find Grandpa Clem’s killer before it’s too late. Lila and Caleb are Filipino American, Teddy is described as having brown skin and dark hair.
The Last Resort is an engaging ghost story that also explores the different ways people handle loss and grief. Lila’s struggle with being her authentic self while also not being “too much” will resonate with many readers and in the end she’s able to find an unlikely friend who she can be her true self with. The awkward milestone of becoming a teenager and therefore “grown up” is handled very well, with Lila watching her friends quickly condemn things they once loved as too immature. Franquiz’s full-page illustrations of some of the ghosts Lila encounters are a great addition to the text. The finished version of this novel will have an interactive option where readers will be able to talk directly to ghosts from the book along with the opportunity to complete puzzles to solve the mystery. Readers can skip the interactive aspects if they want without missing any key pieces of information to the story, but I’m personally very excited to see how this will work - and how readers will react to it. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
Things get worse once they arrive at Castle Hill Inn; not only does the place LOOK haunted, it is, but only Lila can see the spirits. When her grandfather’s ghost appears and tells Lila he was murdered, she has to figure out who did it so that he can pass on. Oh, and Lila is a high channel (someone that can interact with spirits) and the inn has a portal to the afterlife. As weird things start to happen at the inn and people in town begin suffering from nightmares, Lila is convinced something is wrong with the portal and she’s the only one who can make things right. Enlisting the help of her younger brother Caleb and Teddy, the boy next door, the kids scramble to find Grandpa Clem’s killer before it’s too late. Lila and Caleb are Filipino American, Teddy is described as having brown skin and dark hair.
The Last Resort is an engaging ghost story that also explores the different ways people handle loss and grief. Lila’s struggle with being her authentic self while also not being “too much” will resonate with many readers and in the end she’s able to find an unlikely friend who she can be her true self with. The awkward milestone of becoming a teenager and therefore “grown up” is handled very well, with Lila watching her friends quickly condemn things they once loved as too immature. Franquiz’s full-page illustrations of some of the ghosts Lila encounters are a great addition to the text. The finished version of this novel will have an interactive option where readers will be able to talk directly to ghosts from the book along with the opportunity to complete puzzles to solve the mystery. Readers can skip the interactive aspects if they want without missing any key pieces of information to the story, but I’m personally very excited to see how this will work - and how readers will react to it. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
April 28, 2025
What worked:
Lila is the overly dramatic main character whose two best friends are tired of her exaggerated reactions to everything. She texts them an SOS that she’s being forced against her will to attend her grandfather’s funeral and is surprised they don’t share her angst. It’s perfectly normal to attend the funeral of a loved one who’s died. Lila’s parents and brother aren’t sympathetic to her constant emergencies either, so she’s reluctant to tell them she can see ghosts. She’s going to be a rock this time, unwavering with her emotions fully under control, although inside, she’s freaked out and scared.
Lila has an instant ally in Teddy, her grandfather’s young neighbor. Teddy has always had an interest in ghosts, and Grandpa Clem was willing to answer all of his questions. Grandpa was “high channel” (able to see and speak to ghosts), and it seems Lila is too. Teddy immediately accepts that Lila has seen her grandfather and offers to solve the mystery of how he died. Grandpa Clem doesn’t know who poisoned his tea, but he’s sure he was murdered. Readers will identify one character as the obvious, prime suspect, but the details surrounding the portal in the attic take longer to emerge.
This is a ghost story, and there are plenty of them to satisfy young readers. They range from an innocent four-year-old girl to a threatening sharpshooter from the Old West. Lila is confused when ghosts ask her questions she can’t answer, and others tell her to “step right up”. Grandpa Clem’s old business partner is willing to share information about the afterlife, but Lila isn’t sure she trusts him. She’s sure he’s not telling her the complete truth, and there are puzzling pictures on his walls. Other photos found at the library provide some answers but create new questions, too. Lila knows everything revolves around the portal mirror, and she knows she’ll eventually need to be intrepid enough to open the locked door at the top of the steep, narrow attic stairs.
What didn’t work as well:
I read an advanced copy of the book and didn’t get to experience the interactive aspect of it. The finished edition will allow readers to scan QR codes on certain pages to “talk” to ghost characters in the book. The plot builds to a climax that may not be as suspenseful as some readers would like. However, it comes to a satisfying resolution.
The final verdict:
Young readers will understand Lila’s severe anxiety, although she takes it to the extreme. She fits the term “drama queen”, but her long road to courage is eventful. This book will appeal to middle-grade ghost lovers, and I recommend you give it a shot.
Lila is the overly dramatic main character whose two best friends are tired of her exaggerated reactions to everything. She texts them an SOS that she’s being forced against her will to attend her grandfather’s funeral and is surprised they don’t share her angst. It’s perfectly normal to attend the funeral of a loved one who’s died. Lila’s parents and brother aren’t sympathetic to her constant emergencies either, so she’s reluctant to tell them she can see ghosts. She’s going to be a rock this time, unwavering with her emotions fully under control, although inside, she’s freaked out and scared.
Lila has an instant ally in Teddy, her grandfather’s young neighbor. Teddy has always had an interest in ghosts, and Grandpa Clem was willing to answer all of his questions. Grandpa was “high channel” (able to see and speak to ghosts), and it seems Lila is too. Teddy immediately accepts that Lila has seen her grandfather and offers to solve the mystery of how he died. Grandpa Clem doesn’t know who poisoned his tea, but he’s sure he was murdered. Readers will identify one character as the obvious, prime suspect, but the details surrounding the portal in the attic take longer to emerge.
This is a ghost story, and there are plenty of them to satisfy young readers. They range from an innocent four-year-old girl to a threatening sharpshooter from the Old West. Lila is confused when ghosts ask her questions she can’t answer, and others tell her to “step right up”. Grandpa Clem’s old business partner is willing to share information about the afterlife, but Lila isn’t sure she trusts him. She’s sure he’s not telling her the complete truth, and there are puzzling pictures on his walls. Other photos found at the library provide some answers but create new questions, too. Lila knows everything revolves around the portal mirror, and she knows she’ll eventually need to be intrepid enough to open the locked door at the top of the steep, narrow attic stairs.
What didn’t work as well:
I read an advanced copy of the book and didn’t get to experience the interactive aspect of it. The finished edition will allow readers to scan QR codes on certain pages to “talk” to ghost characters in the book. The plot builds to a climax that may not be as suspenseful as some readers would like. However, it comes to a satisfying resolution.
The final verdict:
Young readers will understand Lila’s severe anxiety, although she takes it to the extreme. She fits the term “drama queen”, but her long road to courage is eventful. This book will appeal to middle-grade ghost lovers, and I recommend you give it a shot.
Read
August 30, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly is a third person-POV Middle Grade paranormal mystery. Lila and her family inherit and move into the old hotel that was owned by her estranged grandfather. When they arrive, she sees her grandfather’s ghost as well as other ghosts in the area. Lila will do whatever it takes to help her grandfather move on and figure out what is happening to the other ghosts.
In the beginning, Lila is very focused on appearing more mature and not childish. Her friend group back in her hometown called themselves the ‘Neopolitans’ because of their hair colors matching the ice cream until one friend renamed them the ‘Savvy Sevens’ so it would be less babying. In the US, at the age of eleven, especially as an AFAB, you are definitely very cognitive of how people perceive you and whether or not they view you to be mature or childish. I really appreciated the attention this was given because I do think we force kids to grow up too fast in America and this was a nice way of showing kids that it’s fine to still be a kid in middle school.
The cover is giving horror, but this felt more like a paranormal to me with a smidge of horror. The art is probably the scariest part and it’s fairly mild in the ARC, however, apparently the final copy is going to be more interactive via QR codes, so the scariness could be amped up in the final version. Nothing really jumped out at me as being particularly capable of providing nightmare fuel or would scare a kid too much so they don’t want to sleep alone, but every child is different and I do suggest guardians look at the art inside the book first so they can make decisions based on what they know of their children.
Lila has a complicated relationship with her neighbor Teddy, who was close enough to her grandfather to call him ‘Grandpa Clem,’ which gets on Lila’s nerves, and there is that element of people being trapped which make it feel somewhat similar to Coraline. It’s not a copy of Coraline, it’s more of a similar concept, which is normal in publishing. If there are any older readers with kids or in a position to be acquiring for a library or giving books and has really struggled to find something to replace Coraline because it was such a big Middle Grade horror for so long, this is a good choice.
I would recommend this to fans of young readers who enjoy paranormal books and mysteries and educators and guardians looking to update their library
The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly is a third person-POV Middle Grade paranormal mystery. Lila and her family inherit and move into the old hotel that was owned by her estranged grandfather. When they arrive, she sees her grandfather’s ghost as well as other ghosts in the area. Lila will do whatever it takes to help her grandfather move on and figure out what is happening to the other ghosts.
In the beginning, Lila is very focused on appearing more mature and not childish. Her friend group back in her hometown called themselves the ‘Neopolitans’ because of their hair colors matching the ice cream until one friend renamed them the ‘Savvy Sevens’ so it would be less babying. In the US, at the age of eleven, especially as an AFAB, you are definitely very cognitive of how people perceive you and whether or not they view you to be mature or childish. I really appreciated the attention this was given because I do think we force kids to grow up too fast in America and this was a nice way of showing kids that it’s fine to still be a kid in middle school.
The cover is giving horror, but this felt more like a paranormal to me with a smidge of horror. The art is probably the scariest part and it’s fairly mild in the ARC, however, apparently the final copy is going to be more interactive via QR codes, so the scariness could be amped up in the final version. Nothing really jumped out at me as being particularly capable of providing nightmare fuel or would scare a kid too much so they don’t want to sleep alone, but every child is different and I do suggest guardians look at the art inside the book first so they can make decisions based on what they know of their children.
Lila has a complicated relationship with her neighbor Teddy, who was close enough to her grandfather to call him ‘Grandpa Clem,’ which gets on Lila’s nerves, and there is that element of people being trapped which make it feel somewhat similar to Coraline. It’s not a copy of Coraline, it’s more of a similar concept, which is normal in publishing. If there are any older readers with kids or in a position to be acquiring for a library or giving books and has really struggled to find something to replace Coraline because it was such a big Middle Grade horror for so long, this is a good choice.
I would recommend this to fans of young readers who enjoy paranormal books and mysteries and educators and guardians looking to update their library
August 23, 2025
Personal Review: The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly
While *The Last Resort* is a compelling and skillfully crafted ghost story, I felt that some scenes were genuinely chilling—perhaps too much for sensitive readers or kids who dislike haunted house themes. If your child tends to steer clear of ghosts, scary settings, or supernatural tension, they may not enjoy this book as much. Kelly ramps up the atmospheric tension, and some moments might linger in the imaginations of more anxious or sensitive middle graders.
Erin Entrada Kelly’s greatest strength, in my view, is her extraordinary narrative voice. She is absolutely a masterclass in tone and voice for middle grade fiction. Her writing shines with warmth, humor, and relatability—qualities that make her characters unforgettable and her stories emotionally resonant.
Overall, I enjoyed *The Last Resort* and recommend it for kids who love spooky mysteries or ghost stories. That’s not a fit for my house, but fans of Lindsay Currie or Ellen Oh’s *Spirit Hunters* will be captivated by its suspense and heart.
One aspect I absolutely loved is Lila herself—her “too much-ness.” Kids today grapple with feeling like they’re “too much” for their peers: too dramatic, too emotional, too intense. Lila faces rejection from friends, and her loneliness is honestly depicted. Kelly beautifully captures the moment when Lila finds her new people—friends who treasure her exact qualities that made her feel isolated at first. That was deeply heartwarming and a standout part of the story for me.
The only disappointment came in Lila’s relationship with her father. I genuinely wanted a heart-to-heart scene between them: a moment where Lila could share the secrets only Grandpa Clem could have known, proving she had truly made contact. That closure was missing for me, and I wished Kelly had looped that thread for a more profound emotional payoff at the end.
*The Last Resort* is a chilling adventure for brave readers who love supernatural tales with heart. It’s not for everyone, but Kelly’s masterful voice and themes of belonging make it a worthy read for those ready to be spooked—and moved
While *The Last Resort* is a compelling and skillfully crafted ghost story, I felt that some scenes were genuinely chilling—perhaps too much for sensitive readers or kids who dislike haunted house themes. If your child tends to steer clear of ghosts, scary settings, or supernatural tension, they may not enjoy this book as much. Kelly ramps up the atmospheric tension, and some moments might linger in the imaginations of more anxious or sensitive middle graders.
Erin Entrada Kelly’s greatest strength, in my view, is her extraordinary narrative voice. She is absolutely a masterclass in tone and voice for middle grade fiction. Her writing shines with warmth, humor, and relatability—qualities that make her characters unforgettable and her stories emotionally resonant.
Overall, I enjoyed *The Last Resort* and recommend it for kids who love spooky mysteries or ghost stories. That’s not a fit for my house, but fans of Lindsay Currie or Ellen Oh’s *Spirit Hunters* will be captivated by its suspense and heart.
One aspect I absolutely loved is Lila herself—her “too much-ness.” Kids today grapple with feeling like they’re “too much” for their peers: too dramatic, too emotional, too intense. Lila faces rejection from friends, and her loneliness is honestly depicted. Kelly beautifully captures the moment when Lila finds her new people—friends who treasure her exact qualities that made her feel isolated at first. That was deeply heartwarming and a standout part of the story for me.
The only disappointment came in Lila’s relationship with her father. I genuinely wanted a heart-to-heart scene between them: a moment where Lila could share the secrets only Grandpa Clem could have known, proving she had truly made contact. That closure was missing for me, and I wished Kelly had looped that thread for a more profound emotional payoff at the end.
*The Last Resort* is a chilling adventure for brave readers who love supernatural tales with heart. It’s not for everyone, but Kelly’s masterful voice and themes of belonging make it a worthy read for those ready to be spooked—and moved
July 27, 2025
In "The Last Resort" by Erin Entrada Kelly, Lila is hoping for a relaxed summer (free from drama) at home. Sadly, her father gets word that her grandfather has died and they must travel to Ohio for his funeral. Because Lila's father is afraid to fly, the family is driving across the country to the funeral and to handle the final affairs.
On the way, Lila takes off her seatbelt to get her phone when her father swerves the car. She cracks her head on the seat in front of her. Now...Lila can see ghosts, but, for some reason, no one else can.
Upon arriving at her grandfather's inn, Lila sees a lot of people who don't seem to be there. She meets Teddy, the neighbor who spent a lot of time with Grandpa Clem. Teddy is very interested in paranormal activity and helps Lila to understand what is happening. This is when Lila is visited by Grandpa Clem's ghost and discovers that his death is more nefarious than they thought.
Now it is up to Lila and Teddy to discover why there are so many spirits in town and who would have wanted Grandpa Clem murdered. Oh, and suddenly, everyone is having nightmares of their worst fears.
Erin Entrada Kelly has the remarkable talent to write in a wide variety of genres. She has written historical fiction, realistic fiction, science fiction, and now, horror fiction. "The Last Resort" deals with a young girl handling her anxiety over an overactive imagination and the fallout of losing her friends. Teddy turns out to be a true friend, staying loyal even when Lila is less than kind. Additionally, the story deals with handling one's fears in order to solve problems.
There are some scary moments related to the ghosts and the end is a bit tense. There are also some discussions of murder, both Grandpa Clem's murder and a tragic event that took place in the past. There is a lot of tension in the book, but it never becomes overwhelming.
With high readability and fast pacing, "The Last Resort" is an excellent addition to an elementary classroom library. It would be a great read and recommendation for both the fall (spooky season), as well as a summer time read.
I would recommend "The Last Resort" by Erin Entrada Kelly for students in grades 3-5. This would be a great read for fans of "Spirit Hunters" or books by Lindsay Currie.
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I received an eARC of "The Last Resort" from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair review.
On the way, Lila takes off her seatbelt to get her phone when her father swerves the car. She cracks her head on the seat in front of her. Now...Lila can see ghosts, but, for some reason, no one else can.
Upon arriving at her grandfather's inn, Lila sees a lot of people who don't seem to be there. She meets Teddy, the neighbor who spent a lot of time with Grandpa Clem. Teddy is very interested in paranormal activity and helps Lila to understand what is happening. This is when Lila is visited by Grandpa Clem's ghost and discovers that his death is more nefarious than they thought.
Now it is up to Lila and Teddy to discover why there are so many spirits in town and who would have wanted Grandpa Clem murdered. Oh, and suddenly, everyone is having nightmares of their worst fears.
Erin Entrada Kelly has the remarkable talent to write in a wide variety of genres. She has written historical fiction, realistic fiction, science fiction, and now, horror fiction. "The Last Resort" deals with a young girl handling her anxiety over an overactive imagination and the fallout of losing her friends. Teddy turns out to be a true friend, staying loyal even when Lila is less than kind. Additionally, the story deals with handling one's fears in order to solve problems.
There are some scary moments related to the ghosts and the end is a bit tense. There are also some discussions of murder, both Grandpa Clem's murder and a tragic event that took place in the past. There is a lot of tension in the book, but it never becomes overwhelming.
With high readability and fast pacing, "The Last Resort" is an excellent addition to an elementary classroom library. It would be a great read and recommendation for both the fall (spooky season), as well as a summer time read.
I would recommend "The Last Resort" by Erin Entrada Kelly for students in grades 3-5. This would be a great read for fans of "Spirit Hunters" or books by Lindsay Currie.
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I received an eARC of "The Last Resort" from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair review.
June 29, 2025
This was an enjoyably spooky mystery book perfect for younger middle grades readers. Lila, our protagonist, is in the summer between 6th and 7th grade. Her close friendship group from before middle school is experiencing some growing pains, and dramatic, imaginative Lila is feeling left behind. Worse, she has to spend the summer in Ohio after the grandfather she never met passes away, and who knows how much worse it’ll get with her friends while she’s gone!
After a near-death experience on the drive to Ohio, Lila starts seeing ghosts everywhere. When she meets the ghost of her grandfather, he reveals that the circumstances of his death weren’t as natural as the family believed. Lila, her brother Caleb, and their new friend Teddy work together to solve the mystery so that her grandpa can cross over (and maybe to make sure there are no murderers in town).
Because I read an ARC, I don’t think I’m able to access the additional features quite yet, but I am looking forward to checking them out when I can. The interactive element sounds really cool, and I could see it making for a fun class read-aloud (and collaborative class detective) experience for maybe 5th or 6th graders.
There are definitely some scenes that are scary. I would have no qualms about recommending this to anyone in middle school, but readers younger than 10 might find some parts too scary, and you may want to peruse it before recommending. I don’t work directly with younger students, though, so I may be totally off on what they find frightening/haunting. Definitely wonderful for middle grades/middle school, though!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I can’t wait to see how the interactive component comes together, and this will definitely be joining the classroom library.
After a near-death experience on the drive to Ohio, Lila starts seeing ghosts everywhere. When she meets the ghost of her grandfather, he reveals that the circumstances of his death weren’t as natural as the family believed. Lila, her brother Caleb, and their new friend Teddy work together to solve the mystery so that her grandpa can cross over (and maybe to make sure there are no murderers in town).
Because I read an ARC, I don’t think I’m able to access the additional features quite yet, but I am looking forward to checking them out when I can. The interactive element sounds really cool, and I could see it making for a fun class read-aloud (and collaborative class detective) experience for maybe 5th or 6th graders.
There are definitely some scenes that are scary. I would have no qualms about recommending this to anyone in middle school, but readers younger than 10 might find some parts too scary, and you may want to peruse it before recommending. I don’t work directly with younger students, though, so I may be totally off on what they find frightening/haunting. Definitely wonderful for middle grades/middle school, though!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I can’t wait to see how the interactive component comes together, and this will definitely be joining the classroom library.
September 3, 2025
This is a spooky read for Halloween or any other time of the year. There are some truly bone-chilling moments that are spooky enough to thrill middle grade readers and even some adults. The book does start with a corpse, after all (a spider’s, but it sets the tone spectacularly). The interactive elements in the book and online are a fun way to bring a book to life.
The book isn’t too scary, although there are some delightfully bone-chilling moments. I have a very low tolerance for scary things, and there were some spooky moments, but it wasn’t so much that I couldn’t handle it. I think that bodes well for young readers who might want to be a little spooked but not too much. The ghost elements had some unique aspects that made it intriguing as well as spooky.
One of my favorite parts is that she spends a lot of time being worried about being too much and sometimes people feeling like she’s too dramatic or expressive by telling her to dial it down. I liked how the plot and learning more about her family helps her come to terms with that and mature a little while also learning to appreciate parts of who she is.
I thought the ending came a little abruptly. The part about the ghosts ends and then suddenly, the family’s plans are different and it’s not clear why. I wish the resolution had been a little more gradual and that we had more closure about her friends situation or even to her dad’s difficult feelings about losing his dad. There just wasn’t as much emotional payoff as I wanted.
Overall, this is a chilling middle grade story that a lot of people are likely to enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The book isn’t too scary, although there are some delightfully bone-chilling moments. I have a very low tolerance for scary things, and there were some spooky moments, but it wasn’t so much that I couldn’t handle it. I think that bodes well for young readers who might want to be a little spooked but not too much. The ghost elements had some unique aspects that made it intriguing as well as spooky.
One of my favorite parts is that she spends a lot of time being worried about being too much and sometimes people feeling like she’s too dramatic or expressive by telling her to dial it down. I liked how the plot and learning more about her family helps her come to terms with that and mature a little while also learning to appreciate parts of who she is.
I thought the ending came a little abruptly. The part about the ghosts ends and then suddenly, the family’s plans are different and it’s not clear why. I wish the resolution had been a little more gradual and that we had more closure about her friends situation or even to her dad’s difficult feelings about losing his dad. There just wasn’t as much emotional payoff as I wanted.
Overall, this is a chilling middle grade story that a lot of people are likely to enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 7, 2025
Mystery and thrill that couples contemporary haunted house and historical disaster all in one. Kelly writes the story of Liza who is on her way to Ohio with her parents and brother to the funeral of her Grandpa Clem who she didn't know and the big house that he left behind. She doesn't want to go, but her dad, Grandpa Clem's son doesn't want to go either because of their estrangement. It seems nothing has changed- this big house, his procrastination, and the mystery of what to do with the property. Though it's evident quickly that Liza is there for a reason and that's to figure out who killed Grandpa Clem because she can now see ghosts and also meets her now-dead Grandpa. This near-death experience on the way has given her this ability and it's going to be used in the book to put ghosts to rest and solve mysteries from a circus fire and more.
It's a perfect middle grade mystery. A problem needs to be solved and its up to the kids to do the solving. Even Liza, who is a catastrophizing mess- even her friends from back home have distanced themselves from her because she's always negative and dramatic. Though there could have been a little bit more of a resolution on that front, there is a bit of one when it comes to the overall resolution that makes me think Liza will be just fine in that big ol' haunted house mansion.
Kelly literally DOES IT AGAIN. And AGAIN. And AGAIN. She knows how to create story, characters, and conflict that everyone wants to read.
It's a perfect middle grade mystery. A problem needs to be solved and its up to the kids to do the solving. Even Liza, who is a catastrophizing mess- even her friends from back home have distanced themselves from her because she's always negative and dramatic. Though there could have been a little bit more of a resolution on that front, there is a bit of one when it comes to the overall resolution that makes me think Liza will be just fine in that big ol' haunted house mansion.
Kelly literally DOES IT AGAIN. And AGAIN. And AGAIN. She knows how to create story, characters, and conflict that everyone wants to read.
October 25, 2025
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
THE LAST RESORT is the first book in a spooky middle grade series about helping ghosts over to the other side.
This is very much a spooky book that doesn't easily fit in a genre classification. Is it horror? Is it a mystery? Is it a paranormal fantasy? The answer is it's a bit of everything which means it should appeal to a range of readers, particularly the younger audience it's intended for who might still be working out their tastes.
The heart of the story is a tale about friendship and what happens when they fail. It's full of the heartbreak at such a betrayal and how hard it can be to come to terms with that. But there's also the hope of making new friends, tricky as that may be in the moment when you've been so hurt.
There is an interactive element to this book. You can scan a QR code on the back and take part in a version of the story through your phone, scanning images in the book. It's quite a fun way of getting kids involved with the story, adding a few extra interactions to it (and history lessons too!) I wish that reading would be enough to get kids engaged, but for some it won't, so this gives them another way to get into it.
This is the first book in a series of novels written by different authors. It looks like the books will focus on different characters, with the next following Teddy - a character introduced in this book.
THE LAST RESORT is the first book in a spooky middle grade series about helping ghosts over to the other side.
This is very much a spooky book that doesn't easily fit in a genre classification. Is it horror? Is it a mystery? Is it a paranormal fantasy? The answer is it's a bit of everything which means it should appeal to a range of readers, particularly the younger audience it's intended for who might still be working out their tastes.
The heart of the story is a tale about friendship and what happens when they fail. It's full of the heartbreak at such a betrayal and how hard it can be to come to terms with that. But there's also the hope of making new friends, tricky as that may be in the moment when you've been so hurt.
There is an interactive element to this book. You can scan a QR code on the back and take part in a version of the story through your phone, scanning images in the book. It's quite a fun way of getting kids involved with the story, adding a few extra interactions to it (and history lessons too!) I wish that reading would be enough to get kids engaged, but for some it won't, so this gives them another way to get into it.
This is the first book in a series of novels written by different authors. It looks like the books will focus on different characters, with the next following Teddy - a character introduced in this book.
August 21, 2025
4 stars
I really just cannot get enough of Erin Entrada Kelly and am grateful for the prolific and varied nature of this author's books. This newest effort? Middle grade horror! Yes, please!
Lila is 12, and she is slightly notorious among friends and family for bringing all the drama all the time. She thinks everything is a big deal, so in true Chicken Little fashion, when something really IS a big deal, she isn't as credible as one might hope. This lesson helps her mature, which comes at the right time. After all, she's unexpectedly traveling out of state with her brother and parents to her recently deceased grandfather's old estate, which features a portal to the other side! There are ghosts, mysteries, and actually dramatic events occurring all around her, but the most important thing is that Lila, finally, is growing up a little.
Like the author, who expresses this sentiment in the headnote, I am a lifelong horror fan, and I love the idea of age appropriate thrills. That is absolutely what this book provides, along with the solid characterization and lessons this author is known for, of course.
I really enjoyed this, and I look forward to having another MG horror on tap to recommend!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I really just cannot get enough of Erin Entrada Kelly and am grateful for the prolific and varied nature of this author's books. This newest effort? Middle grade horror! Yes, please!
Lila is 12, and she is slightly notorious among friends and family for bringing all the drama all the time. She thinks everything is a big deal, so in true Chicken Little fashion, when something really IS a big deal, she isn't as credible as one might hope. This lesson helps her mature, which comes at the right time. After all, she's unexpectedly traveling out of state with her brother and parents to her recently deceased grandfather's old estate, which features a portal to the other side! There are ghosts, mysteries, and actually dramatic events occurring all around her, but the most important thing is that Lila, finally, is growing up a little.
Like the author, who expresses this sentiment in the headnote, I am a lifelong horror fan, and I love the idea of age appropriate thrills. That is absolutely what this book provides, along with the solid characterization and lessons this author is known for, of course.
I really enjoyed this, and I look forward to having another MG horror on tap to recommend!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
August 25, 2025
The characters in this novel are fairly well developed, and while Lila struggles with being left out of her friend group and being called immature by both friends and family, I also found her immaturity a bit frustrating as a reader. Because of that, it did take me some time to connect with her as the main character, but seeing her grow over the course of the story helped.
One of the most unique elements of this book is its interactive component: once published, readers will be able to scan illustrations of some of the ghost characters, bringing them “to life” in order to interact and ask questions. Unfortunately, this feature wasn’t yet available in the advanced reader copy, so I can’t speak to how effective or engaging it will be.
The pacing of the book is quick overall, though it took a little while for me to really settle into the flow of the story and mystery. In my opinion, the paranormal aspects came through much stronger than the mystery elements.
I’d recommend this title to middle schoolers or upper elementary readers who enjoy paranormal stories or are looking for a gentler entry point into horror. However, I likely wouldn’t suggest it to readers seeking a more traditional or intricate mystery. Thank you to the publisher and author for an Advanced Reader Copy.
Recommended by publisher for grades 6th-8th
One of the most unique elements of this book is its interactive component: once published, readers will be able to scan illustrations of some of the ghost characters, bringing them “to life” in order to interact and ask questions. Unfortunately, this feature wasn’t yet available in the advanced reader copy, so I can’t speak to how effective or engaging it will be.
The pacing of the book is quick overall, though it took a little while for me to really settle into the flow of the story and mystery. In my opinion, the paranormal aspects came through much stronger than the mystery elements.
I’d recommend this title to middle schoolers or upper elementary readers who enjoy paranormal stories or are looking for a gentler entry point into horror. However, I likely wouldn’t suggest it to readers seeking a more traditional or intricate mystery. Thank you to the publisher and author for an Advanced Reader Copy.
Recommended by publisher for grades 6th-8th
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