A Home To Haunt

by Sudeshna Shome Ghosh

144 pages, Paperback

Published June 30, 2025

Reviews

[a_geminireader · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if your simple train ride turned into a ghostly adventure?

That’s exactly what happens to 8-year-old Poltu in " A Home to Haunt" by Sudeshna Shome Ghosh. On his way to visit his grandparents, he suddenly finds himself on a ghost train—and from that moment, everything changes.

But these aren’t the usual scary ghosts. They’re hilarious, dramatic, and full of demands. One insists on a palace, another won’t live without mango trees, and some are too busy playing cricket with invisible balls to even notice Poltu’s panic. While he’s trying his best to stay calm, the ghosts are busy turning Kolkata into their playground—snacks in cemeteries, taxis that argue back, cricket matches in stadiums. It’s spooky, yes, but in the most heartwarming, laugh-out-loud way.

What I loved most is how the book balances all this fun with a gentle reminder—how vanishing ponds, trees, and spaces leave even ghosts without a place to belong. That thoughtful touch gives the comedy surprising depth. And Pankaj Saikia’s black-and-white illustrations add just the right spooky charm to bring it all alive.

Oh, and the cherry on top? These ghosts boost their energy by eating Cadbury Gems. I mean, how adorable is that!

This isn’t just a ghost story—it’s imagination, laughter, and comfort all rolled into one. A story that makes you feel like a child again, curling up with a book on a cozy evening. So, are you ready to hop on Poltu’s ghost train? Just remember—carry a packet of Gems, or you might have to share with the ghosts. 😉

[Shruti k · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, when we saw the cover and read the title 'A Home to Haunt', we were like—okay, this is going to be one of those proper ghost stories... the kind we both avoid because we're not built for horror. But then came the surprise. This wasn’t a book about chills and screams—it was about charm, imagination, and an unexpected friendship with the most unlikely beings: ghosts.

Poltu, our main character, doesn't go looking for adventure. It finds him. One moment he’s off on a holiday, and the next, he’s stepping into a version of the world where nothing is quite normal. Everything familiar suddenly turns strange—but in a fun way. The city he thought he knew becomes this magical playground filled with odd rules, ghostly figures, and tasks he never asked for. And yet, he doesn’t panic. He listens. He helps. He cares. That’s the heart of this story.

What we absolutely loved was how the book managed to make darkness feel comforting. The ghosts aren’t here to scare—they’re here to be seen, heard, and maybe even hugged. From chatting with talking taxis to having dinner in a graveyard which sounds creepy but it's not, every scene had this mix of mischief and warmth. And let’s not forget the ghost cricket game—which had us grinning like kids.

There’s a soft wisdom in the way the author has written—without heavy words or forced messages, she lets Poltu’s journey speak. It’s about helping others, seeing things with new eyes, and understanding that sometimes the scariest-looking things just need a little kindness. And those tiny details—like the packet of Gems—added that perfect desi, nostalgic touch.

This is the kind of book you finish with a full heart. It’s playful, thoughtful, and quietly magical. We started this book expecting to be scared... but ended up smiling, feeling braver, and honestly a little more open to the idea that ghosts might not be so bad after all.

[Anjana Basu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Normally haunted houses are solitary places with a few ghosts screeching and shaking windows and doors to scare inmates. Sudeshna Shome Ghosh however puts a different take on the subject by telling readers that crowded places can be haunted too. She opens her story in the traditional fashion, 8-year-old Poltu going on a holiday without his mother for the first time in his life to visit his grandmother in SIliguri accompanied by his uncle. He is well stocked with appropriate books for the journey, Feluda etc.
However, what one would normally expect from a story that opens like this takes a different twist when Sealdah station turns out to be crowded with displaced ghosts all frantically looking for homes to haunt. Shome Ghosh fills her book with a serendipity of ghost communities – English ghosts in the cemetery who have to be feasted into welcoming local ghosts, cricket loving ghosts in the stadium where games have their own rules, musical ghosts by the river – and she throws Poltu an impossible deadline – he has to find homes for the ghosts in one night.
There are reasons why the ghosts are displaced – climate change is one of the main reasons, marked by trees being cut down and ponds drying up leaving their spooky inhabitants nowhere to go, which will give children food for thought since no one really wonders where ghosts live.
The ghost story with a difference is counterpointed by accessories like haunted Cadbury Gems and a train that’s rather like the Hogwarts Ghost Express even though it doesn’t have a special platform. The author also takes her readers on a ghost tour of the city with screechy cries of minibus conductors, a self-driving taxi and a ghost traffic warden.
Pankaj Sakia’s illustrations in black and white keep the tone suitably spooky.

[Priyanka M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with Poltu and his ghost gang in this fun and unique story. Poltu's summer vacation takes an unexpected turn when he encounters ghosts on his way to his grandma's house. He's assigned a mission to find homes for six ghosts, and the adventure begins.

The author, Sudeshna Shome Ghosh, puts a new spin on traditional haunted house stories. Instead of solitary ghosts, she introduces ghost communities in crowded places like cemeteries, stadiums, and riversides. Poltu must navigate these ghostly worlds and find homes for the displaced spirits.

The story is filled with imaginative elements like haunted Cadbury Gems and a ghostly train ride. Pankaj Saikia's black and white illustrations add to the spooky tone. The author's use of city landmarks and cultural references makes the story feel authentic and engaging.

The story touches on themes like climate change and its impact on ghostly habitats. It's a fun and thought-provoking read that will keep kids engaged and entertained.

Overall, it's a delightful ghost story that's perfect for kids who love adventure and imagination.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story with illustrations. A page turner.