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Grandpere's Ghost Swamp
Not yet published
Expected 24 Mar 26Ferris meets Ghosts of Tupelo Landing in this cozy ghost story about family, environmental activism, food, and friendship.
Basil Theriot has spent her entire life in New Orleans—in her family’s famed Cajun restaurant in the French Quarter, really—but she’s never been out to the bayou where her grandfather grew up. She’s also never seen a ghost, even though dozens of ghost tours pass by the restaurant every day and her best friend Tommy is determined to be a ghost hunter.
But then Grandpere’s ghost appears. And he has a mission for her.
Basil wouldn’t mind being haunted if Grandpere could be helpful and share his secret recipe that might save the restaurant. But instead, he’s intent on connecting Basil with her Cajun heritage. He sends her out to the bayou to meet his an airboat captain, a shrimper, and a scientist rebuilding Louisiana’s fast-disappearing coastline.
For fans of Gracie Under the Waves and A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall, Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp has a little bit of a pinch of spookiness, a dash of environmental activism, and a heaping of family.
Basil Theriot has spent her entire life in New Orleans—in her family’s famed Cajun restaurant in the French Quarter, really—but she’s never been out to the bayou where her grandfather grew up. She’s also never seen a ghost, even though dozens of ghost tours pass by the restaurant every day and her best friend Tommy is determined to be a ghost hunter.
But then Grandpere’s ghost appears. And he has a mission for her.
Basil wouldn’t mind being haunted if Grandpere could be helpful and share his secret recipe that might save the restaurant. But instead, he’s intent on connecting Basil with her Cajun heritage. He sends her out to the bayou to meet his an airboat captain, a shrimper, and a scientist rebuilding Louisiana’s fast-disappearing coastline.
For fans of Gracie Under the Waves and A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall, Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp has a little bit of a pinch of spookiness, a dash of environmental activism, and a heaping of family.
- GenresMiddle GradeParanormal
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 24, 2026
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 2, 2025
A great story about friendship, family and the environment.
The relationship between Basil (FMC) and her family is strained. The story opens up at Basil's g'pere's funeral where she sees him as a ghost. G'pere doesn't know why he's stuck as a ghost but he knows it involves the swamp and Basil is the only one who can see him. He guides her along this journey to discover new things and gain courage to act within her local environment and family.
Her friendship with Tommy and strain with Nico really layered on depth for her character development. The secondary characters were very flushed out and living their own lives, which only enhanced the story for me. This book was really thought out and developed and I enjoyed it so much.
I live on the Gulf Coast so I understood a lot of what was going on in this story first hand. I'm not from New Orleans but it read like experiences I've had in the past with the people, culture and tourists.
It was great to learn about Cajun and Creole culture from the view of a French Quarter restaurant and the family that runs it.
I learned a lot, organically, about the environmental impact humans have on their surroundings. As well as the delicate balance needed between people and nature.
My only trigger warning is for people who have gone through Katrina and other hurricanes first hand. I wasn't expecting to unearth my feelings about Katrina but I did as Basil and other characters found themselves in conversation about it. It hit me right in the gut. It's not a bad thing, just a warning.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.
The relationship between Basil (FMC) and her family is strained. The story opens up at Basil's g'pere's funeral where she sees him as a ghost. G'pere doesn't know why he's stuck as a ghost but he knows it involves the swamp and Basil is the only one who can see him. He guides her along this journey to discover new things and gain courage to act within her local environment and family.
Her friendship with Tommy and strain with Nico really layered on depth for her character development. The secondary characters were very flushed out and living their own lives, which only enhanced the story for me. This book was really thought out and developed and I enjoyed it so much.
I live on the Gulf Coast so I understood a lot of what was going on in this story first hand. I'm not from New Orleans but it read like experiences I've had in the past with the people, culture and tourists.
It was great to learn about Cajun and Creole culture from the view of a French Quarter restaurant and the family that runs it.
I learned a lot, organically, about the environmental impact humans have on their surroundings. As well as the delicate balance needed between people and nature.
My only trigger warning is for people who have gone through Katrina and other hurricanes first hand. I wasn't expecting to unearth my feelings about Katrina but I did as Basil and other characters found themselves in conversation about it. It hit me right in the gut. It's not a bad thing, just a warning.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.
August 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. Basil's parents run a restaurant that was founded by Basil's Granpere Claude and focused on the dishes of his native Cajun roots. When he passes away, his ghost remains but only Basil can see him. When Basil has to participate in Career Day at her school, her parents and teachers think she will share about life as a chef, but Basil does not want to be a chef. What ensues are adventures spurred on by Granpere's ghost. Along they way, Basil discovers a passion that eventually makes it's way to Career Day. The story introduces the idea of land loss in Louisiana in a way that brings it to life without sounding moralizing. Recommended for sure!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews