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Ghost in the Night
From mega-bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson comes this highly anticipated follow-up to her middle grade debut Blood in the Water.Ghost in the Night is another spine-tingling, can't-put-it-down mystery, this time set in America's Most Haunted City.Savannah, Georgia, is a city on edge when twelve-year-old Harmony arrives with her blues musician father for a summer gig. The recent disappearance of a local boy remains unsolved and the trail has gone cold, leaving the simmering community without answers or closure.Savannah, with its mossy trees and ornate old homes, is also a place rich in history...and ghosts. Ghosts are what pique Harmony's interest. Still reeling from her losses back home, Harmony wants to believe in ghost stories...but isn't sure what's real. When she goes on one of the many ghost tours around town, she takes a photo of what might be a ghost. Or is it a hoax?As Harmony and her new friends look into the truth behind the ghost picture, they stumble into a dangerously tangled web of ambition, lies...and murder.Can Harmony unravel the mystery in time...or will she have to give up the ghost?New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers thrills and chills once more with this layered, evocative mystery that is sure to give readers goosebumps.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Tiffany D. Jackson
20 books11.5k followersTiffany D. Jackson is the New York Times Bestselling author of YA novels including the Coretta Scott King — John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning Monday’s Not Coming, the NAACP Image Award-nominated Allegedly, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, and her 2020 title GROWN. She received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University, her master of arts in media studies from the New School, and has over a decade in TV/Film experience. The Brooklyn native is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves, most likely multitasking.
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August 15, 2026AS ALWAYS!
IF TIFFANY WRITES IT...
I AM READING IT!
Sooooo Buzzed!
🤎🤎🤎
IF TIFFANY WRITES IT...
I AM READING IT!
Sooooo Buzzed!
🤎🤎🤎
August 14, 2026
This was a well done MIDDLE GRADE book! I immersive read this in about an hour and immediately gave it to my 7th grader to read. Tiffany D. Jackson can do no wrong in my eyes. Her writing depth is 🔥. Please remember this is a middle grade novel so don’t expect this to be like Grown or The Scammer. With that being said, it’s still a great read!
August 5, 2026
Thank goodness it’s a short one!
August 6, 2026
You can never go wrong with a Tiffany D. Jackson book!
Want to Read
November 20, 2025Tiffany can do no wrong! I loved Blood in the Water (and basically everything else she’s written) and am excited for her next middle grade thriller/mystery! I am seated! 🪑
August 16, 2026
I know this is a middle-grade book, but if she writes it, I’m reading it. Plus, I’m going to have grandchildren one day, and I will be ready. 😂
Ghost in the Night is about a little girl who is obsessed with ghosts. While in Savannah, Georgia, she goes on a ghost tour and sees something that may actually be a ghost. So, she and two other children go on an adventure to find out if what she thinks she saw is actually real.
Although this book is geared toward 12-year-olds, I get so much satisfaction knowing that children, Black children in particular, can finally go on book adventures with characters who look like them. I didn’t have this growing up, so I really hope they’re taking advantage of it. This is a great time to grow up reading, and they have one of the best authors writing for them.
If you’re looking for another one, check out her first middle-grade book, Blood in the Water.
Ghost in the Night is about a little girl who is obsessed with ghosts. While in Savannah, Georgia, she goes on a ghost tour and sees something that may actually be a ghost. So, she and two other children go on an adventure to find out if what she thinks she saw is actually real.
Although this book is geared toward 12-year-olds, I get so much satisfaction knowing that children, Black children in particular, can finally go on book adventures with characters who look like them. I didn’t have this growing up, so I really hope they’re taking advantage of it. This is a great time to grow up reading, and they have one of the best authors writing for them.
If you’re looking for another one, check out her first middle-grade book, Blood in the Water.
August 10, 2026
3.5 stars — This is a satisfying middle grade story thats definitely made for its target audience. The FMC, Harmony, is obsessed with photography and ghost. While visiting Savanah, Georgia with her dad , they realize that they’ve entered into a grieving city, that’s on the haunt for a missing boy. Harmony and her father are also grieving losses of their own as well.
I love how Tiffany intertwined culture, truths and some of Savanah’s rich unsettling history.
With that being said, in my opinion, some of the chapters focused too much on the setting and not necessarily the plot. I think we could’ve got more out of the characters if we explored what their grieving process looked like, harmony’s complex friendship dynamics or more from the side character, Myah and her unique gift.
Overall, this would be great for middle schoolers to read during spooky season. 👻
I love how Tiffany intertwined culture, truths and some of Savanah’s rich unsettling history.
With that being said, in my opinion, some of the chapters focused too much on the setting and not necessarily the plot. I think we could’ve got more out of the characters if we explored what their grieving process looked like, harmony’s complex friendship dynamics or more from the side character, Myah and her unique gift.
Overall, this would be great for middle schoolers to read during spooky season. 👻
August 15, 2026
Listened in one day. A quick light read.light in the sense of it being YA. I love all of Tiffany’s books for the most part . Blood in water was not my fave and this book was better than that. I was eager to read this one after White smoke. But since the characters were younger, I didn’t feel quite connected. Btw if the characters are 12 is it really YA? I thought YA was 15 and up. 🤔
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Received an ARC from Scholastic. Had potential, but characters kind of one-dimensional. Dialogue felt like adult trying to write as a kid. No real plot twists. Don't feel I know the character. Some stuff aren't really explained.
Again, definitely has potential.
Again, definitely has potential.
August 11, 2026
Ghost in the Night 🕯️👻✨Review✨ thank you so much partner @scholastic @storygramtours for the gifted copy!
Ghost in the Night
by Tiffany D. Jackson
out now!
About the book 👇🏽
Savannah, Georgia, with its mossy trees and ornate old homes, is a place rich in history...and ghosts. Ghosts are what pique Harmony Roundtree's interest. Still reeling from her losses back home, Harmony wants to believe in ghost stories...but isn't sure what's real. When she goes on one of the many ghost tours around town, she takes a photo of what might be a ghost. Or is it a hoax?
With two new friends, Harmony sets out to investigate... and stumbles upon clues leading to an unsolved murder. The deeper she digs, the more Harmony realizes that what she saw on the ghost tour might be connected to a shocking crime. But making connections can be dangerous--even more dangerous than ghosts.
My thoughts 💭:
Tiffany D. Jackson has written some of my absolute favorite books, so of course I was excited to pick this one up and it did not disappoint! I get excited when I find books that I love at my age that are also almost suitable for my own kids. I have some spooky boys on my hands, so I already know that in a few years they’ll be dipping into my book collection! There’s definitely more going on beneath the surface of this story, but I thought it was delivered in a way that would be easy for younger readers to understand while still keeping them invested in the mystery. The ghostly elements, unsolved murder, and setting made this a fun and spooky read. I didn’t always agree with some of the decisions the adults made, but I actually appreciated that aspect of the story. It shows that adults make mistakes too and that communication can make all the difference. There are some great conversations and lessons tucked into this mystery. Another win from Tiffany D. Jackson! I can’t wait until my little spooky readers are old enough to steal this one from my shelf.
What to Expect👇🏽
👻 Spooky
🔎 Mystery
🫂 Found Family
💬 Communication + life lessons
Happy reading 📖✨👻🕯️
Ghost in the Night
by Tiffany D. Jackson
out now!
About the book 👇🏽
Savannah, Georgia, with its mossy trees and ornate old homes, is a place rich in history...and ghosts. Ghosts are what pique Harmony Roundtree's interest. Still reeling from her losses back home, Harmony wants to believe in ghost stories...but isn't sure what's real. When she goes on one of the many ghost tours around town, she takes a photo of what might be a ghost. Or is it a hoax?
With two new friends, Harmony sets out to investigate... and stumbles upon clues leading to an unsolved murder. The deeper she digs, the more Harmony realizes that what she saw on the ghost tour might be connected to a shocking crime. But making connections can be dangerous--even more dangerous than ghosts.
My thoughts 💭:
Tiffany D. Jackson has written some of my absolute favorite books, so of course I was excited to pick this one up and it did not disappoint! I get excited when I find books that I love at my age that are also almost suitable for my own kids. I have some spooky boys on my hands, so I already know that in a few years they’ll be dipping into my book collection! There’s definitely more going on beneath the surface of this story, but I thought it was delivered in a way that would be easy for younger readers to understand while still keeping them invested in the mystery. The ghostly elements, unsolved murder, and setting made this a fun and spooky read. I didn’t always agree with some of the decisions the adults made, but I actually appreciated that aspect of the story. It shows that adults make mistakes too and that communication can make all the difference. There are some great conversations and lessons tucked into this mystery. Another win from Tiffany D. Jackson! I can’t wait until my little spooky readers are old enough to steal this one from my shelf.
What to Expect👇🏽
👻 Spooky
🔎 Mystery
🫂 Found Family
💬 Communication + life lessons
Happy reading 📖✨👻🕯️
August 15, 2026
Spooky Vibes
Keeping in mind that this is a middle grade level book, I thought it was very well done. There was a murder mystery and a missing child plot. The suspense was good. It also had a creepy feeling to it. The kids working to solve the crimes were so smart and sure of themselves. I loved them. I also really enjoyed the cultural education that was mixed in throughout the book. The truth came out with an interesting plot twist. I didn’t see it coming. This was an enjoyable read. As a former teacher, I would’ve loved to read this with my students.
Keeping in mind that this is a middle grade level book, I thought it was very well done. There was a murder mystery and a missing child plot. The suspense was good. It also had a creepy feeling to it. The kids working to solve the crimes were so smart and sure of themselves. I loved them. I also really enjoyed the cultural education that was mixed in throughout the book. The truth came out with an interesting plot twist. I didn’t see it coming. This was an enjoyable read. As a former teacher, I would’ve loved to read this with my students.
August 5, 2026
A solid middle grade mystery from an author who always delivers.
Tiffany D. Jackson is one of my favorite writers, so anything she releases is an automatic read for me. Ghost in the Night was no exception. Even though I was clearly not the intended audience (and that became very obvious while reading) I can absolutely see how perfect this story is for middle grade readers.
It’s a quick, engaging read (I finished it in a single day) and it holds your interest from start to finish. Jackson knows how to build tension and atmosphere in a way that’s accessible for younger readers without losing her signature sense of mystery. The pacing is tight, the characters are easy to follow, and the plot has just enough spooky elements to keep kids hooked without being overwhelming.
While it didn’t speak to me the way her YA novels do, it’s exactly the kind of story that will resonate with its intended age group... curious, imaginative readers who love a little thrill.
Thank you Scholastic for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Tiffany D. Jackson is one of my favorite writers, so anything she releases is an automatic read for me. Ghost in the Night was no exception. Even though I was clearly not the intended audience (and that became very obvious while reading) I can absolutely see how perfect this story is for middle grade readers.
It’s a quick, engaging read (I finished it in a single day) and it holds your interest from start to finish. Jackson knows how to build tension and atmosphere in a way that’s accessible for younger readers without losing her signature sense of mystery. The pacing is tight, the characters are easy to follow, and the plot has just enough spooky elements to keep kids hooked without being overwhelming.
While it didn’t speak to me the way her YA novels do, it’s exactly the kind of story that will resonate with its intended age group... curious, imaginative readers who love a little thrill.
Thank you Scholastic for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
August 15, 2026
This one is okay and definitely best for the middle grade audience it’s intended for.
August 6, 2026
***3.75 Stars***
Thanks to Scholastic and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This book just came out this week! All opinions are my own.
This new mystery/thriller is perfect for your middle-schooler as we are approaching this ghostly season. (A word of parental warning, this is a murder mystery and a missing child is involved.)
In the book’s introduction, Jackson talks about how, especially in children, the belief or interest in ghosts can be derived from grief and their attempt to understand their grief. And you can really see this thesis throughout the novel. Harmony recently lost her grandmother (who basically raised her) and her mother died when she was very young and those losses brings about her interest in ghost tours and stories.
I really liked the parts that discussed the Gullah Geechee peoples, their cultures, and their beliefs in the haints. I also really liked how it talked about how places like Savannah, Georgia often try to obfuscate their uglier pasts and that activists in cities like this are actually trying to bring those stories to the forefront and to properly memorialize them.
I disliked some of the choices and actions that the adults made. Granted, we were suppose to dislike them (or at least some of them), but I feel like the issues were glossed over too quickly for a proper resolution or not truly dealt with at all.
But overall, this was enjoyable and had a bit more going on under the surface which I like. I think this could be a fun parent/child buddy read.
Thanks to Scholastic and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This book just came out this week! All opinions are my own.
This new mystery/thriller is perfect for your middle-schooler as we are approaching this ghostly season. (A word of parental warning, this is a murder mystery and a missing child is involved.)
In the book’s introduction, Jackson talks about how, especially in children, the belief or interest in ghosts can be derived from grief and their attempt to understand their grief. And you can really see this thesis throughout the novel. Harmony recently lost her grandmother (who basically raised her) and her mother died when she was very young and those losses brings about her interest in ghost tours and stories.
I really liked the parts that discussed the Gullah Geechee peoples, their cultures, and their beliefs in the haints. I also really liked how it talked about how places like Savannah, Georgia often try to obfuscate their uglier pasts and that activists in cities like this are actually trying to bring those stories to the forefront and to properly memorialize them.
I disliked some of the choices and actions that the adults made. Granted, we were suppose to dislike them (or at least some of them), but I feel like the issues were glossed over too quickly for a proper resolution or not truly dealt with at all.
But overall, this was enjoyable and had a bit more going on under the surface which I like. I think this could be a fun parent/child buddy read.
August 2, 2026
“What if I’ve been wasting my time looking for proof of something that never really happened to begin with?”
TDJ has done it again!!
Her 2nd middle grade novel is IT.
If you are looking for a middle grade thriller:
-12 y/o ghost believer FMC
-single dad
-found family
-familial grief & healing
-“Goosebumps” meets “Nancy Drew”
-Savannah ghost/ancestral history
-Black spirituality
-murder & disappearances
-based in Savannah, GA
-under 300 pages
This is the kind of scary books that I wish I had growing up. This was Black, relatable, on par for the age group & enthralling for the young reader.
I was tickled how she made the daughter from Harlem. If TDJ does anything, it’s paying homage to New York.
I did enjoy how much Savannah history was told. I visited a few years ago and joined a few history and ghost tours. So, it was nice to be able to recall some of the historical facts that she included in the plot.
The ever growing bond between Harmony & her dad was one of my favorite parts. Harmony felt like a relatable little Black girl with lots of feelings while growing and learning through them.
The slow burn spooky storyline was so good. I could see this as a TV show that Black kids who enjoy spooky vibes could relate to.
This was masterfully done, as always.
If you are a fan of TDJ’s work and will read it if she writes it then this is your sign.
TDJ has done it again!!
Her 2nd middle grade novel is IT.
If you are looking for a middle grade thriller:
-12 y/o ghost believer FMC
-single dad
-found family
-familial grief & healing
-“Goosebumps” meets “Nancy Drew”
-Savannah ghost/ancestral history
-Black spirituality
-murder & disappearances
-based in Savannah, GA
-under 300 pages
This is the kind of scary books that I wish I had growing up. This was Black, relatable, on par for the age group & enthralling for the young reader.
I was tickled how she made the daughter from Harlem. If TDJ does anything, it’s paying homage to New York.
I did enjoy how much Savannah history was told. I visited a few years ago and joined a few history and ghost tours. So, it was nice to be able to recall some of the historical facts that she included in the plot.
The ever growing bond between Harmony & her dad was one of my favorite parts. Harmony felt like a relatable little Black girl with lots of feelings while growing and learning through them.
The slow burn spooky storyline was so good. I could see this as a TV show that Black kids who enjoy spooky vibes could relate to.
This was masterfully done, as always.
If you are a fan of TDJ’s work and will read it if she writes it then this is your sign.
August 4, 2026
Really enjoyed this second middle grade mystery novel featuring Harmony Roundtree. This time she's on vacation in New Orleans and gets caught up in a case involving ghosts, haints and tricksy ghost hunters. Full of myths, legends and some messy family drama, it was also good on audio and kept me fully entertained from start to finish! Can't recommend enough!!
August 8, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
This is my second read by Tiffany Jackson and I was actually impressed. I rarely venture off in the YA genre but this read was worth it. There was enough action and suspense to keep my attention. The pacing was perfect and the plot evident, simple and straight to the point. Overall, I enjoyed Ghost in The Night and look forward to reading more from this author.
This is my second read by Tiffany Jackson and I was actually impressed. I rarely venture off in the YA genre but this read was worth it. There was enough action and suspense to keep my attention. The pacing was perfect and the plot evident, simple and straight to the point. Overall, I enjoyed Ghost in The Night and look forward to reading more from this author.
August 4, 2026
Tiffany never misses.
August 5, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I thought this book was so cute . I love anything Tiffany writes so this was short she and sweet .
I thought this book was so cute . I love anything Tiffany writes so this was short she and sweet .
August 5, 2026
This was a good middle grade thriller/horror. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. Honestly TDJ can do no wrong in my eyes 🤷🏽♀️. Solid read.
August 7, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ This was a fun book and easy to read. The ending was a bit predictable but that’s okay.
Did Not Finish
August 12, 2026Dnfed at 39% because this one felt more middle grade than the previous one in the series
August 15, 2026
🤩4 stars🤩
August 5, 2026
3.75/5 stars ✨ a nice lil palette cleanser. more black middle grade/YA thrillers!!!
August 3, 2026
If Tiffany D. Jackson writes it, I’m reading it. I enjoyed her first middle grade novel, Blood in the Water, so I was really excited to read her next one! Ghost in the Night was such a cool ghost story that also dove deep into grief, history and family. Harmony was su h a wonderfully written character and I loved how strong and take charge she was. I really loved seeing her and Robby connect and look out for each other. I LOVED Myah. She was so cool! I also loved the look at the history of Savannah and other Southern cities and how important it is to acknowledge all of it, even the horrifying parts. The mystery itself was really interesting and I was so excited to see where it would go. Anyone who enjoys a ghost story and young, strong characters will love this one!
Thank you to Scholastic Press for the digital reader’s copy!
Thank you to Scholastic Press for the digital reader’s copy!
April 5, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Tiffany D. Jackson for the ARC of Ghost in the Night! Tiffany is one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to dive into this one.
This YA story leans toward middle grade and is perfect for younger readers who enjoy a spooky mystery. We follow Harmony, who proudly calls herself a “weird girl from Harlem.” After experiencing a recent tragedy, she becomes fascinated with researching ghosts. When she travels to Savannah with her dad for his music gig, her curiosity grows even stronger especially when she joins a ghost tour.
During the tour, Harmony thinks she sees a ghost… but did she really? Around the same time, she learns about a murder that may be connected to the very house where she had her eerie experience. Determined to uncover the truth, Harmony teams up with two new friends to investigate the so-called “haunted house” and they end up discovering far more than they expected.
This is a fast-paced, engaging thriller that younger YA and middle grade readers will definitely enjoy. As always, I love Tiffany D. Jackson’s storytelling and can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tiffany D. Jackson for the ARC of Ghost in the Night! Tiffany is one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to dive into this one.
This YA story leans toward middle grade and is perfect for younger readers who enjoy a spooky mystery. We follow Harmony, who proudly calls herself a “weird girl from Harlem.” After experiencing a recent tragedy, she becomes fascinated with researching ghosts. When she travels to Savannah with her dad for his music gig, her curiosity grows even stronger especially when she joins a ghost tour.
During the tour, Harmony thinks she sees a ghost… but did she really? Around the same time, she learns about a murder that may be connected to the very house where she had her eerie experience. Determined to uncover the truth, Harmony teams up with two new friends to investigate the so-called “haunted house” and they end up discovering far more than they expected.
This is a fast-paced, engaging thriller that younger YA and middle grade readers will definitely enjoy. As always, I love Tiffany D. Jackson’s storytelling and can’t wait to see what she writes next!
March 7, 2026
I would like to thank Tiffany D. Jackson, Scholastic Press, and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to preview Ghost in the Night in exchange for my sincere review.
This is my second TDJ book and I am hooked. I am so glad she has started to branch out into the middle school genre! Grief can be so hard to navigate, especially as a child. Reading about Harmony and her grandmother brought up memories about my own grandparents who have passed away. I think the decision to draw on her memories and experiences will help others relate to her character’s story.
What started as an innocent ghost tour ended up becoming a race to solve the mystery of a dead man and a missing boy! The story was well-developed and I believe that readers will enjoy meeting Harmony as she searches for answers in “haunted” Savannah Georgia. Nail-biting, goosebumps all over my arms, and needing to devour every single page of this book, it did not disappoint!
I would recommend this book and will definitely be including this in my middle school library collection!
This is my second TDJ book and I am hooked. I am so glad she has started to branch out into the middle school genre! Grief can be so hard to navigate, especially as a child. Reading about Harmony and her grandmother brought up memories about my own grandparents who have passed away. I think the decision to draw on her memories and experiences will help others relate to her character’s story.
What started as an innocent ghost tour ended up becoming a race to solve the mystery of a dead man and a missing boy! The story was well-developed and I believe that readers will enjoy meeting Harmony as she searches for answers in “haunted” Savannah Georgia. Nail-biting, goosebumps all over my arms, and needing to devour every single page of this book, it did not disappoint!
I would recommend this book and will definitely be including this in my middle school library collection!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Harmony Round tree has become increasingly interested in ghosts since the death of her beloved grandmother. She and her father, Big Al, have been traveling around the US with his band. In each new city, she tries to go on a ghost tour and endeavors to take photos. She gets a note of permission from her father, and is often the only Black girl on the tour. In Savannah, her father has new accomodations for them; the guest house at the back of his friend Lena's property. There's just been a murder in the area of a locally beloved historian, Tim Truman, and his nephew Jabari is still missing. This makes Lena wary of letting Harmony take her son, Robby, on ghost tours with her, but the two still go on Asher's Orbs and More tour in the Colonial Park area. At the run down Myers House, Harmony thinks she gets a picture of a ghost. Excited, she goes to a shop to get a hard copy printed, and meets a girl her age, Myah, whose father owns the shop. Myah thinks that the ghost is Truman's, and the girls start to hang out to try to learn more about what happened to Truman. The area was built on top of a Black cemetery, and Truman had been trying to get the name of the square changed from Calhoun, which ran him afoul of some people. The kids try to talk to friends and family of Truman, but upset some of them. They decide that they need to solve the mystery themselves. They try to get some ghost hunting advice from Maverick, who tells them that sometimes what people think are ghosts are really grief hallucinations. Since Harmony is struggling with the death of her grandmother, this is a concern. Also concerning is the fact that Myah has gotten in trouble for claiming to be able to talk to ghosts, encouraged by the teachings of her own grandmother, who is of Gullah descent. Even though the Myers House is condemned, the kids sneak in. Will they be able to solve the mystery, and will Harmony come to terms with her father's plans for the future?
While I thought this book was related to the author's Blood in the Water because of the similarities in the cover, it is not.
Strengths: I've never been to Savannah, so this was a great virtual trip. There is plenty of local history, and it was good to see Harmony investigating it along with Myah, who was aware of some of the local legends. I enjoyed Myah's grandmother. The subplot with Harmony and her father moving away from Harlem could have been a book all on its own. Robby was a good sidekick, and I liked his technical knowledge. Ghost hunting seems like a tween interest that could be more widespread, and the book had a bit of a Scooby-Doo feel to it, with Harmony and her meddling friends being able to find the evil villains and solve the mystery.
Weaknesses: Harmony and Myah make some poor choices, and as an adult, Lena seemed to have some good points about being cautious in an area that had just seen an unsolved murder.While young readers will think it perfectly fine that the kids are giving Maverick money to rent equipment and going into a decrepit building, it gave me some pause. This was also a bit on the long side.
What I really think: While this is mildly scary, it is more historically focused. Fans of Hill's Girl from the Ashes or Strong's Just South of Home, and Cummins' trace will enjoy this one. While I appreciate the research that Jackson has done into children and grief, it's never my favorite thing to read about. Grandparents of middle grade readers are very likely to die; it's just part of life. My own philosphy on this is different from the prevailing one. I will probably buy a copy, since the cover is great and my students can't get enough scary books.
Harmony Round tree has become increasingly interested in ghosts since the death of her beloved grandmother. She and her father, Big Al, have been traveling around the US with his band. In each new city, she tries to go on a ghost tour and endeavors to take photos. She gets a note of permission from her father, and is often the only Black girl on the tour. In Savannah, her father has new accomodations for them; the guest house at the back of his friend Lena's property. There's just been a murder in the area of a locally beloved historian, Tim Truman, and his nephew Jabari is still missing. This makes Lena wary of letting Harmony take her son, Robby, on ghost tours with her, but the two still go on Asher's Orbs and More tour in the Colonial Park area. At the run down Myers House, Harmony thinks she gets a picture of a ghost. Excited, she goes to a shop to get a hard copy printed, and meets a girl her age, Myah, whose father owns the shop. Myah thinks that the ghost is Truman's, and the girls start to hang out to try to learn more about what happened to Truman. The area was built on top of a Black cemetery, and Truman had been trying to get the name of the square changed from Calhoun, which ran him afoul of some people. The kids try to talk to friends and family of Truman, but upset some of them. They decide that they need to solve the mystery themselves. They try to get some ghost hunting advice from Maverick, who tells them that sometimes what people think are ghosts are really grief hallucinations. Since Harmony is struggling with the death of her grandmother, this is a concern. Also concerning is the fact that Myah has gotten in trouble for claiming to be able to talk to ghosts, encouraged by the teachings of her own grandmother, who is of Gullah descent. Even though the Myers House is condemned, the kids sneak in. Will they be able to solve the mystery, and will Harmony come to terms with her father's plans for the future?
While I thought this book was related to the author's Blood in the Water because of the similarities in the cover, it is not.
Strengths: I've never been to Savannah, so this was a great virtual trip. There is plenty of local history, and it was good to see Harmony investigating it along with Myah, who was aware of some of the local legends. I enjoyed Myah's grandmother. The subplot with Harmony and her father moving away from Harlem could have been a book all on its own. Robby was a good sidekick, and I liked his technical knowledge. Ghost hunting seems like a tween interest that could be more widespread, and the book had a bit of a Scooby-Doo feel to it, with Harmony and her meddling friends being able to find the evil villains and solve the mystery.
Weaknesses: Harmony and Myah make some poor choices, and as an adult, Lena seemed to have some good points about being cautious in an area that had just seen an unsolved murder.While young readers will think it perfectly fine that the kids are giving Maverick money to rent equipment and going into a decrepit building, it gave me some pause. This was also a bit on the long side.
What I really think: While this is mildly scary, it is more historically focused. Fans of Hill's Girl from the Ashes or Strong's Just South of Home, and Cummins' trace will enjoy this one. While I appreciate the research that Jackson has done into children and grief, it's never my favorite thing to read about. Grandparents of middle grade readers are very likely to die; it's just part of life. My own philosphy on this is different from the prevailing one. I will probably buy a copy, since the cover is great and my students can't get enough scary books.
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