Ghost Teeth

by Crissa-Jean Chappell

Every summer, Connor Gray escapes to his grandmother's crumbling Victorian house in Brooklyn's Ditmas Park—a place filled with memories, mystery, and maybe even a  ghost or two. But this year, everything has changed. His beloved Nana has moved into assisted living, and Connor's dad must sell the house to help pay for her care. As demolition draws closer, Connor is desperate to hold on to the only place that has ever truly felt like home. Then his newly adopted cousin, the fearless and eccentric Paisley, uncovers a family generations of Gray women were witches, and Connor may have inherited the magic need-ed to save the house. But is the old Victorian really cursed, or will the greatest magic turn out to be courage, family, and learning when to let go? A heartfelt, magical adventure about family, memory, and finding wonder where you least expect it.

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 27, 2027

About the author

Crissa-Jean Chappell was born in Miami and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. She is the author of several award-winning novels including TOTAL CONSTANT ORDER (a VOYA Perfect Ten and New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age), MORE THAN GOOD ENOUGH, which Kirkus calls “compelling and emotionally nuanced...” (a Florida Book Award medalist) and SNOWBIRDS (“...an engrossing mystery...” School Library Journal). Her most recent novel is SUN DON’T SHINE (a Children’s Book Council Favorite). She holds a PhD and MFA from the University of Miami and is a professor of creative writing at Lehman College. When she misses South Florida, she talks to the parrots in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Reviews

[Fleur Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love any story with a haunted house, and Crissa-Jean Chappell delivers a fresh middle-grade take on the scary story. Connor, his connection to his grandma, and cousin Paisley made for a genuine cast of characters with strong family ties and real-life struggles.

Ghost Teeth is that perfect blend of character-driven storytelling combined with fast-paced, scary, haunted house mystery. I highly recommend this book, especially for reluctant middle-grade readers.