The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee

Thelma Bee #1

by Erin Petti

Eleven-year-old Thelma Bee is never bored. In fact, she has curiosity and adventure in her blood. She spends her time running science experiments, practicing Spanish, and daydreaming about exotic landscapes. But Thelma gets more than she bargained for when a strange woman sells a jewelry box at her father’s antique shop. That night, a ghost kidnaps her father, and the only clues are the jewelry box and a word the ghost whispered in her ear: “Return.” Now it’s up to Thelma to get her dad back, and it might be harder than she thought—there’s someone wielding dark magic, and they’re coming after her next.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, Ghosts, Childrens, Juvenile

Unknown Binding

First published September 6, 2016

Reviews

[Melissa Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute ghost story with a twist. 4 solid stars. I want to thank Mighty Media Press for sending me this free ARC for an honest review.

Thelma be is 11 years old and has just started middle school. She is considered a freak among the other girls, but is okay with it because to her, the other girls are ridiculous and silly. Thelma has a best friend Alexander who is the brains to their experiments and is very knowledgeable about a lot of things.

Thelma's father Henry, runs an antique's store in Riverfish the town they live in. Her mother Mary works with animals. She is a researcher and hunter for lack of a better word. She is during the book "hunting" a giant deer of some sort to study.

One day an old woman comes into the Antique's store and sells Henry a small wooden box. Once Thelma picks up this box, she senses something strange about it. As soon as the old woman leaves weird things begin to happen.

Thelma soon realizes the box is haunted and before she can research further her father is sucked into the mysterious box and Thelma has to go about this mystery alone. Well not alone she does have her best friend Alexander and the local paranormal society to help her along the way.

I thought this story was a cute ghost story. It had great family values. Wonderful friendship. Lots of science-y and learning is cool vibes to it. Being brave is a big theme in this story as well. I loved the family dynamic within the Bee household. Thelma just adores her father to pieces. I always love reading stories were the parents are super involved and the kids love and cherish their parents.

If you like paranormal books for all ages I'd definitely pick this book up.

[Cara Cahill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thelma Bee is an eerily entertaining book! This is the story of a scientifically-minded girl who steps into the world of magic when a lady walks into her father's antique shop with a jewelry box. This box is the beginning of an unwanted adventure for Thelma and a few of her faithful friends.

Erin Petti is a master at creating suspenseful scenes, then adding in just enough humor to give you a chance to breathe, before making you hold your breath again. She has the ability to paint a picture for the reader that will make them shudder. I found myself not being able to stop reading because the suspense grabbed me and pulled me in. As scary as this tale was, it also pulls at your heartstrings with the themes of friendship and the power of family.

I loved this book, Thelma, and the idea of the combination of magic and science! I can't wait to share this with my students. They will love every haunted second of it! I know I did!

[Victoria Coe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee is as thrilling and chilling as I expected! When a creepy stranger brings an antique jewelry box into Henry Bee's shop, Thelma knows something is wrong. And boy, is she ever right!

Thelma is a wonderfully curious and spunky heroine who, along with her best friend Alexander and a ghost-hunter pal, embarks on a mysterious and terrifying quest to save Thelma's dad. In the process, Thelma discovers amazing gifts that she never knew she had and unlocks an incredible secret about her family.

Highly recommend for middle grade readers who love mysteries, ghost stories, and thrillers!

[Scott Fillner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an entertaining book! Erin's book has everything. It was witty, creepy, humorous, frightening, surprising, and just down right good. I really felt like this book will someday be a movie.

Erin has a wonderful way of creating intense action, then pausing to make you laugh and put you at ease, only to ramp it back up again.

I won't spoil it, but the end made me very excited. I can't wait to see what others have to say as well.

[Lois Sepahban · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to read an ARC of The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee.

I loved this spooky and fun book! I can't wait to recommend it to my friends.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started out all over the place with my emotions! Looking at the cover I thought I was about to read a creepy book. When I started the book, it seemed like more of a cute story about Thelma & her best friend. Then..BAM. It got CREEPY! Lol What a wild ride, & I loved every minute! This was incredible! This pulled off having heartwarming elements, endearing characters, but at the same time being a spooky & creepy good time. Thelma is a smart science loving girl, & her & her best friend Alexander love doing research & experiments together. Then her scientific brain has to get used to the idea of all sorts of things that make no factual sense. Like ghosts. Not only are Thelma & Alexander amazing, but all of the side characters are. I absolutely loved her dad. Then Eugene that runs the café, & he is a member of the ghost hunter team he introduces Thelma too-& all THOSE characters were so great. I even loved the name of Eugene’s car! Lol The villain & the creepy elements were superbly written also. Amazing humor as well. The whole mystery & what Thelma has to do had me so engrossed. This was also an insanely atmospheric book. No matter where or what was going on-whether at Thelma’s house, her dad’s shop, Eugene’s café, the haunted house, the “place” Thelma goes into, the marsh & beyond..vivid, imaginative writing that gave me all the feels. She can definitely write scenes that give you goosebumps. Brilliant with the balance of danger/suspense & humor as well. Plus, like I said, these amazing characters. Loved the strong friendship in here, & also the strong theme of the importance of family. There will be a sequel in ‘22 & I can’t wait! Highly recommend! Hauntingly beautiful cover by Kris Aro McLeod too!💜

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. The characters were great, really charming and funny. This is a YA, but it's not dumbed down so adults can enjoy it as well. Fun mystery, bit funny, but also a more than a bit creepy at times then the end got a little deep. So all in all it was a great quick read. I'll definitely read the next one.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this novel at Bookcon.

This was a great read- I loved the story line, the language, and the way that Petti wove her tale. 11 year old Thelma is an excellent protagonist. I like her because she has flaws and she works through them. I feel the same about her best friend Alexander- I'm not a fan of books where the main characters appear perfect. Thelma and Alexander seem quite realistic to me.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of this novel was the language. I spend most of my time reading YA literature and many novels aimed at that age group leave me wanting in this category. Not The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee however. Petti employs wonderfully exquisite word use in her novel, providing a balance between familiar words that most middle school readers will be at home with while still slipping in new vocabulary surrounded by context clues (subtly-its so well crafted) to help the readers figure out its meaning.

The plot moves along a wonderful pace and does not get bogged down at any point. Thelma and Alexander are continually taking action and moving things along, but it never feels rushed either. The story line itself was original and Petti did an excellent job of tying up enough loose ends to make the reader satisfied with the end of the novel, while leaving the door open for more installments in the series. The descriptions in the novel are also well done, I easily envisioned the story- a mini movie playing in my mind.

I plan on recommending this book to my nephews when he is a bit older (he is currently 6) and I think that he will love the story. I also enjoyed the lovely artwork that is interspersed throughout the novel. The entire thing was a treat! I look forward to reading the continued adventures of Thelma and the crew!

[Bridget Hodder · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PECULIAR HAUNTING OF THELMA BEE is deliciously mysterious, thoroughly scary, and funny as heck. What more Middle Grade magic could you ask for? Perhaps strong female characters, a family history waiting to be discovered, a local group of the most amusing paranormal explorers since Ghostbusters, and an extremely likable heroine with a great best friend? Well, they're in there, too!

Author Erin Petti twists together varied plot strands that take us in super-surprising directions. No spoilers here; things happen that you are NOT going to expect. You'll jump in your seat as you read it, just as though someone were telling this tale to you by a campfire. In fact, I highly recommend that this book be read by a campfire. I'll go further, and recommend that you Middle Graders should read this book anywhere and anytime you can lay your hands on it! A fast, fun, frightening read that also warms the heart. I was so glad to find out that it's the first in a series! Bring on more THELMA BEE!

(I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

[Abby Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit, I was a little nervous to read this story. Scary things have never been my favorite. I tend to scream loudly and often, and am still living down doing so in a movie theater, approximately ten years ago, at a decidedly not-scary thing (the evil monkey in Pirates of the Caribbean - which, for the record, I still find TERRIFYING.)

While THELMA BEE definitely had plenty of scream-worthy moments (I tried to keep myself under control), it had a lot of other elements, too. There was an awesome mystery, several wonderfully developed friendships/family relationships, and a really cool, unique setting. This book will keep you on your toes from beginning to end. I think middle grade readers will absolutely love this story. And as for me, I can proudly say that I am now a fan of scary things - and of Erin Petti! Can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.

[S.F. Henson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional book! Thelma is strong and smart and adorable, with tenacity springing out all over the place. Her friends are equally smart and independent. I love the diverse cast and the well thought out plot. There are traces of Goosebumps and Harriet the Spy and Stars Hollow and Hocus Pocus, all melted together with Petti's original voice and characters. Wonderful debut, and a definite must-read!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the science-minded protagonist in this ghost story. Eager to find out what happens next to the whole crew!

[Laura Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly surprising find at the library today, and I zoomed through it before bedtime. Really fun and genuinely spine tingling novel. Super fun read for kiddos who are ok with some spooky, or adults who want something fun to read in October.

[Nicole Aka Grave doll · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the quirky characters!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had some legit spooky cred! I wasn’t expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised and zipped right through it. I’m not crazy about the Disiri notion. I wish there’d have been some other resolution than that, but it’s alright. I still very much enjoyed the book. Perfect pre-Halloween fare.

[Silver Petticoat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this entire review here: THE PECULIAR HAUNTING OF THELMA BEE – A CLEVER, IMAGINATIVE DEBUT

Review by Amber Topping

Overall Rating = 4.5

Adventure. Ghosts. Magic. Mystery. There is a lot to love in The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee – the delightful debut novel from Erin Petti. A fast, engaging read, this book should entertain and charm readers everywhere. The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee is a clever, imaginative book with wonderful characters that has the real potential to become a huge hit.

The story begins with Thelma Bee up to life as usual. With notebook in hand, Thelma Bee is always ready to write down her latest scientific observation. She has her best friend Alexander, an adventurous Mom, and a supportive Dad – which is all she really needs. That is until her world is thrown upside down when her Dad is kidnapped by a ghost. What follows is an adventure that leads to Thelma Bee discovering some surprising truths as she makes new friends and fights against darkness along the way.

There is something refreshing about The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee and should appeal to middle-grade readers (and even adults) in swarms. I was especially impressed with the female-driven angle of the book. It’s rare to find a scientifically minded young heroine. And not only is Thelma Bee scientifically minded (which is beyond awesome) but she’s also an imaginative dreamer with an insatiable curiosity. The combination of these traits makes for a memorable protagonist who discovers she might have just a little bit – or a lot – of magic inside of her. Young women should really relate to this magical book and be swept up into its enchanted, albeit slightly frightening, world.

Thelma Bee is the young heroine the world needs right now and I truly hope the story takes flight and becomes a best-seller. Creative black-and-white pictures accompany the charming book as well, making the story all the more fun to read. If you love Coraline, Matilda, Harry Potter, The Secret Circle, or Ghostbusters, then this is the book for you.

Read this entire review and others (especially if you love old-fashioned chivalrous romance) at: THE SILVER PETTICOAT REVIEW

[Linda]

This was a truly delightful read! I went into it being predisposed to like it, I suppose, because the concept sounded so good. And it delivered!
Some MG or younger books will couch learning in story terms and it feels like they are trying to pull a fast one on the kids. Like there is so much information slipped into the story, at the expense of the story.
But not this one. It was full of scientific method, from the chapter headings to the main character's theories and note-taking and findings. But it was delightfully creepy and even scary and full of mystery. It was all woven together into a story that kept me reading long past bedtime and was hard to put down.
I loved Thelma! I loved how she loved her dad. I loved how she was really focused on just finding things out. She seems like the type of person that I would love to sit down and chat with. I also loved Alexander, her best friend (and hey, the fact that a boy and girl can BE best friends). I loved the tiniest little twinge of romance at the end too. Only a tiny bit.
But the story! Oh, how to discuss without spoilers? Because I hate spoilers. But man, the box and the girl and the creepy old man? And the woods and the lady with the bun and the creepy little house? I loved it. I think this might even be a little too scary for some MG but honestly, it is done so well that they will be in and out before they know it. I just want to throw that in there so you might be aware if your child comes running. But for most, it will be fine. Any kid that can watch The Walking Dead can handle this. (Hey, I cannot even watch The Walking Dead.)
I loved it. I loved Thelma's relationship with her parents, the secret that she discovers about herself, and everything. I hope that this means there are more Thelma Bee books in the future.
I received this book at Heartland Fall Forum at the Moveable Feast, where I got to meet Erin and hear her talk about her book. I am also excited that this is a local publisher, Mighty Media, which does wonderful things with kids' books!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: ARC received at BookCon for review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and have not been influenced in any way.

Thelma Bee is a curious, smart middle schooler with high hopes and dreams. Her father owns an antique shop, and her mother explores the world for mysterious animals. Thelma is a just a regular girl, until an old woman brings a strange locked box to the antique shop, and there's when her adventure begins. Even though this is a middle-grade book, it was a very enjoyable read for me at age 23.
The peculiar haunting that takes place in this book is different from any other that I've seen or read about, which makes this really fun to read being a totally new experience. I enjoyed all of the characters (especially Izzy, a short girl with a strong heart). The paranormal action begins shortly into the novel, and though it is a book meant for younger readers, the paranormal scenes are vivid and scary.

I especially love the illustrations scattered throughout the book, and the sketchbook-style of the artwork really matches how the story is written (Note: I'm not sure if the artwork is the same in the final book, but in this ARC copy they are styled as if they've been sketched out). The description of the haunted house was so good that it didn't need an illustration to portray how eerie and impending the architecture was.

If you are interested in paranormal stories, I would definitely recommend this book no matter what age you are. The backstory is unique and is a great mystery for any age to enjoy. The ending is a feel-good one, though it hints at more adventures to come from Thelma (which I'm looking forward to!).

[Cynthia Reeg · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this fast-paced middle grade fantasy, eleven-year-old Thelma Bee likes to conduct science experiments, aid her father with his antique store, and hang out with her too-often absent mother. Her best friend, Alexander, and she are eager explorers when mysteries start mounting and her father is transported away by evil forces. Soon Thelma seeks help from the local paranormal society and the eerie adventures begin. Brave and persistent, Thelma discovers much more than she ever imagined—about herself and the magical forces in the world. I loved the illustrations peppered throughout the story. Young readers will find this book hard to put down until they have turned the last page.
Spooky suspense at its best!

[Darby Karchut · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a creepy, yet funny, romp of a ghost story! THE PECULIAR HAUNTING OF THELMA BEE is a delightful blend of intelligence and courage, and with a spot on middle grade voice. It is so refreshing to read about a girl who uses the scientific method to save those she loves. The cast of characters are a hoot - they remind me of the T.V. show: GHOST HUNTERS, but for middle school kids. I'm eager to read more from Erin Petti. Bravo on her debut novel!

[Joseph Leskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, I liked this here book quite well. For being a book upon the rather occult, it seemed somewhat realistic. I liked very much how everything was portrayed. Also, reading novels that involve the mixing of science and that which may be considered "unscientific"… that's the life! Especially if its about ghosts. Because… ghosts !!!! Okay, okay… ghosts are something to be taken seriously. I've got that firmly instilled in my mind.

[Carolyn Bernhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An empowering read for any young reader! Thelma and her friends are a well-developed group of characters, the plot thickens at a wonderful pace, and the paranormal element is just spooky enough to keep readers coming back!

[Casey Lyall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spooky ghost story with tons of adventure and mystery to boot! I love stories like this with spunky heroines, twisty plots, dark magic, and just the right amount of humour. A great read! I'm looking forward to more from this author!

[Krista Dolzer]

A delightfully creepy tale with a delightfully scientific heroine who discovers that science can't explain everything that goes on around her. And may I just say how much I love Henry Bee? He's my new favorite literary dad.

[The Reading Writing Puppet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute haunting story. If you liked Doll Bones and Goosebumps, this will be a fun read for that young horror fan. Story follows a girl named Thelma Bee who has to save her family from something evil.

[Lee Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb and inventive ghost story!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Laura Noakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy, funny, magical, scientific, scary and overwhelmingly charming. If you like MG books in the vein of CORALINE, you need to read this book!

[Eilonwy · Rating 5 out of 5]

11-year-old Thelma Bee is a budding scientist, which is a bit of a pun here because she’s trying to grow a Mexican orchid in her backyard in Massachusetts. She likes coming up with theories, and she likes testing them. She likes a good mystery, too, so she’s also friends with a member of her town’s paranormal investigations club. When a strange old lady sells a jewelry box to Thelma’s antique-store-proprietor father, strange and terrible things begin to happen -- and both the scientific method and a little supernatural knowledge turn out to be very useful resources.

This book was fun! And also pretty scary for a middle grade book. (Among the creepiest moments: a closed opaque shower curtain, and the breathless seconds of wondering what might be behind it. Uuuugghhh, I think the author was reading my mind when she wrote that scene!) The tension in this story is high, and I zoomed through it to find out what happened next -- and next -- and next.

I was charmed by Thelma and her friend Alexander, who just want to be left alone to be their interesting, creative, nerdy selves. Thelma is both charming and confident, but also a true-to-life kid, a bit impatient and sometimes impulsive. I loved her scientific view of the world; my inner middle school self wanted to jump in this book and hang out with her. I’m a little jealous of Erin Petti for getting to write about this character!

I don’t want to say much about the plot, because it was unpredictable and genuinely shocking at nearly every turn. And the ending took a twist I was not expecting, at all. It surprised me as much as it did Thelma. And yay, because there are hints there may be a sequel or two.

I also want to call out the illustrations in this book, because they were great -- very cute, and really captured the characters and mood of the story. I especially loved the theme illustration at the start of every chapter.

Definitely recommended if you like pragmatic middle-grade heroines, or have middle grade friends or relations.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, I need to make clear that I don't think I'm the target audience for this book. If I had seen this book while browsing the library or book store, I don't think I would have picked it up; it's just not what I'm usually interested in. However, a friend of mine recommended the book, and then gave me a copy for my daughter to read, so it was a quick read within easy reach. A 2-star rating might seem negative, but I do try to adhere to Goodreads's rating system, which means I thought this book was "okay" - I didn't necessarily like or dislike it, I felt pretty neutral towards it.

This book strikes me as like the "pilot episode" for a series like Charmed or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I know both TV shows had devoted fans, but I didn't watch either; I didn't dislike them, they just didn't interest me. Both shows - and this book - feature women living in modern times who surprisingly realize they have supernatural powers, which they need to use to defeat evil demons lurking among them. Others in their world don't know of their special abilities or the demons, except for a very limited inner circle. I suspect that if you like that kind of fiction, then this book would be right up your alley!

It took a while for me to get into the book. It felt like there were a lot of random things going on - a science project of dubious merit, a stereotypical "mean girl" (whose role in the book I never did understand...), a best friend who likes languages, Thelma's mom being away, a cafe owner who dabbles in the paranormal. My interest was finally piqued when the big crazy things started happening.

The most sensitive of readers (like me) might not like some of the illustrations or writing - true to its title, this book involves a haunting, with creepy circumstances and scary ghosts and monsters. I do think the author did an impressive job of keeping the tone light, despite the disturbing events surrounding Thelma; regardless of the situation, Thelma always responded and spoke like a "typical" teenager, which made for a good chuckle.