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Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter
While staying in a haunted Colorado hotel for her father's ghost-hunting television series, Karma Moon must battle her anxiety, interpret the signs of the universe, and get footage of a real ghost--you know, the usual.
Karma Moon is a firm believer in everything "woo-woo," as her dad calls it. So when she asked her trusty Crystal Mystic if the call asking her dad to create a ghost-hunting docuseries was her dad's big break, it "No doubt about it." Because the universe never gets it wrong. Only people do.
Karma and her best friend, Mags, join her dad's Totally Rad film crew at a famous haunted hotel in Colorado over her spring break. Their find a ghost and get it on camera. If they succeed, the show will be a hit, they can pay rent on time, and just maybe, her mom will come back.
Unfortunately, staying at a haunted hotel isn't a walk in the park for someone with a big case of the what-ifs. But her dad made Karma the head of research for the docuseries, so she, Mags, and a mysterious local boy named Nyx must investigate every strange happening in the historically creepy Stanley Hotel. Karma hopes that her what-ifs don't make her give up the ghost before they can find a starring spirit to help their show go viral--and possibly even get them a season two.
With Melissa Savage's quirky cast of characters and spooky setting underlaid by a touching and relatable struggle against anxiety and grief over her fractured family, Karma Moon--Ghosthunter is bound to charm and delight.
Karma Moon is a firm believer in everything "woo-woo," as her dad calls it. So when she asked her trusty Crystal Mystic if the call asking her dad to create a ghost-hunting docuseries was her dad's big break, it "No doubt about it." Because the universe never gets it wrong. Only people do.
Karma and her best friend, Mags, join her dad's Totally Rad film crew at a famous haunted hotel in Colorado over her spring break. Their find a ghost and get it on camera. If they succeed, the show will be a hit, they can pay rent on time, and just maybe, her mom will come back.
Unfortunately, staying at a haunted hotel isn't a walk in the park for someone with a big case of the what-ifs. But her dad made Karma the head of research for the docuseries, so she, Mags, and a mysterious local boy named Nyx must investigate every strange happening in the historically creepy Stanley Hotel. Karma hopes that her what-ifs don't make her give up the ghost before they can find a starring spirit to help their show go viral--and possibly even get them a season two.
With Melissa Savage's quirky cast of characters and spooky setting underlaid by a touching and relatable struggle against anxiety and grief over her fractured family, Karma Moon--Ghosthunter is bound to charm and delight.
352 pages, Library Binding
First published January 19, 2021
8 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
June 22, 2021
This book was phenomenal! The dialogue & humor in here are on point! This is definitely my kind of humor! 2nd book this month w/that amazing quality! Love it! Not only is this a haunted hotel ghost story, but there are some important lessons/messages, & hard hitting topics in here that are done so well! Karma is very open about her anxiety & fears, & even talks to a therapist. She even has certain coping mechanisms to help her get through the day. She has these “what-ifs” that make her anxiety go rampant. They got worse when her mom packed up & left 1 day to Florida. Horrible mom ugh. It’s traumatizing & sends her into a downward spiral in a way. Every choice has a consequence-good or bad. When parents make a choice like this mom did, it can have a significant impact on their kids lives. As a kid, you tend to blame yourself too, & it’s not your fault if your parent isn’t there for you-it’s theirs.
She has a “true blue” best friend in Mags, someone who completely understands & accepts her, & does anything she can to help-including taking her spring break w/Karma, Karma’s dad & film crew to this haunted hotel in Colorado for a possible Netflix series. Their dynamic & dialogue together was next level. The friendship itself was just perfect, & so many of their lines back & forth to each other had me laughing so hard lol Nyx was also such a great character! & when all 3 were together it was so fun! He knows EVERYTHING! Lol
I love how everyone, no matter the character, agrees that the movie Poltergeist is the blueprint for all things haunted -haha love it! Also, Scooby-Doo, The Shining, Ghostbusters, & other references are just great the way they are mentioned-I really need to get to that exact time in The Shining movie to see what Mags is referring to! The toilet portals, the afterlife jello, crystal mystic, pink toes, dag gum hooligans...so much humor & awesomeness in this book! There’s 2 scenes towards the end that had me so emotional & giving this book a big hug! One w/Karma & her dad, & the other Karma & Tally-what an amazing woman..she made a huge impact on a broken girl, & said exactly what she needed. The whole Houdini stuff, & the fact that this is inspired by the real life Stanley Hotel(which actually did inspire The Shining by Stephen King)was fascinating. So many facts about it are actually woven into this fictional story-even room 217!Always love that!
That ending was epic! It left it possible for a book 2, & I really hope so! This has all the spooky vibes, adventure, suspense, family, amazing humor, friendship, hard hitting topics, & hope! This book helps show things do get better, & to always ask for help when you need it-“Fear makes the Wolf bigger than he is.” Highly recommend! Stunning cover by Aleksandar Zolotić too!💜
She has a “true blue” best friend in Mags, someone who completely understands & accepts her, & does anything she can to help-including taking her spring break w/Karma, Karma’s dad & film crew to this haunted hotel in Colorado for a possible Netflix series. Their dynamic & dialogue together was next level. The friendship itself was just perfect, & so many of their lines back & forth to each other had me laughing so hard lol Nyx was also such a great character! & when all 3 were together it was so fun! He knows EVERYTHING! Lol
I love how everyone, no matter the character, agrees that the movie Poltergeist is the blueprint for all things haunted -haha love it! Also, Scooby-Doo, The Shining, Ghostbusters, & other references are just great the way they are mentioned-I really need to get to that exact time in The Shining movie to see what Mags is referring to! The toilet portals, the afterlife jello, crystal mystic, pink toes, dag gum hooligans...so much humor & awesomeness in this book! There’s 2 scenes towards the end that had me so emotional & giving this book a big hug! One w/Karma & her dad, & the other Karma & Tally-what an amazing woman..she made a huge impact on a broken girl, & said exactly what she needed. The whole Houdini stuff, & the fact that this is inspired by the real life Stanley Hotel(which actually did inspire The Shining by Stephen King)was fascinating. So many facts about it are actually woven into this fictional story-even room 217!Always love that!
That ending was epic! It left it possible for a book 2, & I really hope so! This has all the spooky vibes, adventure, suspense, family, amazing humor, friendship, hard hitting topics, & hope! This book helps show things do get better, & to always ask for help when you need it-“Fear makes the Wolf bigger than he is.” Highly recommend! Stunning cover by Aleksandar Zolotić too!💜
August 17, 2021
This was such a fun middle grade! I was a little bummed out because I was expecting more ghosts and actual ghost hunting. It ended up being more of a mystery novel? Which is still fun! Just not what I was hoping or expecting.
That being said, the characters are very personable, fun and all unique. I loved seeing a wide variety of personalities. I also REALLY appreciated the anxiety representation in this. As someone who has anxiety and experiences the "what ifs" myself, I can say that that was done very well! Out of the few anxiety rep books I've read, this is the one I related to the most. It reminded me a lot of what its like for me in social settings or in a situation that triggers my anxiety. It reminded me a lot of my grade school year self in particular. Very well done! Very well written! Definitely recommend this one if you love middle grade and mysteries. And maybe some ghosts... ;)
That being said, the characters are very personable, fun and all unique. I loved seeing a wide variety of personalities. I also REALLY appreciated the anxiety representation in this. As someone who has anxiety and experiences the "what ifs" myself, I can say that that was done very well! Out of the few anxiety rep books I've read, this is the one I related to the most. It reminded me a lot of what its like for me in social settings or in a situation that triggers my anxiety. It reminded me a lot of my grade school year self in particular. Very well done! Very well written! Definitely recommend this one if you love middle grade and mysteries. And maybe some ghosts... ;)
January 13, 2022
This was a really funny middle grade story! Karma Moon is my spirit animal! There wasn’t too much of the ghost aspect in this book but there was definitely a ton of mystery! You really feel for Karma when it comes to her mother which gives it that real raw emotion and also you see how Karma deals with her anxiety as a young kid and how they experience it different from adults so i loved that aspect as well! Super fun read!
March 13, 2021
Another day, another fun middle grade read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Middle Grade ghost stories are top tier. If you grew up watching Scooby-Doo or reading the Goosebumps books, then you would probably enjoy this one.
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Karma Moon is such a fun character who has amazing development throughout the story. Always worried about a list of “what if” situations, she learns that life’s twists and turns can actually make you a stronger person. Many children need to hear this message!
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Charming, spooky, funny, nostalgic, eerie, wholesome.... the list of descriptions could go on and on. Gift this one to your young reader ASAP!
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Thank you NetGally and Crown Books for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. Book is already published!
.
.
Middle Grade ghost stories are top tier. If you grew up watching Scooby-Doo or reading the Goosebumps books, then you would probably enjoy this one.
.
Karma Moon is such a fun character who has amazing development throughout the story. Always worried about a list of “what if” situations, she learns that life’s twists and turns can actually make you a stronger person. Many children need to hear this message!
.
Charming, spooky, funny, nostalgic, eerie, wholesome.... the list of descriptions could go on and on. Gift this one to your young reader ASAP!
.
Thank you NetGally and Crown Books for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. Book is already published!
.
September 21, 2021
This was a cute, quirky mystery with good character development.
It relied heavily on movie references at times, but I had fun listening to it.
It relied heavily on movie references at times, but I had fun listening to it.
September 3, 2021
Melissa Savage never disappoints!
November 2, 2021
What a cute little read. Cozy for the season ✨🎃🌙
March 22, 2022
This was a fun read and I really loved the Anxiety rep but I wish it was more focused on the ghosts
July 3, 2022
You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
Many thanks to Crown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overall
When I saw that the protagonist, Karma Moon, had anxiety, I knew I had to read this book! I am so in love with all these books coming out normalizing all the different challenges people have and the unique things that form their character. Many people I love have anxiety, and I have anxiety. I feel like it’s so important for characters like this to exist, and I was not disappointed!
Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter is a hilariously relatable paranormal mystery about a girl with anxiety taking on one of the biggest challenges of her life: ghost hunting. That’s assuming her what-ifs don’t get her first.
I absolutely loved this book. I laughed so hard through the whole thing. As it turns out, anxiety can be funny when you’re not suffering through it yourself. You know, when you’re sitting on your couch like a perfectly rational person. Plus, the characters in this are just so darn much fun, with very unique personalities and plenty of hilarious banter!
My Thoughts
- Karma struggles with anxiety, and her experience is so entirely relatable! I have anxiety myself, and anyone else who has it will recognize and likely commiserate with Karma’s plight. She calls it a case of the “what-ifs,” and the book is absolutely filled with them. For anyone who doesn’t have anxiety, it may be an eye-opening experience to understand what goes on in the mind of anxious people. For readers with anxiety, there’s a chance you may recognize some of these thoughts!
What I loved most about Karma’s what-ifs is that they run the range from perfectly logical thoughts to completely absurd ideas that made me laugh, yet it all rang so very true, as someone who experiences anxiety. I mean, to be fair, when I’m stuck in my own what-ifs, they tend not to be particularly funny, nor does Karma find her own all that funny, either. As a reader, though, some of Karma’s what-ifs cracked me up, because not only were they incredibly ridiculous and so far-fetched and unlikely, they were also what-ifs that I’d had at some point myself. Which just made them all the funnier to me.
- As it turns out, anxiety can be funny. Not in the laugh at someone and make fun of them sort of way, of course. But funny nevertheless. Mostly because I have this thought at least once a month, followed by the notion that I am obviously just unlucky enough to have a high probability of being in that statistic. I mean, it hasn’t happened yet, but wait for it.
Fun fact: when I moved into my house, it had been empty for almost a year prior to that, so even though it was sprayed for bugs, I ended up finding a rather large brown recluse in one of my shirts in my closet. I still religiously check my clothes before putting them on ten years later because ZOMG WHAT IF I GET BITTEN AND DIE?! Or worse, what if I get bitten and don’t die and suffer horribly, surgery after surgery, until a limb finally has to come off due to necrotic rot?! What I’m trying to say is that anxiety can totally be funny, and I related to Karma so well here that I just absolutely found myself cracking up.
- Fans of ghost hunting TV shows, rejoice! Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter takes that idea and condenses it down into an engaging, paranormal romp. I am an absolute sucker for ghost hunting shows. Ghost Hunters was actually one of my favorite things to watch as a teenager, and that title pretty much says it all, doesn’t it? So obviously, I was thrilled. The story doesn’t bog down so much from the day-to-day minutia of attempting to record a spirit and not finding one, though. Instead, Karma and Mags set off to find a ghost in their own.
I thought the author did a brilliant job of capturing the more exciting aspects of ghost hunting while also providing an interesting sort of behind-the-scenes look at how difficult the job can be and how high the stakes are.
- The characters in this make such a quirky group, and when they get together, their banter is just fantastic! First up, of course, there’s Mags, who is Karma’s best friend. At first blush, they’re totally different, but maybe that’s what makes them work so well. I couldn’t help but laugh at some of their exchanges, which reminded me so fondly of my own friends at that age! Gosh, there was just so much nostalgia in the way they interacted. I imagine it’s the sort of carefree, inside-joke-laden that kids will immediately recognize and relate to.
Then add a boy into the mix, just to complicate things a little. You know, because that’s what boys are especially good at. It’s like their superpower. Nyx seems a little odd at first, but hey, who among us isn’t? I really enjoyed the trio they become, and I’d love to read more books with these three working together!
- There are some really touching family moments in this, particularly between Karma and her father, and oof, they just struck me right in the feels every time. Having anxiety is hard. Being the parent of someone with anxiety is also hard … I imagine. Add to that the fact that Karma’s mother left (and obviously needs a good talking to … with a fist … upside her head …) and things become all the more fraught and complicated. But Karma and her father are doing their best.
Karma’s relationship with her parents is complicated. With her mother, it’s toxic, and with her father, there’s miscommunication galore. Yet, I loved the representation of both and the impacts they have on Karma. Toxic relationships are hard, but especially for kids, and Karma needs to decide how she’s going to handle her self-centered, emotionally unavailable mother. My words, not hers. She’s not quite old enough to realize that yet, but she’s getting there. It takes a lot of courage to realize when someone just can’t or shouldn’t be a part of your life, and this is where I thought Karma’s personal journey had so much power.
Plus, miscommunication? Always a hard thing at that age. Karma has to navigate her way through utterly, painfully relatable feelings such as thinking she’s a burden or that her father doesn’t want her or wishes she were different. I loved this, because these are such normal feelings, so it’s extra nice to see them handled so well in middle grade fiction.
Many thanks to Crown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overall
When I saw that the protagonist, Karma Moon, had anxiety, I knew I had to read this book! I am so in love with all these books coming out normalizing all the different challenges people have and the unique things that form their character. Many people I love have anxiety, and I have anxiety. I feel like it’s so important for characters like this to exist, and I was not disappointed!
Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter is a hilariously relatable paranormal mystery about a girl with anxiety taking on one of the biggest challenges of her life: ghost hunting. That’s assuming her what-ifs don’t get her first.
I absolutely loved this book. I laughed so hard through the whole thing. As it turns out, anxiety can be funny when you’re not suffering through it yourself. You know, when you’re sitting on your couch like a perfectly rational person. Plus, the characters in this are just so darn much fun, with very unique personalities and plenty of hilarious banter!
My Thoughts
- Karma struggles with anxiety, and her experience is so entirely relatable! I have anxiety myself, and anyone else who has it will recognize and likely commiserate with Karma’s plight. She calls it a case of the “what-ifs,” and the book is absolutely filled with them. For anyone who doesn’t have anxiety, it may be an eye-opening experience to understand what goes on in the mind of anxious people. For readers with anxiety, there’s a chance you may recognize some of these thoughts!
What I loved most about Karma’s what-ifs is that they run the range from perfectly logical thoughts to completely absurd ideas that made me laugh, yet it all rang so very true, as someone who experiences anxiety. I mean, to be fair, when I’m stuck in my own what-ifs, they tend not to be particularly funny, nor does Karma find her own all that funny, either. As a reader, though, some of Karma’s what-ifs cracked me up, because not only were they incredibly ridiculous and so far-fetched and unlikely, they were also what-ifs that I’d had at some point myself. Which just made them all the funnier to me.
- As it turns out, anxiety can be funny. Not in the laugh at someone and make fun of them sort of way, of course. But funny nevertheless. Mostly because I have this thought at least once a month, followed by the notion that I am obviously just unlucky enough to have a high probability of being in that statistic. I mean, it hasn’t happened yet, but wait for it.
Fun fact: when I moved into my house, it had been empty for almost a year prior to that, so even though it was sprayed for bugs, I ended up finding a rather large brown recluse in one of my shirts in my closet. I still religiously check my clothes before putting them on ten years later because ZOMG WHAT IF I GET BITTEN AND DIE?! Or worse, what if I get bitten and don’t die and suffer horribly, surgery after surgery, until a limb finally has to come off due to necrotic rot?! What I’m trying to say is that anxiety can totally be funny, and I related to Karma so well here that I just absolutely found myself cracking up.
- Fans of ghost hunting TV shows, rejoice! Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter takes that idea and condenses it down into an engaging, paranormal romp. I am an absolute sucker for ghost hunting shows. Ghost Hunters was actually one of my favorite things to watch as a teenager, and that title pretty much says it all, doesn’t it? So obviously, I was thrilled. The story doesn’t bog down so much from the day-to-day minutia of attempting to record a spirit and not finding one, though. Instead, Karma and Mags set off to find a ghost in their own.
I thought the author did a brilliant job of capturing the more exciting aspects of ghost hunting while also providing an interesting sort of behind-the-scenes look at how difficult the job can be and how high the stakes are.
- The characters in this make such a quirky group, and when they get together, their banter is just fantastic! First up, of course, there’s Mags, who is Karma’s best friend. At first blush, they’re totally different, but maybe that’s what makes them work so well. I couldn’t help but laugh at some of their exchanges, which reminded me so fondly of my own friends at that age! Gosh, there was just so much nostalgia in the way they interacted. I imagine it’s the sort of carefree, inside-joke-laden that kids will immediately recognize and relate to.
Then add a boy into the mix, just to complicate things a little. You know, because that’s what boys are especially good at. It’s like their superpower. Nyx seems a little odd at first, but hey, who among us isn’t? I really enjoyed the trio they become, and I’d love to read more books with these three working together!
- There are some really touching family moments in this, particularly between Karma and her father, and oof, they just struck me right in the feels every time. Having anxiety is hard. Being the parent of someone with anxiety is also hard … I imagine. Add to that the fact that Karma’s mother left (and obviously needs a good talking to … with a fist … upside her head …) and things become all the more fraught and complicated. But Karma and her father are doing their best.
Karma’s relationship with her parents is complicated. With her mother, it’s toxic, and with her father, there’s miscommunication galore. Yet, I loved the representation of both and the impacts they have on Karma. Toxic relationships are hard, but especially for kids, and Karma needs to decide how she’s going to handle her self-centered, emotionally unavailable mother. My words, not hers. She’s not quite old enough to realize that yet, but she’s getting there. It takes a lot of courage to realize when someone just can’t or shouldn’t be a part of your life, and this is where I thought Karma’s personal journey had so much power.
Plus, miscommunication? Always a hard thing at that age. Karma has to navigate her way through utterly, painfully relatable feelings such as thinking she’s a burden or that her father doesn’t want her or wishes she were different. I loved this, because these are such normal feelings, so it’s extra nice to see them handled so well in middle grade fiction.
January 20, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an earc to read in exchange for a review!
Every once and awhile, I love a good Middle Grade especially when it is on the spookier side. I may be an adult but I am a straight up chicken and sometimes even Middle Grade can be too much! (I’m looking at you Small Spaces!)
When it came to scare factor, I wasn’t sure how spooky this would be but I wanted to give it a try. It’s definitely not on the same playing field as some other paranormal reads like the one mentioned above or City of Ghosts. It is on a lighter note but still has elements, like Ouija boards, to give those shock factors.
I think what helps bring this to a lower digit on the scare factor is that the characters all have their quirks. They were fun to read about but also left you questioning each person because the hotel does have a lot of workers who seem quite suspicious!
The main character, Karma, is twelve and helps her dad with his production company. She is dealing with a lot behind the scenes when it comes to her family because her mom up and left one day. She feels like her dad may do the same. It is a tough subject but I think it is one done well especially for the age range of the book. I also liked seeing a character that is young deal with constantly being worried about everything and what she does to deal with it, like asking a magic 8-ball and seeing a therapist. It’s good to see talks about mental health being done for the Middle Grade range.
Karma also has a trusty sidekick who is an overly large pug named Alfred Hitchcock. She also has a best friend who comes with her for this adventure.
Since the setting has to do with the Stanley Hotel, there is mentions of Stephen King, The Poltergeist, and even The Shining. Most of the references probably wouldn’t be understood by the intended age range but who knows. There may be kids who are into that spooky stuff. There are other references that are more age friendly like Minecraft and Scooby-Doo.
There are also historical references to Harry Houdini and his wife and of course I had to google about it to actually check and sure enough, some of it was actually true. It’s fun to see things from the past be written into books and it always piques my interest.
Overall, this was a fun, just a bit spooky read that I think readers of all ages will like. I am hoping there will be another book with these characters because I am hooked!
Every once and awhile, I love a good Middle Grade especially when it is on the spookier side. I may be an adult but I am a straight up chicken and sometimes even Middle Grade can be too much! (I’m looking at you Small Spaces!)
When it came to scare factor, I wasn’t sure how spooky this would be but I wanted to give it a try. It’s definitely not on the same playing field as some other paranormal reads like the one mentioned above or City of Ghosts. It is on a lighter note but still has elements, like Ouija boards, to give those shock factors.
I think what helps bring this to a lower digit on the scare factor is that the characters all have their quirks. They were fun to read about but also left you questioning each person because the hotel does have a lot of workers who seem quite suspicious!
The main character, Karma, is twelve and helps her dad with his production company. She is dealing with a lot behind the scenes when it comes to her family because her mom up and left one day. She feels like her dad may do the same. It is a tough subject but I think it is one done well especially for the age range of the book. I also liked seeing a character that is young deal with constantly being worried about everything and what she does to deal with it, like asking a magic 8-ball and seeing a therapist. It’s good to see talks about mental health being done for the Middle Grade range.
Karma also has a trusty sidekick who is an overly large pug named Alfred Hitchcock. She also has a best friend who comes with her for this adventure.
Since the setting has to do with the Stanley Hotel, there is mentions of Stephen King, The Poltergeist, and even The Shining. Most of the references probably wouldn’t be understood by the intended age range but who knows. There may be kids who are into that spooky stuff. There are other references that are more age friendly like Minecraft and Scooby-Doo.
There are also historical references to Harry Houdini and his wife and of course I had to google about it to actually check and sure enough, some of it was actually true. It’s fun to see things from the past be written into books and it always piques my interest.
Overall, this was a fun, just a bit spooky read that I think readers of all ages will like. I am hoping there will be another book with these characters because I am hooked!
April 18, 2022
This book and its premise reminded me a lot of the Cassidy Blake series by V.E. Scwab and Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh (two series I loved), so I gave this a go. Ultimately, this was something of a mixed bag for me.
The novel centers on a young girl named Karma and her dad. They live in New York, and her mother abandoned them somewhat recently, so they've fallen on hard times. That all changes when her dad gets a call from Netflix asking him to shoot a docuseries on the famous Stanley Hotel. Can they turn their lives around with this grand opportunity, or will this chance fade into the ether?
The premise of this novel really drew me in. I'm always down for some haunted house time. I also really enjoyed the emphasis of how great Asian food is and couldn't agree more. That being said, I was kind of torn on most everything else in the book.
Karma is an entertaining MC. She's outspoken, a bit wild, and has crazy energy that never seems to deplete. I also liked that she had her what-if flaws and the sad story about her mom leaving the family. It made her character seem more realistic. The only quip I have with Karma is that it was hinted that she was a sensitive several times, but we didn't truly get to see that.
I also think her friend Mags came off a bit toxic in the beginning, but by the later half she seemed to act like a best friend should.
The plot was fun, but I felt torn between two halves of the story. There's the real side of things and the paranormal. Most of the book seemed geared more towards the real side, and that kind of killed it for me. I just wanted more of the crazy spirits and paranormal phenomenon, but it just wasn't there. After a while, I got ambivalent on finishing the book, but pulled through.
While this book was entertaining, it just didn't quite hit the mark for me because the premise didn't fully deliver. If you're looking for nonstop ghosts and paranormal adventure, this may not be the book for you, but if you like a lightly spooky mystery, give it a go.
The novel centers on a young girl named Karma and her dad. They live in New York, and her mother abandoned them somewhat recently, so they've fallen on hard times. That all changes when her dad gets a call from Netflix asking him to shoot a docuseries on the famous Stanley Hotel. Can they turn their lives around with this grand opportunity, or will this chance fade into the ether?
The premise of this novel really drew me in. I'm always down for some haunted house time. I also really enjoyed the emphasis of how great Asian food is and couldn't agree more. That being said, I was kind of torn on most everything else in the book.
Karma is an entertaining MC. She's outspoken, a bit wild, and has crazy energy that never seems to deplete. I also liked that she had her what-if flaws and the sad story about her mom leaving the family. It made her character seem more realistic. The only quip I have with Karma is that it was hinted that she was a sensitive several times, but we didn't truly get to see that.
I also think her friend Mags came off a bit toxic in the beginning, but by the later half she seemed to act like a best friend should.
The plot was fun, but I felt torn between two halves of the story. There's the real side of things and the paranormal. Most of the book seemed geared more towards the real side, and that kind of killed it for me. I just wanted more of the crazy spirits and paranormal phenomenon, but it just wasn't there. After a while, I got ambivalent on finishing the book, but pulled through.
While this book was entertaining, it just didn't quite hit the mark for me because the premise didn't fully deliver. If you're looking for nonstop ghosts and paranormal adventure, this may not be the book for you, but if you like a lightly spooky mystery, give it a go.
January 20, 2021
Karma Moon is a bit of a reluctant ghost hunter. When Karma's dad and his friends get hired by Netflix to film at the Stanley Hotel (yes THAT Stanley Hotel), Karma absolutely does not want to go. Her dad might not believe in "woo" but she definitely does, and the idea of filming a ghost hunting docuseries is not on Karma's list of things she plans to do. But, after a bit of prodding, and a promise that her best friend can join them, Karma reluctantly agrees to help on the ghost hunting mission.
This book is amazing! So much more than a ghost hunting adventure. Karma speaks openly about her worries, concerns, and fears, and more than that she speaks openly about seeing a therapist for them. So much of the story is centered on Karma's anxiety and how she uses coping mechanisms to get through the day. Savage provides an expertly crafted portrayal of anxiety and trauma and how one event can send shattering repercussions through a child's life. There were a few times in the book I so badly wanted Karma to voice her concerns and to understand that the things that parents do are not a reflection on their children.
This book is perfectly spooky for young readers, with tons of fun, and bits of real-life issues realistically handled throughout.
5/5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Crown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is amazing! So much more than a ghost hunting adventure. Karma speaks openly about her worries, concerns, and fears, and more than that she speaks openly about seeing a therapist for them. So much of the story is centered on Karma's anxiety and how she uses coping mechanisms to get through the day. Savage provides an expertly crafted portrayal of anxiety and trauma and how one event can send shattering repercussions through a child's life. There were a few times in the book I so badly wanted Karma to voice her concerns and to understand that the things that parents do are not a reflection on their children.
This book is perfectly spooky for young readers, with tons of fun, and bits of real-life issues realistically handled throughout.
5/5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Crown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2021
Melissa Savage is a national treasure. In her newest book, she pays homage to Scooby Doo, Clue, and all things creepy. I felt like I was ten years old again reading a ghost story under the covers with a flashlight way past my bedtime. It's also a story about true friendship between two girls who couldn't be more different, a father/ daughter relationship after the mother decides to live a new life without them, and how to cope with anxiety. There's as much heart in this book as there is thrills, chills, and giggles. You'll also be booking your trip to (the entirely real) Stanley Hotel in Estes, Colorado which the book depicts with 100% accuracy. This book will do to children what "The Shinning" did for their parents... inspire their love of literature and spark the imagination. It saves the soul-sucking horror for when they're older, though. Savage delivers a page-turner without the nightmares King is so fond of. I can't recommend "Karma Moon" enough.
March 19, 2022
I am so glad I finally got to read this middle grade book! The story follows Karma Moon, a young girl who's going through some issues of anxiety and panic attacks due to her mom leaving her and her dad to go live her own life in Florida with other man. Karma's dad finally gets the break of his life when Netflix signs his crew up to film a ghost at an old hotel in Colorado, the famous hotel written about in The Shining. Karma takes her friend, Mags, and her trusty Crystal Mystic with her on a hunt for ghosts. No Spoilers! I definitely recommend this book to kids who love a spooky adventure. I really enjoyed it!
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February 11, 2021I loved the Scooby Doo references that is my all time favorite childhood cartoon. The way anxiety was broken down and described by Karma was an eye opener. The bond between her dad and best friend was touching to read. It was a great book.
December 4, 2021
Such a great read! Review soon.
Source: Personal purchase. This is a review of my reading experience.
Source: Personal purchase. This is a review of my reading experience.
April 11, 2022
Really a story about about family and friends that work through struggles together. The mystery is not that mysterious or scary. The book references Scooby-doo, and it felt like that kind of mystery to me.
March 7, 2022
Karma Moon was a fun and quirky book.
I enjoyed that a big portion of the book focused on Karma’s anxiety and how she went to therapy. That’s always nice to see, especially in a book meant for a younger age range. The scary movie references were a fun addition to the story as well and all of the characters were fun and unique.
I never like to be the kind of person that rates a book lower for what it is (like people who rate romance books low because they don’t usually read them? Or people who rate a middle grade or children’s book low because it’s for kids?) but this book did feel very young compared to the other middle grade books in this age range that I have read. The language was very juvenile and the book wasn’t creepy or spooky despite the title and synopsis.
I still really enjoyed it and would definitely read a sequel should there be one!
I enjoyed that a big portion of the book focused on Karma’s anxiety and how she went to therapy. That’s always nice to see, especially in a book meant for a younger age range. The scary movie references were a fun addition to the story as well and all of the characters were fun and unique.
I never like to be the kind of person that rates a book lower for what it is (like people who rate romance books low because they don’t usually read them? Or people who rate a middle grade or children’s book low because it’s for kids?) but this book did feel very young compared to the other middle grade books in this age range that I have read. The language was very juvenile and the book wasn’t creepy or spooky despite the title and synopsis.
I still really enjoyed it and would definitely read a sequel should there be one!
June 30, 2021
This book was so much fun!!!!
Karma Moon was a great character, and very relatable. Sometimes her insecurities would be a bit too much but every teenager will habe that and they we're dealt with amazingly.
The story is very modern indeed, referencing a lot about Netflix etc. But I enjoyed the old school mentioning for Ghostbusters, Scooby-Doo, The shinning, and poltergeist.
You will fall in love with all the characters and definitely the setting.
Karma Moon was a great character, and very relatable. Sometimes her insecurities would be a bit too much but every teenager will habe that and they we're dealt with amazingly.
The story is very modern indeed, referencing a lot about Netflix etc. But I enjoyed the old school mentioning for Ghostbusters, Scooby-Doo, The shinning, and poltergeist.
You will fall in love with all the characters and definitely the setting.
June 6, 2023
This book was fine and there were some really delightful elements. The illustrations amongst the pages and the lists of "What ifs" were relatable and funny. Unfortunately, this book seemed so boring! So very little happens during the first 200 pages or so. I don't know if middle grade readers will be captivated by Karma. It feels like a missed opportunity
January 2, 2022
Had some funny and relatable parts. I was very eager to read this book because I fell in love with “Lemons”. As a follow up to that captivating story, this one was not as inviting. I wanted to feel more connected to the characters and found myself rushing to the end.
September 28, 2025
2.5 stars
This book is so weirdly similar to the book I happened to be reading at the same time: Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega. Both girls live with their fathers, who work in the entertainment industry and are struggling to pay rent after their wife/the girl’s mother abandons them. Both stories are about ghost hunting. The girls’ last names are “Moon” and “Luna,” respectively. They both have a ride-or-die outgoing best friend and an animal sidekick. Both books fell flat for me.
Despite me not really liking Ghost Squad very much either, it definitely did most things slightly better than Karma Moon. Primarily, this writing style was trying WAY TOO HARD, and was honestly a struggle to read without cringing or rolling my eyes. It reads exactly like an adult “how do you do, fellow kids?”ing up the local elementary school. The setting was supposed to be present day, half the references these kids made were outdated and uncool 10 years ago and other things made no sense that they didn’t know about beforehand (like the chicken dance????).
Mags was SO annoying as a friend character. Karma was annoying too, but at least she had real problems to empathize with, even if her character traits were somewhat inconsistent.
The two things I appreciated about this book, and felt did better than Ghost Squad, was that it at least tried to make the father a real character with an active role in the story, and also actually addressed the trauma of being abandoned by her mother. I also liked that Karma immediately confronted her father when she misheard him talking on the phone, rather than sulk in silence for ages to fill space. However, her capacity to do that made it make little sense that she was unable to confront her mother whenever she received such obviously fucked up and cruel texts from her.
The plot and pacing of this book was all over the place, but at least it was big font and read quickly.
This book is so weirdly similar to the book I happened to be reading at the same time: Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega. Both girls live with their fathers, who work in the entertainment industry and are struggling to pay rent after their wife/the girl’s mother abandons them. Both stories are about ghost hunting. The girls’ last names are “Moon” and “Luna,” respectively. They both have a ride-or-die outgoing best friend and an animal sidekick. Both books fell flat for me.
Despite me not really liking Ghost Squad very much either, it definitely did most things slightly better than Karma Moon. Primarily, this writing style was trying WAY TOO HARD, and was honestly a struggle to read without cringing or rolling my eyes. It reads exactly like an adult “how do you do, fellow kids?”ing up the local elementary school. The setting was supposed to be present day, half the references these kids made were outdated and uncool 10 years ago and other things made no sense that they didn’t know about beforehand (like the chicken dance????).
Mags was SO annoying as a friend character. Karma was annoying too, but at least she had real problems to empathize with, even if her character traits were somewhat inconsistent.
The two things I appreciated about this book, and felt did better than Ghost Squad, was that it at least tried to make the father a real character with an active role in the story, and also actually addressed the trauma of being abandoned by her mother. I also liked that Karma immediately confronted her father when she misheard him talking on the phone, rather than sulk in silence for ages to fill space. However, her capacity to do that made it make little sense that she was unable to confront her mother whenever she received such obviously fucked up and cruel texts from her.
The plot and pacing of this book was all over the place, but at least it was big font and read quickly.
January 20, 2021
Sometimes the twists life throws at you make you stronger. They teach you who you truly are and what (who) is most important to you. And sometimes they also makes you really good at hunting ghosts. Karma Moon is a 12-year-old compulsive worrier and believer in all things "woo woo". She lives in the West Village with her dad and helps him with his documentary company when she's not hanging out with her best friend Mags. She also regularly sees her therapist, because ever since her mom left, Karma's worries have been debilitating. But when her dad gets a call from Netflix about filming a ghost hunting documentary at a famous hotel in Colorado, she just knows everything is going to change for the better! With Mag by her side, Karma tries to help her dad with this life-changing opportunity. They only problem? The ghosts don't seem to want to cooperate. Can Karma, Mags, and their new (super cute) friend Nyx uncover the mysteries of the haunted hotel, save Karma's dad from bankruptcy, and even maybe get Karma's mom to come home finally? Karma soon learns that having the right people in your life means everything, and the ones who are gone are gone for a reason. And you know what? That's ok. This book is fun and cute, but it's also very emotional. It tackles the pain and confusion of parental separation and abandonment, but also illustrates the power of family (both biological and chosen). The ghost story, which is genuinely creepy at times, is a fun mystery with several twists. But the main meat of Karma Moon--Ghost Hunter is Karma's relationships with the people around her and herself. She experiences growth, grief, and joy, and her by the end of the book she is a different girl. This book is perfect for young readers who enjoy Harriet the Spy, Scooby Doo, and the idea of watching classic horror movies they're still a bit too young for!
January 22, 2021
Karma Moon has a lot of "what ifs." What if her mom comes back? What if her dad leaves? What if the Stanley Hotel really is haunted?
"Karma Moon - Ghost Hunter," by Melissa Savage, is a tween mystery set in New York and at the Stanley Hotel. Karma relies on her trusty Magic-8 Ball to help her navigate her anxieties. She and her dad run a video production company out of their East Village apartment. One day, they get a call from Netflix, offering the opportunity of a lifetime - the chance to produce a ghost-hunting documentary series. First stop, the Stanley Hotel in Colorado.
Filled with a peculiar cast of characters, the hotel does indeed appear to be haunted. Much of the action is a la Scooby Doo, which is referenced in the book. "The Shining" and "Poltergeist" are also mentioned frequently. I'm not sure those would be widely-known among this age group, however.
Karma, her best friend Mags, and a local boy named Nyx investigate the spooky happenings at the hotel. Will Karma solve the case and maybe, just maybe, learn about her unique "woo-woo" talents?
Karma is a charming character, with relatable anxieties, which have gotten worse since her mom left, carrying five suitcases, to live in Florida. Tweens will relate to her and her friends.
Recommended.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Random House in return for my honest opinion.
"Karma Moon - Ghost Hunter," by Melissa Savage, is a tween mystery set in New York and at the Stanley Hotel. Karma relies on her trusty Magic-8 Ball to help her navigate her anxieties. She and her dad run a video production company out of their East Village apartment. One day, they get a call from Netflix, offering the opportunity of a lifetime - the chance to produce a ghost-hunting documentary series. First stop, the Stanley Hotel in Colorado.
Filled with a peculiar cast of characters, the hotel does indeed appear to be haunted. Much of the action is a la Scooby Doo, which is referenced in the book. "The Shining" and "Poltergeist" are also mentioned frequently. I'm not sure those would be widely-known among this age group, however.
Karma, her best friend Mags, and a local boy named Nyx investigate the spooky happenings at the hotel. Will Karma solve the case and maybe, just maybe, learn about her unique "woo-woo" talents?
Karma is a charming character, with relatable anxieties, which have gotten worse since her mom left, carrying five suitcases, to live in Florida. Tweens will relate to her and her friends.
Recommended.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Random House in return for my honest opinion.
January 17, 2021
This was a super cute, quick read, and I loved all of Karmas doodles that are sprinkled throughout the pages.
Karma has some bad anxiety which she calls the what-ifs.. and I really connected to that, especially when I was younger. I love how everyone just excepts that this is who Karma is, and they don't try and change her, they just let her be who she is.
Karma and her best friend Mags travel with Karmas dad, and his production company to do a netflix documentary on the Stanley Hotel. I really enjoyed Karmas and Mags friendship, and how they are with each other. One of my favorite things is when they are arguing about what lives in the void from the movie Poltergeist. Karma really thinks is pink Jello, and Mags thinks its ghost guts..
Karma is head of research for her dads company so her and Mags start asking questions and investigating. They come across some things that seem like a real haunting, but also some things that are phony baloney.
I think the only thing I would have like more of, was for it to be spookier/ more scary moments with the ghosts. Even without the added scare I did really enjoy reading this, and would read more of Karma Moon and Totally Rad Productions filming more haunted things.
Karma has some bad anxiety which she calls the what-ifs.. and I really connected to that, especially when I was younger. I love how everyone just excepts that this is who Karma is, and they don't try and change her, they just let her be who she is.
Karma and her best friend Mags travel with Karmas dad, and his production company to do a netflix documentary on the Stanley Hotel. I really enjoyed Karmas and Mags friendship, and how they are with each other. One of my favorite things is when they are arguing about what lives in the void from the movie Poltergeist. Karma really thinks is pink Jello, and Mags thinks its ghost guts..
Karma is head of research for her dads company so her and Mags start asking questions and investigating. They come across some things that seem like a real haunting, but also some things that are phony baloney.
I think the only thing I would have like more of, was for it to be spookier/ more scary moments with the ghosts. Even without the added scare I did really enjoy reading this, and would read more of Karma Moon and Totally Rad Productions filming more haunted things.
January 19, 2021
4.5 star!
In this phenomenal middle grade novel we follow Karma Moon and her adventurous group. Living with her dad in West Village, Karma is full of what if’s and moo goo from her favorite Chinese place. Her dad has a movie production “company” and one day they get a call from Netflix asking to shoot a docu-series for them. The series however is to find ghosts in the infamous Stanley Hotel! Full of twists and turns, Karma, her friend Mags, and her dog Alfred Hitchcock must find and capture footage of these ghosts.
I enjoyed this story so much. Karma was such an amazing character. I enjoyed how spooked she was about everything because that would be how I would react. I think this is a great middle grade for readers. It was spooky, adventurous, talked about real things young kids could be going through in their personal life. The ONLY thing I was not in love with was the pop culture references. The horror movie and Stephen king reference were find because it went with the story. But off the top of my head, towards the end there were talks about The Avengers Endgame and I feel like in 3-4 plus years that will not be something young readers can recall or maybe care about, I might be wrong, but it was something the book could be without.
In this phenomenal middle grade novel we follow Karma Moon and her adventurous group. Living with her dad in West Village, Karma is full of what if’s and moo goo from her favorite Chinese place. Her dad has a movie production “company” and one day they get a call from Netflix asking to shoot a docu-series for them. The series however is to find ghosts in the infamous Stanley Hotel! Full of twists and turns, Karma, her friend Mags, and her dog Alfred Hitchcock must find and capture footage of these ghosts.
I enjoyed this story so much. Karma was such an amazing character. I enjoyed how spooked she was about everything because that would be how I would react. I think this is a great middle grade for readers. It was spooky, adventurous, talked about real things young kids could be going through in their personal life. The ONLY thing I was not in love with was the pop culture references. The horror movie and Stephen king reference were find because it went with the story. But off the top of my head, towards the end there were talks about The Avengers Endgame and I feel like in 3-4 plus years that will not be something young readers can recall or maybe care about, I might be wrong, but it was something the book could be without.
July 21, 2025
This is a case where I can understand and see why others would like this book, but it is not my jam.
Karma and her friend Mags accompany her dad to the famous "The Shining" hotel in Colorado to look for evidence of hauntings. If her dad can record a ghost, he'll score a Netflix deal. Karma wants to help out, even though she gets more than a little bit scared.
I thought Karma and her friend Mags were cute and I like their friendship, but, as an adult, I found the story annoying to listen to. Karma was constantly going on about her "what ifs" - the things that cause her anxiety - and she counted to four - 1, 2, 3, 4 - SOOO many times. Maybe it was more obvious and annoying in the audio. I also got really tired of hearing the word "woowoo" as in it's nice to believe in "woowoo" things. Obviously a lot of people found all these things amusing, but I didn't.
The plot was okay. Not really spooky, more of a mystery. Honestly, I found it kind of boring. It kind of dragged in some places and I found my attention wandering. The setting was fun. I've never seen "The Shining" but I've read about the hotel.
I would still recommend this to younger readers, I can see them really enjoying it. I would even try other books by this author.
Karma and her friend Mags accompany her dad to the famous "The Shining" hotel in Colorado to look for evidence of hauntings. If her dad can record a ghost, he'll score a Netflix deal. Karma wants to help out, even though she gets more than a little bit scared.
I thought Karma and her friend Mags were cute and I like their friendship, but, as an adult, I found the story annoying to listen to. Karma was constantly going on about her "what ifs" - the things that cause her anxiety - and she counted to four - 1, 2, 3, 4 - SOOO many times. Maybe it was more obvious and annoying in the audio. I also got really tired of hearing the word "woowoo" as in it's nice to believe in "woowoo" things. Obviously a lot of people found all these things amusing, but I didn't.
The plot was okay. Not really spooky, more of a mystery. Honestly, I found it kind of boring. It kind of dragged in some places and I found my attention wandering. The setting was fun. I've never seen "The Shining" but I've read about the hotel.
I would still recommend this to younger readers, I can see them really enjoying it. I would even try other books by this author.
January 17, 2021
Karma Moon is going ghost hunting! Karma Moon and her dad are given the opportunity to create a ghost-hunting docu-series for Netflix, one they can’t refuse. So along with her dad’s film crew and her best friend Mags, Karma is off to a famous haunted house in Colorado on the hunt for a ghost! Things get off to a strange start and Karma finds herself wondering what is happening at this haunted house! Throw in some fortune telling, a magic 8 ball, and a cute boy who wants to be an illusionist, and what we have is a fun ghost hunting story. Karma moon definitely has anxiety, where she finds herself constantly asking “what ifs” and worrying and panicking to the point where she can’t breathe. She’s dealing with her parents divorce and if her dad’s company cant capture a ghost, they might not get the series and they might not be able to make rent. Karma is dealing with a lot of heavy issues on top of her anxiety, but she is constantly trying her best and working on fun investigative work. The story was a fun read and I would definitely recommend it!
*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
March 6, 2023
Twelve-year-old Karma and her dad live together in New York City, her mom having packed up and left them. Karma’s dad has a dream of buying a house with a yard and a barbecue and that then Karma’s mom will come home. Dad gets his big chance to achieve his dream when he is hired for a Netflix docuseries on ghost hunting. So, off to a haunted hotel in Colorado go Karma, her dad, their dog Alfred Hitchcock, Karma’s best friend Mags and dad’s film crew. Once there Karma fights her anxiety over pretty much everything to track down a ghost and make sure dad gets a season two out of Netflix.
Karma is not your typical heroine in a book aimed at tweens, She worries about pretty much everything, realistic or not - from will they be able to pay rent this month to is there a serial killer among the hotel staff or body parts hidden in their hotel room closet - while Mags is more grounded and helps Karma keep on track.
This is a quick read for adults and a recommended read for kids Karma’s age as it shows there is nothing to be ashamed of when one is having trouble coping with the things in life one cannot control.
Karma is not your typical heroine in a book aimed at tweens, She worries about pretty much everything, realistic or not - from will they be able to pay rent this month to is there a serial killer among the hotel staff or body parts hidden in their hotel room closet - while Mags is more grounded and helps Karma keep on track.
This is a quick read for adults and a recommended read for kids Karma’s age as it shows there is nothing to be ashamed of when one is having trouble coping with the things in life one cannot control.
June 19, 2022
4.25
I love this author's work. She is so underated. She manages to put in so many life issues, deep.friendship, and touching moments that the books become greater than the story itself.
Yet it is still so much better than I expected. So much fun. I don't think this is scary for children. Paranormal activity is really kept to a few bumps in the night. Offset with hilarious moments with her BF which was another aspect I greatly enjoyed.
This story is set in the hotel that inspired Steven King to write The Shining. You can look at the hotel's official website. It is really a grand hotel.
This background made the story utterly fascinating to me. I was a bit nervous at first wondering how much horror would be written into the scenes, but it was fine.
Poltergeist was mentioned several times and used as a template against which all horror stories stand. I found both of these movies to be quite terrifying as a child but I don't think a child would find this to be too scary.
The ending was great and I found myself hoping for a sequel.
I love this author's work. She is so underated. She manages to put in so many life issues, deep.friendship, and touching moments that the books become greater than the story itself.
Yet it is still so much better than I expected. So much fun. I don't think this is scary for children. Paranormal activity is really kept to a few bumps in the night. Offset with hilarious moments with her BF which was another aspect I greatly enjoyed.
This story is set in the hotel that inspired Steven King to write The Shining. You can look at the hotel's official website. It is really a grand hotel.
This background made the story utterly fascinating to me. I was a bit nervous at first wondering how much horror would be written into the scenes, but it was fine.
Poltergeist was mentioned several times and used as a template against which all horror stories stand. I found both of these movies to be quite terrifying as a child but I don't think a child would find this to be too scary.
The ending was great and I found myself hoping for a sequel.
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