Evil Roots by Andrew Nance - OPTIONAL

Nance, Andrew Return to Daemon Hall: Evil Roots, 240 pages, Henry Holt and Company, 2011. Language: PG (less than 5 swears, 0 "F") Sexual content: PG, Violence: PG 13. It's been a year since the contest that changed Wade's life forever. A year since the horrifying night spent in one of the most haunted locations in the world. But now there's a new contest. New players, new location. Wade is sure that this time, with Daemon hall burned to the ground, it will be a safe one, but he couldn't be more wrong, and this time, there may be more than just one tragedy.

This book honestly chilled me to the bone. It had a lot of twists that kept me reading until the end, and terrified of the dark long after I turned the last page. Return to Daemon hall was extremely well written and captivating, and Nance did well to keep it, for the most part, teenager friendly. But overall, the plot was much too demonic and had a bad energy to it, especially for someone who believes in evil spirits. As much as I loved the stories and the way it was written, the dark feeling almost makes me want to hide the book in the back of my basement and never think about it again. Of course, for someone who doesn't believe in or is not affected by spirits or demons, it would be an awesome read.  

MS, HS - OPTIONAL Student reviewer: BT

The Ghost Box by Catherine Fisher - OPTIONAL

Fisher, Catherine The Ghost Box, 67 p. Stoke Books (Lerner), 2008, 2012.  $7.  Content: G.  Sarah and her step-brother Matt do not get along at all.  But since their parents married each other, they have to at least pretend to get along. Then Sarah has a strange dream about a boy, a tree and a silver box and Matt seems over interested when the box appears in Sarah’s room.  Even though the antiques dealer downtown tells her that it is a box that should never be opened, the strange boy has become insistent and violent and Sarah doesn’t know where to turn for help.  

Fisher packs a lot of story into a very short book.  It’s a very decent entry for a hi-lo reader who likes ghost stories.  It is just so small, I am afraid I will lose it on the shelf.  MS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

Hourglass by Myra McEntire - ESSENTIAL

McEntire, Myra  Hourglass 390 pages Egmont, 2011.  $17.99  Content: Language PG-13 (31 swears; no “F”); Sexual Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  Emerson hasn’t had an easy life, seeing dead people has her wondering if she is crazy, add the loss of her parents in a tragic accident that she narrowly misses and it makes for some teenage angst.  However, Emerson’s sweet older brother Thomas doesn’t give up on her and he brings in a college-aged man, named Michael, who claims he can help.  Michael makes a connection with Emerson that has her looking at her craziness in a more productive way and they band together to solve a problem that will help others like them.  

Great characters, great storyline and fun romance.  This book pulls you in and you can’t put it down.  MS-ADVISABLE.  HS-ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson

The Hungry Ghost of Rue Orleans by Mary Quattlebaum - ADVISABLE

Quattlebaum, Mary  The Hungry Ghost of Rue Orleans  Illustrated by Patricia Catelao  Random House, 2011.  PICTURE BOOK  $15.99  Content: G  Fred the ghost loves his dusty home on the Rue Orleans, but it is soon invaded my Marie and her father Pierre.  They clean the home and set up a restaurant to Fred’s dismay.  Fred does everything he can to scare the customers away, but it just intrigues people to come to the restaurant.  Fred packs up and is ready to leave when Marie makes him a dusty room and feeds him some of her father’s dessert.  Cute story with fun illustrations.  EL (K-3)-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

i so don't do famous by Barrie Summy - ADVISABLE

Summy, Barrie i so don't do famous, 294 pgs. Delacorte Press, 2011. $16.99. Language G ( 0 swears), Sexual Content G; Violence G; When Sherry gets the chance to go to Hollywood because she won a magazine contest, she is planning on a relaxing, sight seeing, and plain old normal vacation. That, however is exactly what she doesn't find. Her mother is talking to her again in her ghostly form, and so is her mother's new boss. But neither of those things are the un-normalness that Sherry finds. Its a new ghost! Along with solving yet another mystery Sherry now finds herself helping this girl who was killed at a young age. But can she get this all done on what was supposed to be her relaxing vacation? 

A wonderful new age Nancy Drew type story with a ghost communicator thrown in to spice it up. Its a wonderful captivating mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Summy uses the way teen girls speak to make this story even more new era-ish than with all the use of technology in place. I loved how relateable this situation was. EL, MS - ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: KU