LILY'S GHOST
by Laura Ruby
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060518316
Ages 9-12
272 pages

• Read a Review
• Read an Excerpt
• Critical Praise

Lily is Furious.

She can't believe she has to move again after her mom's break-up with the latest boyfriend. Now they're broke and they'll have to spend the winter in Uncle Wes's creepy summerhouse in Cape May, New Jersey.

And the place is crawling with ghosts.

From the spiteful teenager who mistakes Lily for her high school nemesis to the restless spirit of her eccentric Uncle Max, Lily is haunted by a host of unhappy phantoms. But why are they here? And what do they want?

With the help of some mysterious clues, Lily and an interesting new friend, local boy Vaz, uncover a sinister plot. If they don't foil the villainous plan in time, they may end up doing some eternal haunting of their own.

Back to top.   

CRITICAL PRAISE

"A slightly spooky, romantic mystery. Her often funny story, peppered with ghostly interludes, is capped by that rarest of animals: a twist ending that is totally earned. This should be a movie just so tweens and teens will come ask for the book. Place it in their hands; they will likely thank you"

—Kirkus Reviews

"Ruby doesn't horrify so much as she insinuates in gracefully nuanced language that provides chilling support for the action. Make room for this first novel on the surefire ghost tale shelf"

—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A cast of eccentric characters plays out this intriguing story. Readers will be hooked right up to the surprising ending"

—School Library Journal

"Readers will keep turning pages to get to the (surprise) ending, but also because they'll be rooting for something good to happen to Lily"

—Miami Herald

"Satisfying. A good bet for girls ages 10 through 14"

—Cleveland Plain Dealer

"A spirited novel... Readers will fly through the pages"

—Chicago Sun-Times

"Sure to delight the reader, will tickle readers' funny bones"

—Detroit Free Press

"What distinguishes Laura Ruby's version of the ghost-detective yarn is that her ghosts are so mixed up and peevish, fun, pleasant humor, a combination mystery and making-new-friends tale"

—Chicago Tribune

"A fast-paced, comic tale"

—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Sharp-witted narrative and lively characterizations... intriguing"

—Publisher's Weekly

"The ending will surprise even the more experienced reader-detectives."

—VOYA

"A story that will keep readers turning the pages. Blending humor with a bit of creepiness, author Laura Ruby intercuts the human tale with a second story of a parallel Cape May inhabited by ghosts. Both worlds will collide as Lily and Vaz race to discover her family's secret"

—Children's Literature

Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.com.

Back to top.