Ghost in the Night: a spooky story for preteens

 

Ghost in the Night by award-winning author, Tiffany D. Jackson, is a middle grade chapter book that is perfect for readers who want an intriguing mystery along with some creepy supernatural events. I usually devour any book that Jackson writes, especially her young adult novels, so I was surprised that I missed Jackson's other middle grade thriller that was written before Ghost in the Night, Blood in the Water.

Although I hadn't read Blood in the Water yet, I read Ghost in the Night anyway and it could truly be read on its own.  

Ghost in the Night is from the perspective of Harmony, a 12 year old Harlem resident, who is taken to Savannah, Georgia with her father, who is a musician.  Once Harmony arrives into town she is immediately curious about the ghost tours.  Since she has been on multiple ghost tours in other cities, her father allows her to go.  During the tour she snaps a photo of a house that is thought to be haunted and when she develops the photos she believes that she did indeed capture someone--or something, through the window!  

Along with several new friends that Harmony makes in Savannah, they make a plan to find out what is in that house.  The mystery is amped up when a local historian is murdered and his young nephew, Jabari, goes missing.  Harmony and her friends want to help find Jabari and find out if his slain uncle has anything to do with the house that is said to be haunted. 

The best part of this story is how deeply Jackson delves into each of the characters' motivations and their past experiences. For Harmony, it's the loss of her grandmother who was her best friend.  The background of her new friends connects her to the Gullah people's culture that shapes how some interact with the supernatural in the Low Country.  Harmony struggles with getting too comfortable in Savannah, knowing that she will be returning to Harlem, however, several twists in the story change this plan and Harmony has to face some difficult conversations with her father about their future.  For a 12 year old, Harmony is an extremely thoughtful person who is flawed, but faces up to her mistakes with empathy.  Young readers will be able to relate to her situation and adults who read this may have more understanding of pre-teen developmental needs.

I would recommend this book to readers ages 10 and up noting that there are many talks about ghosts, haints, demons, etc.  The mystery is one that readers could possibly solve before the ending is revealed so that makes it a more entertaining read.  Jackson carefully plants clues throughout the story that make the ending quite satisfying.  Now I need to read her middle grade thriller, Blood in the Water!