From the author of The Best Liars in Riverview comes a subtle exploration of gender identity, family, and the personal ghosts that haunt us all, perfect for fans of Kyle Lukoff and Ashley Herring Blake.
Eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings, Talia and Rose, are staying the week at Nanaleen's century-old house. This time, though, it’s not their usual summer vacation trip. In fact, everything’s different. It’s fall, not summer. Mom and Dad are staying behind to have a “talk.” And Nanaleen’s house smells weird, plus she keeps forgetting things. And these aren’t the only things getting under Simon’s skin: He’s the only one who knows that his name is Simon, and that he and him pronouns are starting to feel right. But he’s not ready to add to the changes that are already in motion in his family.
To make matters worse, Simon keeps hearing a scratching in the walls, and shadows are beginning to build in the corners. He can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong…and he’s determined to get to the bottom of it—which means launching a ghost hunt, with or without his sisters’ help. When Simon discovers the hidden story of his great-aunt Brie, he realizes that Brie’s life might hold answers to some of his worries. Is Brie’s ghost haunting the old O’Hagan house? And will Simon’s search for ghosts turn up more secrets than he ever expected?
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Gr 4–7—A light mystery for middle grade readers. Simon's parents need a "reset" and decide to take him and his siblings to Nanaleen's house for fall break. Everything feels off to Simon. It's colder, since they usually visit in the summer; the house smells funny; and the water stain on the ceiling seems to keep growing. After an incident in which Simon feels he was pushed down the stairs, he starts to believe a ghost is to blame for all the odd changes around Nanaleen's house. On top of dealing with ghosts and worrying about his parents, Simon is also struggling with his identity. Simon is only his "secret name," and he's getting tired of correcting his name in his head, but he also doesn't want to be another thing his family must worry about. Digging into family history proves to be a good distraction from everything, but will Simon have to face his troubles in the end? Thompson's sophomore novel is a blend of mystery, light horror, and a coming-of-age tale. There are creepy moments in Simon's hunt for ghosts, but most of the story revolves around Simon's feelings about his parents, his sister leaving him for a friend, and struggling with who he knows he is. The story moves slowly, which may deter some readers, but wraps up in a satisfying way. Race of characters is not mentioned. VERDICT Recommended for purchase where there is high demand for stories focused on identity for younger readers.—Lisa Buffi