The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie

Supernatural
295 pages

When Tessa moves to Chicago from Florida it’s already a difficult transition.  But when the creepy, old house seems to be telling her something, she doesn’t know where to turn.  Luckily a few new classmates are intrigued by what’s going on, and they’re willing to do some digging.  Together they uncover a mystery, but they just may need whoever is haunting the house to help them solve the crime that happened there generations ago.

I would recommend this book to any middle school reader who likes a good ghost story.  It’s got shadows and a crying doll, storms and secrets, and it will pull in those who believe in hosts as well as those who don’t!

Mothman’s Curse by Christine Hayes

Ghost Story/Supernatural
304 pags

When Josie and her brothers are contacted by the spirit of their deceased neighbor through photos in an old Polaroid camera, they don’t know what to think.  But when their dad has a bad accident that lands him in the hospital, they decide maybe they should take these ghostly visits more seriously.

This is an excellent ghost story for those who like a little creepy, get-under-your-skin heebie-jeebies.  I never knew Mothman was a legend, and they way he was present at so many natural disasters and deadly events in history definitely made me think twice.  It won’t scare you to death, but if you let your imagination get away from you, you just might want to read with the lights on.

I would recommend this for any middle school reader who likes spooky legends and ghost stories or who wants to try the supernatural genre without too much risk.