MG Ghost Novel offers Spooky, Shivery Fun

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

I like a shivery ghost story, but I prefer atmospheric spine-tinglers over the kind of terrifying tales that are bound to give me nightmares. The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly, a horror lite novel written for the middle-grade set, fits that bill quite nicely. It's creepier than your average children's book, but it never gets too dark or graphic for its intended audience. In fact, in spite of its grim subject matter, it's actually a rather upbeat and hopeful read. This is a good place to start for young readers who want to dip their toes into the supernatural/horror genre, or for wimpy adults like me who just want a touch of scary sans night terrors. 

The story stars Lila Clement, an 11-year-old Arizona girl who's often accused of being melodramatic, immature, and "too much." And, okay, a lot of the time she is making what turns out to be a big to-do about nothing. Not this time, though. When the eccentric grandfather she never knew dies, she travels with her family to Ohio. After an almost-accident on the road that leaves them all a little shaken, Lila discovers that she can now see ghosts. This is unfortunate considering that she'll be staying in the haunted inn that her Grandpa Clem owned for the forseeable future. When her newly-deceased relation appears to Lila, insisting that he did not die of a heart attack but was, in fact, murdered, she sets out to figure out who killed Grandpa Clem and why. She soon discovers that the Castle Hill Inn isn't just a spooky old hotel, Clem wasn't just an ordinary old man, and she's not just a drama queen who's being left behind by friends who think she's too babyish. In Castle Hill, Lila has an important mission to perform, a new pal to help her accomplish it, and maybe, just maybe, a place where her "too much" is exactly right.  

Lila is a fun narrator who will help kids who are labeled "extra" feel seen. She's sympathetic, sensitive, caring, and brave. Her new friend, Teddy, makes an appealing right-hand man with his compassion, curiosity, and reluctant courage. Along with Lila's younger brother, the kids make an unlikely but intrepid team who tackle a murder mystery, a host of ghosts with varying needs, and a malevolent force who doesn't want them to succeed. What unfolds is an exciting story with lots of action, suspense, and ghostly encounters. While it's predictable, it's also a quick, entertaining page-turner that's creepier than you might expect. In spite of that, it teaches some healthy, healing lessons about death that can help kids grappling to understand death or dealing with the loss of a loved one find comfort. The Last Resort may not be the right reading choice for younger middle-graders or those who are particularly sensitive; for the rest of us, though, it's an eerie, enjoyable read that will provide shivers but not nightmares.

The Last Resort is the first installment in a planned series (a trilogy, maybe?). The second book, The Claiming by Jasmine Warga, came out earlier this month. In addition to reading the books, you're supposed to be able to launch an extra "experience" using a phone app that lets readers have their own ghost-hunting fun. By scanning the books' illustrations, you're supposed to be able to "talk' to the ghosts in the stories, solve puzzles within the pictures, and encounter further mysteries. It all sounds super cool. Unfortunately, despite trying multiple times on both my phone and PC, I could not get the "Launch Experience" button to work for me. Maybe it functions better with a paper book than an e-book? I don't know, but I feel like I'm missing out...bummer.

(Readalikes: reminds me of The Inn Between by Marina Cohen)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for violence and scary situations

To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Last Resort from the generous folks at Scholastic via those at NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review. Thank you!