Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer

Gr 4–6—Midnight Reynolds has enough on her plate. Burdened with an unusual name and a Halloween birthday, the 12-year-old is also juggling a new home and school, high-maintenance friends, and her mother's impending marriage to Phil, the oh-so-embarrassing Viking reenactor. Midnight has no time to deal with the undead. But keeping up with her popular friends is expensive, so she is delighted when her neighbor, old Mrs. Appleby, offers her a job—until she discovers Mrs. Appleby expects her to hunt ghosts. She informs the dismayed girl that individuals born at midnight on Halloween possess the unique ability to see "spectral energy," or ghosts. Mrs. Appleby wants Midnight to keep their town clear of ghosts while she is incapacitated with a broken ankle. Initially reluctant, Midnight eventually agrees, learning to use the spectral transformer to capture the evil spirits. The demands of her new responsibility soon affect her social life, and she sees her chance at popularity slipping away. Luckily, classmate Tabitha (who loves librarians, research, and archives) turns out to be a loyal friend and helps Midnight uncover the spooky truth. Midnight is a likable character, filled with anxiety, determination, and initiative. Her internal struggle between wanting to be popular and remaining true to herself is well developed and adds depth to the gently suspenseful ghost-busting plot. Midnight eventually realizes that she has people in her life she can truly count on, and the ending promises future adventures.