The Haunting of Tabitha Grey

Gr 5–8—Ghosts without gore are featured in this mildly creepy novel. Tabitha Grey and her family have moved once again, this time because her father has taken a job as the Keeper (caretaker) of a historic estate/museum. One of the perks of the job is living in the mansion's converted servants' quarters, but Tabitha's mom and little brother rarely leave the flat, and her dad is busy working, leaving Tabitha frequently alone. While many people regularly tour the estate, the home makes Tabitha distinctly uneasy. Before long, her uneasiness turns to full panic as she begins to smell lavender when no one else does, hear sounds no one else hears, and see figures that she believes are ghosts. There is some mystery here, but the story focuses less on the ghosts and more on what happened to the Grey family before moving to Weston Manor. A subplot concerning Tabitha's father's infidelity doesn't add anything to the plot, and her mother's emotional fragility comes across as self-indulgent. The ending takes a Sixth Sense-style twist, somewhat diminishing the impact. Still, this novel might have some appeal to kids who like shivers, but not nightmares.—Heather Webb, Worthington Libraries, OH