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Description
Forced to move into a haunted concert hall with her distant father, the Maestro, and aging grandmother, Nonna, twelve-year-old Olivia and classmate Henry try to lay to rest ghosts tied to the Hall's past before time and money run out.
Quick Summary
Olivia isn't thrilled about moving into an old concert hall with her work-obsessed father and her grandmother, but things get interesting fast when she discovers it's haunted and even better, she convinces her classmate Henry to help her figure out what's keeping these ghosts stuck there. The story balances genuine chills with laugh-out-loud moments, especially between Olivia and her grumpy grandmother, while also exploring how hard it can be when your parents are distracted by their own problems. Kids who love mysteries, ghost stories, or books where ordinary kids have extraordinary adventures will eat this up think "The Haunting of Hill House" meets middle school friendship drama. There's nothing too scary for younger middle graders, but the ghostly elements give it just enough spooky tension to feel exciting rather than nightmare-inducing. If your kid enjoyed "The Mysterious Benedict Society" or books with plucky protagonists solving puzzles, this one has that same satisfying blend of brain and heart. Claire Legrand writes characters you genuinely root for, and the ending hits the perfect balance of bittersweet and hopeful without being preachy about it.