Reading Metrics
Description
Maddy Deeprose has seen ghosts all her life, so the spirits that linger at her new boarding school, Crowham Martyrs, don't alarm her at first. When her best friend disappears and the school's adults ignore her pleas, Maddy is forced to trust her visions and investigate the school's hidden, tragic history. As she uncovers secrets buried beneath the walls, she must stop the past from repeating itself before more students vanish.
Quick Summary
If you're looking for a mystery that gives you actual chills without being too graphic for middle graders, this one's for you. Maddy starts the story thinking her ability to see ghosts is just an annoying quirk, but when kids at her boarding school begin vanishing, she realizes her "gift" might be the only thing that can save her friends. The tension builds slowly at first maybe a little too slowly for some readers but once it picks up around the halfway point, you'll be flipping pages late into the night trying to figure out what's really going on at Crowham Martyrs. It's got that classic boarding school mystery vibe, similar to what you'd find in some of Ellen R. Delaney's school-based thrillers, but with ghosts thrown in for extra atmosphere. One thing I appreciated: Maddy doesn't let her fear take over completely she's scared, sure, but she's also determined and resourceful, which makes her a protagonist worth rooting for. Parents should know there's some genuine spookiness here, especially toward the end, but it's more suspenseful and mystery-driven than gory or truly terrifying. For kids who devour supernatural mysteries or stories set in creepy schools, this hits the mark perfectly.