Reading Metrics
Description
Zee Puckett loves ghost stories. She just never expected to be living one. It all starts with a dark and stormy night. When the skies clear, people are missing. And Zee is seeing frightening things. Book contains violence. Themes include bullying.
Quick Summary
Zee Puckett is a middle schooler who devours ghost stories, but when a wild storm rolls through her town, she suddenly finds herself living a terrifying supernatural mystery that no one else seems to notice. She teams up with a couple of scrappy friends and they try to piece together why people are disappearing and what the eerie, flickering shadows really want, all while dealing with a bully who makes school feel like a battleground. The story balances genuine scares with moments of witty banter and heartfelt friendship, making it a quick, page-turning read for kids who like a mix of spooky and funny. If you're a fan of the creepy-but-fun vibe of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps books but want a bit more depth and a mystery that actually gets solved, this one's for you. Parents will appreciate that the book tackles real issues like bullying and fear of the unknown, though there are a few graphic moments and a ghost that can be unsettling, so it's best for kids who can handle a little spookiness. At around 54,000 words it's a solid middle-grade novel that sits at a 4.4 reading level, perfect for fourth-graders up to eighth-graders who love a good ghostly adventure.