CHILDISH SPIRITS

Ellie sees a shadowy boy in the window as she, her mother, and her brother move into Inchwood Manor. When she searches for the room where she saw the ghostly boy, she finds a magical antique nursery. Sally Millest masterfully presents contemporary and Victorian voices and vocabulary as this story moves between Victorian and contemporary England. Ellie is spooked by old-fashioned Edward, a ghost who eerily recounts Inchwood's disturbing history. Then she realizes that ghost Edward is a prisoner because his pranks infuriated another ghost--this one vengeful. Well-rendered twists, believable hauntings, and Ellie's ability to outsmart the vengeful ghost are captivating. The agreeable conclusion and unlikely friendship between Ellie and Edward make for an appealing listening experience. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2023]