It’s only March, but I’m reading ghost stories (because I’m writing one).

Ghost stories have nearly universal appeal among kids.

They offer a path to wander into another world—one that’s more real than fantasy, in my opinion.

Who among us hasn’t “felt” something when we walked into a room, or seen something out of the corner of our eye, or dreamed about a deceased loved one that “felt so real”?

Unlike dragons and other creatures of fantasy, ghosts could be real right this very minute.

There is no shortage of ghost stories.

Neil Gaiman and his franchise come to mind.

For me, though, his books border on the seriously twisted.

I wanted something a little campier, less threatening.

THE GHOST RULES by Adam Rosenbaum, published in 2024 for middle grade reader, fit that bill.

It’s a lighthearted, thought-provoking story, less weird and spooky than books like CORALINE or THE GRAVEYARD BOOK (both by Gaiman).

It’s much more lighthearted and heartfelt.

It’s a story about a boy, Elwood, whose family moves into the grandfather’s house…all except Elwood’s brother who died a few months before.

There, Elwood realizes he has a gift—or a curse—for seeing ghosts, and they are everywhere.

Naturally, he hopes to see the ghost of his beloved brother, Noah.

Scheming with his new friends, he figures out how to get back to his old house where he’s sure Ghost Noah will be waiting for him.

But there are rules to being a ghost…and not everyone who dies becomes one.

But Elwood is certain that someone with as much love and personality as his brother can’t just be dead…he has to be a ghost.

This book has all kinds of themes: grief, moving, making new friends, respecting the elderly (even if they’re ghosts), and accepting responsibility for things you’re actually responsible for versus what you’re not.

I was intrigued by the rules of ghosting…which turned out to be eerily similar to the random rules I set for my ghost story.

THE GHOST RULES offers readers a different approach to ghost stories, plus it was funny, and there was a community-activist thread that kids will appreciate.

Questions for discussion:

*What rules would you have for ghosts?

*Does anyone get to be a ghost?

*How long can a ghost stay among the living?

*Do the dead have a choice of heaven (or the great beyond) or staying with their loved ones?

*What do they give up if they choose to stay on Earth?

*What do ghosts look like—as they did when they were last alive or at their favorite age?

*What do ghosts do all day?

*Do they miss food?

*Can you hug them?

*Can everyone see them?

*If they’re spooky ghosts, how do you get them to leave?

*How do ghosts drop pennies or white feathers for people to find?

*Can they help a kid pass their math test?

Here are three other ghost story page-turners: SCRITCH SCRATCH (Lindsay Currie) and THE YEAR OF SHADOWS (Claire Legrand) and THE CLACKITY (Lora Senf).

Have a great week!

~ Gail

Onward!

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