The Ghost's Grave

Josh must spend the summer with his eccentric Aunt Ethel in a small mountain town while his parents are away. During his stay, he encounters the ghost of a coal miner named Willie who died in 1880. Willie asks Josh for help with a long-unfinished task involving his leg bone, which was buried separately from the rest of his remains. Josh's mission leads him to investigate local history and old gravesites while keeping the supernatural situation hidden from his aunt. As Josh works to assist Willie, he becomes entangled in a present-day mystery involving a string of robberies in the town. The dual mysteries run parallel as Josh navigates both his ghostly mission and real-world dangers. The story explores themes of friendship across unlikely boundaries, the importance of keeping promises, and how the past can intersect with the present in unexpected ways.

Readers describe The Ghost's Grave as an engaging mystery for middle-grade students that balances supernatural elements with realistic themes of family and friendship. Readers appreciated: - The balance of spooky moments without being too scary for young readers - Realistic portrayal of the main character's relationship with his great-aunt - Clear writing style that keeps the story moving - Historical elements woven into the plot - Positive messages about helping others Common criticisms: - Some found the ghost storyline predictable - A few readers wanted more complex character development - The ending felt rushed to some Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (90+ reviews) Scholastic: 4/5 From reviews: "Perfect level of spooky for 4th-6th graders" - School librarian on Goodreads "My students couldn't put it down" - Teacher on Amazon "The mystery kept me guessing but wasn't too complicated" - Young reader on Scholastic

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🌟 Peg Kehret wrote this book while battling Post-Polio Syndrome, a condition she developed decades after surviving polio as a child. 🌲 The story is set in the Pacific Northwest, where the author herself lives and draws inspiration for many of her books. 💫 The book combines elements of ghost stories with real-world issues like coal mining safety, creating a bridge between historical events and supernatural fiction. 🏆 The Ghost's Grave won the 2007 Mark Twain Readers Award, selected by Missouri schoolchildren as their favorite book. 🐱 The cat featured in the story was inspired by one of Peg Kehret's own rescue cats - she has been a longtime advocate for animal welfare and has written several books about animals.