Cold in Summer

Ariadne finds her new life in Tennessee challenging after moving from Pennsylvania. While struggling to make friends at school, she encounters a mysterious girl named May who seems oddly out of place. The more time Ariadne spends with May, the more questions arise about her new friend's true nature and connection to the area's past. Her growing curiosity leads her to research local history and uncover secrets about the land where her house now stands. Through a blend of contemporary middle-grade fiction and ghost story elements, Cold in Summer explores themes of friendship, belonging, and coming to terms with change. The novel examines how the past can intersect with the present and how understanding history can help heal wounds both old and new.

Readers found this ghost story aimed at middle-grade audiences engaging but mild in terms of scariness. The themes of friendship, moving to a new place, and dealing with grief resonated with many young readers and their parents. Readers appreciated: - The realistic depiction of adjusting to life in a new town - The friendship dynamics between main characters - The historical elements woven into the story - Age-appropriate handling of supernatural elements Common criticisms: - Plot moves slowly in the first third - Some found the ghost story too tame - Resolution felt rushed to some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (30+ ratings) One parent reviewer noted: "Perfect for kids who want a spooky story but get scared easily." A student reviewer commented: "I wish there was more action at the beginning, but I liked learning about Tennessee history through the ghost's story."

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn A girl moves to a haunted house where her stepsister befriends a ghost who has sinister intentions.

The Ghost of Graylock by Dan Poblocki Two siblings investigate an abandoned psychiatric hospital where children died under mysterious circumstances.

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier Two orphans work at a mansion where a parasitic tree and its supernatural gardener feed on people's dreams.

Ghosts of the Titanic by Julie Lawson A boy forms a connection with the spirit of a Titanic passenger while researching the disaster for a school project.

The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn A pair of siblings who live in the woods near an old mansion harbor a dark secret about their connection to the property's past.

🌟 The ghost in the story, Abigail Chase, lived during the time when the Cumberland River Valley was flooded to create Lake Cumberland in Kentucky - a real historical event that took place in the 1950s. 🌟 Author Tracy Barrett was inspired to write this story after learning about communities that were submerged under man-made lakes, where buildings and even entire towns still exist beneath the water. 🌟 The book expertly weaves together themes of friendship across different time periods, showing how two girls - one living and one deceased - can help each other deal with feelings of being displaced and lonely. 🌟 The novel was selected for the Tennessee State Book Award Master List and the Mark Twain Readers Award Master List. 🌟 Many of the underwater ghost towns mentioned in the book still exist today, and scuba divers occasionally explore these submerged communities when water levels are low enough to safely access them.