The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street

Tessa Woodward moves from sunny Florida to chilly Chicago when her father gets a new job as a musician. Upon arriving at their old house on Shady Street, strange things begin happening - her drawings change on their own, she hears crying at night, and her brother's ventriloquist dummy seems to move by itself. Determined to understand these ghostly occurrences, Tessa teams up with new friends Andrew and Nina to investigate the history of her house. Their search leads them through Chicago's past as they work to uncover the story behind the supernatural activity. As Tessa adjusts to her new life in Chicago, she discovers friendship, bravery, and the importance of facing fears. The middle-grade mystery combines ghost story elements with themes of adapting to change and the power of human connection.

Readers describe this middle-grade ghost story as spooky but not terrifying, making it accessible for younger audiences. Many parents note it serves as a good introduction to the mystery/horror genre for kids aged 8-12. Readers appreciated: - The Chicago setting details and history - Realistic portrayal of making friends in a new city - Balance between scary moments and lighter scenes - The incorporation of art/music into the plot Common criticisms: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few readers wanted more suspense and scares - The ghost story resolution felt rushed to some Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (280+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.7/5 (40+ ratings) One frequent comment from teachers and librarians: "Perfect for kids who want scary books but aren't ready for teen horror." Several parent reviewers noted their reluctant readers finished it in one sitting.

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🌟 Author Lindsay Currie grew up in a haunted house in Wisconsin, which inspired her to write ghost stories. 🎭 The book features real Chicago locations, including the historic Graceland Cemetery and the legendary Biograph Theater. 👻 The ghostly violin music in the story was inspired by actual accounts of unexplained music heard in Chicago's oldest theaters. 🎨 The author conducted extensive research on ventriloquist dummies and their history while writing the book, as they play a key role in the story. 🏛️ The book's setting in Chicago was chosen partly because the city is known for having some of America's most haunted locations, including the Congress Plaza Hotel and Bachelor's Grove Cemetery.