MMGM: Scritch Scratch: A Ghost Story by Lindsay Currie

Claire may be in seventh grade but she knows there’s no such thing as ghosts. She’s very scientific after all. Of course her father couldn’t disagree with her more as he runs a spirits tour around Chicago and has written a book about ghosts. Claire is horrified and doesn’t like it if people at school know about her father and how weird he is about ghosts. Even though Claire knows ghosts aren’t real, she finds that she is scared when she walks in the alley near her house or in the dark basement, so she uses counting to help her. When her father's assistant isn’t able to make an important tour, Claire has to step in to help because she knows her family needs the money from the tour. The tour is going okay, Claire is staying organized and not getting freaked out until she sees a boy in a white suit dripping wet in the back of the bus. No one else seems to see him. When she gets home, she’s very rattled. She's worried that she’ll see the boy from the bus in her house. Hearing the scritch scratch on the walls sends her into her closet to sleep for the night. At school. Her best friend has befriended the new girl and seems to be changing. Claire doesn’t know what the big deal is and why her friend is now into makeup and stuff they used to make fun of last year. Claire’s not sleeping, so she's irritable and scared. And then, numbers appear on her bathroom walls and water is in a dresser. Did something follow her home? Is there a ghost trailing her? What does the ghost want? And how can she get it to leave her alone so she can go back to her regular life? You’ll have to read the spooky book to find out!

I knew I had to read, Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie as soon as I saw that amazing cover! I read another book by her, so I knew this would be a perfect fall read. I like that Claire is into science and the scientific method, and I thought it was interesting learning about a lot of the landmarks in Chicago and the ghost stories associated with them. I also like seeing the way the middle school relationships were portrayed. Very realistic! The book was definitely spooky, and I will admit I read a few parts during the day so that I wouldn't be too scared before bed! I would recommend this book to anyone in fifth grade and up who likes a good fright and learning about history! It’s a book that will make you want to learn more that’s for sure. 

Has anyone else read Scritch Scratch? Or have you read another book by Lindsay Currie? We’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Happy Reading!
~L

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