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

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

MMGM: The Clackity by Lora Senf

Evie Von Rathe moved to Blight Harbor after her parents supposedly died in a fire. It is one of the most haunted places in the country, but the ghosts are mostly nice. She lives with her Aunt Des, a ghost hunter. Evie misses her parents, but she doesn't believe they are dead. She loves her aunt and they are very close. Plus, she loves her aunt's best friend, a known witch who runs the town library. It's summer break and the whole summer is before her, until Evie meets her aunt at the old slaughterhouse. She gets a very spooked feeling, and she never wants to go back. Something is very off there. Unfortunately, the next day her aunt is summoned to the old slaughterhouse again and Evie decides to go there to try to stop her. As soon as she sets eyes on her aunt, she watches her disappear. The Clackity comes creeping out of the walls and makes a "very good deal" with Evie, which gives her a chance to try to save her aunt. She enters another world and sees seven houses before her and knows she has to unlock a puzzle to free her aunt. The Clackity is creepy and Evie isn't quite sure what it is or if she should trust it. Worse yet, she finds there is an evil ghost who is after her. Will Evie figure out what to do in each house? Why did the Clackity make the deal with her? Is it really a very good deal? Can Evie save her aunt and avoid the evil ghost? You’ll have to read this spooktacular book to find out.

I have wanted to read The Clackity by Lora Senf since I first saw the amazing cover. I love spooky houses and this cover pulled me right in. The setting of the book was cool, and I could easily imagine the town and its ghosts. The other world Evie goes to is creepy, and I was intrigued by the characters she meets there. I thought Evie was a great character, and I enjoyed her relationship with her aunt. Evie thinks things through and acts from her heart, which made it interesting to see what decisions she makes on her quest. She is so brave! I like the way the book was spooky, but not too scary, and nothing gruesome happened. I would recommend this book to anyone in fifth grade and up who likes to be frightened, likes creepy houses, magic, and fantasy elements. I noticed this is the first book in a trilogy, so I look forward to reading the rest them to find out what else happens to Evie and her family.

Has anyone else read The Clackity? Or have you read another book by Lora Senf? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.