Archimancy

Gr 5–8—Middle schooler Cordelia Liu is upset about moving away from her friends in California because her dad has lost his job. Her dad's new job is in New Hampshire, and her parents try hard to help Cordelia settle into their new home. But Cordelia is not having it—she hates the small town, and she misses her two best friends. Left with no choice, Cordelia begrudgingly starts Shadow Middle School, which was once owned by reclusive architect Elijah Z. Shadow, who died mysteriously in a house fire in 1929. Almost immediately, the ghost sightings begin for Cordelia. She sees different people throughout the school dressed in various old-fashioned clothing, which at first she chalks up to a quirky sense of style. When she tries to convince her parents that she's seeing ghosts at the school, they laugh it off, believing it's another tactic to get them to move back to California. She is relieved to make friends with classmate Benji, who also reveals he can see the spectral beings. Though Agnes can't see the ghosts, she joins their mission to set the specters free. If these souls are given their "brightkey," or what they are missing from their earthly days, they will finally find peace. It is only after they are visited by a tantrum-throwing poltergeist in the cafeteria that they realize this is dangerous work. The preteens' friendship is realistic and appealing. Readers will applaud Cordelia's bravery and the trio's ingenuity. The suspense is engaging and consistent throughout, and there's a perfect mix of scares and mystery that willl entice even the most fainthearted of readers.