Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards

Mo is the new kid in town, and she is pretty sure the only Asian-American kid. No one in New Warren seems to think she belongs. But when her step-father dumped her mother, even leaving his real daughter Ce-Ce behind, Mom had no choice but to move in with Mo’s great-uncle, Ray. Mo is afraid of a lot of things, but very high on that list are fires, things that can cause fires, and ghosts. Mo accidentally makes friends with a quirky kid named Nathaniel, who tells her about New Warren’s history, which includes a big fire and a really big ghost. Nathaniel comes up with a plan to solve the problem, but can these two kids pull it off?

Susan Tan has written a terrific middle-grade novel that will have kids clamoring for this book. It highlights the problems of being the new kid, being different, making friends, phobias, bullies, and divorce, all with the bonus of a very interesting ghost. The writing is great, the characters are both interesting and well-developed, and the first-person point-of-view works well. The voice of Mo is pitch-perfect for her age. This deserves readership beyond its intended middle-grade audience.