"Mean girls, ghosts, and terrifying ventriloquist dummies...I can't let them win." Tessa Woodward is battling all of these things in The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie.
Tessa and her family have just moved to Chicago from Florida, and she is trying to adjust to her new house, new school, and the new climate. But it's hard to get comfortable when she notices lights flickering, strange sounds, and mysterious drawings appearing in her sketchbook. To make matters worse, Tessa thinks her little brother's ventriloquist dummy is always staring at her, and she notices it crying real tears! With new friends Andrew and Nina by her side, they decide something happened in Tessa's house, but what? Also, who is the ghost, and why has it chosen Tessa to haunt?
This middle grade ghost story is mysterious, spooky, and suspenseful! I loved the array of characters, ghost legends, and all the mentions of Chicago and its history. Next time I'm in the Windy City, I will definitely be visiting Graceland Cemetery! This book is a must-add to your classroom library! 🏙👻🏠
