This was such a fun story! I really loved it. Tan has crafted a fantastic mystery that doesn’t shy away from touching on more serious themes. Highly recommend.

The author weaved the past and present into an enjoyable ghost hunting book.
I loved how the characters had insecurities, worries, and doubt but they still muscled through to find the truth and gain confidence in themselves.
I also appreciated how several adult characters were there to support and encourage the kids throughout their adventure.
I really enjoyed this book and literally flew through it.
Enjoy!

Poor Mo. But yet she has a good overall spirit to her as she deals with moving to a new town, new school, new friends and an Elephant/Dog ghost. A fun read that will also inform about trauma and broken families.

This is a great book that is perfect for middle grades readers who are struggling with adjustment issues. The main character has to deal with rejection by a stepfather who she viewed as a father after a divorce, although this is not the main story line. She also has to deal with being a new student in a community where she is the only Asian student. As she is dealing with these issues she stumbles upon a ghost story and the supernatural.

What worked:
Deep fears are an issue in the book and pyromania is a big problem for Mo. Mo’s family lost their home so they’re now living with her Uncle Ray. Mo can’t sleep unless she’s checked the house for fire hazards and made sure all appliances have been unplugged. She also has a fear of ghosts but it’s not clear where it originated. Her phobias are exaggerated when she hears a story about the ghost of an elephant haunting the town after it was killed in a circus tent fire many years ago.
This strange tale of Maudie the elephant becomes the focus for the rest of the plot. Residents keep the myth of her ghost alive as a tourist attraction although there’s usually a hint of truth behind these kinds of stories. Mo reluctantly makes friends with a classmate named Nathaniel out of necessity. She has dreams about the elephant and fire but discovers some unexpected evidence that there’s more going on than she thought. Nathaniel has a strong interest in ghosts so he’s a perfect partner to help her uncover the mystery. The junkyard next to Uncle Ray’s house is the epicenter of the problem and makes an especially creepy setting, even more so at night.
The plot involves many serious issues and feelings that might be encountered by young readers. Mo’s stepdad left and remarried so she has mixed emotions about remembering him. He’s the only father she remembers but he abandoned the family and doesn’t treat her like his birth-daughter CeCe. In addition, Mo’s mother is still struggling after the divorce so she hasn’t been behaving very motherly. Being the new kid at school, Mo has trouble with classmates and doesn’t see the value in making new friends. Nathaniel’s father died a year ago so those emotions are still fresh in his mind, especially with the memory of his last words to his father.
What didn’t work as well:
Uncle Ray helps Mo deal with her stress throughout the book by listening to remixes of old music and discussing the song lyrics. I’m a huge fan of classic rock but young readers probably won’t appreciate song references without having some idea of their words. Readers will still get the gist of some songs after Uncle Ray shares his thoughts and the overall plot can still be enjoyed.
The Final Verdict:
The early part of the book may not grab readers right away due to Mo’s phobias and negativity. However, the author tenderly addresses Mo’s deep emotions and blends that with her quest to bring a peaceful resolution for Maudie’s spirit.

What a book for those of us who have struggled with anxiety since we were very young as well as those of us who have dreamed of becoming the 'weird relative' with enough money and time to simply live in an ancient house filled with stuff doing exactly as we please.

SO GOOD. I don't know if my 12 year old self could have handled the nightmares, dreams, and ghosts in this because I was a really sensitive kid, but I also think I could have benefitted from this book at 12 for the same reason. So many heavy and very real themes covered with split families, feeling like you have to be the adult sometimes at 12, parents’ mental illness, learning who to trust and how to nurture friendships. People are so complicated at all ages and I feel this book captured that. We are haunted by so many things throughout our whole lives and we should never underestimate what kids can experience. I would recommend this book for kids who find this heavy and raw discussion of really tough situations and feelings helpful, and kids who are experiencing big life changes like moves or parents splitting up. I really enjoyed this story, the character development of the lead as she learned about herself, her grief, and her community, as well as the symbolism around the nightmares and ghosts. I would also recommend this book to parents of 12 year olds, it's easy to forget how heavy the world feels at that age and we, the adults, need to do our best to support them through it.

this was a really interesting read, it was what I was looking for when I read the description. It was a beautifully done children's novel, I was hooked into what the plot was trying to do. It was really well done and I enjoyed the journey that was going on in this story. The characters were unique and beautifully done, I enjoyed getting to know them. Susan Tan has a beautiful writing style that has a magic all it's own. I hope to read more from Ms. Tan.

“Why thank you, Mo,” she said. “I’d love that. Now, as much as I could talk about history all day, I know you had another research question. I don’t know anything about the Childers house, but I know someone who can help. Have you ever been to the reserved archives room? The one where we keep the super old stuff?”