If you're a fan of scary stories, be sure to read Lindsay Currie's, Scritch Scratch. With just the right amount of spooky, Currie weaves a tale of mystery as our main character Claire struggles with finding out what goes bump in the night. Already struggling with starting a new school year with uncertain friendships, Claire feels like she's losing control when she sees a ghost boy on her father's ghost tour bus. Certain she is just caught up in the tour, she dismisses the boy, until later when the scratching noises start, she hears voices coming from outside and what seems to be inside her room along with the number 369 appearing out of nowhere, everywhere, Claire knows she is being haunted. Worse, she knows the ghost boy wants her to do something and is not going away and becoming more dangerous with each day. Can Claire find out what the boys wants before it's too late? Is it possible that help could come in the form of friendships believed to be lost? Scritch Scratch does a great job of giving it's readers the right amount of shivers and chills, but also shows how the bonds of family and friends are stronger than you can ever imagine.

OHMIGOD.

Two things:
1. This book is SO SCARY!!
2. Don't start reading at 10 p.m. because you're not going to want to put it down.

OK. Now that we have an understanding, this book was so freaking amazing. I couldn't stop reading it! It is such a wonderful tale, amazing characters, and full of genuinely scary moments. And let me be clear: there is no gore; Currie is just bloody brilliant at writing real, honest-to-goodness scary scenes.

But the incredible spook-factor isn't the only aspect of this novel that makes it amazing: the real friendships, relationships, and relatable middle grade scenarios are what really make this work a gem. It's been a long time since I've been in middle school but man! This book spoke loud and true to my 12 year old self. Friendships, divorce, sibling relationships, conquering your fears, crushes, and loneliness are all here in this page-turner and are beautifully discussed.

Lastly, the inclusion of research, the scientific method, museums, and the promotion of "looking for the story that history has forgotten" just made my little academic heart sing! I loved, loved, loved everything about this book.

Librarians: if you have a child who has graduated from R.L. Stine and wants something scary, recommend this work!!! It is SO good and I can't wait to explore more of Currie's works!

Top-notch horror reads are not something that I find easy to come by in the middle-grade genre, which is a shame as children do love frights, scares and the unexplained. Every now and again one comes along and Scritch Scratch is set to take the horror genre by storm. Earlier in the year, readers of horror were treated to the fabulous Crater Lake by Jennifer Killick, and Scritch Scratch sits firmly alongside it when it comes to chills and thrills.

This is a spine-tingling, heart-hammering, nerve-shredding read and it is a brilliant addition to the middle-grade horror genre. You’ll have bitten off your fingernails by the end of the read but it’ll have been worth it…

Claire likes to live in an orderly world where everything can be explained. She has little interest in her dad’s stories of ghosts and spirits that haunt her home city, Chicago. Her dad shares his stories of ghosts and frights to people who pay to hear them aboard his Spirits of Chicago bus tour. When the regular driver of the bus tour calls in sick, Claire finds herself forced to embrace the ghostly world of her father and fill in as his assistant on the city tour.

Expecting a tour of graveyards, Claire is caught off guard as the bus tour visits scenes of tragic real-life events that plague her home town. The tour is far from boring and she quickly finds herself in the grips of fear. There are plenty of secrets and untold truths amidst the city streets of Chicago.

With the end of the tour in sight and Claire relieved to have survived the night, an extra passenger appears at the back of the bus. A pale-skinned boy with dark eyes. The only clue to his presence, a piece of paper with the number 396 scrawled on it. Determined not to be convinced by the presence of a ghost, Claire reasons that her dad’s ghost stories have gotten the better of her. But when strange events and unexplained noises start happening at home and at school, Claire is forced to accept the ghostly presence. She is being haunted and needs to find out why before it is too late…

Currie has written a story that is a wonderful spooky mix of fact and the supernatural. I love how she has created a story that has history at its heart. The truths of Chicago’s murky and lesser know past are revealed expertly and are an intrinsic part to this spooky read. I for one will be researching more about the events that are revealed within the narrative. I have visited Chicago but knew nothing of the city’s ghostly and haunting past.

The characters that Currie has created are very real and relatable. Claire likes to think that she isn’t afraid but has frailties that are revealed. I loved her use of counting as a coping mechanism. The issues that Claire and her friends experience in their first year of high school are completely realistic as the children navigate the turbulent waters of new friendships and relationships.

Scritch Scratch is not for the faint-hearted. It is filled with tension and suspense and I absolutely loved it! Due for release on 1st September 2020.

Recommended for 9+.

With thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced reader copy.

It all starts when Claire agrees to help her dad on a Chicago ghost tour. She isn't interested in the paranormal in any way. Claire is all about science, not spooks. But her dad runs a ghost tour company...and asks for her help. Reluctantly, she agrees. One Saturday night counting ghost fans to make sure everyone is on the bus won't kill her. But then she sees a sad little boy in the back of the bus....he's wearing very out of date clothing and just seems....odd. Claire can't remember counting him when the tour started....and he isn't there anymore when the night wraps up. Hmmm.....weird....but that should be the end of it, right?

Wrong.

Then the scratching sounds start. A quiet scratching inside the walls of her room. And her dresser is full of water. Claire has brought a ghost home with her!

This book is just such an awesome middle grade level spooky read! It weaves real Chicago history in with the fiction. I have a list of real places and stories I just have to look up and read about now! The atmosphere and pacing are perfect. I liked the characters, and the premise. When I was in seventh grade, I most likely would have been embarrassed if my dad ran a ghost tour company, too! Claire learns some valuable lessons, becomes closer to her brother, and learns many lessons while investigating the spirit who followed her home.

The cover art for this book is just fantastic!

This is the first book by Lindsay Currie that I've read. I love ghost stories! And the fact that this tale includes actual history of the Chicago area made the book so much more interesting to me! I'm definitely going to read more by this author!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Sourcebooks. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Scritch Scratch had me on the edge of my seat for the entirety of this story! I couldn't put this down. I was asked to be on Lindsay's street team for this novel and I have enjoyed getting to know her while helping her get the word out about this story. when I finally sat down to read it I couldn't have been more impressed. Horror is not an easy genre to write for kids. You can't make it too scary or it becomes too much, but you don't want it to come off as too silly either. Kids like to be thrilled and scared sometimes! I know this will be recommended in my library to my students who love a good thrill!

The characters in Scritch Scratch are so relatable so I know students in grades 4-8 will be able to relate to them as well. There is a good blend of frightening scenes with realistic friendships, sibling relationships, and relationships with parents.

I would recommend this to fans of Goosebumps and Mary Downing Hahn books.

Scritch Scratch has mystery, ghosts, friendship, and history all wrapped into a wonderful novel by Lindsay Currie. We find young heroine Claire, who has the task of navigating new friendships while things seem to be falling apart around her. Will she be able to sleep again after helping on her dad’s Chicago ghost tour bus? Does her brother Sam believe her when she feels haunted? How will her friend, Casely, handle how weird Claire is suddenly acting? All answers lead to an adventure in this detailed and thrilling preteen book.

AH! THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! It’s so fun and spooky! It’s got great friendships that I just adored! Claire’s relationship with her brother was just perfect! Also, I learned so much about Chicago from this book. If you love mystery, friendship, and things that go bump in the night, this book is for you! It definitely gave me chills! I cannot wait for Lindsay Currie’s next book!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Scritch Scratch is a fantastic middle grade scary story with just the right amount of spookiness. Twelve year old Claire just wants to fit in. She is embarrassed that her dad owns a Ghost Tours company, but finds herself helping out with a bus route one night. Something changes that night when she sees and feels strange things. Is the boy on the bus a ghost? What does the number 396 mean? Using the scientific method to solve the mystery, Claire and her friends learn that change is not a bad thing and it's okay to be afraid. This book is full of middle school angst with wanting to be normal, first crushes, suspense, and friendship. The discovery is loosely based on the actual historical event of Chicago's SS Eastland disaster in 1915. Fun read with mystery and education!

This is definitely a book for fans of Small Places or any of Mary Downing Hahn's books!

Claire’s dad is in need of her assistance one night on a ghost tour. She accompanied him to some of Chicago’s most haunted places and is terrified to discover that she’s accidentally brought a ghost home.
I enjoyed Claire’s relationship with her brother Sam and how he helps her, and same with Claire’s best friend and new friend. There’s a good circle of characters going on in this book. I loved that Claire was scared and she had ways of coping with it that made her feel more real. She’s a good heroine.

This one comes out September 1st so be sure to grab yourself a copy - this will be perfect to read during the spooky October and fall season!

This book was spooky with some great chilling moments. In addition to the well-written horror aspects, the author sneaks in some forgotten Chicago history, positive relationships, and a lesson about facing your fears. Overall a lot of fun!

Claire is busy working on science and has no time for her father's ghost stories. Most of them are grim and there are no happy endings. But when she is the only one who can fill in on the bus tour to visit ghostly haunts, she has to do it.

Sourcebooks Young Readers and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published September 1st.

She thinks all his passengers are nuts. They believe in ghosts so much they imagine them. But they don't even see the one sitting on the bus with them. Claire is the only one who does and she doesn't want to. Soon the tour is over and the boy disappears. She can't show him to her dad so she pretends she didn't see anything. They go home, have a normal evening and head to bed. That's where normal ends for Claire...

She hears a scritch scratch in the wall and knows it's that boy. She gets so scared she sleeps in her closet. When she goes to get her clothes for school, the drawer is full of water and her clothes are wet. In the bathroom the shower has a number written on the wall.

Her brother finally gets the truth out of her and offers to help. They begin by looking at the various ghost sites they toured but no luck. Then she wonders if the number means something. Through research she finds it does. It was assigned to her boy as an unknown victim. It took a long time for him to be identified because his parents died in the same accident.

Can she reunite him with his parents?

Claire is feeling left out of the loop when her best friend Casley starts hanging out with new girl, Emily. Claire's dad is an author who writes books about ghosts and hauntings in Chicago and runs a nightly ghost tour, telling stories about disasters, death, and restless spirits. When his assistant calls in sick and Claire doesn't have an invitation to Casley's house as usual, she gets roped into going on the ghost tour, handing out brochures, and making sure everything goes smoothly while her Dad spins his frightening stories. When an extra passenger shows up mysteriously in the midst of the tour, Claire realises she is the only one who sees him and he seems to be trying to tell her something that she doesn't understand. It soon becomes clear that this restless and angry spirit is not going to give up until Claire finds out what he wants.
This book will have students in 4-6th grade on the edge of their seats. The friendship dynamics are believable and will be relatable to students in this age group. While the loose ends tie up just a bit too neatly, readers will enjoy this ghostly tale and will be trying to work out the frightening puzzle right along with Claire.

I was thrilled to read an advance copy of Lindsay Currie´s new middle-grade book Scritch Scratch! Who could not be drawn in by the artwork on this beautifully spooky cover? I love books that combine fiction and truth so well that it is hard to discern where one ends and the other begins. This story about twelve-year-old Claire offers much more than a scary tale; it is a story of friendship, destructive secrets, family relationships and embarrassments, and the discovery of personal strength. When Claire helps her father run his ghost-tour bus, she walks away with much more than her typical angst. Since her best friend seems to be forgetting Claire, her biggest fear may not be the paranormal activity she encounters. Who will help her solve the strange mysteries arising from her new connection to Chicago´s most intriguing ghost stories? Surprisingly, her love for science helps her better appreciate the history of the city she thought she knew. Young readers who enjoy a good scare will love this book! Young and old alike will find themselves joining Claire in researching the people and events that emerge from this gripping page-turner. Adults who enjoy the storytelling of the brilliant Ruta Sepetys will love Scritch Scratch as much as young readers who enjoy the tales of author Mary Downing Hahn. This one is a must-read full of teachable moments and historical connections! Coming in September! Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

Read with the lights on! A very compelling ghost story that seamlessly weaves together Chicago history, science and a middle schooler's everyday concerns. Fans of Currie's first book will devour this.

Lindsay Currie does an amazing job combining paranormal activity and Chicago history with the struggles and drama of being a preteen in a modern world. Scritch Scratch had me sitting on the edge of my seat, my spine tingling with fear and anticipation of a ghostly haunting in one chapter and then feeling an emotional tug as the main character, Claire, struggles with family and changing friendships in the next. This story feels so rooted and down to Earth that the paranormal events seem that much more realistic and believable. Currie mentions many old Chicago ghost tales and I searched for each one online as I read. I was thrilled to discover they are all real stories I could research and learn more about! A spooky adventure through forgotten Chicago, Scritch Scratch reminds us all to never be afraid, especially of asking for help, when things seem unreal.

This is a fun middle-grade book that incorporates Chicago history into a ghost story. There are definitely some spookier parts- similar to Stranger Things or Ghost Busters.

This is a just right creepy ghost story for middle grade readers. The setting was spot on as Chicago is riddled with all kinds of ghost stories due to moving of gravestones with out moving bodies and there is a tour to suit all tastes when you visit the city. Thank goodness the friendship issue worked out because Claire had her hands full with the ghost. It was actually refreshing to have friendship drama cleared up with clear communication and everyone moves on...

A fun mix of Chicago history and spookiness. I personally want to add this to my collections, because I live in IL and like to be able to recommend books by contemporary IL authors. But my students are going to love that this is a creepy story that is a good length for a quick read. Very appealing!

What a sweet and spooky dive into both Chicago history and adolescent life, with the story's creepy escalation set against the relatable backdrop of a 12-year-old trying to navigate confusing changes in her world. "Scritch Scratch" makes you feel like you're in on a secret and then invites you along for the mystery, with a sense of both innocence lost and kindness rewarded.

When all your science won't explain away the mystery, it might really be a ghost. But what if you are sure ghosts don't exist? Does that make the ghost less of a problem? What if your best friend had a new best friend and you couldn't tell her? Loved the dive into Chicago's history trying to unravel what the ghost might need. Great ghost story and historical fiction all wrapped up in one.