I really enjoyed this book! Karma has always struggled with anxiety, but it's gotten a lot worse since her mother walked out on her and her father. Her attempts to cope/creature-of-habit ways are disrupted by a call from Netflix, offering a series order to her father and his documentary-making team, ghost hunting at the hotel that inspired The Shining. Karma has no choice but to face her fears on this adventure; luckily her best friend tags along, and she makes a new friend in the town they're filming (probably my favorite side character, an illusionist who knows everything about spirits and loves Houdini). 

I felt like Karma's anxieties and fears and her sadness and anger toward her mother, who seems to no longer have an interest in being a mother to Karma, were incredibly relatable, as was her difficulty handling and accepting change. These issues are great for middle grade reading. The only parts I felt faltered were an abundance of '80's horror movie references--which were great fun for me to read but may alienate young readers--and the dismissal of therapy. In the end, Karma decides to put the work into therapy and really give it a try, but for much of the book she disparages the therapist, saying how fruitless the sessions are, and she gets no pushback on this. Plus, the therapist tells her before the trip to "leave her fears in New York," which is just highly dumb and I truly doubt any therapist worth their salt would ever say that.

Karma Moon was a great read! I enjoyed the story very much, and the narrative in Karma's head is engaging - it starts out amusing as you see how anxiety has arranged her thoughts, but slowly becomes sympathizing as you see WHY her anxiety is so powerful. I feel Karma Moon is a great book choice especially for kids going through a turbulent divorce to see that they're not alone in how they feel and how they can take control back. It also normalizes kids seeing a therapist for their problems.

And that's not even touching on the story element of ghosts! Karma's approach to ghost sightings and huntings is very reminiscent of 90s kid films where the adults are all bumbling background characters while the kids Get Stuff Done, but slightly more useful.

Great read for those ghost hunters and lovers out there without being scary or a horror story. While Karma is anxious and afraid, she steps up and takes control.

Karma Moon - Ghost Hunter is an interesting middle grade book. A girl with her ghost hunting father and other crew members investigate the Stanley Hotel looking to get a ghost on camera for a Netflix show. The story takes place in the same hotel from Stephen King's The Shining. So, if you liked that book you will most likely enjoy this story. The story has twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.

I absolutely loved this fun middle grade book! My favorite thing about these characters was their relationship to each other. Karma and Mags are the perfect sassy and hilarious duo to take on this mystery. I loved how sweet Karma's relationship with her dad was in light of her mother's absence. Brining in Nyx was a fun twist and gave the story some new dimension. Would have loved to learn a bit more about the supporting characters at the hotel and have them play a bigger part throughout the book and not just at the end. Such a cute book!

Twelve-year-old Karma and her dad live together in New York City, her mom having packed up and left them. Karma’s dad has a dream of buying a house with a yard and a barbecue and that then Karma’s mom will come home.  Dad gets his big chance to achieve his dream when he is hired for a Netflix docuseries on ghost hunting. So, off to a haunted hotel in Colorado go Karma, her dad, their dog Alfred Hitchcock, Karma’s best friend Mags and dad’s film crew. Once there Karma fights her anxiety over pretty much everything to track down a ghost and make sure dad gets a season two out of Netflix.

Karma is not your typical heroine in a book aimed at tweens, She worries about pretty much everything, realistic or not - from will they be able to pay rent this month to is there a serial killer among the hotel staff or body parts hidden in their hotel room closet - while Mags is more grounded and helps Karma keep on track. 

This is a quick read for adults and a recommended read for kids Karma’s age as it shows there is nothing to be ashamed of when one is having trouble coping with the things in life one cannot control.

Karma and her father have been waiting for their big break. According to the magic eight ball, it will happen.
When Karma answers the phone for Totally Rad Productions and Netflix is on the line, she knows it has finally happened. Netflix wants them to investigate a haunted hotel and get footage of the ghosts.
Hopefully they will succeed and make it big because then maybe Karma's mom will want to come back home.

I loved the spooky atmosphere, but I found the rest to be just ok. The writing was fine, I just wasn't blown away.

Karma Moon -Ghost Hunter was such a fun read. It was fast paced with characters that you are rooting for from the very beginning. The themes of friendship and family are wonderfully written.

Karma Moon’s life changes with one phone call. A phone call from Netflix. For 11 days, her dad’s team of ghost hunters will explore the Stanley Hotel (yep, that one!) and if they capture actual paranormal evidence, there will be a docuseries with their name written all over it. Though she’s a firm believer in everything woo-woo, even going so far as to consult her trusty Magic Eight-Ball when things look grim, her dad’s a bit more of a skeptic, but as the time begins to run out on their Netflix deal, everyone’s hoping for those hauntings.

I’m a big fan of Middle Grade reads and Karma Moon was a quick-paced, intriguing story – definitely up my alley with the paranormal angle! I can see this working as a read-along with a parent: there are references for younger readers (Scooby Doo, the Jonas Brothers) while plenty of sneaky catches for adults (The Shining/Stephen King, Poltergeist, Harry Houdini). It’s also not all fun and games as Karma is dealing with real-life heartbreak: her mother recently packed several suitcases and took off, happily running around on a beach with her new boyfriend. The not-so-paranormal ending will ensure younger readers can sleep with the lights off but still provide heavier topics for discussion.

In the past year or so, I’ve read a number of middle grade ghost stories—everything from The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Bown to Ghost Squad by Clairbel A. Ortega. So, I was more than thrilled to get an ARC of Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter. This one turned out to be just okay. It was less of a ghost story and more about the characters—which gave it a more contemporary feel—and the paranormal aspects were kind of sparse and didn’t happen until much later. 

The book spent a lot of time on movie references rather than building up its own ghostly-lore and spooky atmosphere. Even the subjects of the ghost hunt took a backseat to the analysis of movies like Poltergeist and The Shining. The last one I kind of get, since the setting of this book was the Stanley Hotel, which is the same one from the Shining. However, there were some interesting ideas here, and I wish they had taken up a little more of the focus in the story. 

Where Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter excelled was in its messaging. A lot of the story dealt with an absent parent and how it directly affected Karma, who was twelve. I did like how the author chose to handle the main character—i.e. the detail about her therapy sessions just being a part of her life. That was great. It was excellent. Savage nailed it. 

Overall, Karma Moon: Ghost Hunter was fine. If you go in expecting a story that shines a light on its characters—rather than ghosts and other paranormal happenings—you’ll like this one a lot. I also think the book’s target audience would enjoy this one, particularly for readers who don’t like a lot of scary occurrences. So I do recommend it.

Disclaimer: this copy of the book for this review was provided by the publisher (Crown Books For Young Reads) via Netgalley, thank you!

Karma Moon has a lot of "what ifs." What if her mom comes back? What if her dad leaves? What if the Stanley Hotel really is haunted?

"Karma Moon - Ghost Hunter," by Melissa Savage, is a tween mystery set in New York and at the Stanley Hotel. Karma relies on her trusty Magic-8 Ball to help her navigate her anxieties. She and her dad run a video production company out of their East Village apartment. One day, they get a call from Netflix, offering the opportunity of a lifetime - the chance to produce a ghost-hunting documentary series. First stop, the Stanley Hotel in Colorado.

Filled with a peculiar cast of characters, the hotel does indeed appear to be haunted. Much of the action is a la Scooby Doo, which is referenced in the book. "The Shining" and "Poltergeist" are also mentioned frequently. I'm not sure those would be widely-known among this age group, however.

Karma, her best friend Mags, and a local boy named Nyx investigate the spooky happenings at the hotel. Will Karma solve the case and maybe, just maybe, learn about her unique "woo-woo" talents?

Karma is a charming character, with relatable anxieties, which have gotten worse since her mom left, carrying five suitcases, to live in Florida. Tweens will relate to her and her friends.

Recommended.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Random House in return for my honest opinion.

Karma Moon is a bit of a reluctant ghost hunter. When Karma's dad and his friends get hired by Netflix to film at the Stanley Hotel (yes THAT Stanley Hotel), Karma absolutely does not want to go. Her dad might not believe in "woo" but she definitely does, and the idea of filming a ghost hunting docuseries is not on Karma's list of things she plans to do. But, after a bit of prodding, and a promise that her best friend can join them, Karma reluctantly agrees to help on the ghost hunting mission. 

This book is amazing! So much more than a ghost hunting adventure. Karma speaks openly about her worries, concerns, and fears, and more than that she speaks openly about seeing a therapist for them. So much of the story is centered on Karma's anxiety and how she uses coping mechanisms to get through the day. Savage provides an expertly crafted portrayal of anxiety and trauma and how one event can send shattering repercussions through a child's life. There were a few times in the book I so badly wanted Karma to voice her concerns and to understand that the things that parents do are not a reflection on their children. 

This book is perfectly spooky for young readers, with tons of fun, and bits of real-life issues realistically handled throughout. 

5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Crown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 star! 

In this phenomenal middle grade novel we follow Karma Moon and her adventurous group. Living with her dad in West Village, Karma is full of what if’s and moo goo from her favorite Chinese place. Her dad has a movie production “company” and one day they get a call from Netflix asking to shoot a docu-series for them. The series however is to find ghosts in the infamous Stanley Hotel! Full of twists and turns, Karma, her friend Mags, and her dog Alfred Hitchcock must find and capture footage of these ghosts.

I enjoyed this story so much. Karma was such an amazing character. I enjoyed how spooked she was about everything because that would be how I would react. I think this is a great middle grade for readers. It was spooky, adventurous, talked about real things young kids could be going through in their personal life. The ONLY thing I was not in love with was the pop culture references. The horror movie and Stephen king reference were find because it went with the story. But off the top of my head, towards the end there were talks about The Avengers Endgame and I feel like in 3-4 plus years that will not be something young readers can recall or maybe care about, I might be wrong, but it was something the book could be without.

Every once and awhile, I love a good Middle Grade especially when it is on the spookier side. I may be an adult but I am a straight up chicken and sometimes even Middle Grade can be too much! (I’m looking at you Small Spaces!)

When it came to scare factor, I wasn’t sure how spooky this would be but I wanted to give it a try. It’s definitely not on the same playing field as some other paranormal reads like the one mentioned above or City of Ghosts. It is on a lighter note but still has elements, like Ouija boards, to give those shock factors.

I think what helps bring this to a lower digit on the scare factor is that the characters all have their quirks. They were fun to read about but also left you questioning each person because the hotel does have a lot of workers who seem quite suspicious!

The main character, Karma, is twelve and helps her dad with his production company. She is dealing with a lot behind the scenes when it comes to her family because her mom up and left one day. She feels like her dad may do the same. It is a tough subject but I think it is one done well especially for the age range of the book. I also liked seeing a character that is young deal with constantly being worried about everything and what she does to deal with it, like asking a magic 8-ball and seeing a therapist. It’s good to see talks about mental health being done for the Middle Grade range.

Karma also has a trusty sidekick who is an overly large pug named Alfred Hitchcock. She also has a best friend who comes with her for this adventure.

Since the setting has to do with the Stanley Hotel, there is mentions of Stephen King, The Poltergeist, and even The Shining. Most of the references probably wouldn’t be understood by the intended age range but who knows. There may be kids who are into that spooky stuff. There are other references that are more age friendly like Minecraft and Scooby-Doo.

There are also historical references to Harry Houdini and his wife and of course I had to google about it to actually check and sure enough, some of it was actually true. It’s fun to see things from the past be written into books and it always piques my interest.

Overall, this was a fun, just a bit spooky read that I think readers of all ages will like. I am hoping there will be another book with these characters because I am hooked!

Sometimes the twists life throws at you make you stronger. They teach you who you truly are and what (who) is most important to you. And sometimes they also makes you really good at hunting ghosts. Karma Moon is a 12-year-old compulsive worrier and believer in all things "woo woo". She lives in the West Village with her dad and helps him with his documentary company when she's not hanging out with her best friend Mags. She also regularly sees her therapist, because ever since her mom left, Karma's worries have been debilitating. But when her dad gets a call from Netflix about filming a ghost hunting documentary at a famous hotel in Colorado, she just knows everything is going to change for the better! With Mag by her side, Karma tries to help her dad with this life-changing opportunity. They only problem? The ghosts don't seem to want to cooperate. Can Karma, Mags, and their new (super cute) friend Nyx uncover the mysteries of the haunted hotel, save Karma's dad from bankruptcy, and even maybe get Karma's mom to come home finally? Karma soon learns that having the right people in your life means everything, and the ones who are gone are gone for a reason. And you know what? That's ok. This book is fun and cute, but it's also very emotional. It tackles the pain and confusion of parental separation and abandonment, but also illustrates the power of family (both biological and chosen). The ghost story, which is genuinely creepy at times, is a fun mystery with several twists. But the main meat of Karma Moon--Ghost Hunter is Karma's relationships with the people around her and herself. She experiences growth, grief, and joy, and her by the end of the book she is a different girl. This book is perfect for young readers who enjoy Harriet the Spy, Scooby Doo, and the idea of watching classic horror movies they're still a bit too young for!

I really enjoyed this middle grade and I'm a grown up. It was a quick easy read with a fun premise. I will be buying this for my preteen when it releases.

Karma Moon is going ghost hunting! Karma Moon and her dad are given the opportunity to create a ghost-hunting docu-series for Netflix, one they can’t refuse. So along with her dad’s film crew and her best friend Mags, Karma is off to a famous haunted house in Colorado on the hunt for a ghost! Things get off to a strange start and Karma finds herself wondering what is happening at this haunted house! Throw in some fortune telling, a magic 8 ball, and a cute boy who wants to be an illusionist, and what we have is a fun ghost hunting story. Karma moon definitely has anxiety, where she finds herself constantly asking “what ifs” and worrying and panicking to the point where she can’t breathe. She’s dealing with her parents divorce and if her dad’s company cant capture a ghost, they might not get the series and they might not be able to make rent. Karma is dealing with a lot of heavy issues on top of her anxiety, but she is constantly trying her best and working on fun investigative work. The story was a fun read and I would definitely recommend it!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was a super cute, quick read, and I loved all of Karmas doodles that are sprinkled throughout the pages. 
Karma has some bad anxiety which she calls the what-ifs.. and I really connected to that, especially when I was younger. I love how everyone just excepts that this is who Karma is, and they don't try and change her, they just let her be who she is. 
Karma and her best friend Mags travel with Karmas dad, and his production company to do a netflix documentary on the Stanley Hotel. I really enjoyed Karmas and Mags friendship, and how they are with each other. One of my favorite things is when they are arguing about what lives in the void from the movie Poltergeist. Karma really thinks is pink Jello, and Mags thinks its ghost guts.. 
Karma is head of research for her dads company so her and Mags start asking questions and investigating. They come across some things that seem like a real haunting, but also some things that are phony baloney. 
I think the only thing I would have like more of, was for it to be spookier/ more scary moments with the ghosts. Even without the added scare I did really enjoy reading this, and would read more of Karma Moon and Totally Rad Productions filming more haunted things.

I like the doodles and chapter names. I liked the cover. Karma has a hippie name with meaning. I like the tone and pace. I like the characters and dialogue. I liked reading about karmas life. Cute quick read.

Every reference in this book felt very much like an adult trying to be cool and hip and failing. This was fine overall, but I think there are much better similar middle grade books out there.

What a fun book this was! I loved ghost stories as a kid, and I would have eaten a book like Karma Moon right up. Karma’s a regular kid dealing with anxiety and a parent that ditched her for greener pastures. Karma and her dad are tight, but so is money. Her dad gets a call from Netflix to film a ghost documentary at a haunted Colorado hotel (and yes, it’s the exact hotel you’re thinking of). Under enormous pressure, Karma tries to balance her anxiety and her responsibility to help her dad deliver a show that will save their family’s financial problems.

Karma’s anxiety, or what-ifs, are sensitively portrayed. She relies on a combination of therapy and “woo-woo” to handle them, and her family and friends readily accept this aspect of her. The talk about kissing makes me inch up this recommendation for grades 6 and up, although without it I think 5th graders would enjoy it as well. The story, for only taking place over a week, did seem to drag in the middle, with the only real action coming at the end. And I’m not sure that most kids are really familiar enough with Poltergeist or The Shining to really get those references. Still, a fun enough book for ghost-obsessed middle schoolers.