This book intrigued me in the way it used text and video games to tell the story! A fascinating hybrid use of the verse novel form, and a story that many students will find engaging to read.

A great sequel to BenBee. and the Teacher Griefer. Ben Y and the Ghost in the Machine does rely on you having read the first book in the series. Another great addition to the "Kids Under the Stairs" series by K.A. Holt. Holt

This is the second book in the The Kids Under the Stairs series. The first book was from Ben B’s point of view and now this is from Ben Y’s point of view. I love Holt’s novel-in-verse style–it adds such a lyrical element to the story. And her style mixed with the relatable stories that Holt tells (this one is about Ben mourning the loss of her brother while also figuring out their identity, place in school, and friendship) equals really great reads!

This was a worthy follow up to the Teacher Griefer. Everything K.A. Holt writes is an excellent addition to any classroom library.

In this novel-in-verse, second in a series, Ben Y is dealing with a lot- the loss of her brother, being called Benita , being dress coded by a mean vice principal, and running into Ace who makes her feel like she’s not alone. Then Ben Y’s brother starts chatting (how is this possible?) with Ben Y through sandbox, a Minecraft-type game, Ben vents her many frustrations. In the newspaper typing club, a wonderful teacher, Ms. J, supports all divergent thinkers, and Ben Y is glad because last summer Ben Y learned that divergent thinking is a thing to be proud of. As secrets unfold, Ben Y finds that’s everyone deserves equal treatment-“ no mater what they look like or the pronouns they use.”

"The Kids Under the Stairs" have a special place in my heart, and I was so glad to return to this series with Ben Y's story. In this sequel, the school year has started, and Ben Y. struggles to work through grief over her brother's death and navigate middle school, where they don't fit in. K. A. Holt draws readers in with her beautiful writing and relatable characters. She is one of the most popular authors in my classroom, and I cannot wait to add this to our room.

Ben Y, Benita Ybarra, come to you in the sequel of last years BenBee and the Teacher Griefer through the eyes of Ben Y’s story. Ben Y is grieving the loss of her older bother’s death and still tries to connect with him by sending him coded messages through a game that he invented. Ben Y starts finding herself in real time looking more towards this new kid, Ace, who seems to call all the attention to hisself by breaking the rules and somehow not caring at all what anyone thinks. Ben Y starts to make some serious changes to herself by trying to develop this outlook on life that Ace has, and then someone starts to respond to her through her thread with her brother - the thread where she has told everything to over the time she has lost her brother, all.her.secrets….
K.A. Holt is a big time favorite in the middle school world. I can’t wait to see their reaction to book 2. Holt created characters that are relatable and with middle school - that is HUGE.

I have grown to love The Kids Under the Stairs. There is something about these kids that draws me in each time. Their personal struggles, what brings them together, a teacher that truly understands them and watches out for them, all of the story lines are just fantastic.
In this "episode" Ben Y is dealing with the loss of his brother, figuring who they want to be, friendships and so much more. I love the introduction of Ace and how kids would really handle that and how dealing with grief makes not only you feel, but how it impacts those around you.
K.A. Holt is an incredible middl grade writer who understands and writes this age really well

Another great addition to the "Kids Under the Stairs" series by K.A. Holt. Holt has been and continues to be one of my go to authors for my middle school library crowd of readers and nonreaders alike. She has appealing and relatable characters with solid "I've been there and I feel your pain" middle school plots. "The Kids Under the Stairs" series is particularly wonderful because it combines these literary elements with the lure of white space and illustration. AND it's a series...so it makes it comfortable for the students to easily relax into the familiar characters and setting. Finding your way through dress coding, identity issues, betrayal, and grief are all addressed well in "Ben Y and the Ghost in the Machine."