This might be one of the most unique books I've ever read. And I didn't even get to experience the coolest parts. The final book (I read an early copy) will have a QR code you can scan that leads you to talk to the ghosts throughout the book. You can even ask questions and they'll answer in real time. As it says on the cover, you can talk to ghosts, crack the puzzles, and solve the mystery.

Even without the interactive elements, I thought the story was great and the mystery was twisty turny. While it is pitched as horror, it's still middle grade so it's not terrifying. Just enough scares and suspense for kids who love that kind of stuff.

This would make a great Halloween gift!

Great spooky story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Reluctant readers will be captivated and want to do find out what happens next, I don’t know if this will be a series, but EEK set it up that it sure could be one.

The last thing Lila wants to do this summer is travel halfway across the country to memorialize a grandfather she never even met, but since no one asked her, she finds herself on her way to Castle Hill, Ohio with her family anyway. As it turns out, Grandpa Clem not only lived in a creepy old inn, but left it to Lila's dad as well, so a two-week trip turns into a much longer one as he settles the family's affairs. Lila, who has a flair for the dramatic, is doing her best to repair things with her two best friends back home, but they seem tired of her antics and don't believe her when she tries to explain how catastrophic things are. Things get even stranger when Lila realizes that she can see ghosts, and that the Castle Hill Inn is crawling with them--including her late grandfather! Can she, her brother Caleb, and her new neighbor Teddy find a way to help them all find peace?

In Lila, the author has crafted a character to whom many middle grade readers will relate; as insecure as she feels about her perceived flaws and her friendships, she is also smart, intuitive, and braver than she thinks. Teddy and Caleb are similarly likable, and the trio make a good team as they work through the story's central conflict, which includes hauntings, more than one murder mystery, and a circus fire. The ghosts are intriguing and there is enough creepy to satisfy readers looking for a scare; interactive digital elements will also be featured throughout, allowing readers to immerse themselves in Lila's world and do a little paranormal mystery-solving of their own. While secondary characters feel a bit underdeveloped, this title kicks off a multi-authored series, setting the stage for continued world-building, character exploration, and ghostly hauntings. Sure to please young horror fans.

Erin Entrada Kelly delivers a tale for lovers of the horror genre, complete with mystery, creepy happenings, and kids who must find their intrepid selves. I am a huge admirer of EEK's books, so the bar was high. Though enjoyable, this story was a little predictable as many are in this genre, but there were some good additions: Teddy was an excellent neighbor/helper/friend and the circus characters added interest. A mostly satisfying ending though I would have liked a little more time with Grandpa Clem. Excellent choice for the "scary story" that is so often requested in my middle school library (upper elementary appropriate, too).

I wanted to read this book because I love Erin Entrada Kelly; however, I am not a fan of supernatural stories or horror. Bearing that in mind, please take the following review with a grain of salt!

Lila and her family have relocated to her grandfather's inn after finding out that he has passed away. Lila is not happy about the move because she is in the middle of some friend drama, and is worried her friendships are about to dissolve. Her overactive imagination and tendency towards the dramatic are irritating to her friends and family, and when she starts to see, and then communicate with ghosts in and around the inn, she is reluctant to share for fear of being accused of being attention-seeking. Grandpa Clem's ghost soon visits Lila, seeking help to move on to the afterlife, but he is stuck. Lila, along with a new friend Teddy, and her brother Caleb, soon find themselves working together to solve the mystery of why the ghosts are stuck and how to help them move on.

I had some difficulty getting through this story. I'm impressed by Kelly's ability to write across genres, but this was not my favorite of her books. The mystery and adventure were fun, and this will certainly appeal to fans of ghost stories. Middle-grade readers will connect to Lila's friend drama and personality anxiety. I felt the story was a bit scattered.

Lila Clement is dramatic, over the top, too much. She’s working on it using calming self-talk, but when the grandpa you’ve never met dies and your family is whisked away to handle his estate, that calls for exasperated pleas to your besties! Unfortunately, they seemed to have kicked Lila out of the friend group altogether and now exist as a duo.

Grandpa’s house is big…and haunted. So haunted that Lila immediately sees people other her family members don’t, including her grandpa! He tells her the story of his heart attack isn’t true, that he was actually murdered!

Lila enlists the help of the next door neighbor, Teddy, to figure out what’s really going on with the spirits who seem to be stuck and not able to pass through the portal on the 4th floor of Grandpa’s house!

Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC! I can’t wait to buy a library copy so my students can access the interactive components in addition to the captivating story!

#backyard_bookstack #bookstagram #middlegrade #spookyread

Mystery and thrill that couples contemporary haunted house and historical disaster all in one. Kelly writes the story of Liza who is on her way to Ohio with her parents and brother to the funeral of her Grandpa Clem who she didn't know and the big house that he left behind. She doesn't want to go, but her dad, Grandpa Clem's son doesn't want to go either because of their estrangement. It seems nothing has changed- this big house, his procrastination, and the mystery of what to do with the property. Though it's evident quickly that Liza is there for a reason and that's to figure out who killed Grandpa Clem because she can now see ghosts and also meets her now-dead Grandpa. This near-death experience on the way has given her this ability and it's going to be used in the book to put ghosts to rest and solve mysteries from a circus fire and more.

It's a perfect middle grade mystery. A problem needs to be solved and its up to the kids to do the solving. Even Liza, who is a catastrophizing mess- even her friends from back home have distanced themselves from her because she's always negative and dramatic. Though there could have been a little bit more of a resolution on that front, there is a bit of one when it comes to the overall resolution that makes me think Liza will be just fine in that big ol' haunted house mansion.

Kelly literally DOES IT AGAIN. And AGAIN. And AGAIN. She knows how to create story, characters, and conflict that everyone wants to read.

Book Report: The Last Resort

At First Glance: This looks like an eerie summer read 👀

The Gist: Lila's estranged Grandpa Clem dies, throwing a wrench in her plans. Now she'll have to spend the summer in Ohio while her parents decide what to do with Grandpa Clem's creepy Victorian Inn. Even worse, strange things keep happening.

My Thoughts: For all those that love a good ghost story The Last Resort feels like a tale that should be shared over a campfire eating a delicious s’more. I love a book that takes place over the summer months and the ambience is there with a backdrop of a creepy, dusty old inn, that is now Lila’s home for the summer. This reminded me of books I loved when I was a kid… if memory is serving me right there was no technology except for a use of a computer at the library?! So it felt nostalgic in the sense kids were outside playing with their neighbors. Very made for Disney movie vibes, think Halloweentown. That is a big compliment IMO. I was also pleasantly surprised to see it’s going to be a series, which I think will be so fun! I also had a friend reach out and bring to my attention the interactive ghost aspect the finished copies will have. I read mine on netgalley and saw the blank pages where I believe they will be inserted. Then watched a post on Instagram on how it will work and it looks so fresh and fun!

My Question for Erin: There’s something nostalgic about The Last Resort…it reminded me of those mysterious summer days as a kid when the world felt big. Did you draw on that kind of childhood wonder while writing Lila’s story?

Thank you Scholastic for the arc!

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I love everything that Erin Entrada Kelly writes, and The Last Resort is no exception. Themes of friendship and importance of family will make this story relatable to middle grade readers, while the ghosts and suspense will keep them turning the pages. The Last Resort has just the right amount of scare factor. I can’t wait to add a copy to me classroom library and share with my fifth grade readers as spooky season approaches!

In "The Last Resort" by Erin Entrada Kelly, Lila is hoping for a relaxed summer (free from drama) at home. Sadly, her father gets word that her grandfather has died and they must travel to Ohio for his funeral. Because Lila's father is afraid to fly, the family is driving across the country to the funeral and to handle the final affairs.

On the way, Lila takes off her seatbelt to get her phone when her father swerves the car. She cracks her head on the seat in front of her. Now...Lila can see ghosts, but, for some reason, no one else can.

Upon arriving at her grandfather's inn, Lila sees a lot of people who don't seem to be there. She meets Teddy, the neighbor who spent a lot of time with Grandpa Clem. Teddy is very interested in paranormal activity and helps Lila to understand what is happening. This is when Lila is visited by Grandpa Clem's ghost and discovers that his death is more nefarious than they thought.

Now it is up to Lila and Teddy to discover why there are so many spirits in town and who would have wanted Grandpa Clem murdered. Oh, and suddenly, everyone is having nightmares of their worst fears.

Erin Entrada Kelly has the remarkable talent to write in a wide variety of genres. She has written historical fiction, realistic fiction, science fiction, and now, horror fiction. "The Last Resort" deals with a young girl handling her anxiety over an overactive imagination and the fallout of losing her friends. Teddy turns out to be a true friend, staying loyal even when Lila is less than kind. Additionally, the story deals with handling one's fears in order to solve problems.

There are some scary moments related to the ghosts and the end is a bit tense. There are also some discussions of murder, both Grandpa Clem's murder and a tragic event that took place in the past. There is a lot of tension in the book, but it never becomes overwhelming.

With high readability and fast pacing, "The Last Resort" is an excellent addition to an elementary classroom library. It would be a great read and recommendation for both the fall (spooky season), as well as a summer time read.

I would recommend "The Last Resort" by Erin Entrada Kelly for students in grades 3-5. This would be a great read for fans of "Spirit Hunters" or books by Lindsay Currie.

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I received an eARC of "The Last Resort" from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair review.

I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. There’s a lot of middle grade horror coming out lately - I’m enjoying it! I also really like Erin Entrada Kelly’s other books, so this was an easy pick for me. There will apparently be some interactive elements (via QR codes?) in the print edition, so this is missing a bit and I’m interested to see what the final version looks like.

Our protagonist is 12-year-old Lila. She has a reputation for being overly dramatic, so her goal for the summer is to…chill the heck out and hopefully enter junior high with her friend group intact. It’s the typical tween triad you see all the time - as so often happens, two end up icing out the third and Lila is feeling the chill. She probably has some untreated anxiety, which her parents just sort of handwave off as “that’s how Lila is.” It’s not really dealt with.

Lila’s summer, unfortunately, gets off to a disastrous start when she learns that the whole family will have to travel to Ohio for a few weeks because her grandfather (who she and her brother have never met) has died. He lived in a creepy old inn and he and her dad had some sort of falling out over it (grandpa believed in ghosts and thought the inn was some kind of waystation…dad wanted no part of any of it). On the way there, the family gets into a car accident that Lila decides is a near-death experience. And after that she starts seeing things.

The inn is as creepy as described, but she quickly befriends a local named Teddy, who was pals with Grandpa Clem. She and Teddy run sort of hot and cold, which feels realistic - she wants a friend, but he’s a little weird, and she’s also kind of jealous that he had this friendship with HER grandpa (even though she never met the man. At least, she never met him while he was alive). But after the funeral, Lila sees her grandpa’s ghost wandering through the house and he shares some terrifying information - he may have been murdered!

What follows is your typical kid detective work (which does include several visits to the local library!). Suspend your disbelief and it’s all quite endearing. The outcomes are fairly predictable, but it’s still a fun ride. There’s also a whole subplot involving the ghosts of carnival performers and I’m a little sad we didn’t get more of that story, because there are few things I love more than a circus story. I guess this is a series starter? Not sure how I feel about that - everything is wrapped up pretty well here, and while there’s potential for future adventures, I’m not sure it’s necessary.

Lila’s dramatic flair and vivid imagination have pushed her friends away, just as summer begins. Hoping to win them back and prove she’s ready for middle school, she plans to tone things down—until her family is called to Ohio after her grandfather’s sudden death.

There, at the eerie Castle Hill Inn—rumored to be haunted and home to a portal to the afterlife—Lila starts seeing ghosts, including Grandpa Clem himself. He believes he was murdered, and something is blocking the spirits from moving on. With the help of her brother Caleb and new friend Teddy, Lila must solve the mystery, set the ghosts free, and maybe learn that her “too much” might be exactly what’s needed.

This was a great spooky read, perfect for younger middle grade students. I wish I could have seen the interactive elements - can’t wait for it to be published. I will be recommending this to my readers who like spooky ghost stories,

This was a fantastic, spooky ghost story that I enjoyed very much. I loved watching Lila’s growth and her friendships as well. It was creepy but not too spooky. And that ending! I assume that left it open ended on purpose for a book 2 which I would very much pick
Up! I wish Lila had some more time with her grandpa but understand why that wouldn’t have worked well.

I loved this book sooooooo much!!! It had everything in it that I expected. I couldn't put this one down either! I truly enjoyed Lila's story and watching her change little by little. I didn't like her at first but in time I did. I started connecting with her in the middle of the story. Lila wasn't perfect by any means.
Now, her so called friends I definitely didn't like. I know people change as they get older but her friends I thought were being ridiculously mean to her.
I did find one annoying habit from Lexie and her friend and that was starting a sentence or using the word Like too much. I hate that. So annoying!
I stayed up until 3 am to finish this awesome adventure! Wow! I didn't want it to end. So very good! I love a good ghost/mystery story anytime of the year.
Some of this story had the hairs standing up on the back of my neck. There were other parts that I snickered at too.
Teddy kind of got on my nerves a little but but I appreciated his knowledge as I learned a lot from him lol.
I'm giving this adventure 5 stars cause it really was awesome! I highly recommend!
My thanks for a wonderful adventure. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine

This was an ARC from NetGalley and Scholastic

This is a middle grade fiction by Erin Entrada Kelly. This is the first book by Erin that I have read but I enjoyed it as a quick read.
Lila is determined to show he friends that she’s not just a drama queen, but when her grandfather dies her parents take her and her brother to Ohio for the funeral and take of the estate. Whiel on the road Lila has a near death experience and begins seeing ghosts.
At the funeral she sees her dead grandfather who tell her that his death was not a natural one she set out to solve the mystery. Aided by her brother Caleb and new friend Teddy the three work together to help Lila and Caleb’s grandfather cross over to the afterlife.
I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to checking out the interactive elements when they become available. There were a few scary-ish scenes that younger or sensitive readers may have some trouble with but overall a good spooky story.

This was an enjoyably spooky mystery book perfect for younger middle grades readers. Lila, our protagonist, is in the summer between 6th and 7th grade. Her close friendship group from before middle school is experiencing some growing pains, and dramatic, imaginative Lila is feeling left behind. Worse, she has to spend the summer in Ohio after the grandfather she never met passes away, and who knows how much worse it’ll get with her friends while she’s gone!

After a near-death experience on the drive to Ohio, Lila starts seeing ghosts everywhere. When she meets the ghost of her grandfather, he reveals that the circumstances of his death weren’t as natural as the family believed. Lila, her brother Caleb, and their new friend Teddy work together to solve the mystery so that her grandpa can cross over (and maybe to make sure there are no murderers in town).

Because I read an ARC, I don’t think I’m able to access the additional features quite yet, but I am looking forward to checking them out when I can. The interactive element sounds really cool, and I could see it making for a fun class read-aloud (and collaborative class detective) experience for maybe 5th or 6th graders.

There are definitely some scenes that are scary. I would have no qualms about recommending this to anyone in middle school, but readers younger than 10 might find some parts too scary, and you may want to peruse it before recommending. I don’t work directly with younger students, though, so I may be totally off on what they find frightening/haunting. Definitely wonderful for middle grades/middle school, though!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I can’t wait to see how the interactive component comes together, and this will definitely be joining the classroom library.

I really enjoyed The Last Resort, a spooky and heartfelt story about a girl named Lila who’s dramatic, anxious, and totally lovable. After her grandfather dies, Lila and her family travel to his haunted house in Ohio—where she discovers she can see ghosts! As Lila navigates grief, mystery, and a very active afterlife, she begins to suspect her grandfather may have been murdered. This ghostly adventure is full of heart, humor, and just the right amount of chills. Erin Entrada Kelly delivers another unforgettable story!

When a grandfather she’s never met dies, twelve-year-old Lila has to start her summer off in Ohio instead of convincing her friends that she’s not too dramatic or “too much.” Things quickly change when Lila starts seeing people that no one else can see- including her Grandpa. Lila wants to help the ghosts, overcome her fears and along the way learn that “too much” is just enough.
I love the drama of middle grade friendships and the scars they leave in our lives. Having a ghostly summer to deal with instead trying to get people like you is a great relief. Great kids, great adults, great ghosts, had a great time reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for this DRC.
#TheLastReort #NetGalley

Move over Mary Downing Hahn and Lindsay Currie! Erin Estrada Kelly (EEK!) has added to the offerings of middle grade ghost story genre! Lila is getting ready for middle school and her supposed best friends are ditching her because of her overly dramatic, baby-ish ways. Lila is determined to change their. minds over the summer and prove she is ready to be a cool kid at the middle school. However, right before Lila can set her plans into motion, her parents announce the sad news that her grandfather has passed and they must travel to his home to settle his affairs. Devastated at being apart from her friends for the summer, Lila determines to work on her non-dramatic coolness and return better than ever. Once arriving at her grandfather's home, though, she is very disturbed at the people she can see that others can't and then, for the first time in her life, she meets her grandfather - in ghost form.

EEK is a phenomenal writer, and it seems she can tackle any genre she has a mind to try - ghost stories being no exception. Kids in my elementary school library clamor for scary stories and I'm excited to add this to the offerings. It's also another title I expect to see on many state reading award lists.

I love Erin Entrada Kelly's writing because I can always hear her distinct voice, even when she's writing something totally different! In The Last Resort, Lila and her brother Caleb, along with new friend Teddy, must solve a spooky mystery surrounding Lila and Caleb's late grandfather's home. This has just the right amount of suspense and horror to keep readers hooked, without giving them nightmares, and they will be asking for more!
Lila and Caleb discover they have to spend two weeks of their summer in Ohio when their estranged grandfather dies. Lila is a kid with big feelings, who is often accused of being "overdramatic" by her family - and now her friends, who seem to be pulling away from her as they prepare to enter 7th grade. So when she meets her grandfather - as a ghost - who tells her he was murdered, she turns to his former neighbor Teddy, a kid her age who is very interested in the paranormal. Teddy doesn't treat Lila like she is "too much" and with Caleb's eventual help, they begin investigating her grandpa's murder, as well as the strange nightmares that seem to be gripping their neighborhood.
I loved the way clues were dropped along the way that readers could pick up on. I expected Lila and Teddy to put some things together before the climax, but I thought the buildup was great and the climax was properly spooky. I am thrilled this is a series because I know my students will be asking for more!
Since this was a digital arc, the art was unfinished, but I loved the illustrations that were there - they were definitely spooky! I look forward to seeing the interactive features come to life in this book!