The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Nobody “Bod” Owens is the sole survivor of the attack that killed both of his parents- but the knife was meant for him!  As a baby he crawled out of his crib and escaped the murderer by crawling to the graveyard.  Mr. and Mrs. Owens, who happen to be ghosts, take pity on him and raise him.  But how is  a living child raised in a graveyard?  And will the relentless killer ever find his true target?  Read The Graveyard Book to find out.

Brooklyn Bridge by Karen Hesse

14-year-old Joe has an eventful summer in Brooklyn in 1903. His parents have created the first teddy bear and are successful in their new business. The rest of his family is dealing with drama of their own. This book is told from various viewpoints with viewpoints from several homeless kids living under the Brooklyn Bridge and from Joe himself.  The homeless children are haunted by a ghostly presence that everyone avoids. Why does everyone try to avoid this ghost? Why is this ghost haunting these children? Does he know something that they don’t know?  How is Joe connected to these children and this ghost? Up to the very last chapter, this book will make readers return to the beginning and see everything in a new way.

Seer of Shadows by Avi

Do you like ghost stories that are both frightening and hauntingly mysterious?

Although this book is classified under the historical fiction genre, it is also an intriguing ghost story set in New York City in 1872. Horace Carpetine is a photographer’s apprentice who has a horrifying run-in with a spirit bent on revenge. This spirit shows up in photographs that Horace takes, but why? What is the secret that is being kept by a mysterious family who has something to hide?  Things don’t go as planned and Horace is heavily involved with a ghost and her angry spirit. Who is this ghost and why is she so angry? To find out, you must read Seer of Shadows by Avi.

Grades: 6th and 7th