The Polter-Ghost Problem
Available now from Margaret K. McElderry Books / Simon & Schuster
One haunted orphanage + two types of ghost + three freaked-out friends = plenty of trouble
Best friends Aldo, Pen, and Jasper are braced for a boring summer. That is, until they see a slightly transparent boy with a bad haircut appear by the soccer field and then disappear into the woods beyond. The boys follow him and discover the long-abandoned Grauche Orphanage for Orphans, a crumbling old house that is most definitely haunted.
But the ghosts are not the problem. They have been trapped at the orphanage they once lived in by a cranky poltergeist that erupts into violent tantrums if they put even a spectral toe across the property line. The ghosts ask the boys to help free them—but who is the angry poltergeist and what does it want? To solve the mystery, the trio must investigate the orphanage’s dark past, evade Aldo’s nosy older brother, borrow a skeptical librarian, and duck lots of flying furniture, all while failing to agree on almost anything.
Can they defeat the evil entity and rescue the ghosts before their parents catch on and ground them for eternity?
“A-plus entertainment…A laugh-out-loud, high-action read…Oddities abound, as do astute observations about family dynamics and friendships.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year 2022
A 2023-24 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List choice
A Massachusetts Book Award Must-Read title 2023
Pen’s Helpful Guide to Ghosts, Poltergeists, and Polter-Ghosts™
What to do if you think you have a polter-ghost:
First, don’t panic. You probably don’t have an actual polter-ghost. They’re very rare. In fact, I think ours was probably the only one ever. So you can thank your lucky stars for that.
Wait. Does the existence of lucky stars also imply the existence of unlucky stars? And when something bad happens should we blame them? Or maybe all stars are lucky, but I have my own to thank, and you have your own to thank. I like that option better.
How to tell a ghost from a poltergeist:
You can see a ghost. If they want you to see them. Otherwise you can’t. You can also hear a ghost, but they don’t moan or say “Boo” in my experience. Mainly they talk like living people except maybe more old-fashioned if they are ghosts from a long time ago. They have no substance, so they can’t move anything around, which is a pain for them. If they poke you or walk through you, you will probably shiver, but you might think there’s just a draft.
Poltergeists, on the other hand, are always invisible. They don’t say anything, but they can get your attention in other ways. Usually violent ways like throwing stuff at you and trying to slice you with swords and making you feel like you’re wearing a wasp jumpsuit. They can definitely move stuff around, which is a pain for the rest of us and something to watch out for and maybe think about wearing a helmet in case of.
How to tell if a ghost is friendly:
They wave if they’re friendly. It’s polite to wave back.
How to tell if a poltergeist is angry:
They’re always angry.
Signs you may have a ghost:
None, unless they want you to know. If they want you to know, they might say hi or they might yell at you and sic their pet dead squid on you. Depends on the ghost.
Signs you may have a poltergeist:
- Crashing sounds (origin unknown)
- Shrieky winds (indoors)
- Flying doodads (tacky)
- Poorly punctuated graffiti (crayon)
Recommended equipment for dealing with a poltergeist:
- Snacks, plus plenty of water for drinking and rinsing off dirt (for some reason there’s a lot of shoveling involved)
- Helmets and also long pants for protection against ticks (definitely) and poison ivy (maybe)
- Bandages (a family-size pack is best)
- Librarian with the right number of eyebrows (apparently these are rare)
Warning:
This book contains graphic images of mayhem and also a completely unnecessary index.