It Happened to Anna - by Tehlor Kay Mejia

About the Book

Seventh-grader Sadie is being literally haunted by loneliness in the form of a vengeful ghost, until a new friendship upends her life and thretens the ghost's hold over her.

Book Synopsis

This spine-tingling ghost story follows a tween girl who's being literally haunted by loneliness until a new friendship upends her life. From the bestselling author of the Paola Santiago series!

"Absolutely haunting!"--Delilah S. Dawson, New York Times bestselling author of Mine

Sadie Rivera has been haunted all her life by a vengeful ghost--a ghost that doesn't want her to make any friends. The moment she tries? Cue exploding lightbulbs, chilling gusts of wind, and slamming doors.

Last year, Sadie got fed up. Last year, she made a best friend, Anna. So when the ghost caused an accident that killed her best friend, Sadie knew it was all her fault.

Which is why she's not going to make any friends this year at her new school. At least until mysterious cool girl Mal shows up, and the ghost doesn't bother her for once. But Mal wants Sadie all to herself--and she'll do anything to make sure it stays that way.

Review Quotes

A Texas Lone Star Reading List Selection

"Tragic, beautiful, and terrifying, It Happened to Anna will hit home for kids familiar with grief and will make anyone question blinking lights and cold chills. Absolutely haunting!" --Delilah S. Dawson, New York Times bestselling author of Mine

"A compelling middle-grade ghost story in which you never quite know what is real and what is imagined. Just the right amount of creepiness for kids, wrapped around a compassionate examination of grief and friendship." --Christy Peterson, bookseller at Vintage Books

★ "A thoughtful story about emotional growth, balanced gracefully with plenty of spine-tingling scares sure to satisfy middle-grade horror fans." --Booklist, starred review

"A spooky cautionary tale about the toll of unhealthy relationships and an ode to the power of true friendship." --Kirkus Reviews

"[A] spine-tingling ode to the bravery it takes to heal." --Publishers Weekly

"A suspenseful yet sweet tale about friendship....Fear of abandonment, panic attacks, and dread are gracefully represented, along with Mejia's clever supernatural slant." --Shelf Awareness

"Mejia has captured the inner workings and outer environment of a middle school student deftly, weaving a taut and compelling supernatural story that will appeal to introspective, inquisitive readers while helping them contemplate what it means to be a true friend." --The Horn Book

"A delightfully spooky read for tweens that addresses topics like making new friends, bullying, and toxic dynamics." --School Library Journal

About the Author

TEHLOR KAY MEJIA is the bestselling and award-winning author of middle grade and young adult fiction, including It Happened to Anna and Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, which is in development at Disney as a television series to be produced by Eva Longoria. Tehlor strives to create stories which showcase the importance of community, radical inclusion, and abolitionist values. He lives with his child, wife, and two small dogs in Oregon.