Keep the Ghost Light on - by Kate Messner (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"This one will haunt me for a long time." --R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear Street series

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Kate Messner crafts a fast-paced ghost story.

A haunted Broadway theater.
A ghost demanding justice.
Three kids who must follow the clues to unlock the past . . .

When Daphne, Luna, and Felix break into a shuttered theater to produce their own musical, they find it haunted by the ghost of an angry showgirl who makes a cryptic demand:

TRUTH

Daphne is already struggling with her own truth, ever since a cute older boy humiliated her in front of the drama club last spring. Now her heart is full of secrets, and she hasn't written a new song in months.

But the ghost is persistent, and the friends find themselves sleuthing through empty research libraries and abandoned theaters in a search for answers. As the hauntings escalate from spooky to deadly, can they uncover the truth of what happened a century ago and finally free their ghosts?

Told via stage play, song lyrics, letters, and more this fast-paced, accessible novel will capture any reader.

Review Quotes

"I've read a lot of ghost stories. But this one will haunt me for a long time. How do I know? I read it a week ago--and I still have chills!" --R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear Street series

"Beautifully written and brimming with realistic friendship dynamics, fascinating history, and themes of bravery and empathy, this is one ghost story that belongs in every middle grade library!" --Lindsay Currie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE MYSTERY OF LOCKED ROOMS

"A moving ghost story, a juicy mystery, and an exploration of how the past haunts both the living and the dead. I loved it." --Eliot Schrefer, New York Times bestselling author

"In her clever multi-modal style, Messner sets a spooky stage with haunted theaters, indelible friendships, and a righteous crusade to address a historical wrong. Toss in a spine-chilling mystery and an unrequited crush and you've got a page-turner sure to dazzle readers from the first bars of the overture to the final curtain call." --Megan E. Freeman, New York Times bestselling author of ALONE

"Avenging ghosts and long-buried secrets take the stage in this innovative supernatural mystery. With a cast of Kate Messner's singular middle school characters and a delightful dose of theatricality, Keep the Ghost Light On is a fun and absorbing novel about the magic of theater, the tenacity of ghosts, and the power of reclaiming your voice." --Anne Ursu, author of NOT QUITE A GHOST

"Part ghost story, part mystery, complete enjoyment; highly recommended for all collections." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Breathless, intensely terrifying, and otherworldly." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"This is theater-kid catnip. . . An empowering mystery alight with righteous anger." --Booklist

"With astute intention and invention, each verse touches your soul and puts tears in your eyes--the kind of tears that comfort and heal." --Renée Watson, New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning author, on THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES

"Split this story like a log, and you'll find concentric circles of metaphor and meaning on every page. There are passages that will gut you, and others that will leave you laughing out loud." --Nikki Grimes, award-winning author of ORDINARY HAZARDS, on THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES

"Equal parts suspenseful adventure and heartrending emotion, this beautiful book will capture your heart." --Jasmine Warga, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A ROVER'S STORY and Newbery Honor-winning OTHER WORDS FOR HOME, on THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES

"The Trouble with Heroes is a heartfelt, moving page-turner that tackles grief, loss, anger and redemption. Another Kate Messner triumph!" --Dan Gemeinhart, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE MIDNIGHT CHILDREN and THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE, on THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES

About the Author

Kate Messner is a New York Times bestselling author of more than eighty books for kids. Her titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow, The Whale's Tale and the Otter's Side of the Story, and Axolotl-Ella; novels like All the Answers, Breakout, and The Trouble with Heroes; graphic novels like Camp Monster; and the Wildlife Rescue chapter books. Kate also writes the popular History Smashers graphic nonfiction series and the Ranger in Time historical adventures. She lives on Lake Champlain and spends her free time hiking, kayaking, and listening to way too many Broadway cast recordings.

www.katemessner.com
@KateMessner