ARC, 288
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Published by: Scholastic Press
Read from: July 29-August 14, 2026
Stand-alone
Source: I received a copy of this ARC from the publisher. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Death, Racism, Slavery, Grief, Blood, Death of a Parent, Murder
For Readers of: ARC, Auto Buy Authors, Contemporary, DEAR, Ghosts, Sparkly Cover, Middle Grade, Most Anticipated, Mystery, Own, Own Voices, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Realistic Fiction, ThrillersFrom mega-bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson comes this highly anticipated follow-up to her middle grade debut Blood in the Water.The Only Black Girl on the Ghost Tour is another spine-tingling, can’t-put-it-down mystery, this time set in America’s Most Haunted City.Savannah, Georgia is a city on edge when twelve-year-old Harmony arrives with her blues musician father for a summer gig. The recent disappearance of a local boy remains unsolved and the trail has gone cold, leaving the simmering community without answers or closure.Savannah, with its mossy trees and ornate old homes, is also a place rich in history…and ghosts. Ghosts are what pique Harmony’s interest. Still reeling from her losses back home, Harmony wants to believe in ghost stories…but isn’t sure what’s real. When she goes on one of the many ghost tours around town, she takes a photo of what might be a ghost. Or is it a hoax?As Harmony and her new friends look into the truth behind the ghost picture, they stumble into a dangerously tangled web of ambition, lies…and murder.Can Harmony unravel the mystery in time…or will she have to give up the ghost?New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers thrills and chills once more with this layered, evocative mystery that is sure to give readers goosebumps.
*MY THOUGHTS*
This was a whirlwind. There was so much going on. I hadn’t been expecting all of this from a MG, but there were so many like little pieces that come together in this book that only Tuffany D. Jackson could deliver. I really had fun with this.
Ok so the part in this that really stood out was the atmosphere. Y’all know I love New Orleans and all it’s witchiness, but I’ve never heard about Savannah. And then I did a deep dive and Lordt the amount of haunted in that place was crazy. It made for the most perfect backdrop for the ghost tours, the creepy houses, and her new friend. I was Googling everything lol Definitely bought the creepy vibes.
When I said it covered so many things, I meant exactly that. They talked about the discrepancy between a missing white girl and a missing Black girl, they talked about people raising rent, the history of Savannah, and so much more. There is so much culture in this book. I loved it. And there’s even some culture situated around the spooky bits as well. Like the haint blue, the bottle tree, and so much more. I loved it. I hope if you’re reading this you pick up and come across something you haven’t seen or heard before, I hope you stop and look more into it. (I hadn’t ever heard the empty rocking chair thing, so that was interesting to learn lol)
There were so many mysteries going on in this book as well tho. The one with the missing kid. That was sad. I didn’t take a guess of where he might be until it came up in the story. Him being missing was an ongoing thing, but it was also a little loud in the background. I think Jackson did that on purpose tho. And then the other one where she was trying to figure out about her grandparent. It was sad. But I felt that pain before. So I know that there were some factors that made her want to believe that. But let me say, I do believe and will likely always believe so I said yeah it was her too lol
The characters were all good. I thought her dad could have used a stern ass talking to tho. That what he did was not ok. But I liked everyone else. They had a lot going on lol I do think her new bestie tho was doing the most. And the whole stunt she pulled toward the end? Yeah naw, I would have left her ass right there lol
The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. It was like so abrupt. I just wish it was a little longer. I know that’s a me thing, but what ever. I can’t really be the only one tho lol I know I’m not the only one that thought that.
Overall, I give this
