e-Audio, 08:09:43
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zellwe and Su Ling Chan
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Published by: Scholastic Press
Read from: October 15-16, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: Library’s Libby (I also received an ARC copy from Scholastic after attending a party from them at Texas Library Association Conference. This did nothing to influence my review)
Content Warning: Child Death, Death, Death of a Parent, Racism
For Readers Interested In: Horror, MG, Paranormal (Ghosts), Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Texas Local ReadsA chilling middle grade novel about a girl haunted by a hungry ghost. The last thing Jade remembers from Life is dying. That was over 100 years ago. Ever since then she’s been trapped in the house on Charlotte Street watching people move in and out―some generous and willing to share their supper, others ignoring her, leaving her hungry, angry, and alone. To most people she is only a shadow, a ghost story, a superstition. Then one day the Teng family moves in with their daughter Molly ― the quiet girl with the “ghost seeing eyes.” For the first time since Life, someone can see Jade and communicate with her. After over a century alone, Jade finally has someone who can help her uncover the secret of her past, and maybe even find a way out of the house―before her hunger destroys them both.
*MY THOUGHTS*
Yo this was so good! I LOVED both Molly and Jade. I felt for Jade so much. I hoped that she would find peace. I knew that she was uncomfortable where and how she was. And sure enough, we learn things about her that definitely confirm my theory.
So the main character Molly has always been able to communicate with ghosts. She called them zaps from her early days. Of course her mom doesn’t understand, so everything is just all messed up. She can’t stay anywhere for too long and her mom feels like she’s helping her by doing this. I remember feeling so bad for her. She loved her mom and loved the life they had together, but she got tired. And I didn’t blame her. Especially after what she said happened at one of her other schools. It was a mess.
Call me weird, but I also felt bad for Jade. She really only remembered when she died. And the way she was spending her afterlife? So sad. I can’t fathom living off the crumbs people throw away. I know she wasn’t exactly living, but it still hurt to see a child having to go through that. It was very sad. But it was also scary. Because Lordt when she got mad?! She was very creepy. I was glad she had Molly to help her navigate and learn about her new life.
As for Hungry Ghosts, I’ve heard of them before, but I wasn’t exactly sure about what they were. This was very eye opening. I didn’t know or understand I guess, why they were created. In this, Jade was created because she got so angry and so sad when she died and then her mother died. I don’t want to explain anymore than that because of spoilers, but yeah. She was warranted tho. I can’t believe that people can say with a straight face that some people don’t see how there’s always one main aggressor. It’s very scary and sad. I wanted to hug Jade as she told us what happened to her.
I was a little mad at the ending tho. We had just gotten that information and then nothing. Did I understand it? Yes. Did I like it? No. I thought both girls deserved better. Especially since we just got the adults on board. I was glad they finally got it together too. Those kids really needed them and they almost weren’t there. All of this was a hot mess, but I can’t lie and say I didn’t agree with everything that happened.
This book was so good! I knew it was going to be as soon as I saw the cover and heard the premise at TLA. It definitely lived up to the hype I made up in my head. If only all books were like this!
Overall, I give this
