X Marks the Haunt

An imagined version of Chicago’s historic Graceland Cemetery provides the backdrop for an eerie adventure in this captivating ghost story by Currie (The House with No Keys). Twelve-year-old Will Stone is an expert on all things relating to Graceland, where his mother works as the executive director. An aspiring genealogist and cemeterian, Will spends his free time exploring Graceland’s grounds, studying the archives, and paying his respects to new arrivals. When several classmates sneak into the cemetery at night, Will reluctantly aids them in hopes of mitigating any mischief. But when, following the excursion, an irreplaceable mausoleum key vanishes, Graceland’s trees start dying, the lake dries up, and a ghostly woman begins haunting Will. To set things right and save the cemetery, Will must determine the identity of the restless spirit and recover the lost key. The protagonist’s dedication to respecting and honoring the dead, and to appeasing the source of Graceland’s problems, gives the novel an intimate feel, positioning empathy and kindness as powerful traits, and resulting in an appealing offering for those seeking thrills and chills sans excess gore or violence. Major characters cue as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Shannon Hassan, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Jan.)