Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu

Not Quite a Ghost is a middle-grade novel that promises a scare, and delivers an impressive coming-of-age story.

Violet is facing a lot of change. At the beginning of middle school she gets placed on a different team than her best friends, and her family moves into a new house.

The new house has more room and she doesn’t have to share with her sister, but Violet’s room is in the attic with the hideous wallpaper. 

She makes a new friend at school who is researching ghosts.

Violet gets sick and begins to wonder if her room is haunted. The wallpaper in her room seems to move, but is it only her imagination?

People think she is faking her symptoms just to get out of PE, but could she be haunted by a ghost and how will she exorcise it from her room?

This book had me thinking that Violet was just adjusting to middle school, moving, and dealing with a mysterious illness.

Then the scary part is revealed and wow!

I think it will satisfy your middle-grade students who want scary books. It worked for me!