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Ally Malinenko
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Ghost Girl Kindle Edition

by Ally Malinenko (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 122 ratings
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Perfect for fans of Small Spaces and Nightbooks, Ally Malinenko’s debut is an empowering and triumphant ghost story——with spooky twists sure to give readers a few good goosebumps!

Zee Puckett loves ghost stories. She just never expected to be living one.

It all starts with a dark and stormy night. When the skies clear, everything is different. People are missing. There’s a creepy new principal who seems to know everyone’s darkest dreams. And Zee is seeing frightening things: large, scary dogs that talk and maybe even . . . a ghost.

When she tells her classmates, only her best friend Elijah believes her. Worse, mean girl Nellie gives Zee a cruel nickname: Ghost Girl.

But whatever the storm washed up isn’t going away. Everyone’s most selfish wishes start coming true in creepy ways.

To fight for what’s right, Zee will have to embrace what makes her different and what makes her Ghost Girl. And all three of them—Zee, Elijah, and Nellie—will have to work together if they want to give their ghost story a happy ending.

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    8 - 12 years
  2. Print length
    288 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    3 - 7
  5. Publisher
    Katherine Tegen Books
  6. Publication date
    August 10, 2021
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0063044616
  12. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-7-Zee Puckett, who is white, loves to tell scary stories. After a stormy night, she convinces her best friend Elijah, a young Black boy, to go with her to explore the cemetery and listen to her latest tale. While there, they discover that more has blown into town with the storm than a few branches. They are chased by hounds that talk and have blood dripping from their eyes. Their new principal Mr. Scratch seems to know too much about people's darkest fears. And Zee has the ability to see ghosts, just like her late mother did. Principal Scratch somehow convinces the townspeople to visualize what they really want in life. When these things come to pass, Zee, Elijah, and Zee's bully Nellie are the only ones who recognize that they are illusions and the people are worse off, not better. The three understand that Principal Scratch is very dangerous, and stopping him is a matter of life and death. Zee is a likable character, and readers will root for her. There are some moments of symbolism that are never explained, which could cause some confusion but most likely will just add to the fright. This is not for young readers who say they want a scary story but actually mean they want suspense or an adrenaline rush with a ghost or two. VERDICT This is a chilling story that will delight upper elementary readers who enjoy truly creepy books.-Julie Overpeck, Gardner Park Elem. Sch., Gastonia, NCα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

It's the kind of ghost story that helps readers overcome their fears while putting them on the edge of their seats.

-- "Joe Ballarini, author of The Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting"

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08N19LMML
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Katherine Tegen Books (August 10, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 10, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3124 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0063044609
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 122 ratings

About the author

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Ally Malinenko

Ally Malinenko

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Ally Malinenko is a poet, novelist, and librarian living in Brooklyn, New York, where she pens her tales in a secret writing closet before dawn each day. Connect with Ally on her website at www.allymalinenko.com.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
122 global ratings
Amazing read
5 Stars
Amazing read
I loved GHOST GIRL so much, and read it in one day I couldn’t put it down. Besides the horror/mystery plot, the friendship between Zee and Elijah, and the developing friendship with Nellie, felt true and special. The author really developed these characters so well. You just didn’t want to put the book down. Ready for the next book by Ally Malinenko
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Top reviews from the United States

Cindy A. Lutz
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to read under the covers with a flashlight!
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
Ghost Girl has great relatable characters, a diabolical villain, and a page-turning plot. And oh wow, it is REALLY spooky! This book is great for kids who want to be taken seriously (hello, me at age 11!!) and doesn't hold back on some perilous situations, but of course the characters we come to love and cheer for by the end of the book find their way through.
Beyond being a great spooky read, this book has depth in its characters and their families. A lot of kids will see themselves in Zee and Elijah, will recognize their own challenges at school and in the home, and will feel seen and understood in the pages of this book.
I hope we get to meet Zee again in another book someday!
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wytwave
5.0 out of 5 stars A Paranormal Book that Delivers
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2021
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Malinenko's Ghost Girl is a fun, dark romp of a book with fantastic characters and storytelling. It grabbed me immediately, and then it packed so much into this one story that I found myself feeling it was all the more real and unable to put it down. I loved that so many threads and themes were pulled together as they were, and the fact that Malinenko didn't shy away from tough conversations and themes made it all the better. I'd absolutely recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal middle grades (for themselves or their kids!), and I'll be looking for more from this author.

Absolutely recommended.
2 people found this helpful
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Mary
5.0 out of 5 stars A story kids deserve
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2023
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I fell in love with Ghost Girl from the get go. Aside from the great characters, what really drew me in was the richly drawn world. I could see and feel the cemetery and those eyes looking at me through the bedroom window (if you've read the book you know).

A truly wonderful tale and a story of strength that kids deserve to read.
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mas358
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
A lot of heart in this book. A story about what's important no matter what is going on. Good advice subtly embedded into the story. Definitely not preachy.

Loved hearing the differences in what a character really thought and what they verbalized. The easy lying that pops out and bypasses reason. Remembered what it was like to be eleven years old. How did Ally do that.
More please!
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nomadtla
4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful middle-grade book
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2021
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Like life this book has a few scares and struggles but with friendship and determination the main characters chart their path. A great book for young teens with a distinctive voice that does not coddle or talk down to the intended audience.
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Laura S. LaTour
5.0 out of 5 stars Chilling thrills with a positive message
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2022
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Malinenko’s Ghost Girl is a fun romp through the supernatural and paranormal that delivers a positive message about empathy, standing up to bullies, and the power of being true to yourself.

Unlikely friends — Zee, Elijah and Nellie — unite forces to battle evil and their truly terrifying new principal, Mr. Scratch. Incorporated throughout the novel are small Easter eggs that give a nod to the broader world of adult horror (allusions to Mary Shelley etc.) and give curious readers opportunities to dive into their own research.

Malinenko excels at fast-paced action, and her descriptions of creepy settings will send a chill up your spine. Some truly creepy characters and scenes make for a head-under-the-covers read with a satisfying ending.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, and terrifying, story!
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
I'm terrible at writing reviews, so please pardon my brevity.

I read this book in one sitting.

I laughed. I cried. It was better than Cats.

Beyond the themes of personal empowerment, the vital importance of friendship and caring for one another, and how grief is a bitch...

...this is a great book to read aloud to your kids.

That's the highest praise I can think of.
2 people found this helpful
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Sheila Ornstein
5.0 out of 5 stars Totally engrossing story for the YA reader
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
Ghost Girl is a delightful story about a tough young heroine and her devoted friends. It's spooky enough to make you keep turning pages but not so scary that young readers will be afraid to go to bed at night. The story is extremely creative and the characters are believable. The 11 year old heroes of the book remind me of the brave, honorable children in Stephen King's story. The kindness and caring of these friends carries them through assorted challenges and proves that friendship and love wins over evil.
One person found this helpful
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