This blew me away. It's the story about invisible illness/disability that kids deserve, especially now.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

It is always a delight to sink into a book written by Anne Ursu, and NOT QUITE A GHOST does not fail to deliver. This is a thoughtfully-wrought and eerie story complete with exquisite writing. The main character, Violet, is a middle child, and is always prepared to make herself smaller and unheard in order to not upset anyone around her. When her family moves to a new house and she is left with the last, unclaimed bedroom, which happens to be in the attic of an old Victorian and comes with musty smells, claw-marked floors, and hideous yellow wallpaper patterned with twisty vines and what looks like thousands of eyeballs. This is the perfect creepy set-up for everything that comes next. This is a scary story, but it is also a deeply thoughtful commentary on how invisible illnesses are so often brushed aside or not believed (I cringed at every scene with Violet's pediatrician and wanted to shout at her parents to find someone else to care for their children). And when the really scary stuff starts happening, it is almost a reminder that this book is a ghostly story, one that will haunt you with not only the scare-elements expertly woven in, but also due to its beautiful writing and the important themes layered within. I will absolutely recommend this book to friends and students, and to anyone who is looking for an excellent, eerie read.

This book was SPOOKY with a capital S! Honestly, kiddo or adult reader alike, I can see an avoidance of night reading or an extra fondness for letting furry friends camp out nearby after reading this one. The creepy factor is cranked high, and you can't help but feel for Violet as she struggles to keep what's hers... hers. The thing is, as scary as the unwanted guest at Katydid Street was... and trust me, it was... and the decidedly uncertain plan to solve her problem once and for all, the scariest parts were those we could empathize more easily with.

Misdiagnosis for medical concerns, or even non diagnosis and disbelief of reported issues, friendships that seem to turn on a dime leaving you exposed and unprotected at heart, adults that should be role models modeling less than those qualities we should be seeing leaving us on the sidelines and dismissed... all of these are tangible things that almost anyone can say they've stepped into and felt off put. The biggest way to combat them... an open heart and mind. We can't begin to say we understand another's journey in life if we're unwilling to truly listen, judging before we even have the facts. It's a practice important at any age, and something adults tend to forget.

In the end, Violet finds her way through the flowers and vines that were threatening to strangle the light out of her life... with a little help from some friends, or more specifically a loving family, a new friend, a very smart cat, and a house that wasn't ready to keep something it never meant to invite in. 😉 A great pick for Middle Grade fans that like a little spookiness in their stories, and a big reminder to own who you are because you're the only you that there is.

When Violet Hart's growing family moves into an old house for more space, she is less-than-thrilled when she discovers her new bedroom is in the attic and is plastered with a hideous yellow wallpaper. It isn't long after her family moves into the house that Violet falls ill from a mysterious virus -- that keeps her feeling sick for weeks afterwards, with no answers from her doctors. In fact, not only do her friends question whether Violet is really sick, but so do her doctors. Due to her malaise, Violet spends a lot of time in her creepy room... and she eventually starts to wonder if she's actually alone up there and also how much of her mysterious illness is related to whatever is living (or dead) in her room.

Not Quite a Ghost is a book that any adult that has taken enough literature classes in college will immediately make the connection to the famous short story by Charlotte Perkins Gillman, "The Yellow Wallpaper." In that story, a woman is left alone to "recover" from her postpartum depression by being isolated alone up in a room where she eventually descends into madness. Instead of postpartum depression, the main character in Not Quite a Ghost is a young 6th grade girl who is being told by her friends and the medical community that there is nothing wrong with her and everything she is experiencing is in her head. So in that regard, it is a book about medical gaslighting and the very real damage it causes to real people, disguised as a ghost story.

I am generally not a fan of fantasy stories because so often they are hard to follow and lack fully realized and empathetic characters. But because Ursu writes characters that feel like real people, I find myself not being able to stop turning the pages of her books. Not only is Violet a protagonist you root for, but there are a lot of other wonderful characters in this book that you fall in love with, including Violet's mother and stepfather, which is unusual in children's literature to have supportive and competent parents.

I look forward to recommending this book to readers, kids and adults alike, who are experiencing any sort of chronic illness that has resulted in being written off by their doctors, as they will most certainly see themselves in this story.

I've never met an Anne Ursu book I didn't love so I was slightly biased going into this. It's Anne, it's a gorgeous cover -- how could it possibly disappoint? IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Anne's stories are symphonies. From the first line - the first moment I realized these twins were having growing pains - I also knew magic was in the mix. And even though that all spins out beautifully, like all of her books do, what really blew me away in this was her treatment of c*vid and how lockdown was processed through the mind of a middle schooler. In lots of books I've read (...most?), that season has been ignored completely -- and I understand. Fiction can be whatever we want it to be. It's nice to have a world where a terrible illness doesn't exist. But this is why Anne's treatment of it all matters even more. Illness exists in this world: and it's okay for the characters to talk about, to think about, to process the myriad of feelings filling up her heart. We're all haunted by something. In the hands of a master storyteller, a character faces a ghost and finds a way forward. And it gave me hope for all the places in my life where I need to do the same.

Whew! What a wild ride!! I won’t say too much as to not spoil anything but this book covers so many topics that middle schoolers face. Open the book and see for yourself. Learn from this book and have discussions around it.

Great book! I love Anne Ursu's books. They aren't so scary that you can't recommend them to everyone. It was a great quick read and perfectly captured the experiences of middle school. I can't wait to share it with kids!

Whew! This book was a RIDE! I had seen another reviewer mention it was based on the short story The Yellow Wallpaper, so I read that first, and I thought the way that Ursu wove the original story into this book was brilliant. She made it creepy, but not scary, and totally accessible for the middle grade age. I also appreciated the delicate way in which she handled the changes in friend groups and navigating social situations that comes with starting middle school. Even for children who do not have a medical issue like Violet, there is a lot here to relate to, and I will be purchasing this for my library and recommending it to my students.

Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu takes a family that moved to a new house to a new kind of trouble.

Is change always a good thing?

Violet Hart
For Violet Hart and her blended family, the change started from becoming a blended family. Then, after three years, Violet and her family move from the home she has known her whole life into a new house with enough room for their family to live peacefully. Of course, while Violet was moving, she entered middle school, and her best friend Paige wanted to grow their small group of three into a group of five girls. Violet has taken everything in strides and is trying to be a good person through all this change until she gets sick. I felt so bad for Violet as I know how it feels to move while also starting at a new school, and it sucks. Except I wasn’t a middle child and got stuck in a haunted attic room.

I hope that things get better for Violet.

The House
The house on Katydid Street is a character in itself, and I loved how Ms. Ursu did that very subtly throughout. Ms. Ursu was able to do that by saying things like houses can lie to the people looking at them or they can tell their truth. For the house of Katydid Street for Violet’s family, the rest of the house lied, but the attic room told its truth. Don’t Enter! Not Safe! Except poor Violet didn’t listen until it was too late. I actually liked thinking of the character as a house and how, just like with Violet, it had to have courage one day.

The Ghost
Much like Violet, the house on Katydid Street had an infection in the attic room—the ghost who moved in without the house accepting it and being able to kick it out. Ghost Girl is a great antagonist, as I didn’t expect her to be quite how she was described or ended up being. Ms. Ursu did a fantastic job with that whole part of the story.

Five Stars
I am giving five stars to Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu, and I’m recommending it to everyone who loves a good horror story. Ms. Ursu has done a fantastic job writing this story, which has the perfect vibe for a horror story. I also like the message that it has attached to it as well.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

“You can’t blame the house. It had done its best.”
The transition from elementary to middle school means a lot of changes for Violet Hart. Her friend group is evolving, her teenage sister is suddenly full of angst, and their growing family means moving to a bigger house where Violet gets stuck with the creepy attic bedroom. Amidst the upheaval, Violet consoles herself with the notion that change is acceptable and that the wallpaper in her room isn’t moving on its own at night. But when she is struck by a mysterious illness and confined to her bed, Violet must face off against her own maladies and the ones lurking in the shadows.

Inspired by Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s 1892 novella The Yellow Wallpaper, Not Quite a Ghost is an incredibly unique take on the modern ghost story. Ursus’ deft prose blurs the line between the supernatural and reality. Much like Violet, the reader must discern the truth for themselves, making for an uneasy reading experience. Ursu also masterfully weaves in the The Yellow Wallpaper’s message of autonomy and self expression while sticking to the pacing and style of a middle grade novel. For the most part, the novel is a relatable coming of age story that accurately depicts the anxieties we all feel while going through a significant life change. While Violet’s experiences are acute at times, she also asks the questions we all ask ourselves at her age like “Do my friends even like me?” or “Will anything ever be the same?” These moments feel true to life, but there are also moments that are genuinely unsettling, especially with information provided in the author’s note that brings the story’s message into full fidelity. This book is a must read for middle grade readers looking for a Stephen King-esque thrill.

Not Quite a Ghost is a very well written middle grade thriller/suspense ghost story by Anne Ursu. Released 16th Jan 2024 by HarperCollins on their Children's imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

This is a creepy and atmospheric novel with elements of a ghost story, coming of age story, middle school life, friendship and much more. The writing is accessible (8-12 years) and clean. There are some on-page scary parts and descriptions, including the denouement which was quite well written, but on the edge of too scary. (Note to readers, myself, at 12 years old, would've loved it). On a scale of Jadis, the White Witch of Narnia and Voldemort, it's in the middle somewhere).

There are several really attractive features to the story. The protagonist is going through a lot: middle school, a shakeup of her long term very tight friend group, some family dynamics issues, physical and mental stress, a house move, and the author portrays them sensitively and realistically. For Violet, these -are- huge factors, and the author doesn't play them down or ridicule them. Additionally, the theme of "invisible chronic illness" is handled deftly and with perception. Luckily Violet has a good support network and Ms. Ursu manages to portray her mom's frustration with the dismissal and lack of help from school and medical systems realistically and well.

There are a number of inclusive and representation points in the book which aren't shouted from the rooftops, but are there and are positive facets of the book: one of her friend's siblings is apparently non-binary, her new friend's dad is a gifted and dedicated pediatrician in a same-sex stable and apparently happy marriage, positive representation of a "nerdy" groups (comics, D&D, anime, etc), multi-ethnic blended families, multi-ethnic friend group.

There is a definite paranormal/ghost plot element, and it's moderately scary. There are some psychological elements related to the haunting (telling Violet she's useless and should become a ghost) which might be problematic. For acquisitions librarians considering this book for their collections, there could be controversial elements, especially in areas of the USA currently facing ridiculous book bans and challenges.

Four and a half stars. Extremely well written. In the same subgenre and to the same quality as Holly Black, Charles de Lint, Laini Taylor, Cornelia Funke, et. al.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Not Quite a Ghost is a hauntingly beautiful middle-grade novel that masterfully weaves together themes of grief, memory, and identity. The story follows the journey of a young girl named Cora, who is struggling to come to terms with the recent loss of her mother. As she grapples with her grief, she begins to experience strange and inexplicable phenomena that seem to be connected to her mother's spirit.
Ursu's lyrical prose and evocative descriptions bring the story to life, creating a sense of mystery and wonder that will keep readers engaged from start to finish. The characters are complex and relatable, and the themes explored are both profound and deeply personal.
Overall, "Not Quite a Ghost" is a poignant and thought-provoking read that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page. Ursu's exploration of grief, memory, and the bonds that connect us to those we love is both moving and insightful. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for a captivating and emotionally resonant middle-grade novel.

I've been a big fan of Anne Ursu's work for awhile, but this one didn't work for me. It felt like it took a long time to get to the scary part (although for me, the "being sick" part was pretty scary). I'm not sure my students would have the patience to get to the ending.

Not Quite a Ghost took me by surprise as it's unlike anything that I've read. As someone with invisible illness, I was glad to see some representation here. This ghost story is enjoyably creepy. It's joined my bookshelf alongside my favorites!

I was interested to read Not Quite A Ghost because it seemed like it would be a spooky read and I’m a fan of spooky middle grade books. This book ended up being more of a contemporary fiction read with some supernatural elements thrown in, mainly towards the end of the story. While I liked the author’s writing and I thought the main character was interesting, this story wasn’t what I thought it would be. Even though I was hoping for more spooky moments, I would recommend this book, especially to lovers of contemporary middle grade fiction.

Violet's blended family moves to a new house, but Violet does not change middle school, so she has the same group of friends. Violet ends up in the attic bedroom, and her siblings and parents are on the second floor. Soon after moving into this creepy house, Violet falls ill. At school, she can't handle gym, so she is sent to the library. She gets progressively more ill and has to stay home from school. The doctors cannot find anything wrong with her, and her friends come to believe she is faking illness. Violet's parents believe her and keep trying different doctors. Meanwhile, while Violet is staying in the attic, she notices that the vines and flowers in the dreadful wallpaper seem to shift. The movement increases when she is alone and stops whenever members of her family enter the attic. Her pet kitten sometimes walks around the perimeter of the large attic room, and frightened, runs shaking to Violet. <p> Yes, the attic is haunted, and this part of the story resolves itself through Violet's action and heroism. Her illness, however, continues until her parents find the right doctor, and is a separate issue from the haunting. Author Anne Ursu explains in the Epilogue what the illness is all about. <p> This is an interesting story, but highly unrealistic in terms of the ghost. That's why I gave it only 3 stars.

This book was so good! It’s target audience is for middle school aged children and I am an adult and absolutely loved it. It still has me questioning stuff in the book but I think that is what makes a mystery book so great.

I don’t want to put any spoilers on here but the authors note said that she has a chronic fatigue syndrome and most of the times she goes to the doctors and all the labs are fine and they don’t know enough about the syndrome and that is what happened in the story.

On August 4, 2022 I stepped in a hole. Although I didn’t break anything I got what is called ‘Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)’ which according to the McGill’s Doctor Pain Scale is the most painful thing to happen and it is a 24/7 pain (it feels like someone doused my foot and leg with lighter fluid and literally is on fire). It’s so rare that not many doctors know of it. After being formally diagnosed by two specialists one day I woke up with hundreds of hemorrhages on the injured foot so I was told to go to the er. I felt fine but it was weird. When I let them know I had CRPS I had not on but two doctors google it. Labs came out fine. That gave me a referral to follow up with my Orthopedic Specialist and a referral to a Dermatologist because ‘they had no idea’. Went to a follow up with my Orthopedist Specialist and he said it was a side effect of CRPS. You can visibly see my foot something is wrong with it as it turns all sorts of colors and I’m on a knee scooter or in a wheelchair. What you can’t see is my constant pain that never stops, exhaustion, and the paininsomnia I now have. I resonated a lot with what the author said in the author’s note.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and the publisher, for allowing me to read this amazing book! This is an ARC read and I was not paid for this review. This is my honest review.

This was a fabulous read, a carefully told story of middle school dynamics and family dynamics, with emphasis on the possible things kids think about themselves and the people closest to them. I was not entirely sure where the illness storyline was going to go, but it was deeply troubling to find in the days post covid, symptoms of illness can be so dismissed - and I belong to a facebook group for long covid sufferers! I just can't see dismissing symptoms in a child so easily. I really appreciated Ursu's afterword describing some of her own struggles. And the ghost story was just about scary enough to make me jump into bed so nothing got my ankle! THank goodness for MY cat! ;)

This book will definitely be a hit in my library! Good Middle Grade Horror is a rarity, but NOT QUITE A GHOST is definitely a gem. It's creepy, it's sweet, it has invisible illness rep. All in all, it's a great modern book for young people. I can see myself recommending this to students who are struggling or curious about all sorts of things--difficulties transitioning to junior high, challenges with friendships, making new friends, etc. I can't wait to put this book in the hands of my library kiddos!

Major thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.