Member Reviews
Outrageously fun, genuinely freaky, and whip-smart. This is my favourite kind of middle grade horror, and I just *know* it'll be a hit with kids (and grownups).
Gabby and Trent Manning have inherited the family ability to see ghosts and release them that their grandparents had. While things didn't end well for the grandparents, the twins' mother is devoted to the idea that they will continue the family legacy, and is obsessed with posting videos of them dispatching ghosts on YouTube, worrying about the number of views they get. Gabby is sick of it; the black clothing, the dramatic flair, and the fact that everyone at school knows that she is involved in something rather odd. She'd rather devote herself to soccer, which is hard, since dealing with ghosts is very physically draining. Trent doesn't care as much, and seems to want to make his mother happy. When the anniversary of an ill-fated seance at the local Majestic theater approaches, the mother makes a deal with the owner, Dale Prescott, that the twins' will figure out a decades old mystery and send the ghosts on their way if she can film in the theater. The Majestic has been abandoned since 1965, when there was an unsolved triple murder. In 1995, the grandparents visited it, but were unable to send the spirits on their way. Upon entering the building, Gabby and Trent can tell that there is real evil afoot, but they hope that by dealing with it, their mother will put less pressure on them to ghost hunt. This is especially important to Gabby, since she is missing a crucial soccer game to humor her mother. There are rats, spiders, creepy marionettes, and a demon who possesses Gabby in the same way that her grandfather was possessed back in 1995. Her grandmother managed to save him, but wasn't able to do anything else. Will the twins' finally be able to solve the mystery and find a way to release the ghosts and return the demon?
Strengths: Middle grade readers are often obsesses with being YouTube or TikTok stars, but don't know how much work it is to create content. Gabby's weariness at having to constantly perform for her mother is a very realistic look at how a young person might feel if they had powers that a parent wanted to exploit. The family connection was interesting, and I could just about believe that a building had been abandoned since 1965. Both Gabby and Trent were well versed in the essentials of dealing with ghosts and demons, thanks to a book written by their grandparents, and were fairly cautious and more prepared than their mother. There were plenty of creepy things that will keep horror readers turning the pages.
Weaknesses: There is just a passing reference to the twins' father, and I was a bit curious as to what happened to him. Since the mother really annoyed me, maybe the answer's obvious. There was also some mention of friends at school, and it wouldn't be a surprise if this became a series. The cover is okay, but might age badly.
What I really think: Theaters seem to be especially haunted places! Add this to a playbill that includes Freeman's Noah McNichol and the Backstage Ghost, Gonzalez's Fearless, Key's Twelfth, Parris' Stage Fright, Shepherd's The Twilight Curse, and Schusterman's Olive and the Backstage Ghost.
Absolutely amazing spooky middle grade! Fans of RL Stine will love this story. Lawrence’s books are always dependable for spooky tales either just enough scared that also provide strong themes of friendship and family relationships. Definitely one of the top MGs I read this year. Highly recommend!
E-ARC provided via NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids publishers.
All thoughts and opinions are my own in exchange for an honest review.
I have read Lorien Lawrence entire Fright Watch collection, i went into this book expecting to love it whilst being thoroughly creeped out, what i didn’t expect was to stumble upon my favourite Middle Grade book of 2024.
Everything about this book drew me in, from the overly angsty teenage drama emotions, to the overly invested YouTube mother , to the spooky stuff.
The relationship bonds and drama felt to real and tangible it felt like this kind of things could be happening in real life (even though Ghost Hunting isn’t real) the tension between the twins i think is something everyone with a sibling and overbearing parent can relate to.
The mother i wanted to slap over the face with one of her EMF meters as the way she treated her kids was just infuriating.
The growth all the characters had was fantastic and made the book that extra special.
I feel like there are some books out there that would be better as a tv show. This is one of those i feel should be made into a Netflix movie (think goosebumps) as honestly I think it would be amazing to see it on screen as I imagined it in my head
Thank you to Lorien and Abrams Kids/Amulet Books for sharing the ARC through NetGalley.
I absolutely loved this book! The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family by Lorien Lawrence is a captivating middle-grade supernatural tale that blends mystery, adventure, and a touch of spookiness. The story follows the Manning family, 13 year old twins Trent and Gabby, and their mother. The twins have inherited their grandparents' "gifts" to help ghosts find peace (or to send demons away). These teen paranormal investigators are trying to live up to their family name, pushed by their social media obsessed mother, while trying to balance middle school.
Gabby is over it! She just wants to be able to hang with her friends and play soccer. She is so annoyed that her mother won't support her playing on the soccer team and even more annoyed that her brother is just so passive about everything their mother wants to do for their social media channel.
Trent is trying to find his voice and where he fits into everything. While once Gabby shared everything with him, he feels her pulling away. He just wants to keep the peace with his mother, so he agrees to whatever she asks of him, to the annoyance of Gabby.
Gabby decides she wants to stop, but commits to one last haunt at the abandoned Majestic Theater. The Majestic infamy stems from the Manning's grandparents failed exorcism, which the twins mom is trying to prove the twins can succeed where her parents failed. But what really happened there? What exactly is haunting the Majestic? Can two teens really succeed in doing something that terrified their grandparents?
Lawrence skillfully creates a suspenseful atmosphere while grounding the story in family dynamics and personal growth. Gabby and Trent's journey's of courage, self-discovery, and trust adds an emotional depth to the supernatural elements, making the book more than just a ghost story. The pacing is engaging, and the characters are well-developed, with a strong sense of heart.
With its mix of eerie moments and relatable family struggles, The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family is a delightful and thrilling read for young readers, perfect for those who enjoy a good mystery with a supernatural twist. Perfect mix of RL Stine and Supernatural for middle grade readers.
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