Ghoul summer

A tween's boring summer vacation takes a bizarre turn in this eerie ghost story by Badua (Thea and the Mischief Makers). Twelve-year-old Barnaby Vargas is resigned to spending the summer helping pack up his grandfather's beachfront home in preparation for his moving in with the Vargases. What Barnaby assumes will be a humdrum season, however, becomes a certified nightmare when he realizes that his family's nearby summer rental is haunted by perpetually 11-year-old Maxwell Warner, who died in 1984 and has been stuck in the residence ever since. Following some initial friction--the ghost isn't thrilled to be sharing his room with the mortal, who is similarly unenthused about being haunted--the pair strike a tentative truce: if Barnaby helps Maxwell complete his unfinished business, Maxwell will stop tormenting Barnaby. But the longer it takes to discover what Maxwell's unfinished business is, the more likely it becomes that Barnaby will be haunted forever. Badua contrasts a carefree summer at the beach with expressions of Maxwell's--and, across a lateral subplot, Grandpa's--frustration and loneliness as they each struggle to move on. Maxwell's plight as a boy out of time and Barnaby's craving for normalcy against the backdrop of a decades-old mystery further highlight themes of home and belonging as both boys search for their place and purpose. The Vargases are of Filipino descent; Maxwell cues as white. Ages 8--12. Agent: Natalie Lakosil, Looking Glass Literary. (Sept.)

A tween boy begrudgingly agrees to help the ghost who's haunting his family's vacation rental. Twelve-year-old Barnaby Vargas was looking forward to a fun summer of gaming with his friends, but instead, his parents are dragging him and his younger brother, Leo, to the beachfront town of Sunnyside for three weeks to help their grandfather, who will be moving in with them. When they arrive at Warner Place, the home they're renting for their visit, Barnaby discovers that his room is already occupied by someone--the ghost of a boy named Maxwell Warner, who died in 1984 and wants Barnaby out of his room. After several unsuccessful attempts to banish Maxwell's spirit that only seem to increase the ghost's power, Barnaby agrees to help him resolve his unfinished business in exchange for leaving him alone. As Barnaby digs through Maxwell's past, he forms a tentative friendship with the ghost and learns more about Sunnyside. The mystery surrounding Maxwell's death is compelling, with well-balanced moments of humor. Badua deftly weaves in complex themes of family, friendship, and community organizing. Barnaby's character growth is touching, as is the new bond he develops with Leo as they work together to help Maxwell. Though the story wraps up rather quickly, with some threads left unresolved, the ending is heartwarming. Barnaby and his family are Filipino American. A gently spooky ghost story that's equal parts funny and heartfelt.(Paranormal. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.