X marks the haunt

An imagined version of Chicago's historic Graceland Cemetery provides the backdrop for an eerie adventure in this captivating ghost story by Currie (The House with No Keys). Twelve-year-old Will Stone is an expert on all things relating to Graceland, where his mother works as the executive director. An aspiring genealogist and cemeterian, Will spends his free time exploring Graceland's grounds, studying the archives, and paying his respects to new arrivals. When several classmates sneak into the cemetery at night, Will reluctantly aids them in hopes of mitigating any mischief. But when, following the excursion, an irreplaceable mausoleum key vanishes, Graceland's trees start dying, the lake dries up, and a ghostly woman begins haunting Will. To set things right and save the cemetery, Will must determine the identity of the restless spirit and recover the lost key. The protagonist's dedication to respecting and honoring the dead, and to appeasing the source of Graceland's problems, gives the novel an intimate feel, positioning empathy and kindness as powerful traits, and resulting in an appealing offering for those seeking thrills and chills sans excess gore or violence. Major characters cue as white. Ages 8--12. Agent: Shannon Hassan, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Jan.)

A 12-year-old Chicago boy finds peace in a cemetery--until something terrifying is unleashed. Will often works alongside his mother at the Graceland Cemetery, where she's the executive director, digging into records and tracing genealogical leads. His father was killed in a car crash two years ago, and he feels satisfied when he can help a family find a long-lost ancestor. His best friend, Stash, understands Will's dedication, but Will doesn't talk about the cemetery at school, where he doesn't want to be seen as different and targeted by school bully Chris. But a class field trip to the cemetery means his secret is out. To Will's surprise, his classmates Henry and Michelle are interested in the cemetery's history. Not Chris. Instead, he pressures Will to get him the key to a mausoleum so he can livestream from the cemetery after hours. But when Chris loses the key, a ghost latches on to Will. Will, Stash, Henry, and Michelle use humor to keep their terror at bay as they combine their varied skills to figure out who the ghost is and what she wants. The descriptions of the ghost are hair-raising, and the research into her life and death reveals an unexpectedly poignant, historically accurate story. Will and his friends, who are cued white, are portrayed with great emotional depth. There's even hope for Chris, who initially seems to be a one-dimensional bully but by the end seems to correct his behavior. Horror with heart. (map, author's note)(Horror. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.