Tween Tuesday: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

4 fudgy brownies with frosting.

Cover Love:
Yes, I love it.  It hints of suspense and horror.  It is very eye-catching.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
It had a very interesting premise and sounded like something the readers in my library would love.  Here's the synopsis from Good Reads:

Hauntings are our business . . .

Ghosts crowd the streets and houses of London. Anthony Lockwood, with his slightly grumpy deputy George, and his junior field operative Lucy, make up LOCKWOOD & CO, the small, shabby yet talented ghost-hunting agency.

After a series of calamitous investigations into the supernatural go awry, the team are desperate to prove themselves. Their opportunity comes in the form of a terrifying ghost, the Red Duke. But little do they know what perils lie in store for them at the haunted Bliss Hall.

Romance?: No, but there might be a little flirtation between Lucy and Anthony.

My Thoughts:
This is a great combination or horror, ghost and mystery stories.  And how handy these are three that are very popular in my library.  I cannot wait to get this one on the shelves.  I think it's going to be very popular and I hope this is going to be a series because there were unanswered questions.

Kids are going to love that Anthony, George and Lucy are able to run their business on their own, no adult interference.

The last action scene versus the ghost is very intense and I liked that the author didn't drag it out.  Once the action started he didn't let up, but he didn't make it too long either.  It was just right.  And it was tense and descriptive and scary, but nothing I felt that middle schoolers wouldn't be able to handle.

The whole idea of some ghosts coming back and only children being able to see and sense them is very intriguing.  

To Sum Up:  There is a lot more than can be done with the world this novel is set.   I think this will be a big hit with middle grade readers!

eGalley requested and downloaded from NetGalley via Disney.