September 29, 2026 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
I normally love Barrows' work (especially her The Magic Half, 2014), and personally enjoyed this new title, but I can't see my students picking it up. It starts with the Monconochie family dying in a car accident over a hundred years ago, and the three children (Genevieve, Fenella, and Tillotson)coming back as ghosts and hanging around a church. There's also an orphan, Agnes, who loves to read. There are some illustrations, including one of Fenella, who likes to appear in the form of a humanoid cat. The comparisons to Lemony Snicket are apt, but I don't think any of those books were checked out last year. The length of this book (336 pages) and the promise of more volumes to come makes this a daunting prospect for my students, and it's not scary in a way that they seem to prefer. If books like Senf's The Clackity, Perry's Ghosts Come Rising, or Cotter's The Doll House circulate well in your library, definitely take a look, but I'll have to pass.
From the publisher:
A wickedly entertaining supernatural story about three siblings finding their way in the world as ghosts from bestselling author Annie Barrows.
Everyone at the Ghost Guild knows how the afterlife is supposed to work. But something is amiss with the case of three siblings – Genie, Fenella, and Tillotson Maconochie – who are beginning their journey as ghosts in a highly irregular way. They haven’t even been issued their copy of the Ghostology, which would have helped them know how to stay out of trouble. It’s no wonder that they fall prey to the infamous swindler Serena Aster, and end up trapped in her mansion to do her evil bidding for eternity. When they discover that a young orphan is trapped with them, their desire to break free and find their greater ghostly purpose takes on new urgency.
In this page-turning, beautifully illustrated yarn, perfect for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Eventsand The Ogress and the Orphans, readers will discover that at the end of their lives, the Maconochie siblings' remarkable story is only just beginning.
Everyone at the Ghost Guild knows how the afterlife is supposed to work. But something is amiss with the case of three siblings – Genie, Fenella, and Tillotson Maconochie – who are beginning their journey as ghosts in a highly irregular way. They haven’t even been issued their copy of the Ghostology, which would have helped them know how to stay out of trouble. It’s no wonder that they fall prey to the infamous swindler Serena Aster, and end up trapped in her mansion to do her evil bidding for eternity. When they discover that a young orphan is trapped with them, their desire to break free and find their greater ghostly purpose takes on new urgency.
In this page-turning, beautifully illustrated yarn, perfect for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Eventsand The Ogress and the Orphans, readers will discover that at the end of their lives, the Maconochie siblings' remarkable story is only just beginning.
October 6, 2026 by The Collective Book Studio
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Took a look at this one because yet-to-be released books were making me cranky. This made me crankier. Yes, I probably read and loved this as a child. (It was originally published in 1966.) Being abandoned for the summer with a relative with a cook house that allowed me to time travel? Dolls? Sign me up. I can't imagine modern children liking this tale. It strikes me as the kind of thing that parents who fear that modern literature is "woke" force upon their children. Are there classic out there that could stand to be "refreshed"? Maybe. But really, school libraries probably already have some older titles, and should concentrate on newer, more relevant titles to purchase with limited funds.
From the Publisher:
When Sally is sent to spend the summer in a creaky old house with her elderly Aunt Sarah and a decidedly unfriendly cat, she expects weeks of boredom and loneliness. Everything changes when she discovers a mysterious painting of a little girl holding a doll and learns that the doll vanished long ago. Drawn by curiosity, Sally ventures into the attic, where an old mirror seems to open a doorway into another time and a story waiting to be finished.
First published in 1966, Magic Elizabeth quickly became a treasured favorite, earning a place in The New York Times Parent’s Guide to the Best Books for Children and selling nearly one million copies in its Scholastic edition. Readers have cherished the novel for generations for its gentle magic, emotional warmth, and the way it blends mystery and fantasy with themes of friendship, empathy, and care.
Now available in a beautifully refreshed edition, this classic story is enhanced with exquisite new full-color illustrations, inviting a new generation of readers into its timeless world of wonder. Perfect for independent reading or sharing aloud, Magic Elizabeth remains a moving reminder that imagination, kindness, and love can travel across time.
First published in 1966, Magic Elizabeth quickly became a treasured favorite, earning a place in The New York Times Parent’s Guide to the Best Books for Children and selling nearly one million copies in its Scholastic edition. Readers have cherished the novel for generations for its gentle magic, emotional warmth, and the way it blends mystery and fantasy with themes of friendship, empathy, and care.
Now available in a beautifully refreshed edition, this classic story is enhanced with exquisite new full-color illustrations, inviting a new generation of readers into its timeless world of wonder. Perfect for independent reading or sharing aloud, Magic Elizabeth remains a moving reminder that imagination, kindness, and love can travel across time.
Tarshis, Lauren.
