Olive and the Backstage Ghost

Olive and the Backstage Ghost
Publisher
Age Range
8+
Release Date
August 15, 2017
ISBN
978-0399550669
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A ghost story with a literary heart for fans of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and The Graveyard Book. Theater kids and ghost-story readers alike will find new meaning in the term stage fright.

All great theaters have their ghosts. . . .

After Olive Preiss freezes during a theater camp audition, she flees in despair. She finds herself at Maudeville, a beautiful old theater that she’s never noticed before. She enters, goes onstage, and sings her song. “Thank you for that lovely audition, darling,” comes a voice from the shadows. “I believe I have just the part for you.”

Olive is thrilled to work with Maude Devore, the glamorous actress who owns the theater, and her eclectic cast of misfits. Yet gradually there are signs that Maudeville isn’t exactly what it seems. Sometimes—just for a moment!—it feels wrong. As opening day approaches, Olive’s doubts and fears grow. But no matter what, this show must go on . . . and on . . . and on. . . .

“Equal parts heart and bone-deep creepiness.” —Claire Legrand, author of The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

A ghost story with a literary heart for fans of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and The Graveyard Book. Theater kids and ghost-story readers alike will find new meaning in the term stage fright.

All great theaters have their ghosts. . . .

After Olive Preiss freezes during a theater camp audition, she flees in despair. She finds herself at Maudeville, a beautiful old theater that she’s never noticed before. She enters, goes onstage, and sings her song. “Thank you for that lovely audition, darling,” comes a voice from the shadows. “I believe I have just the part for you.”

Olive is thrilled to work with Maude Devore, the glamorous actress who owns the theater, and her eclectic cast of misfits. Yet gradually there are signs that Maudeville isn’t exactly what it seems. Sometimes—just for a moment!—it feels wrong. As opening day approaches, Olive’s doubts and fears grow. But no matter what, this show must go on . . . and on . . . and on. . . .

“Equal parts heart and bone-deep creepiness.” —Claire Legrand, author of The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

Editor reviews

2 reviews
Felt like Something Tim Burton Should Direct
(Updated: June 03, 2026)
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5.0
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5.0
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N/A
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OLIVE AND THE BACKSTAGE GHOST is a middle grade horror/ghost story that is full of suspense. Olive loves to sing, but usually clams up on stage thanks to her overbearing mom. With her dad dead, Olive feels like her walls are closing in. After freezing up during an audition for theater camp, she escapes to another nearby theater named Maudeville. It's empty and without prying eyes, she's finally able to sing on stage like she was born to do.

At least that was what she thought. Instead, Maude is watching her performance and wants Olive to become the new star of her show called Ediola. It's a vaudeville show and Olive meets an incredible cast like Aidan the ventriloquist, Astaire the mime, Eli that aerialist, Valentine the magician, and Val's assistant Julianna.

But outside Maudeville's doors lingers Felix who is insistent that something is wrong with Maudeville. He tries to stop Olive from going in each time, but she loves it and doesn't see anything wrong. Things start to change when the backstage ghost reveals itself and Maudeville really isn't as it seems.


Final Verdict: There's so much to say about this book. It's the perfect read with fall/Halloween season just about here. I really enjoyed this original story and recommend it to fans of middle grade ghosts, thrillers, mysteries, and horror stories.
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