It Happened to Anna

Sadie has been haunted by a ghost her whole life. When her best friend Anna dies, she's traumatized. Sadie fears the ghost had something to do with the death of Anna. When Sadie moves to a new school, she's afraid of being friendly as the ghost shows its displeasure by causing issues. She fears that what happened to Anna might happen to anyone else who she gets close to. Then Sadie meets a new girl named Mal. Around Mal, she doesn't feel the ghost's presence. Sadie opens up and is excited to finally have a new friend. Then Mal wants to play pranks and shows her displeasure if Sadie is friendly to anyone at her new school. Sadie doesn't want to displease her new friend, even when the pranks no longer seem so funny.

What worked: Spooky tale of a middle schooler who fears opening up to anyone in case that person receives the wrath of a ghost that's haunted her since a child.

Sadie's anxiety is shown in realistic detail especially whenever she senses the malevolent presence of the ghost. She clams up and avoids eye contact with everyone, including one girl who tries to be a friend.

This book covers such topics as grief and social isolation. Sadie's father wants the best for her but fears her isolation from others. Sadie's trauma is shown by her anxiety to the point of getting physically ill. All the while she's looking over her shoulder in fear the ghost will show its displeasure.

The audiobook version brings chills whenever Mal comes up with a new prank. The first one is innocent enough, but they grow more troubling. The narrator's reading brings life to this novel and I felt Sadie's pain of losing her best friend Anna, the fear that she might be responsible for someone else getting hurt, and finally, the loneliness of isolating herself from others.

The climax of the novel has a twisty reveal. I liked how Sadie grows as a character to the very end in which she decides whether or not to have the courage to confront the very malicious spirit and stop it before it hurts others.

Perfect for younger readers who want a haunting ghost tale that isn't too gruesome. This paranormal shows the power of friendship and dealing with grief.