Ghost In The Night

What worked:
As you might guess from the synopsis, this ghost story turns into a mystery. A popular black man is murdered, his grandson goes missing, and Harmony’s new friend Myah is determined to find the killer. Myah is also dealing with the consequences of a poor decision, but readers don’t learn the details until later. Robby is a precocious ten-year-old dealing with an overprotective mother. Harmony is still grieving for her recently deceased grandmother, and she’s been touring with her father’s band for the past six months. She wonders if she’s already seen her grandmother’s ghost, so she’s more open to the possibility of spirits in the most haunted city in America.
The narrative is a nice blend of fiction, true ghost tales, and the history of New Orleans and Savannah. The author acknowledges she took some liberties “to keep this story PG”, since some of the actual tales are “REALLY gruesome”. There are links in the back of the book to some of the author’s favorite ghost tours and sources of ghostly information. The narrative includes actual locations and real people who lived in Savannah. The author includes information about the abuse and disrespect shown toward slaves, and readers may be surprised to know that parts of Savannah are built atop mass graves.
What didn’t work as well:
Readers looking for a ghost story will be disappointed. The book has more information about ghosts than it does about a spooky story. The mystery of the murder is the driving force of the plot, along with the children’s subplots mentioned above. The book’s second half becomes more interesting as things fall into place.
The final verdict:
Despite the backdrop of ghost stories and a murder mystery, the story of the three children is most engaging. I recommend this book to readers interested in learning about ghosts and children dealing with hardships.

Twelve-year-old Harmony Roundtree loves going on haunted tours while traveling with her father on his music gigs. She also loves photography. While on a ghost tour in Savannah, Georgia, she witnessed something she believed to be a ghost inside a haunted building. She's determined to find out more. Add to that, a boy is missing. Could they be connected? With the help of two new friends, they investigate. One thing is sure. Maybe the truth is more dangerous than ghosts.

What worked: Spooky paranormal mystery set in Savannah with a wannabe ghost hunter who investigates a connection to a local mystery.

I love Tiffany D. Jackson's novels, and this MG ghost sleuth is a perfect summer read. Harmony finds herself in the Southern city with her father. Instead of staying at the usual hotel, Harmony discovers her father has a friend who lets them use a guesthouse next to theirs. This lady friend also has a son, Robby, who is into robots. Robby is skeptical of ghosts but insists on tagging along to help. As Jordan waits for the photo of the ghostly orb she spotted in the haunted house to be developed, she encounters Myah, a local tween with her own hidden secrets. But one thing is sure. She also believes in ghosts.

There's not only a mystery, but also a mention of the enslaved past in Savannah. The descriptions of what happened to enslaved people when they die shouldn't be forgotten. There's also a mention of the grief of losing loved ones. Harmony's pain of losing her beloved grandmother is very authentic, and one readers can relate to. Also, family secrets and struggles are mentioned.

Harmony's story is one that I'm sure young readers will enjoy. Her ghost hunting adventures are intriguing.

Riveting, fast-paced story of a young ghost hunter and her adventure in the southern city of Savannah, Georgia.