Ghostly Getaway (Diary of an Accidental Witch, #3)

 
4.6 (2)
 
4.8 (1)
373 0
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Co-Authors / Illustrators
Publisher
Age Range
6+
Release Date
February 11, 2025
ISBN
978-1664340886
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The sixth graders at Extraordinary are disappointed to learn that their school trip to a creepy castle is less of a vacation and more of a lesson in teamwork. And is the castle HAUNTED?

Bea is SO excited to be on a field trip to Cadabra Castle—it’s the SPOOKIEST castle she's EVER seen! She can’t wait to explore somewhere new with her classmates. But the principal, Ms. Sparks, has other plans—apparently the trip isn’t a vacation, but rather a chance for the students to improve their teamwork. And even scarier for Bea than having to team up with bossy Blair are the rumors that the castle is haunted. But ghosts aren’t real…are they? With black-and-white illustrations throughout.

Told through Bea's diary entries, the Diary of an Accidental Witch series invites readers to follow Bea on a humorous journey of self-discovery as she learns where she truly belongs.

Editor reviews

2 reviews
A Fun Tale
(Updated: June 25, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.5
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Bea is on a trip with her school to visit a potentially haunted castle. While she's excited, she is annoyed when the teacher makes her work with Blair - a girl she doesn't like. The little witches are encouraged to work together and learn new skills. It is not an easy task for Bea and she struggles to do as the teachers want. And then of course there is the ghost in the castle...
What I liked: I enjoyed the story and Bea is a great character. I can see little girls really taking to her. The story was fun and I liked the illustrations in the book.
What left me wanting more: I thought it would be more like a book, but it consists of diary entries from Bea so the story jumps about in places, but it does come across as being written by a young girl as Bea is our narrator.
Final Verdict: A fun, entertaining read with great characters. Any kids who love magic and adventure will enjoy this book. There is also a good message in the story that it is important for kids to learn to work together, even if they don't get on.
Good Points
A fun story with great characters
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delightful new story about teamwork and magic
(Updated: June 25, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.8
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
GHOSTLY GETAWAY was another delightful installment in the DIARY OF AN ACCIDENTAL WITCH series. This chapter book series includes plenty of illustrations alongside Bea's diary entries, chronicling her life and school. In this book, her class has been taken on a sleepover fieldtrip to Cadabra Castle, which is the site of a lot of witchy history - and possibly haunted.

What I loved: This is such a great format that presents a new twist on a chapter book, as the story is told through Bea's diary entries, which also have a lot of dialogue and storytelling (along with personal interjections of thoughts/feelings). Bea grew up as an Ordinary (someone without magic) but through a mishap ended up at a school for witches, where she has been learning magic. This adds loads of fun, especially as she and her friends are navigating this trip away from home with their classmates, some of whom they do not get along with at all.

The point of the trip is to learn about witchy cooperation and build these skills amongst their class. Although the teachers have good intentions, it gets off to a rocky start and the tasks they are given do not seem to be resolving things. Along the way, Bea and friends begin to learn about teamwork and how to work with people that you may not always like. These are valuable lessons for readers of all ages.

The story is told with plenty of humor and heart, and it's easy to get lost in the writing style. This is great for the early and middle elementary school ages, who will enjoy reading along and experiencing Bea's witchy life while also seeing the illustrations throughout. Other themes around communication (particularly with Bea's father), friendship, and kindness are really great for the intended audience.

What left me wanting more: As a small thing, since this takes place over only a few days, there are not great stopping places in the middle. It's broken by times during the days, but these don't always have a clear break (only with the days). There is also a troubling element where Bea keeps the witchy things she does from her father, who does not know about magic, but this is relatively minor in this book as she is not around him (and can be resolved with a discussion of why we don't keep secrets from parents).

Final verdict: GHOSTLY GETAWAY is a fun new installment in the DIARY OF AN ACCIDENTAL WITCH series that explores friendship, teamwork, and magic.
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User reviews

1 review
Overall rating
 
4.8
Plot
 
5.0(1)
Characters
 
5.0(1)
Writing Style
 
5.0(1)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
4.0(1)
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Ghostly Getaway Review - Creepy yet magical vibes!
(Updated: June 25, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.8
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
4.0
Ghostly Getaway will give you a spooky adventure vibe that’s exciting but also a little uncomfortable in a real way.

Bea is thrilled about going to Cadabra Castle at first, and honestly, I would be too because the idea of a creepy, magical castle sounds amazing. But the twist is that the trip isn’t just for fun, it’s meant to teach teamwork, which immediately makes things more complicated. Instead of just exploring, Bea has to deal with group activities, people she doesn’t get along with, and the pressure to cooperate.

One thing I really liked is how the setting plays a big role in the story. The castle isn’t just a background, it actually adds to the mood. The rumors about it being haunted make everything feel tense and mysterious, even when nothing is confirmed. It keeps you guessing along with Bea, like you’re not sure if the fear is real or just in her head. That mix of spooky and funny moments works really well, especially because Bea reacts in such a relatable way, sometimes brave, sometimes nervous, and sometimes just annoyed.

The teamwork part of the story felt very realistic, even though it’s set in a magical world. Bea has to work with classmates like Blair, who she doesn’t really like, and that creates a lot of tension. I think the book does a good job showing that teamwork isn’t always easy or natural. It can be frustrating, awkward, and slow. But over time, you see small changes, and that made the lesson feel more real instead of forced. It’s not like everything suddenly becomes perfect, which I appreciated.

The diary format continues to be one of the best parts of the series. You get Bea’s honest thoughts, including when she’s being dramatic or overthinking things. It makes the story feel more personal and sometimes funnier because she reacts in the moment. The illustrations also help bring the scenes to life, especially in a setting like a castle where visuals really matter. It keeps the book from feeling too heavy and makes it easier to stay engaged.

Personally, I think this book is more about growth than just the plot. Bea is still figuring out who she is, but in this one, you really see her learning how to deal with others, not just magic. The mix of friendship, fear, and teamwork gives the story more depth while still keeping it easy to read. Overall, it’s a fun but meaningful installment that shows that even in a magical world, some of the hardest challenges are just learning how to work with people.
Good Points
Spooky castle setting adds mystery and excitement

Realistic teamwork struggles and character growth

Diary style makes thoughts feel personal and engaging
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