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Not Quite a Ghost

by Anne Ursu

Narrator Eva Kaminsky

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Length 6 hours 45 minutes

Language English

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Bookseller recommendation

“I went into this book being like, “Oooh, yay, a friendly ghost story! Cute!” WRONG! I was so desperately wrong. This book is deliciously SPOOKY, and I could not put it down! Violet moves into a weird, creepy house with her family, and just can’t quite shake the feeling of being watched while in her new room. ‘Not Quite A Ghost’ addresses the eerie loneliness of illness, isolation, and the haunting realm that is middle school. And…something else entirely. I can’t recommend this book enough if you want a thought-provoking chill. Eeek!”
— Heather • Wild Rumpus Books

Bookseller recommendation

“A book for kids and adults alike to feel seen and creeped out at the same time. The house is really creepy, but a haunted house is not the only thing to fear here; the fear of change, the unknown, and not being sure if 'it's all in your head' are equally as impactful. Eva Kaminsky did a hauntingly beautiful work of narrating Ursu's novel, elevating both the creepy and the heartfelt. Kaminsky's voice made it all feel like a campfire story, and often as if she was letting you in on the secrets of the house. ”
— Valeria • Front Street Books

Bookseller recommendation

“An eye-opening story of post-viral syndrome, with a bit of a spookiness and a lot of middle school angst. Perfect who any child who might be suffering from an illness wither diagnosed or not. Also a wonderful way to teach empathy to those blessed with good health. Lots of pop culture references that kids today will certainly appreciate. ”
— Kristine • Buttonwood Books and Toys

Bookseller recommendation

“A haunted house story complicated by all the changes of entering middle school and a mysterious invisible illness. Inspired by The Yellow Wallpaper, a story published in 1896 where a woman diagnosed with 'hysteria' is forced into bed rest that causes temporary insanity, Not Quite a Ghost is a wonderful representation of living with chronic and invisible illness, the heartbreak and difficulties of middle school, and the failings of our medical system especially in regards to young women and girls. It's also thrillingly creepy. Anne Ursu once again does a fantastic job of making me feel like I'm in middle school again, laughter and tears included. Recommended for adults and pre-teens alike! ”
— Lauren • Chapterhouse Books

Summary
About the author

Named one of the Best Books of 2024 by the Chicago Public Library, New York Public Library, and NPR!

From the award-winning author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy comes an unforgettable and deeply personal story of the ghosts that surround us—and the ones we carry inside.

The house seemed to sit apart from the others on Katydid Street, silent and alone, like it didn’t fit among them. For Violet Hart—whose family is about to move into the house on Katydid Street—very little felt like it fit anymore. Like their old home, suddenly too small since her mother remarried and the new baby arrived. Or Violet’s group of friends, which, since they started middle school, isn’t enough for Violet’s best friend, Paige. Everything seemed to be changing at once. But sometimes, Violet tells herself, change is okay.

That is, until Violet sees her new room. The attic bedroom in their new house is shadowy, creaky, and wrapped in old yellow wallpaper covered with a faded tangle of twisting vines and sickly flowers. And then, after moving in, Violet falls ill—and does not get better. As days turn into weeks without any improvement, her family growing more confused and her friends wondering if she’s really sick at all, she finds herself spending more time alone in the room with the yellow wallpaper, the shadows moving in the corners, wrapping themselves around her at night.

And soon, Violet starts to suspect that she might not be alone in the room at all.

Children's

Anne Ursu is the author of the acclaimed novels The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy, The Lost Girl, Breadcrumbs, and The Real Boy, which was longlisted for the National Book Award. The recipient of a McKnight Fellowship Award in Children’s Literature, Anne lives in Minneapolis with her family and an ever-growing number of cats.