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Scritch Scratch
A ghost story about a malevolent spirit, an unlucky girl, and a haunting mystery that will tie the two together.
Claire has absolutely no interest in the paranormal. She’s a scientist, which is why she can’t think of anything worse than having to help out her dad on one of his ghost-themed Chicago bus tours. She thinks she’s made it through when she sees a boy with a sad face and dark eyes at the back of the bus. There’s something off about his presence, especially because when she checks at the end of the tour…he’s gone.
Claire tries to brush it off, she must be imagining things, letting her dad’s ghost stories get the best of her. But then the scratching starts. Voices whisper to her in the dark. The number 396 appears everywhere she turns. And the boy with the dark eyes starts following her.
Claire is being haunted. The boy from the bus wants something...and Claire needs to find out what before it’s too late.
Claire has absolutely no interest in the paranormal. She’s a scientist, which is why she can’t think of anything worse than having to help out her dad on one of his ghost-themed Chicago bus tours. She thinks she’s made it through when she sees a boy with a sad face and dark eyes at the back of the bus. There’s something off about his presence, especially because when she checks at the end of the tour…he’s gone.
Claire tries to brush it off, she must be imagining things, letting her dad’s ghost stories get the best of her. But then the scratching starts. Voices whisper to her in the dark. The number 396 appears everywhere she turns. And the boy with the dark eyes starts following her.
Claire is being haunted. The boy from the bus wants something...and Claire needs to find out what before it’s too late.
277 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2020
About the author
Lindsay Currie
14 books891 followersLindsay Currie is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of mysteries for young readers. Her most recent titles are It Found Us and The Mystery of Locked Rooms. She grew up on Nancy Drew and loves a good mystery. Bonus points if it's spooky! When she's not writing, Lindsay can generally be found looking for an adventure of her own. She loves researching the forgotten history in her city, Chicago, taking long walks with her family, and as pretty much everyone knows . . . Disney World!
Coming soon: IT'S WATCHING (Spring 2025, Delacorte/Penguin Random House) and THE HOUSE WITH NO KEYS (2025, Sourcebooks Young Readers).
To find out more about Lindsay, please visit her website at www.lindsaycurrie.com. Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindsayncurrie Instagram: @lindsayncurrie
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 894 reviews
January 16, 2025
I read Scritch Scratch in a 24-hour period at the beginning of June. For some reason, even though I absolutely adored this Spooky Middle Grade story, I completely forgot to review it.
I am here to change that. The thing is, I really want more people to pick this one up. I need to hear more chatter about it. It's so fun, clever and immersive.
This story follows Claire, whose Dad runs a ghost-themed Chicago bus tour.
Generally speaking, Claire chooses to distance herself from her Dad's business. She's a science-girl at heart and all that supernatural mumbo-jumbo is just not for her.
Unfortunately, one night her Dad needs her help on the tour. No one else can do it and he can't do it himself. Their family can't afford to refund all the tickets, so Claire begrudgingly agrees to assist for one tour.
As the night slowly progresses, it seems to be going okay, but then Claire notices a little boy all alone. He's dressed strangely, like his clothes come from a different time and he doesn't seem to be interacting with anyone.
Claire is disturbed by his presence. She doesn't know what to think about it. At the end of the tour, when she goes to check on him, he's gone. Did she just imagine the whole thing?
It's after that night that the scratching starts and the number 396 begins popping up everywhere for Claire.
It doesn't take long for her to put tw0-and-two together. She is being haunted by that boy from the bus, or at least by his spirit. He seems to want something from her, but what?
Claire tries to parse out the identity of this mystery boy. Maybe if she learns something about his life, she'll be able to help him in some way.
An investigation ensues, full of Middle Grade clues and logic. I absolutely adored that aspect. Actually there were many aspects about this story I enjoyed; pretty much of of them.
Currie's writing was fantastic and it absolutely drew me in from the start. I did listen to the audiobook and highly recommend that format.
I felt like due to the top-notch narration, the story was made even more creepy. If you are a fan of Spooky Middle Grade, you need to check this one out. It's so much fun!
I'm super excited to read more from Lindsay Currie. If this story is any indication of her overall style, I feel like we are going to have a long and beautiful friendship.
I am here to change that. The thing is, I really want more people to pick this one up. I need to hear more chatter about it. It's so fun, clever and immersive.
This story follows Claire, whose Dad runs a ghost-themed Chicago bus tour.
Generally speaking, Claire chooses to distance herself from her Dad's business. She's a science-girl at heart and all that supernatural mumbo-jumbo is just not for her.
Unfortunately, one night her Dad needs her help on the tour. No one else can do it and he can't do it himself. Their family can't afford to refund all the tickets, so Claire begrudgingly agrees to assist for one tour.
As the night slowly progresses, it seems to be going okay, but then Claire notices a little boy all alone. He's dressed strangely, like his clothes come from a different time and he doesn't seem to be interacting with anyone.
Claire is disturbed by his presence. She doesn't know what to think about it. At the end of the tour, when she goes to check on him, he's gone. Did she just imagine the whole thing?
It's after that night that the scratching starts and the number 396 begins popping up everywhere for Claire.
It doesn't take long for her to put tw0-and-two together. She is being haunted by that boy from the bus, or at least by his spirit. He seems to want something from her, but what?
Claire tries to parse out the identity of this mystery boy. Maybe if she learns something about his life, she'll be able to help him in some way.
An investigation ensues, full of Middle Grade clues and logic. I absolutely adored that aspect. Actually there were many aspects about this story I enjoyed; pretty much of of them.
Currie's writing was fantastic and it absolutely drew me in from the start. I did listen to the audiobook and highly recommend that format.
I felt like due to the top-notch narration, the story was made even more creepy. If you are a fan of Spooky Middle Grade, you need to check this one out. It's so much fun!
I'm super excited to read more from Lindsay Currie. If this story is any indication of her overall style, I feel like we are going to have a long and beautiful friendship.
May 4, 2019
Friends, I'm honored and grateful to bring you Claire's story. Claire is like many of us - filled with ideas about the world we live in, but occasionally hesitant to explore notions that are unfamiliar or different. Her journey in this mystery is special, and I truly hope her adventure resonates with you as much as it did with me when I wrote it. As for the ghost aspect? Yes, it's spooky and dark and all those things you've probably come to expect from me since THE PECULIAR INCIDENT ON SHADY STREET. However, it's also rooted in truth and history and steeped in a hefty dose of local Chicago legend. I'm proud of this book and I can't wait for you all to read it. Thank you for adding it to your TBR!
April 14, 2020
I like this more than Small Spaces, just so ya know!
Claire’s dad is in need of her assistance one night... on a ghost tour. She accompanied him to some of Chicago’s most haunted places and is terrified to discover that she’s accidentally brought a ghost home.
The atmosphere in this is perfect and I finished this at 3am while reading in my small library room in the dark... right after the bulbs in the house blew. So, safe to say, the set-up was perfect. I was super into the history of Chicago as displayed in this book - there are genuine events that happened that I ended up googling after to read up on them.
Characters are very well-developed too. I enjoyed Claire’s relationship with her brother Sam and how he helps her, and same with Claire’s best friend and new friend. There’s a good circle of characters going on in this book. I loved that Claire was scared and she had ways of coping with it that made her feel more real. She’s a good heroine.
This one comes out September 1st so be sure to grab yourself a copy - this will be perfect to read during the spooky Fall season!
Claire’s dad is in need of her assistance one night... on a ghost tour. She accompanied him to some of Chicago’s most haunted places and is terrified to discover that she’s accidentally brought a ghost home.
The atmosphere in this is perfect and I finished this at 3am while reading in my small library room in the dark... right after the bulbs in the house blew. So, safe to say, the set-up was perfect. I was super into the history of Chicago as displayed in this book - there are genuine events that happened that I ended up googling after to read up on them.
Characters are very well-developed too. I enjoyed Claire’s relationship with her brother Sam and how he helps her, and same with Claire’s best friend and new friend. There’s a good circle of characters going on in this book. I loved that Claire was scared and she had ways of coping with it that made her feel more real. She’s a good heroine.
This one comes out September 1st so be sure to grab yourself a copy - this will be perfect to read during the spooky Fall season!
February 17, 2022
Full of warmth and charm — and a few spooky moments for middle-graders — Scritch Scratch is a wonderful example of a children’s book done right. Author Lindsay Currie is mindful of the age of her audience, and captures the awkwardness of it to perfection. As much a light tale of friendship and change and the importance of family as it is a ghost tale which evolves into a mystery, the further into the story the reader gets, the more fun it becomes.
Claire’s father runs a ghost tour business in Chicago, and the city’s colorful history — especially as it relates to ghosts and hauntings — plays an interesting part in Scritch Scratch. Claire has to fill in as her father’s helper on a bus tour, and sees a strange boy on the bus who shouldn’t be there. And then he’s not there, which causes the scientific-minded Claire to question her skepticism and embarrassment about her father’s passion for ghost lore. She also become a little spooked that ghosts might actually exist.
When the little boy attaches itself to Claire and follows her home, trying desperately — and a bit spookily — to enlist her help in some way she can’t quite grasp, things begin to spiral out of control. She doesn’t want to tell her father, or her warm and kind mother, for fear her dad will use it in a book, and be quite happy about the situation. She also can’t tell her BFF Casley, because Casley has a new friend, Emily, who likes makeup and other girly things. Claire is feeling pushed out, and her resentment of Emily finally boils over.
Her brother Sam is the only one she can turn to for help with the little boy at first, and though their relationship has it’s typical brother/sister dynamic, he proves himself to not only be of help in finding out more about the little boy, but also gives her good advice about her friendship with Casley, and the new girl Emily. There are some sweet and charming watershed moments for Claire regarding her friends, and her mother’s “teaching moments” that ring true for this age group. And speaking of water…well, I won’t go there.
Soon Casley and Emily are on board with Claire and Sam — who seems to like Emily more than a little — in solving the mystery of the boy’s identity, and discovering what it is he wants. We get some frights, some warm and charming moments between the four, and some deftly related Chicago history that never feels like an info dump. Scritch Scratch is a very fun read for adults who once in a while dip into middle-school or young adult books for nostalgia or lighter reading fare — or even just to check out what your kids or grandkids are reading. For middle-school-age children, I can imagine Scritch Scratch being even more fun, because of the — to most adults — mildly spooky thrills.
Overall this book feels warm and charming, despite the scary-sounding story-line. Rather than a horror story for kids, Lindsay Currie has written a book for kids that just so happens to have at its heart a spooky little mystery to solve. When I first began reading this, as an adult I wondered for a while if there would be anything to distinguish it from others of its ilk. The further I read, however, the more warm and charming Scritch Scratch became. Claire’s story, which includes a smile-inducing middle-school romance, is filled with subtle little life lessons and humor. Much more importantly, Scritch Scratch is a story with heart. Despite the spooky premise, I have no qualms about recommending Scritch Scratch quite highly. Great fun for adults who occasionally dip into these waters, but a wonderful book for middle-schoolers. Great stuff.
Claire’s father runs a ghost tour business in Chicago, and the city’s colorful history — especially as it relates to ghosts and hauntings — plays an interesting part in Scritch Scratch. Claire has to fill in as her father’s helper on a bus tour, and sees a strange boy on the bus who shouldn’t be there. And then he’s not there, which causes the scientific-minded Claire to question her skepticism and embarrassment about her father’s passion for ghost lore. She also become a little spooked that ghosts might actually exist.
When the little boy attaches itself to Claire and follows her home, trying desperately — and a bit spookily — to enlist her help in some way she can’t quite grasp, things begin to spiral out of control. She doesn’t want to tell her father, or her warm and kind mother, for fear her dad will use it in a book, and be quite happy about the situation. She also can’t tell her BFF Casley, because Casley has a new friend, Emily, who likes makeup and other girly things. Claire is feeling pushed out, and her resentment of Emily finally boils over.
Her brother Sam is the only one she can turn to for help with the little boy at first, and though their relationship has it’s typical brother/sister dynamic, he proves himself to not only be of help in finding out more about the little boy, but also gives her good advice about her friendship with Casley, and the new girl Emily. There are some sweet and charming watershed moments for Claire regarding her friends, and her mother’s “teaching moments” that ring true for this age group. And speaking of water…well, I won’t go there.
Soon Casley and Emily are on board with Claire and Sam — who seems to like Emily more than a little — in solving the mystery of the boy’s identity, and discovering what it is he wants. We get some frights, some warm and charming moments between the four, and some deftly related Chicago history that never feels like an info dump. Scritch Scratch is a very fun read for adults who once in a while dip into middle-school or young adult books for nostalgia or lighter reading fare — or even just to check out what your kids or grandkids are reading. For middle-school-age children, I can imagine Scritch Scratch being even more fun, because of the — to most adults — mildly spooky thrills.
Overall this book feels warm and charming, despite the scary-sounding story-line. Rather than a horror story for kids, Lindsay Currie has written a book for kids that just so happens to have at its heart a spooky little mystery to solve. When I first began reading this, as an adult I wondered for a while if there would be anything to distinguish it from others of its ilk. The further I read, however, the more warm and charming Scritch Scratch became. Claire’s story, which includes a smile-inducing middle-school romance, is filled with subtle little life lessons and humor. Much more importantly, Scritch Scratch is a story with heart. Despite the spooky premise, I have no qualms about recommending Scritch Scratch quite highly. Great fun for adults who occasionally dip into these waters, but a wonderful book for middle-schoolers. Great stuff.
September 7, 2020
SCRITCH SCRATCH is a fantastic and spooky middle grade book that blends Chicago history, an intriguing ghostly mystery, and a story of friendship. Claire's 7th-grade year has been a challenge, with her dad's ghost tour business being super embarrassing, and a new girl moving in to steal her best friend.
Claire is a scientist and doesn't believe any of that paranormal nonsense her dad is pushing, until one night she's forced to help him on his ghost tour, and a very troubled spirit follows her home. Claire must overcome her fear of new situations and new people, while using her tried and true scientific method to solve the mystery of the ghost boy.
"Look for the story history doesn't tell, because that might be the one that matters."
As the parent of a middle grader, I feel like SCRITCH SCRATCH had just the right amount scariness for this age group, and the Chicago history woven into the story was fascinating. I ended up researching all of the places and events mentioned for even more details and pictures. I had heard the legend of Resurrection Mary, but the rest were new to me. Some were truly heartbreaking.
I loved the message of friendship and the rewards of opening your heart to new people. Claire's relationship with her older brother Sam was wonderful too. SCRITCH SCRATCH is the perfect spooky read for Halloween or any time you're in the mood for a chilling ghost story. Highly recommended!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through the Early Reads program from Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.
Claire is a scientist and doesn't believe any of that paranormal nonsense her dad is pushing, until one night she's forced to help him on his ghost tour, and a very troubled spirit follows her home. Claire must overcome her fear of new situations and new people, while using her tried and true scientific method to solve the mystery of the ghost boy.
"Look for the story history doesn't tell, because that might be the one that matters."
As the parent of a middle grader, I feel like SCRITCH SCRATCH had just the right amount scariness for this age group, and the Chicago history woven into the story was fascinating. I ended up researching all of the places and events mentioned for even more details and pictures. I had heard the legend of Resurrection Mary, but the rest were new to me. Some were truly heartbreaking.
I loved the message of friendship and the rewards of opening your heart to new people. Claire's relationship with her older brother Sam was wonderful too. SCRITCH SCRATCH is the perfect spooky read for Halloween or any time you're in the mood for a chilling ghost story. Highly recommended!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through the Early Reads program from Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2023
Set in Chicago, fans of Mary Downing Hahn and other ghost stories will enjoy this tale about Claire who is being stalked by a ghost/spirit. Can she, her brother Sam, good friend Casley, new girl Emily and Jameson her crush find out who he is and why he is haunting Claire?
Based on the true story of William Novotony and the Eastland Disaster of 1915.
Based on the true story of William Novotony and the Eastland Disaster of 1915.
July 31, 2020
It all starts when Claire agrees to help her dad on a Chicago ghost tour. She isn't interested in the paranormal in any way. Claire is all about science, not spooks. But her dad runs a ghost tour company...and asks for her help. Reluctantly, she agrees. One Saturday night counting ghost fans to make sure everyone is on the bus won't kill her. But then she sees a sad little boy in the back of the bus....he's wearing very out of date clothing and just seems....odd. Claire can't remember counting him when the tour started....and he isn't there anymore when the night wraps up. Hmmm.....weird....but that should be the end of it, right?
Wrong.
Then the scratching sounds start. A quiet scratching inside the walls of her room. And her dresser is full of water. Claire has brought a ghost home with her!
This book is just such an awesome middle grade level spooky read! It weaves real Chicago history in with the fiction. I have a list of real places and stories I just have to look up and read about now! The atmosphere and pacing are perfect. I liked the characters, and the premise. When I was in seventh grade, I most likely would have been embarrassed if my dad ran a ghost tour company, too! Claire learns some valuable lessons, becomes closer to her brother, and learns many lessons while investigating the spirit who followed her home.
The cover art for this book is just fantastic!
This is the first book by Lindsay Currie that I've read. I love ghost stories! And the fact that this tale includes actual history of the Chicago area made the book so much more interesting to me! I'm definitely going to read more by this author!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Sourcebooks. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Wrong.
Then the scratching sounds start. A quiet scratching inside the walls of her room. And her dresser is full of water. Claire has brought a ghost home with her!
This book is just such an awesome middle grade level spooky read! It weaves real Chicago history in with the fiction. I have a list of real places and stories I just have to look up and read about now! The atmosphere and pacing are perfect. I liked the characters, and the premise. When I was in seventh grade, I most likely would have been embarrassed if my dad ran a ghost tour company, too! Claire learns some valuable lessons, becomes closer to her brother, and learns many lessons while investigating the spirit who followed her home.
The cover art for this book is just fantastic!
This is the first book by Lindsay Currie that I've read. I love ghost stories! And the fact that this tale includes actual history of the Chicago area made the book so much more interesting to me! I'm definitely going to read more by this author!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Sourcebooks. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
August 28, 2020
Did you ever have a ghost follow you home? When Claire hears scritch scratching in the walls, a door knob rattling, and discovers a flooded dresser drawer; she is certain that she has a ghost problem. Her dad is into ghost research, has published a book of ghost stories, and has a business showing tours creepy sites around Chicagoland. He is the last person she wants to tell, so she turns to her older brother Sam. Sam encourages her to confide in her friends. So Casley and Emily join the group solving the mystery. The ghost boy turns out to be a 7-year-old named Willy Novotny. His family perished in the Eastland disaster -- a ship that sinks while being loaded for a picnic excursion. This book had some really creepy episodes that will satisfy the kids who love to have their pants scared off. What I really liked was the cooperation between Claire and her brother -- the way they stuck together. Also, the problem-solving regarding middle school drama that brings Claire back together with her old friend Casley and helps her to befriend new girl Emily. Favorite quote from the book:
Look for the story history doesn't tell, because that might be the one that matters.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Look for the story history doesn't tell, because that might be the one that matters.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2023
I can still hear the scraping behind me, like sharpened nails against brick. It sounds like it’s drawing closer. Chasing me.
4.5 ⭐
I can't believe I haven't read this book years before, as soon as it came out. Now I know why so many people recommend it as one of the best autumnal reads - it had all the spooky elements and great vibes!
I loved how immersive the read was from the start; it made me feel like I was there. And I loved the complicated, layered family and friendship aspects we got. They made everything even more engaging.
Scritch Scratch is one of my favorite books I've read this year. It's been on my TBR for so long and I’m so glad I finally got to reading it.
If you want to see my much more in depth review, you can check it out on my book blog NovelOnMyMind.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Young Readers and Edelweiss+ for providing me with an ARC of Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie in exchange for an honest review.
🍂🍁👻
4.5 ⭐
I can't believe I haven't read this book years before, as soon as it came out. Now I know why so many people recommend it as one of the best autumnal reads - it had all the spooky elements and great vibes!
I loved how immersive the read was from the start; it made me feel like I was there. And I loved the complicated, layered family and friendship aspects we got. They made everything even more engaging.
Scritch Scratch is one of my favorite books I've read this year. It's been on my TBR for so long and I’m so glad I finally got to reading it.
If you want to see my much more in depth review, you can check it out on my book blog NovelOnMyMind.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Young Readers and Edelweiss+ for providing me with an ARC of Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie in exchange for an honest review.
🍂🍁👻
November 4, 2023
Scritch-scratch, something scratching in the walls. That's inherently creepy, right?
What a waste of a solidly scary title.
This book is about the ghost of a little drowned boy. He haunts the MC and makes things near her wet. Why Scritch Scratch? I don't know. Splish splash just doesn't sound as scary, I guess.
I know I'm being mean, but this book was disappointing. It started off pretty well, with a fleshed-out and believable protagonist who wants to be a scientist and is embarrassed by her father's ghost tour of Chicago (which as described seems more like a tour of historical tragedies than hauntings, but whatever). That's believable, many things are mortifying when you're in middle school. And Claire's initial fears of the filthy alley, the something-unseen on the bus, the spooky presence in her home, these are all well done. She seems realistically scared, and they are described in a scary way.
But the more the reader and protagonist learn, the less scary the whole situation seems. The boy drowned in a real event, the Eastland Disaster, along with many other passengers. Tragic, but not secret or mysterious or even personal. Why this one boy, this particular event? Yes, reasons are giving, but they don't seem very compelling. We shifted from an emotional horror narrative to dry historical research one. Instead of primarily a ghost story, this becomes more a study in how there are huge numbers of tragedies and people can't remember or care about them all.
Also, the romance seemed totally tacked-on and added nothing.
Probably some added interest for Chicago locals.
tldr: went from a moderately-creepy 4 stars to a 2-star snooze, averaging to 3 stars.
What a waste of a solidly scary title.
This book is about the ghost of a little drowned boy. He haunts the MC and makes things near her wet. Why Scritch Scratch? I don't know. Splish splash just doesn't sound as scary, I guess.
I know I'm being mean, but this book was disappointing. It started off pretty well, with a fleshed-out and believable protagonist who wants to be a scientist and is embarrassed by her father's ghost tour of Chicago (which as described seems more like a tour of historical tragedies than hauntings, but whatever). That's believable, many things are mortifying when you're in middle school. And Claire's initial fears of the filthy alley, the something-unseen on the bus, the spooky presence in her home, these are all well done. She seems realistically scared, and they are described in a scary way.
But the more the reader and protagonist learn, the less scary the whole situation seems. The boy drowned in a real event, the Eastland Disaster, along with many other passengers. Tragic, but not secret or mysterious or even personal. Why this one boy, this particular event? Yes, reasons are giving, but they don't seem very compelling. We shifted from an emotional horror narrative to dry historical research one. Instead of primarily a ghost story, this becomes more a study in how there are huge numbers of tragedies and people can't remember or care about them all.
Also, the romance seemed totally tacked-on and added nothing.
Probably some added interest for Chicago locals.
tldr: went from a moderately-creepy 4 stars to a 2-star snooze, averaging to 3 stars.
March 3, 2022
though i didn't find the characters or plot memorable whatsoever (and the creepiness factor is probably a 2 out of 10), there's a truly wholesome message that underlies this novel!
buddy read with sheena 👻
buddy read with sheena 👻
July 12, 2024
4.5 stars
This was so much fun and also a little terrifying. Middlegrade horror just always packs a punch you know. This was great, I loved the friendships and the sibling relationship in this as well. I also loved the integration of real historical events in this story as well, I found that truly fascinating. And fully intend on reading more from Lindsay in the future.
This was so much fun and also a little terrifying. Middlegrade horror just always packs a punch you know. This was great, I loved the friendships and the sibling relationship in this as well. I also loved the integration of real historical events in this story as well, I found that truly fascinating. And fully intend on reading more from Lindsay in the future.
June 20, 2022
This would have scared the heck out of me as a kid. It creeped me out as an adult! I wasn't expecting it to creep me out as much as it did.
I loved how "forgotten history" was so well interwoven into the story. You don't even realize you're learning history because it's done in such a fun way. Which obviously is especially great for the target audience. But also for people of all ages in general. I enjoyed the ghost story while also learning about something new. This is so well done and Such a pleasant surprise! This author definitely has a knack for writing a good ghost story. I'm looking forward to more of her work.
If you like ghost stories (whether your a middle grader or 100 yrs old) please check this one out!
I loved how "forgotten history" was so well interwoven into the story. You don't even realize you're learning history because it's done in such a fun way. Which obviously is especially great for the target audience. But also for people of all ages in general. I enjoyed the ghost story while also learning about something new. This is so well done and Such a pleasant surprise! This author definitely has a knack for writing a good ghost story. I'm looking forward to more of her work.
If you like ghost stories (whether your a middle grader or 100 yrs old) please check this one out!
March 3, 2022
third buddy read with Jenny this year!! we are on fire
this was alright though, i will definitely forget it by tomorrow lol
this was alright though, i will definitely forget it by tomorrow lol
November 2, 2022
Scritch Scratch feels, for the most part, as though it is first and foremost a teen drama with some ghostly goings-on thrown in.
Our protagonist Claire has a father who is obsessed with ghosts, so much so that their home is filled with paraphernalia and books all about them. He even works as a ghost tour guide. After accompanying him on these tours, she can’t seem to shake the feeling that she has brought one of these ghosts home with her…
The story revolves around some real life events which have taken place in the city of Chicago that I hadn’t even heard of before reading this novel. Particularly the SS Eastland disaster, which occurred in 1915. I feel compelled to read more about that and the author provided plenty of resources at the end of the book for people who may be curious about Chicago’s rich history.
This is exactly the type of middle grade book I would have adored as a child. It’s well - written and paced, however you will find yourself wanting to rush through to get to the ghost parts.
3.5 spooky stars👻 (rounded up to 4!)
Our protagonist Claire has a father who is obsessed with ghosts, so much so that their home is filled with paraphernalia and books all about them. He even works as a ghost tour guide. After accompanying him on these tours, she can’t seem to shake the feeling that she has brought one of these ghosts home with her…
The story revolves around some real life events which have taken place in the city of Chicago that I hadn’t even heard of before reading this novel. Particularly the SS Eastland disaster, which occurred in 1915. I feel compelled to read more about that and the author provided plenty of resources at the end of the book for people who may be curious about Chicago’s rich history.
This is exactly the type of middle grade book I would have adored as a child. It’s well - written and paced, however you will find yourself wanting to rush through to get to the ghost parts.
3.5 spooky stars👻 (rounded up to 4!)
September 23, 2020
Oh hi. I've arrived in the land of unpopular opinions again, as apparently 1% of reviewers gave this 2 stars. So. Yikes. 😅 This book is SUPER short and an incredibly fast read (the ebook I got from the library was 196 pages), so don't listen to me. If you're interested, read it. Even though it really wasn't for me, I don't regret the few hours it took to read this. So. Ignore me, obviously. Wtf do I know?!
To me...this book seems like it's having an identity crisis. It has some legitimately creepy ghostie moments. There's friendship and fights, crushes and accurate weirdness, family relationships...all kinds of stuff. I think this author really wanted to write a ghost story that made chicago's history fun to read about. She definitely did her research, and the author's note includes suggestions for further reading as well as her sources. But, again, for me, this just tried to do too much.
This started out with Claire being super embarrassed by her (incredibly loving and supportive) parents, which always pisses me off. I wasn't like that when I was 12, so I don't buy the whole "oh they're young, it's how kids are" sort of bs. I really dug into the depths of my memory for times either parent embarrassed me, and I can remember one time and it was only in front of my aunt...and my mom immediately apologized when she saw it upset me. And it was fine. Claire also says something about how middle school is about fitting in, not standing out. Since so many other messages were delivered via a club to the damn head, it would've been nice if that claim had been directly refuted.
I really don't want to complain about this book, because I think a lot of people will like it, especially younger readers. Just ugh. A lot of ugh.
The atmosphere is creepy as hell sometimes, like on the tour and obviously all the ghost stuff. But the rest of it is a weird sort of contemporary book? Idk, I don't read all that much contemporary to begin with, and def not much middle grade contemporary. But it had a weird balance of makeup and crushes...offset by that childlike desire to know everything about the topic you love most.
A lot of the dialogue and expressions were weird to me. Like maybe they were technically what kids might say, but it just doesn't feel right for some reason? Like whenever I hear/see someone say, "I gave it a 4 stars." You either gave it a 4 star rating, or you gave it 4 stars. It gets the point across and I guess it's not necessarily wrong. It just doesn't entirely make sense to me. Which is how I felt every time Claire or Sam said "gah" out loud, or "research is kind of my jam".
There were also a few inconsistencies that bothered me. One time when claire is scared, she runs into the bathroom and locks the door because it's the only room with a door that locks. Then later she tells Sam to lock his door and is serious. Another time she says something about the 12 years she's lived in her house, but then remembers when she was 6 or 7 and they'd just moved in. It was also repetitive as hell - I should've counted how many times claire thinks about telling her dad what's going on but decides she can't trust him not to blow everything out of proportion and embarrass her more.
My reviews are public, but they're more for me. I don't mean to bash anyone or any book (probably, usually), but I have to be honest with myself here so when I return to a review to help my memory, I get a decent picture of how I felt. Which is why I have to say this read like a first draft. In college and beyond, I'd sometimes edit and proofread people's papers. I used the track changes thing, and I'd always say up front, I will be honest and I will expect a revision after my suggestions so I can follow up. Sometimes, I could tell people would just approve all the grammar changes, throw in a few sentences with some detail or elaborating on a point, and maybe rewrite a sentence to really emphasize a point. But I could always tell they made the small changed without rereading the whole thing from the start to make sure all the changes worked and flowed and made sense. That's how this book felt to me. I'm sorry it's harsh, but I did say to not listen to me at the beginning, lol. Read this book - you'll probably like it. I just felt really meh.
To me...this book seems like it's having an identity crisis. It has some legitimately creepy ghostie moments. There's friendship and fights, crushes and accurate weirdness, family relationships...all kinds of stuff. I think this author really wanted to write a ghost story that made chicago's history fun to read about. She definitely did her research, and the author's note includes suggestions for further reading as well as her sources. But, again, for me, this just tried to do too much.
This started out with Claire being super embarrassed by her (incredibly loving and supportive) parents, which always pisses me off. I wasn't like that when I was 12, so I don't buy the whole "oh they're young, it's how kids are" sort of bs. I really dug into the depths of my memory for times either parent embarrassed me, and I can remember one time and it was only in front of my aunt...and my mom immediately apologized when she saw it upset me. And it was fine. Claire also says something about how middle school is about fitting in, not standing out. Since so many other messages were delivered via a club to the damn head, it would've been nice if that claim had been directly refuted.
I really don't want to complain about this book, because I think a lot of people will like it, especially younger readers. Just ugh. A lot of ugh.
The atmosphere is creepy as hell sometimes, like on the tour and obviously all the ghost stuff. But the rest of it is a weird sort of contemporary book? Idk, I don't read all that much contemporary to begin with, and def not much middle grade contemporary. But it had a weird balance of makeup and crushes...offset by that childlike desire to know everything about the topic you love most.
A lot of the dialogue and expressions were weird to me. Like maybe they were technically what kids might say, but it just doesn't feel right for some reason? Like whenever I hear/see someone say, "I gave it a 4 stars." You either gave it a 4 star rating, or you gave it 4 stars. It gets the point across and I guess it's not necessarily wrong. It just doesn't entirely make sense to me. Which is how I felt every time Claire or Sam said "gah" out loud, or "research is kind of my jam".
There were also a few inconsistencies that bothered me. One time when claire is scared, she runs into the bathroom and locks the door because it's the only room with a door that locks. Then later she tells Sam to lock his door and is serious. Another time she says something about the 12 years she's lived in her house, but then remembers when she was 6 or 7 and they'd just moved in. It was also repetitive as hell - I should've counted how many times claire thinks about telling her dad what's going on but decides she can't trust him not to blow everything out of proportion and embarrass her more.
My reviews are public, but they're more for me. I don't mean to bash anyone or any book (probably, usually), but I have to be honest with myself here so when I return to a review to help my memory, I get a decent picture of how I felt. Which is why I have to say this read like a first draft. In college and beyond, I'd sometimes edit and proofread people's papers. I used the track changes thing, and I'd always say up front, I will be honest and I will expect a revision after my suggestions so I can follow up. Sometimes, I could tell people would just approve all the grammar changes, throw in a few sentences with some detail or elaborating on a point, and maybe rewrite a sentence to really emphasize a point. But I could always tell they made the small changed without rereading the whole thing from the start to make sure all the changes worked and flowed and made sense. That's how this book felt to me. I'm sorry it's harsh, but I did say to not listen to me at the beginning, lol. Read this book - you'll probably like it. I just felt really meh.
April 5, 2020
This one gave me chills. If you are looking for some serious middle grade spooks, then this is for you. The amazing cover has the phrase “Something Terrible Followed Her Home” and indeed it did. There is no “Friendly Ghost” in this story, Claire is clearly being haunted.
I’ve known about the Great Chicago Fire since I was young. However, I never knew how many other horrific tragedies this city has faced. In Scritch Scratch, Claire’s father has a ghost bus tour where he visits potentially haunted sites. Silly me was curious to know more about all the places they visited on the tour and as a result I spent way too much time on the Internet reading about these tragedies. So beware of what you may be getting into when starting this book. It can become so much more than this one story.
The main plot follows Claire who is required to help her dad out on his ghost tour one night even though she thinks it is embarrassing and not scientific. But between stops she sees a young boy among the seats that she can’t remembering counting in her numbers (as per the job her dad gave her at the beginning of the tour). Then, he is gone. But as the days progress she slowly begins to realize it has followed her home and is haunting her in ways that are fairly scary.
Scritch Scratch is a very good middle grade horror book. What I loved is that it wasn’t a fake haunting. In the context of the story, it was serious and very real and Claire finds she needs her brother and her friends (both old and new) to help figure out who is haunting her and why. What I also loved was how the author was able to blend Chicago history into it, which gave it a very authentic feel. On the flip side, I may now be a little too scared to visit Chicago again.
This is a terrific book and one worth reading if you get the chance. Highly recommended to fans of Small Spaces as well as anyone wishing to learn a lot about Chicago history. In addition, I also wish to congratulate the cover artist for a very stunning cover.
Rating: 5 stars
Thank you Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.
I’ve known about the Great Chicago Fire since I was young. However, I never knew how many other horrific tragedies this city has faced. In Scritch Scratch, Claire’s father has a ghost bus tour where he visits potentially haunted sites. Silly me was curious to know more about all the places they visited on the tour and as a result I spent way too much time on the Internet reading about these tragedies. So beware of what you may be getting into when starting this book. It can become so much more than this one story.
The main plot follows Claire who is required to help her dad out on his ghost tour one night even though she thinks it is embarrassing and not scientific. But between stops she sees a young boy among the seats that she can’t remembering counting in her numbers (as per the job her dad gave her at the beginning of the tour). Then, he is gone. But as the days progress she slowly begins to realize it has followed her home and is haunting her in ways that are fairly scary.
Scritch Scratch is a very good middle grade horror book. What I loved is that it wasn’t a fake haunting. In the context of the story, it was serious and very real and Claire finds she needs her brother and her friends (both old and new) to help figure out who is haunting her and why. What I also loved was how the author was able to blend Chicago history into it, which gave it a very authentic feel. On the flip side, I may now be a little too scared to visit Chicago again.
This is a terrific book and one worth reading if you get the chance. Highly recommended to fans of Small Spaces as well as anyone wishing to learn a lot about Chicago history. In addition, I also wish to congratulate the cover artist for a very stunning cover.
Rating: 5 stars
Thank you Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.
November 25, 2024
A frightening middle school horror story. Loved the plot and the Chicago history as the tale’s backdrop.
What I loved most of all were the pre-teen characters and their ability to come to accept and even like/love each other despite their differences of opinions. These kids actually listened and took to heart what others believed in, without shutting them down for being “wrong” for having different ways of viewing specific situations. A refreshing read while living in a time where many adults seem fearful or simply incapable of taking the cotton balls out of their ears and placing them in their mouths once in awhile…maybe we’d all find more common ground if we’d speak less and listen more. 🤷🏼♀️
What I loved most of all were the pre-teen characters and their ability to come to accept and even like/love each other despite their differences of opinions. These kids actually listened and took to heart what others believed in, without shutting them down for being “wrong” for having different ways of viewing specific situations. A refreshing read while living in a time where many adults seem fearful or simply incapable of taking the cotton balls out of their ears and placing them in their mouths once in awhile…maybe we’d all find more common ground if we’d speak less and listen more. 🤷🏼♀️
March 11, 2021
Claire is a science-loving middle schooler who doesn't believe in ghosts. Her father, however, runs the "Spirits" bus tour of haunted Chicago locations. Forced to help him at work one night, Claire notices a passenger sitting alone in the back of the bus. But when she gets to the seat, there's nothing and no one there except a dripping puddle!
I happily enjoyed this spooky middle grade novel, and even if you're not a fan of scary, you might too. At its core Scritch Scratch is even more of a mystery than it is a ghost story. Skeptical, fact-loving Claire does what she does best: research. With the help of her friends she must figure out WHO the ghost is that appeared on her father's tour and WHAT he wants before the hauntings get worse.
If you're wondering about the scare factor for young readers, most of the chills come in the form of rattling doorknobs, flying papers, and soggy messes where puddles appear. What I loved about the book is our STEM-y (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) minded heroine, Claire, who uses deductive reasoning and research skills to identify her ghostly shadow. It's also a great book to discuss communication both between peer groups and parent/child relationships. As the mystery grows around her, Claire must figure out who she can trust and how to ask for help. Plus, she gains a lot of empathy along the way.
Even more fun is the interactive bonus content readers can find on Lindsay Currie's website. The author based the book on her own research of haunted locations around Chicago and offers a virtual tour on her website with photographs and further story behind each stop. For those interested in history or the supernatural, they'll love this added experience and find even more resources about the historic (and haunted) sites as well.
-Jess, Youth Services
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
I happily enjoyed this spooky middle grade novel, and even if you're not a fan of scary, you might too. At its core Scritch Scratch is even more of a mystery than it is a ghost story. Skeptical, fact-loving Claire does what she does best: research. With the help of her friends she must figure out WHO the ghost is that appeared on her father's tour and WHAT he wants before the hauntings get worse.
If you're wondering about the scare factor for young readers, most of the chills come in the form of rattling doorknobs, flying papers, and soggy messes where puddles appear. What I loved about the book is our STEM-y (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) minded heroine, Claire, who uses deductive reasoning and research skills to identify her ghostly shadow. It's also a great book to discuss communication both between peer groups and parent/child relationships. As the mystery grows around her, Claire must figure out who she can trust and how to ask for help. Plus, she gains a lot of empathy along the way.
Even more fun is the interactive bonus content readers can find on Lindsay Currie's website. The author based the book on her own research of haunted locations around Chicago and offers a virtual tour on her website with photographs and further story behind each stop. For those interested in history or the supernatural, they'll love this added experience and find even more resources about the historic (and haunted) sites as well.
-Jess, Youth Services
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
September 25, 2022
I loved the book, I love spooky stories and middle great books are the best for it, this reminds me my childhood and Halloween specials I used to watch , I think you won’t ever be old enough for a story like this
October 14, 2022
Cute little ghost story, really enjoyed.
April 2, 2023
Sweet, cute, and surprisingly emotional, ghost tale.
January 22, 2021
I was excited about reading Scritch Scratch because it was marketed really well as a middle grade horror (versus leaning more toward fantasy or mystery). It embraced the creepy ghost story side whole-heartedly so I was thrilled to give it a read.
Unfortunately Scritch Scratch did not turn out to be a favorite middle grade book for me.
In Scritch Scratch, we are following a young girl name Claire whose father owns a ghost tour business. Early on in the book Claire has to help her father run his ghost tour one night, and not only does Claire meet a ghost - it follows her home.
I loved all of the scary things that began happening around Claire. Hauntings are my favorite subgenre, and I think it's the perfect way to pull young readers into loving horror. I did not, however, love Claire. Her attitude toward her parents and her friends just wasn't endearing. I found myself wishing this story had been told through her friend's eyes instead (think My Best Friend's Exorcism). I also didn't feel like any of the relationships or the dialog were very realistic.
That's the arguably objective side of my review. As for the subjective side, I had no idea this story was based on real events. I do not do well with real life child trauma and/or death. I would much prefer my horrors to all be fiction, and this book turned out to be one I personally wish I had skipped reading on that fact alone.
Unfortunately Scritch Scratch did not turn out to be a favorite middle grade book for me.
In Scritch Scratch, we are following a young girl name Claire whose father owns a ghost tour business. Early on in the book Claire has to help her father run his ghost tour one night, and not only does Claire meet a ghost - it follows her home.
I loved all of the scary things that began happening around Claire. Hauntings are my favorite subgenre, and I think it's the perfect way to pull young readers into loving horror. I did not, however, love Claire. Her attitude toward her parents and her friends just wasn't endearing. I found myself wishing this story had been told through her friend's eyes instead (think My Best Friend's Exorcism). I also didn't feel like any of the relationships or the dialog were very realistic.
That's the arguably objective side of my review. As for the subjective side, I had no idea this story was based on real events. I do not do well with real life child trauma and/or death. I would much prefer my horrors to all be fiction, and this book turned out to be one I personally wish I had skipped reading on that fact alone.
March 10, 2021
Never would I have guessed that I would end this “spooky” book (tagged as horror, paranormal, ghosts, etc.) feeling such a sense of peace. This fictional ghost story is placed right on top of a truly tragic historical event that took place in Chicago over 100 years ago. I had to stop in the middle of this book to look up more details about the actual event and I fear some of the photos from the around the Internet will haunt me the rest of my days. Despite that, this was such a well-rounded story with friendship issues to resolve, sibling bonding, healthy parent-child relationships (I always look for these), the combination of paranormal and science, a mystery to solve, and just a smidge of romantic feelings revealed. So while the real life tragic event was truly horrific, and there were some seriously frightening moments in the book, the ending of Scritch Scratch left me feeling hopeful and comforted. 5 Stars! Happy to recommend!!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
September 1, 2020
Creepy goodness!! I’m so incredibly grateful to Lindsay and her publisher for sharing a digital arc with me through Netgalley. The way Lindsay infused so much of Chicago’s history into her beautiful, captivating writing was simply wonderful. This MG novel is filled with a mysterious ghost, a struggling friendship, a first crush, and so much more. You’ll definitely want to get your hands on this one in September. Better yet, preorder now!
March 7, 2022
My favorite part of this was the way Currie used the sinking of the Eastland as the background for the ghost story - it made it horribly plausible and poignant while introducing a less-well-known maritime tragedy to middle grade readers. The friend drama was well-handled, but not strictly necessary to the story; the ghost part was more than enough to carry the novel.
June 2, 2021
4 stars!
Deliciously eerie and mysterious, Lindsay Currie brings us a story all thriller fans will adore! The plot hooked me right from the beginning, and kept my attention till the end! Scritch Scratch is fast-paced and gripping, so it’s definitely the perfect read to get out of a slump.
Furthermore, the characters were not that interesting. Although I respect the author’s ability to create semi-realistic kids without throwing in a gazillion references, I did not feel any connection to the characters. None of them were annoying per se, they were just lacking in development. Fortunately, the main character’s parents were very well developed. They each had their own unique personalities. The MC’s dad is a ghost story author, and runs his own spooky tour bus company. While their mom runs a baking business. How cool is that?!
In addition, the dialogue fell short on personality. Most of it was trope-y, and uneventful. However, it’s the writing that really grabbed me.
Man oh man does Lindsay Currie know how to write a chilling story! I was very frightened, yet so intrigued throughout the book. What I found interesting, was that the writing was not very descriptive. This fascinated me as typically thrillers are quite descriptive. Luckily, this didn’t have a negative affect.
The overall enjoyment level of Scritch Scratch is very high. If you’re looking for a thrilling story with a wonderful message about friendship, and never forgetting those who came before us, then this is definitely the novel for you!
Age Rating: 10 and up
TW: Some scenes might scare younger children, lots of talk of a drowning accident, talk of abandonment
Final Rating: 7.5/10 or 3.75 stars
You can read more reviews like this on
https://sunnysidereviews.wordpress.com/
Deliciously eerie and mysterious, Lindsay Currie brings us a story all thriller fans will adore! The plot hooked me right from the beginning, and kept my attention till the end! Scritch Scratch is fast-paced and gripping, so it’s definitely the perfect read to get out of a slump.
Furthermore, the characters were not that interesting. Although I respect the author’s ability to create semi-realistic kids without throwing in a gazillion references, I did not feel any connection to the characters. None of them were annoying per se, they were just lacking in development. Fortunately, the main character’s parents were very well developed. They each had their own unique personalities. The MC’s dad is a ghost story author, and runs his own spooky tour bus company. While their mom runs a baking business. How cool is that?!
In addition, the dialogue fell short on personality. Most of it was trope-y, and uneventful. However, it’s the writing that really grabbed me.
Man oh man does Lindsay Currie know how to write a chilling story! I was very frightened, yet so intrigued throughout the book. What I found interesting, was that the writing was not very descriptive. This fascinated me as typically thrillers are quite descriptive. Luckily, this didn’t have a negative affect.
The overall enjoyment level of Scritch Scratch is very high. If you’re looking for a thrilling story with a wonderful message about friendship, and never forgetting those who came before us, then this is definitely the novel for you!
Age Rating: 10 and up
TW: Some scenes might scare younger children, lots of talk of a drowning accident, talk of abandonment
Final Rating: 7.5/10 or 3.75 stars
You can read more reviews like this on
https://sunnysidereviews.wordpress.com/
September 8, 2022
Claire is a scientist; she believes almost everything can be solved by following the science and hardcore facts. She especially doesn't believe in ghosts, although graveyards, dark alleys, and basements do terrify her. Claire's beliefs are sometimes at odds with her dad's business of running the local tour bus of creepy Chicago ghost haunting sites. One night Claire is forced into helping her dad with one of his tours where she encounters a boy at the back of the bus who mysteriously disappears. Claire can't explain what she saw, and she certainly can't explain any of the other strange occurrences that start happening to her. Like the scritch scratch noises in her room, the number 396 that appears written on the bathroom wall and the boy who still seems to be following and frightening her. What she has determined is that the boy wants her to find something so Claire seeks help from her older brother Sam, her friend Casley and a new girl, Emily to unravel the mystery of what the boy wants.
I really liked Claire, on the exterior she seems like a practical and logical thinker but she also gets scared and counts aloud as a strategy when she's in scary situations, like walking down a dark alley. I loved how she used the scientific method as a way to help her solve the mystery of the boy's identity, setting up her experiment, analyzing the data, and drawing a conclusion. Such fun. I also really liked Casley. Claire and Casley's friendship was starting to drift ever since Emily came into the picture. She's visible hurt by their budding friendship and doesn't really know how to communicate that to Casley so she tries to avoid the situation, but Casley (Cas) keeps pulling her back into the fold, which I absolutely loved. Cas helps Claire realize that you can have more than one friend. That she shouldn't judge Emily based on appearances. Everyone has problems, some are not visible or maybe that they just aren't ready to share them yet. Either way, Casley wanted Claire to give Emily a chance. I also really liked Claire's older brother Sam. They may fight and bicker as siblings often do, but Sam really comes through when Claire needs him the most. The story illustrates the importance of family and sharing our fears. People may step up and have solutions if we relay our concerns.
I love spooky stories and Currie is very talented in writing them, giving them just the right amount of tension and scary bits. I was also pleasantly surprised by the mystery surrounding the identity of the ghost boy that follows Claire home. I enjoyed the setting of Chicago and the way that Currie wove a historical event like the S.S. Eastland rolling over into the Chicago River into the story. Scritch Scratch is creepy and spooky which makes this a perfect read for Halloween. ** Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Sourcebooks for the E-ARC. **
I really liked Claire, on the exterior she seems like a practical and logical thinker but she also gets scared and counts aloud as a strategy when she's in scary situations, like walking down a dark alley. I loved how she used the scientific method as a way to help her solve the mystery of the boy's identity, setting up her experiment, analyzing the data, and drawing a conclusion. Such fun. I also really liked Casley. Claire and Casley's friendship was starting to drift ever since Emily came into the picture. She's visible hurt by their budding friendship and doesn't really know how to communicate that to Casley so she tries to avoid the situation, but Casley (Cas) keeps pulling her back into the fold, which I absolutely loved. Cas helps Claire realize that you can have more than one friend. That she shouldn't judge Emily based on appearances. Everyone has problems, some are not visible or maybe that they just aren't ready to share them yet. Either way, Casley wanted Claire to give Emily a chance. I also really liked Claire's older brother Sam. They may fight and bicker as siblings often do, but Sam really comes through when Claire needs him the most. The story illustrates the importance of family and sharing our fears. People may step up and have solutions if we relay our concerns.
I love spooky stories and Currie is very talented in writing them, giving them just the right amount of tension and scary bits. I was also pleasantly surprised by the mystery surrounding the identity of the ghost boy that follows Claire home. I enjoyed the setting of Chicago and the way that Currie wove a historical event like the S.S. Eastland rolling over into the Chicago River into the story. Scritch Scratch is creepy and spooky which makes this a perfect read for Halloween. ** Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Sourcebooks for the E-ARC. **
September 6, 2022
Verdict: A touching yet haunting ghost story connected to true Chicago history.
If someone had told me yesterday that I’d be spending my Saturday morning in the aisle of a stuffy bookstore searching for ghost stories, I would have told them they were nuts.
- first line
Claire’s father writes books about ghosts and gives bus tours of Chicago’s most haunted places. But Claire doesn’t believe in ghosts - she’s a scientist. When Claire is forced to join her father on one of his tours, she sees a little boy - but no one else can see him. This is the start of a haunting story with plenty of scares and bumps in the night. Claire must figure out why this boy is haunting her before someone gets hurt.
This story is perfectly scary for middle-grade students who are looking for that. But it also provides connections to Chicago’s history that are fascinating. Claire also faces some serious issues with her friends and learns that things aren’t always what they seem.
If someone had told me yesterday that I’d be spending my Saturday morning in the aisle of a stuffy bookstore searching for ghost stories, I would have told them they were nuts.
- first line
Claire’s father writes books about ghosts and gives bus tours of Chicago’s most haunted places. But Claire doesn’t believe in ghosts - she’s a scientist. When Claire is forced to join her father on one of his tours, she sees a little boy - but no one else can see him. This is the start of a haunting story with plenty of scares and bumps in the night. Claire must figure out why this boy is haunting her before someone gets hurt.
This story is perfectly scary for middle-grade students who are looking for that. But it also provides connections to Chicago’s history that are fascinating. Claire also faces some serious issues with her friends and learns that things aren’t always what they seem.
April 12, 2020
A super spooky story that will leave readers up all night but with very warm hearts.
Oh my goodness, this book was so creepy! I legit couldn’t sleep afterwards, but I loved every second of it! With scary stories from real-life hauntings and a charming cast of characters this book was everything I love in spooky middle grade books. In fact, this might be my new favorite.
Oh my goodness, this book was so creepy! I legit couldn’t sleep afterwards, but I loved every second of it! With scary stories from real-life hauntings and a charming cast of characters this book was everything I love in spooky middle grade books. In fact, this might be my new favorite.
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