Books like 'Riley's Ghost'
Readers who enjoyed Riley's Ghost by John David Anderson also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
fantasy horror supernatural mystery action / adventure paranormal ghosts bullying friendship survival
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Deep and Dark and Dangerous (A Ghost Story) by Mary Downing Hahn
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsJust before summer begins, 13-year-old Ali finds an odd photograph in the attic. She knows the two children in it are her mother, Claire, and her aunt Dulcie... -
![Her Evil Twin by Mimi McCoy]()
Her Evil Twin by Mimi McCoy
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIs Anna's new BFF really her evil twin? Nothing is as it seems in this thrilling, bone-chilling new Poison Apple book!Anna's new friend, Emma, is everything Anna wants to be -- fearless, effortlessly fashionable, and always up for doing something new and fun. The girls even look alike, and soon they're fixing their hair the same way and sharing clothes.But Emma is also kind of a troublemaker... -
![Dead City by James Ponti]()
Dead City by James Ponti
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMost kids have enough to deal with between school, homework, extracurricular activities, and friends, but Molly Bigelow isn’t your typical tween. By day, Molly attends MIST—the Metropolitan Institute of Science and Technology—but it’s what she’s learning outside of school that sets her apart from her classmates. Molly is a zombie hunter, just like her mother. This, however, is news to Molly... -
![The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg]()
The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsA widow finds herself in possession of an extraordinary broom left by a witch who fell into the widow's garden... -
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![When by Victoria Laurie, Whitney Dykhouse]()
When by Victoria Laurie, Whitney Dykhouse
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsPretty Little Liars meets Medium in this fast-paced thriller and fantastic YA debut from a New York Times bestselling author.Maddie Fynn is a shy high school junior, cursed with an eerie intuitive ability: she sees a series of unique digits hovering above the foreheads of each person she encounters...Categorized as:
bullying coming-of-age family friendship paranormal realistic action-adventure audiobook -
![The Thief Knot by Kate Milford]()
The Thief Knot by Kate Milford
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsGhosts, a kidnapping, a crew of young detectives, and family secrets mix in this new standalone mystery set in the world of the best-selling Greenglass House, from a National Book Award nominee and Edgar Award–winning author.Marzana and her best friend are bored. Even though they live in a notorious city where normal rules do not apply, nothing interesting ever happens to them... -
![Lost Lullaby by Jason Segel]()
Lost Lullaby by Jason Segel
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratings"Coraline meets Monsters, Inc. in this delightfully entertaining offering from actor [Jason] Segel and co-author [Kirsten] Miller." --Publishers Weekly, on book one in the series Stay up late with the hilariously frightening middle-grade novel Nightmares! The Lost Lullaby...Categorized as:
children family friendship paranormal action-adventure audiobook book children-books -
![The Crossbones by Patrick Carman]()
The Crossbones by Patrick Carman
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsPart text, part video, all chills and thrills -- Patrick Carman's Skeleton Creek returns! Strange things happen in Skeleton Creek...and when they do, Ryan writes them down and Sarah captures them on video. Now, the spookiness is spreading, and the mystery is going to take them far beyond Skeleton Creek-into places both unexpectedly sinister and spine-chillingly haunted...Categorized as:
children ghosts paranormal realistic action-adventure book children-books epistolary -
![Root Magic by Eden Royce]()
Root Magic by Eden Royce
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA historical ghost story set in South Carolina in the 1960s—a tale of courage, friendship, and Black Girl Magic.It’s 1963, and things are changing for Jezebel Turner. Her beloved grandmother has just passed away. The local police deputy won’t stop harassing her family...Categorized as:
bullying children coming-of-age family friendship ghosts paranormal action-adventure -
![Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman]()
Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe chilling second book in the innovative series from bestselling author Patrick Carman. Strange things are happening in Skeleton Creek...and Ryan and Sarah are trying to find out why. Ryan writes down everything in his journal, and Sarah records everything on her videocam...Categorized as:
children friendship ghosts paranormal realistic action-adventure book children-books -
![The Black Reckoning by John Stephens]()
The Black Reckoning by John Stephens
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe final book in the bestselling Books of Beginning trilogy that began with "The Emerald Atlas," which the "New York Times" called "a new Narnia for the tween set... -
![Famous Last Words by Katie Alender]()
Famous Last Words by Katie Alender
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsHollywood history, mystery, murder, mayhem, and delicious romance collide in this unputdownable thriller from master storyteller Katie Alender.Willa is freaking out. It seems like she's seeing things. Like a dead body in her swimming pool. Frantic messages on her walls. A reflection that is not her own. It's almost as if someone—or something—is trying to send her a message... -
![The Pretender by Rob Blackwell]()
The Pretender by Rob Blackwell
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA young girl slaughters her entire family in a quiet suburban neighborhood. The police say she snapped, but Soren Chase knows the truth... -
![Dead Scary: The Ghost who refused to leave by Sally Gould]()
Dead Scary: The Ghost who refused to leave by Sally Gould
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAdam is an ordinary boy, except for one thing. He can see and talk with ghosts.When his family moves into what seems like the home of his dreams, Adam finds out it isn't his dream home after all. Edward Lawrence, a bossy ghost who was Adam's age when he died, regards the home as his own and he doesn't want to share it with an annoying boy who can see him... -
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![Dead Good Detectives by Jenny McLachlan]()
Dead Good Detectives by Jenny McLachlan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSid Jones loves hanging out in the graveyard with her best friend Zen - they are desperate to see a real-life ghost!But when Sid accidentally summons a 300-year-old pirate from the dead, it opens the door to the HALFWAY HOUSE - a magical inn FULL of lost souls from across the ages, all trapped there by a sinister landlord... -
![Lost Girl by Anne Francis Scott]()
Lost Girl by Anne Francis Scott
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLost Girl - Readers' Favorite Award Finalist in Paranormal FictionRenowned sculptor Allison Weathers doesn't believe in ghosts. But when a tragic twist of fate leads her to the small mountain town of Dawson Mills, Tennessee, she soon learns that the dead don't always stay silent. Shadows begin to shift in the rambling, old Victorian farmhouse she's purchased. Voices come from nowhere... -
![The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Steven Banbury]()
The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Steven Banbury
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA spooky yet heartwarming adventure about one girl's journey into the land of the undead, and the unexpected family she finds along the way. Perfect for fans of Nevermoor and the hit series Wednesday.On Halloween, it is always wise to expect the unexpected, but no amount of planning could have prepared Eve for that particular night...Categorized as:
children family paranormal coming-of-age friendship middle-grade fantasy children-books -
![The Ghost of Midnight Lake by Lucy Strange]()
The Ghost of Midnight Lake by Lucy Strange
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom award winning author Lucy Strange comes a thrilling ghost story about a strong willed heroine who will follow even the most restless spirit in order to untangles the dark mystery of her own past.It's 1899. The Earl of Gosswater has died, and twelve-year-old Agatha has been cast out of her ancestral home - the only home she has ever known - by her cruel cousin, Clarence... -
![Recess Is a Jungle! by Jack Chabert]()
Recess Is a Jungle! by Jack Chabert
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSam, Antonio, and Lucy get trapped in a monstrous hedge maze! Will they ever find their way out?This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina... -
![Secret of McKinley Mansion by K.F. Breene]()
Secret of McKinley Mansion by K.F. Breene
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt was a dark and stormy night...But then, it was always stormy when she came. Beckoning. Calling to her followers. And follow her they did - never to be seen or heard from again. ~ * ~ * ~ Larkin, MO is not the cute, sleepy town it appears to be. Beneath the quaint façade lurks a secret - a secret everyone knows, but no one will talk about.Everyone knows to keep curfew... -
![Nightmares! The Sleepwalker Tonic by Jason Segel]()
Nightmares! The Sleepwalker Tonic by Jason Segel
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsNightmares! The Sleepwalker Tonic is the sequel to the hilariously scary New York Times bestselling novel Nightmares! by multitalented actor Jason Segel and bestselling author Kirsten Miller. You thought the nightmares were over? You better keep the lights on! Charlie Laird has a dream life. 1) He has a weirdo stepmom who runs an herbarium...Categorized as:
children family friendship paranormal action-adventure audiobook book children-books -
![Ghost of Fossil Glen by Cynthia C. DeFelice]()
Ghost of Fossil Glen by Cynthia C. DeFelice
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAllie Nichols is being pursued by a ghost. Her friend Karen calls Allie a liar and doesn't want to hear stuff like that. But her old pal, Dub, listens eagerly as Allie tells him about the voice that guides her down a steep cliff side, the girl she imagines who begs, Help me, and a terrible nightmare in which that girl falls to her death... -
![The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage, Lauren Fortgang]()
The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage, Lauren Fortgang
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe eagerly anticipated followup to the Newbery honor winner and New York Times bestseller, Three Times LuckySmall towns have rules. One is, you got to stay who you are -- no matter how many murders you solve.When Miss Lana makes an Accidental Bid at the Tupelo auction and winds up the mortified owner of an old inn, she doesn't realize there's a ghost in the fine print... -
![All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn]()
All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsTravis and his sister, Corey, can t resist a good trick. When they learn that their grandmother's quiet Vermont inn, where they re spending the summer, has a history of ghost sightings, they decide to do a little haunting of their own. Before long, their supernatural pranks have tourists flocking to the inn, and business booms... -
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![Ghosts Don't Ride Bikes, Do They? by Andrés Miedoso]()
Ghosts Don't Ride Bikes, Do They? by Andrés Miedoso
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDesmond and Andres are in for a bike-riding adventure in the second book of the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol chapter book series!Welcome to Kersville, a town with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts and spirits who are major mischief-makers. Most kids spend their days without ever seeing or dealing with a ghost, but some kids get stuck with a haunt... -
![Just South of Home by Karen Strong]()
Just South of Home by Karen Strong
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCousins Sarah and Janie unearth a tragic event in their small Southern town’s history in this witty middle grade novel that’s perfect for fans of Stella by Starlight, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, and As Brave as You.Twelve-year-old Sarah is finally in charge... -
![The Loch Ness Punster by Kate Klise, M. Sarah Klise]()
The Loch Ness Punster by Kate Klise, M. Sarah Klise
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn the seventh and final installment of the popular 43 Old Cemetery Road series, twelve-year-old Seymour Hope has inherited a castle in Loch Ness, Scotland. It could be the perfect summer vacation spot for Seymour and his parents, Olive C. Spence and Ignatius B. Grumply. But Iggy wants nothing to do with the castle... -
![Ghost in the Attic by Dori Hillestad Butler]()
Ghost in the Attic by Dori Hillestad Butler
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA brand-new young chapter book series from Edgar Award winner Dori Hillestad Butler! After successfully solving the mystery of the ghost in the library, Kaz and Claire land the first case for their detective agency--a haunted attic in a neighbor's home! With a little help from Grannie, Kaz and Claire discover that what appeared to be something spooky has a much simpler explanation...Categorized as:
children friendship ghosts paranormal action-adventure book children-books contemporary -
![No Way Out by Dan Poblocki]()
No Way Out by Dan Poblocki
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShadow House always wins . . .Poppy, Dash, Azumi, and Dylan may have made it out of Shadow House--but the grounds are a whole new nightmare. Someone they thought was a friend is hunting them, and there's no place that's safe now that they've woken the shadow creature... -
![An Unexpected Guest by Heather Graham]()
An Unexpected Guest by Heather Graham
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsKrewe Special Agent Jon Dickson and Kylie Connolly met under tough circumstances, but despite that, they discovered it seemed they were meant to be.Now, moved into a condo in the D.C... -
![Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur T. Bradley]()
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur T. Bradley
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsKendra Levin, while at Viking, acquired world rights to Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by middle-grade author Fleur Bradley, pitched as in the tradition of The Westing Game with a touch of Clue. Aneeka Kalia will edit. Five murder suspects are invited to the haunted Barclay Hotel, and it's up to the tag-along kids JJ and Penny—and a ghost—to figure out who committed the crime... -
![You Can't Hide by Dan Poblocki]()
You Can't Hide by Dan Poblocki
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPoppy, Marcus, Dash, Dylan, and Azumi are all trapped within Shadow House, a sinister estate where past and present intertwine. As they fight to find a way out, the kids think the ghosts of the house are the greatest danger they face. Little do the kids know it's the secrets they're each hiding that will prove even more lethal... -
![Archimancy by J.A. White]()
Archimancy by J.A. White
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe first book in a middle grade series that introduces three friends and their quest to unravel the secrets of Shadow School, a strange middle school in New Hampshire, from the acclaimed author of Nightbooks and the Thickety series, J. A. White. Perfect for fans of Stranger Things, Neil Gaiman, and Adam Gidwitz.Cordelia Liu knew Shadow School was going to be different...Categorized as:
children friendship ghosts paranormal action-adventure audiobook boarding-school book -
![Legend of the Ghost Dog by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel]()
Legend of the Ghost Dog by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA thrilling mystery set against a stark landscape and the inspiration of Nome's real-life dog hero, Balto.Twelve-year-old Tee didn't think she believed in ghosts . . . until a walk in the woods around her new rural Alaskan home changes her mind. She and her beagle, Henry, are stalked by a wolfish, decidedly spooky shadow. There's something out there - and it's not of this world...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship ghosts paranormal realistic action-adventure -
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![I So Don't Do Spooky by Barrie Summy]()
I So Don't Do Spooky by Barrie Summy
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSomeone’s out to get Sherry’s stepmom. . . .Can she save her before it’s too late?Did you know that the main campus of the Academy of Spirits is at a Dairy Queen in Phoenix? Me either. Until now. Some weird stuff has been happening to my stepmother, Paula, and the Academy has asked me, Sherry Holmes Baldwin, to get to the bottom of it. They think someone’s trying to hurt her... -
![Gilda Joyce: The Ghost Sonata by Jennifer Allison]()
Gilda Joyce: The Ghost Sonata by Jennifer Allison
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen her best friend, Wendy Choy, qualifies to compete in an international piano competition in Oxford, England, irrepressible Gilda Joyce finds a way to get an invitation herself—as a page-turner. Wendy settles into an exhausting practice schedule, made worse by strange nightmares, while Gilda finds herself falling in love with a British boy... -
![Ghost Dog Secrets by Peg Kehret]()
Ghost Dog Secrets by Peg Kehret
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEach day, sixth-grader Rusty feeds a dog that's left chained in the frigid weather with no shelter, food, or water. When he realizes the dog has been injured, he tries to have Animal Control help - but when that fails, Rusty and his friend Andrew unchain the dog and take it... -
![Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn]()
Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAunt Blythe's house gives Andrew the creeps -- full of dark rooms, creaky noises, and the sound of a woman sobbing somewhere in the shadows. Then, in the middle of the night, Andrew awakens to find a boy standing in his room...a boy who is Andrew's double, except he looks as if he's come from the grave. He wants to follow him -- to a place where he will meet the spirits of long-dead ancestors..Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family ghosts paranormal action-adventure book children-books -
![Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy]()
Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThey were watching...and waitingAt twelve, Maggie had been thrown out of more boarding schools than she cared to remember. "Impossible to handle," they said nasty, mean, disobedient, rebellious, thieving anything they could say to explain why she must be removed from the school.Maggie was thin and pale, with shabby clothes and stringy hair, when she arrived at her new home... -
![Blood Captain by Justin Somper]()
Blood Captain by Justin Somper
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsTwins Connor and Grace Tempest are no strangers to adventure and mystery. Since being shipwrecked, each has discovered a new world of sea-faring friends and foes... -
![How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather]()
How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsIt's the Salem Witch Trials meets Mean Girls in a debut novel from one of the descendants of Cotton Mather, where the trials of high school start to feel like a modern day witch hunt for a teen with all the wrong connections to Salem’s past.Salem, Massachusetts is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather...Categorized as:
bullying coming-of-age family friendship ghosts paranormal action-adventure audiobook -
![The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts]()
The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsKatie, who has supernatural powers, attempts to start a new life in another town with her mother. The attempt succeeds until Mr. Cooper asks Katie too many questions...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship paranormal realistic 20th-century action-adventure -
![Skeleton Creek #1 by Patrick Carman]()
Skeleton Creek #1 by Patrick Carman
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe first book in the breakthrough series from bestselling author Patrick Carman, featuring text and technology in an innovative new way. Strange things are happening in Skeleton Creek . . . and Ryan and Sarah are trying to get to the heart of it...Categorized as:
children friendship ghosts paranormal realistic action-adventure book children-books -
![Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh]()
Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWe Need Diverse Books founder Ellen Oh returns with Spirit Hunters, a high-stakes middle grade mystery series about Harper Raine, the new seventh grader in town who must face down the dangerous ghosts haunting her younger brother... -
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![The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret]()
The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhat Josh thought would be the dullest summer of his life, spent with his eccentric great-aunt, turns chilling when he meets the ghost of a coal miner killed in a mine explosion. Willie has been waiting years for some kind soul to dig up his leg and rebury it with the rest of him--only then will he be at peace... -
![Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie]()
Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA 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... -
![Monster Madness by Dean Lorey]()
Monster Madness by Dean Lorey
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt's the monster hunters' last chance to stop an all-out monster war!We're under attack! The last of the mega-monsters known as the Named are fighting their way into our world, and only a mysterious being known as the Guardian can help—but the Guardian is dying... -
![Witch Catcher by Mary Downing Hahn]()
Witch Catcher by Mary Downing Hahn
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen her widower father inherits a castlelike estate in the mountains of West Virginia, 12-year-old Jen is thrilled. It seems like a wish come true. But she quickly realizes that not all change is positive. Her dad has a mysterious new girlfriend, Moura, who slowly drives a wedge between Jen and her father... -
![Dead Boy by Laurel Gale]()
Dead Boy by Laurel Gale
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA darkly funny and literary debut novel about a dead boy named Crow who has a chance at friendship - and a chance at getting his life back Crow Darlingson isn’t like other kids. He stinks. He’s got maggots. His body parts fall off at inopportune moments. (His mom always sews them back on, though.) And he hasn’t been able to sleep in years. Not since waking up from death...Categorized as:
children family friendship paranormal action-adventure audiobook book children-books -
![The House in Poplar Wood by K.E. Ormsbee]()
The House in Poplar Wood by K.E. Ormsbee
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFor as long as the Vickery twins can remember, they’ve only ever been able to leave the house together once a year, on Halloween. The rest of the year, Lee and his mother serve Memory, while Felix and his father assist Death. This is the Agreement.But one Halloween, Gretchen Whipple smashes her way into their lives...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship paranormal action-adventure book children-books
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