Sam admits that he’s obsessed with learning about his mother, who died before he got to know her. He scours the Internet for her social media, and he’s unexpectedly invited to spend the summer with his grandmother in Singapore. Sam quickly senses spirits in the house, and he comes face to face with a young version of his mother. The spirit says it’s not a ghost, causing readers to wonder if it’s true. Readers may be surprised when Sam sees another spirit, but this one feels threatening and dangerous. Sam knows he’s supposed to stay away from an abandoned factory, and it gives off mysterious, spooky vibes. Readers later learn the gruesome things that happened there.
The family dynamics are challenging for Sam. He’s never met his grandmother in person, and he doesn’t know how to talk to her. Her cluttered house is dirty and uncomfortable, but she doesn’t want anything thrown away. Sam’s left on his own most days, and he doesn’t know anyone else in Singapore. Sam’s dad is halfway across the world, so he isn’t much help to Sam. Sam talks to him on the phone and discovers his dad is spending time with a woman living down the hall. Sam wants to feel closer to his mother, but his father is moving on after her death. Sam must deal with his father dating on his own. The ghost of Sam’s mother becomes an important character and his closest friend. The experience helps him deal with his grief and help him move on.
What didn’t work as well:
The first half of the book doesn’t grab the reader's interest, as Sam tries to understand what he’s experiencing. The plot becomes more intriguing once Sam starts investigating the second ghost and what it wants. Sam’s mother’s ghost is more mischievous than expected, which may get mixed reactions from readers.
The final verdict:
The plot evolves slowly, but builds to a horrifying climax, revealing a hidden truth. I recommend this book for middle-grade mystery and ghost lovers.
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