Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Ghosts

Gr 2–4—Sam Wu loves outer space and science-fiction TV—and he's desperate to prove he's not the scaredy-cat his classmates think he is. So when his class goes on a trip to the local space museum, he accepts a dare to ride a rocket simulator that's for adult riders only. And he suffers embarrassing consequences as a result. More determined than ever to demonstrate his bravery, Sam is aided by his friends Bernard and Zoe in adopting a snake and hunting down a ghost that lives in his closet. When Sam soaks his sheets in pickle juice or constructs a special ghost trap, readers are sure to be delighted, but adult readers will see his true act of courage occurs when his friends come to his house for the first time. Amid worries about what Zoe and Bernard will think of the food his mother serves for dinner, Sam stands up for his favorite Cantonese dishes, and his friends enjoy them. It's a nice bit of cultural reflection that isn't seen often in literature for this age group; many readers will appreciate it.