The Girl in the Locked Room

Gr 4–6—Jules Aldridge has just moved with her mom and dad from Ohio to Virginia. Now a seventh grader, she can't count how many times she's moved; her Dad makes a living restoring old homes, which means the family often moves after each job. His latest task is restoring the spookiest house Jules has ever seen, Oak Hill. Almost immediately, Jules spies a strange shadow in the top floor window, as if someone is looking out at her. This cannot be possible; no one has a key to that room. When Jules experiences strange visions of a long-ago family that no one else can see, she knows Oak Hill must be haunted. Jules is fearful about discovering Oak Hill's secrets until she meets a new friend at the library, Maisie Sullivan. With Maisie's help, Jules uncovers the terrible secret of what happened many years ago. The house is haunted by a 10-year-old girl, Lily Bennett, who was left behind in 1889 when her parents were brutally murdered by thieves. Jules and Maisie must figure out a solution to Lily's horrible ghostly dilemma. Told in alternating chapters by Jules and Lily, the narrative is fast paced and engaging. The resolution is achieved quickly, but it will satisfy young readers.