Before 2020 ended, I have finally managed to listen to Ghost Squad. It’s only been on my TBR since before it came out and I pre-ordered my copy! So it’s been on my shelves since April….and I may have only gotten time to listen to the audio book in December. To be fair, I had posted a photo on Instagram and someone recommended the audio book, so I had to wait until that was available! Keep reading this book review to see what I thought of one of my most anticipated middle grades!
Summary
For Lucely Luna, ghosts are more than just the family business.
Shortly before Halloween, Lucely and her best friend, Syd, cast a spell that accidentally awakens malicious spirits, wreaking havoc throughout St. Augustine. Together, they must join forces with Syd’s witch grandmother, Babette, and her tubby tabby, Chunk, to fight the haunting head-on and reverse the curse to save the town and Lucely’s firefly spirits before it’s too late.
With the family dynamics of Coco and action-packed adventure of Ghostbusters, Claribel A. Ortega delivers both a thrillingly spooky and delightfully sweet debut novel.
Review
Ghost Squad is a precious middle grade about family, ghost hunting, and friendship. I loved the friendship between Lucely and Syd – their easy banter, the ways Syd is a fabulous inventor, and their support of each other. Reading midddle grades with supportive best friends is one of the things that warms my heart! At the same time, Lucely is driven by her love of her family, living and dead. Her quest to help her relatives, as well as her father, is endearing and utterly relatable. She wants so badly to be able to save her family.
I loved the way Ortega is able to weave in Lucely’s Dominican culture and traditions with the ghost hunting, chunky cats, and fireflies. And it was way spookier than I expected – and I loved it! I took people’s recommendations and listened to the audio, and I was swept away by the action. I think I listened to this audio book in a few days because not only was the narration dynamic and captivating, but the action made it impossible to stop! But where Ghost Squad hit home was in its discussion of family.
The different visions of family that surround us. How the ones we chose, the friends who stick by us, are just as important as those of blood. The support of those who love us and how sometimes our best friend’s grandma can end up helping us save the day! Seriously, Ghost Squad was so precious and charming and I loved it so much!
Find Ghost Squad on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.