The second book in the Mysteries Of Trash & Treasure series continues with a new mystery: THE GHOSTLY PHOTOS . The story can be enjoyed without having read book one that I reviewed last year, THE SECRET LETTERS.

In THE GHOSTLY PHTOOS, best friends Colin and Nevaeh are back as they attempt to solve a mystery that had its beginnings in a time known as The Great Depression. They meet a girl named Ree who lives in a funeral home with her family. Ree shows them some spooky old photos, one of a boy in a coffin.

Who is this boy? Colin and Nevaeh investigate and discover Ree isn’t telling them everything. Is the boy a ghost and how will they ever know unless answers come from Ree’s grandmother, who is often often confused and suffering from dementia.

The third person narration stays close to Colin and Nevaeh through the 42 chapters. Their parents are no longer rivals in the junk hauling business as they have reluctantly begun working together. This is just a sidelight to the main story and it’s the young sleuths who take center stage in the plot.

Although their are scenes in a funeral home and a dark cemetery, none of the scenes are too scary. It’s the mystery that will intrigue and keep the pages turning.

Solid story telling and an engaging plot.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE GHOSTLY PHOTOS by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

1. The author’s note in the back pages adds more information about The Great Depression, Dementia, and Funeral Customs. The advice to young readers to seek out their own family stories is a great one.
2. The news about Colin’s dad brings many emotional scenes and sets up an enticing future story line.
3. Opposites often do attract as the friendship of shy Colin and the more outgoing Nevaeh continues. They are two characters sure to please the reading audience.
4. Chapters often end on a new discovery which makes one more than eager to keep reading.
5. A revealing look at the difference of living in a single parent home to one with a large family.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Margaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois.

She has since written more than 40 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Double Identity; Uprising; The Always War; the Greystone Secrets series; the Shadow Children series; the Missing series; the Children of Exile series; the Under Their Skin duology; and The Palace Chronicles. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series.  Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and numerous state reader’s choice awards. They have also been translated into more than twenty different languages.

Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio. They are the parents of two grown kids.

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