The Haunting of Holroyd Hill

When her family moves to the Virginia countryside, eleven-year-old Melinda, her older brother, and their new friend Dan work together to solve the mystery of a Civil War-era ghost who is haunting their house.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8?Almost-12 Melinda is finding the adjustment from Alexandria to her new home in rural Virginia a difficult one. A run-in with surly Mr. Sasser is just one more piece of proof of how awful the whole change has been. All other problems fade into insignificance, however, when the girl discovers that a ghost has started walking through the house every night. Her older brother, Kevin; their new friend Dan, the grandson of the unpleasant neighbor; and Melinda begin keeping watch, trying to discover where the ghost comes from and where it goes on its nightly journey. A little research at the local library provides some clues, while Dan's recollections of some family stories yield additional hints. Gradually, the young people put all the information together and the three investigators confront three ghosts caught up in a tragic event from Civil War days. Fans of Betty Ren Wright will enjoy this novel, as Seabrooke believably weaves the supernatural elements into her story. The characters are not fully developed, but the plot is tight and moves swiftly. Refreshingly, the adults are normal and caring (even the supposedly nasty neighbor).?Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MACopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 6^-8. Seabrooke weaves Civil War history and a tragic love story into a fast-paced, intriguing murder mystery-cum-ghost story that is successful on all levels. Eleven-year-old Melinda is not pleased about her family's move to Virginia. She misses her friends, and she and her brother, Kevin, have had an unsettling introduction to their new neighbor. Things begin to look up, however, when she and Kevin befriend the neighbor's grandson, Dan, meet a ghost who haunts their property, and uncover a mystery that may involve Dan's grandfather. When they discover a second ghost inhabiting Dan's house, they realize that the stories of the two ghosts may be entwined, and the search for answers becomes an irresistible challenge. As they piece together clues, they learn about the Battle of Manassas and help the ghosts find peace. Chris Sherman

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