So good! I specifically loved the author's note at the end where Lukoff tells readers, teachers, and librarians how to pitch (aka readers advisory) this book to other readers!

People cry at beginnings and at endings, and this moment is one of each.

I am happy crying!!!! Absolutely loved this haunting coming-of-age story about grief, growing up, and figuring out who you are.

It's the summer before Bug starts middle school and a lot of things have happened. Bug's Uncle Roderick has just passed and, living in a haunted house with Mom, Bug begins to notice a new presence. All the while, Bug's best friend Moira is busy figuring out how to reinvent herself in middle school and brings Bug along.

I knew what the ending (or beginning) would be, but I still savoured every moment of Bug's exploration and discovery. The hollowness of Lukoff's prose made this such a melancholy read and the pure, intense joy I feel for Bug when he finally comes into his own erupts from traces of sadness. It's the kind of sadness that feels more like a blanket than a heartache.

It's been a while since a middle-grade book moved me this way. pls read i whole-heartedly recommend <3

Side notes:
- I 101% love Bug's Mom
- I also 101% would love to see the sarcastic funeral cards & queer cards
- happy (to an extent) stories about lgbtq+ people are so important!!!!!!!

A story about a kids experience with grief, ghosts, and learning who you are.

First off, I recommend you to read this book. Yes, everyone. It is so well written with realistic characters, kid ghost hunting, and a beautiful strong emotional journey. It has also won several awards for children’s literature, and while that may be the target audience, I think it’s reach is much farther than just youth.

If you are going to read this book, I’d encourage you to read it without reading the goodreads synopsis or even the rest of this review. I will remain vague to be “spoiler free” but I think not knowing what this book really means is part of the intended journey of reading it (as even the author said in his closing note).

This book is starts with the loss of Bug’s uncle and it’s depictions of grief are raw and heart wrenching, not enough to render tears but enough to feel a heavy sadness, similar to how Bug felt. Then the ghosts appear and things get interesting. We also learn more about Bug’s friends and family. All the characters feel real, in a way that almost makes me feel like I’m reading a memoir or a child’s diary (especially highlighted with kids doing and saying very young kid things). And in the final chapters I cried, but it wasn’t due to sadness. It was relief and pride and happiness and maybe a little bit of my own sadness, how I wish I could have experienced something similar, how I wish everyone who walks down a similar path could experience their journey like Bug. But also how I am also happy that while my journey looks very different from Bugs, we both have found our way down the path of being ourselves.

I am so thankful to the author for writing this book. It may be written for young preteens but I think it expands much farther beyond that age range. This is not childish at all, instead offering a place for the readers inner child to feel and heal. I also appreciate this book for describing something so hard to put into words. I think the world would be a better place if everyone and their child read this book and understood, even a little bit, what it means.

Part ghost story, part contemporary tale of identity and acceptance, this wonderful book blends atmospheric scares with stellar character development. More creepy than truly horrifying, Lukoff builds tension masterfully and the moments when Bug sees an unrecognizable face in the mirror still haunt me, days after finishing the book. Hand this one to fans of Doll Bones.