Ahoy there me mateys! The story follows Avery, who is returning to her hometown during summer break to see her best friends.  She can't wait to return to the old haunts and try to forget the move ever happened.  Unfortunately, the school year apart seems to have changed things.  Avery is confused and overwhelmed.  To try and break the tension, Avery suggests a séance at the local abandoned theater.  Secretly she hopes they will say no.  But, the others agree and the quartet enters the theater only to find an actual ghost!  They are trapped by the spirit.  How will they survive and escape?

Wendy Parris' theatre background shows in this fun middle grade spooky story.  Having been in the biz, I was delighted to see how the author used other areas besides the stage itself in the action.  It shows younger readers the dressing rooms, ticket offices, catwalks, and other places rarely seen by the audience.  How the ghost light worked for the plot is also fantastic and clever.  I won't reveal it here.

I would have loved this as a child for the spooky feel and setting.  I also would have loved the four friends trying to figure out how to escape the scary ghost.  The characters are wonderful and easy to root for.  As an adult, I love the lessons suggested throughout the novel.  There are discussions of evolving friendships, gender differences, irrational fears, honesty, and untended consequences.  I also enjoyed the parents' roles and how sibling relationships were portrayed.  Avery was fantastic and used deductive reasoning against the ghost.

The ending in particular was perfect.  The parents are grateful their kids are okay but still there are repercussions for breaking rules.  How the children resolve their changing friendships, outlook for the future, and their feelings about the ghost are also realistic and lovely.  Recommended for spooky story and theatre lovers alike.  Arrrr!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.