About This Book
Reach for this book if your child is struggling with the moral weight of peer pressure or the quiet guilt of joining a crowd to avoid being a target. It is an ideal choice for the middle schooler who is navigating the social hierarchy of school and needs a safe way to explore the concepts of empathy, accountability, and the long term consequences of unkindness. Set during the 1918 influenza pandemic, the story follows Annie, a girl who chooses popular friends over a lonely classmate named Elsie. When Elsie dies of the flu and returns as a vengeful ghost, the story shifts into a chilling supernatural thriller. Beyond the scares, it serves as a powerful mirror for the psychological toll of bullying and the difficulty of making amends once a situation has escalated beyond control. Parents should note the intense spooky atmosphere and the realistic depiction of childhood cruelty, making it best suited for mature readers ages 10 to 14.
