Charlie and the Grandmothers

Gr 3–6—Twelve-year-old Charlie is a worrier. Nearly everything makes him nervous. He is the complete opposite of his younger sister, Georgie, who is brave and curious. As children in their town begin to disappear permanently while on supposed trips to visit their grandmothers, Charlie and Georgie know that they will be next. When one day their mother, who does not seem herself, suddenly sends them off to meet their grandmothers, both of whom they've been previously told had passed away, this chilling tale truly takes off. It's clear that the grandmothers are not what they seem, but if they're not really grandmothers, then what are they? This is a story filled with creepy hallways, devilish trees, ghostly prisoners, and other sinister haunts. It's also a heartwarming adventure about overcoming one's fears and the unbreakable bond between siblings. Fans of Neil Gaiman's Coraline (HarperCollins, 2002) and Jonathan Auxier's The Night Gardener (Abrams, 2014) will enjoy this middle grade fantasy/horror story.