Ericka Brunson-Rochette

Books filled with mystery, magic and a bit of the paranormal are some of the best ones to pair with the changing of the season. These three middle grade titles, perfect for upper elementary and middle school readers, are certain to deliver:

Ophie’s Ghosts by Justine Ireland

The year is 1922 and 12-year-old Ophie can see ghosts. She hasn’t always been able to see them, but ever since that fateful night her father was murdered because of the color of his skin, the ghosts are everywhere.

After their devastating loss, Ophie and her mother head north to live with family in Pittsburg. When Ophie’s mother gets a job at the manor of a wealthy family, she brings on Ophie to be a maid for the older, and very difficult, lady of the home who is in failing health. The job comes with more than just caretaking, however, and before long Ophie finds herself in a household of spirits who can’t quite escape the ghosts of their own pasts.

Weird Kid by Greg van Eekhout

Jake is no stranger to being a “weird kid.” But can you really be called that when you are actually an extraterrestrial shapeshifting glob of goo that fell down from the sky? Jake just knows it’s best for him to keep his head down and stay under the radar. And that was his plan until mysterious sinkholes began forming all over his town. Inside of them is the same goo that Jake is made of and it’s taking over the bodies of people in his neighborhood. It’s a lot harder to stay hidden when there is some pretty out of this world stuff happening, and all the slime trails seem to lead back to him.

With the help of his new friend Agnes (part weird kid, part superhero in training), and a lot of late night sleuthing, Jake decides that it is up to him to get to the bottom of what these strange, body-snatching goo invaders want, and to figure out where they came from, before the situation gets too sticky for him to handle.

Root Magic by Eden Royce

Jez Turner and her twin brother Jay come from a family of root workers. Their family has passed down the secrets of hoodoo magic, conjuring and mixing elixirs to heal, protect and to ward off evil spirts and boo hags. When their beloved grandmother passes away, their uncle decides it’s time for the twins to start practicing root work themselves.

School is difficult for Jez, who is bullied and doesn’t fit in, but root work comes easily to her. Almost too easily. Before she realizes it, Jez has conjured more than she bargained for and stronger forces than even her own family has dealt with. To conquer the evil threatening everything she loves is going to take everything she’s learned, and strength she’s not sure she has.