The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker (review)

Siblings Meg, Will, and Ariel Griffin are excited to finally vacation in England with their favorite aunt, Effie, who lives near a real castle. Their adventures abroad take a shivery turn when they discover that Castle Cary is haunted by the shade of a ten-year-old girl who fell into a well, and a mother who mourned herself to death after her daughter died in an accident. When it becomes clear that both ghosts want the youngest sibling, Ariel, for themselves, Meg and Will devise a plan to distract the spirits from their little sister and onto each other for supernatural companionship. This is a suitable spooky story for readers easing their way into the genre; it includes a few age-appropriate jump scares but relies more heavily on the description to create an eerie vibe. Although this story takes its time getting to the ghostly fun, it is worth the wait, and once the adventure gets started, it keeps up the momentum all the way to the conclusion. An author’s note includes some information about the real Castle Cary.