The Screaming Staircase / Jonathan Stroud / 390 pages

Wow! This is a great, enthralling and riveting ghost story by the author of the highly acclaimed Bartimaeus series.  There's an epidemic of many kinds of ghosts in England.  The ghosts range from benign to murderous and horrific.  The infestation of ghosts can only be managed by children who have the Talent to see, hear or sense them.  After reading this book, you will want to arm yourself with rapiers, salt bombs, iron chains, magnesium flares, iron filings and other potent weapons.  Lockwood & Co is a trio of kids who are ghosthunters for hire.  Great characters, great plot, wonderful setting, and plenty of ectoplasm!  (You don't ever want to be ghost-touched...just sayin').  Recommended for grades 5 - 8.  Glad to know there will be more in this series!