Ordinary Ghosts

A parent might reach for this book when their teen is navigating a complex or traumatic loss, especially if their grief is manifesting in confusing or secretive ways. Ordinary Ghosts tells the story of Emilie, whose family is still reeling a year after her mother's death. When Emilie starts seeing her mother's ghost, she must decipher its silent warnings, which seem connected to her older sister Marie's dangerous eating disorder. This poignant novel directly confronts the intersection of grief, family secrets, mental illness, and the supernatural. Appropriate for mature middle school and high school readers, it provides a powerful, nuanced look at how trauma affects a family and offers a starting point for difficult but necessary conversations about mental health and loss.