The Ghost and Mrs. Hobbs

Reach for this book when your child is starting to notice that people often carry hidden burdens or when they are struggling to understand someone who seems prickly or unkind. It is an ideal bridge for children moving from simple ghost stories to more nuanced mysteries that explore human motivation and the consequences of past mistakes. Allie Nichols is a ghost magnet who finds herself haunted by a restless spirit and suspicious of the cafeteria lady, Mrs. Hobbs. As Allie digs deeper, she discovers that the truth is far more complex than school rumors suggest. The story balances spooky thrills with a powerful lesson on empathy, showing that 'villains' are often just people in pain. It is perfectly calibrated for the 9 to 12 age range, offering suspense without overwhelming dread, while encouraging kids to look beneath the surface of others' behavior.