The Haunting of Hiram C. Hopgood

Reach for this book when your child feels like a 'misfit' or is struggling to find where they fit in a world that seems to value polish over personality. It is an ideal choice for the child who finds comfort in the quirky and the slightly spooky, providing a safe space to explore themes of belonging and kindness. The story follows a family of eccentric ghosts who are forced to leave their ancestral home in Scotland only to find themselves moving into a Texas oilman's mansion, where they must navigate a hilarious cultural clash. While the book deals with ghosts and the afterlife, it does so with Eva Ibbotson's trademark warmth and absurdist humor, making it entirely appropriate for middle-grade readers. The emotional core of the story is about empathy and the realization that everyone, no matter how strange they seem, deserves a place to call home. Parents will appreciate the way it rewards characters who look beyond appearances to find the good in others, all while maintaining a fast-paced, entertaining plot that builds vocabulary and imagination.