GHOUL SUMMER

Narrator Edward A. Mendoza captures the otherworldly mood of this unique story. Selfish 12-year-old Barnaby and his parents spend three weeks packing his grandpa's belongings for a move. Barnaby's relief at getting to stay in an attic room turns to dismay when the spoiled ghost of a man named Maxwell, who died in the 1980s, demands his help with unfinished business. Mendoza deftly blends details of Max's life in the 1980s with disturbing clues to his death. Barnaby's book-loving younger brother, Leo--Mendoza's best creation--seeks ways to help Max. The vividly rendered situation escalates when the boys confront a corrupt resident who is planning to gentrify the neighborhood, destroying Max's hopes for finding peace. Audio amplifies Barnaby's maturation while overcoming the story's occasional repetition and predictability. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2025]