Search - Araminta Spookie 5: Ghostsitters

Reviewed by Cat for TeensReadToo.com

It isn't enough that Araminta and best friend, Wanda, are left behind during her birthday week just so Aunt Tabby, Uncle Drac, and Wanda's parents can explore the giant bat caves of Transylvannia.

Great Aunt Emilene has been "delayed," which means the girls are stuck with a worse babysitting prospect: Nurse Watkins. Thank goodness Araminta's cooler-than-cool cousin Mathilda shows up and convinces Nurse Watkins that Aunt Tabby wouldn't mind if she looked after the girls alone.

But Araminta and Wanda quickly realize there are worse things than having an old fuddy-duddy for a babysitter once they meet Ned and Jed, two young poltergeists Mathilda can't make go away.

The mischievous spirits aren't in Spookie Manor more than five minutes before wreaking all sorts of havoc. With resident ghost Sir Horace already on edge over the planned destruction of his old keep, it's not long before he's threatening to vacate the premises permanently. When Ned and Jed's antics lead to the discovery of a tarnished old ring hidden in Sir Horace's armor, the old ghost is beyond despair and out the door with the manor's other two ghosts (his page Edmond and faithful wold Fang) in tow.

Together Araminta, Wanda, and Mathilda must find the source of Horace's distress, save his keep, bring their ghosts home, convince their new guests Spookie Manor *isn't* where they want to settle permanently, and set the house back to rights - all before the grown-ups return from their trip.

With its light, humorous storytelling and quirky, engaging characters, GHOSTSITTERS gives young readers an entertaining escape into Araminta's world of paranormal excursions and hijinx.