I have read this one twice. The first time was to review it for School Library Journal (it was one of the first books I reviewed). The second time, I read it to use it with my middle-grade book discussion group (the kids loved it).
Ted's eleven. When his five year old sister Vicki creates an imaginary friend...it's no big deal. But her friend has an odd name "Marella." And her "imaginary friend" can move things. This can't be a case of a haunted house because his family has lived in the house by the banks of the Erie Canal for years with no paranormal activity. Ted's got to figure out what is going on.
It is spooky. It is full of sly humor. It has history, and it has thrills. Most importantly its narrator sounds like a REAL kid. How many times are you reading a book and you think: "Kids don't talk like that"? or worse "Humans don't talk like that!" His friends and family are real too. Even the ghosts sound (?) authentic.
I love ghost stories (Like Bruce Coville's sadly out of print Nina Tanleven books) and this is a good one.
I'm glad Vande Velde has so many books out there. I've only read three...but I'm looking forward to the rest...when schedule allows--ha ha! Your middle grade readers (say good reader in 3rd to 6th grade) will love this.
(I still think the title is a little...odd though) :-) Happy Reading!