Mx3 Review: All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; Reprint edition (August 17, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 054724878
• Source: Personal Copy

Twelve-year-old Travis and his sister Corey are sent to spend their summer vacation with their grandmother at her Vermont inn, Fox Hill.  When they hear that the inn is haunted, but hasn’t experienced any supernatural activity in some time, they begin to plot ways to scare up the guests, adding a bit of excitement to their summer. Their grandmother, despite owning the inn for some time, doesn’t believe in all the rumors and prefers to spend her days ensuring her guests have a relaxing stay.

Things change when the children’s antics awaken the ghost of Ada Jaggs, a very angry and vengeful spirit. Ada oversaw the property during the 1800s in its former life as a poor farm. She tormented families, specifically children, who were sent to work on the form. The activity also awakens the spirits of the children who were so poorly abused under Ada’s care, ultimately dying at her hand. Travis & Corey soon realize their plan has spun out of control; guests are leaving mid-stay, replaced by “ghost hunters” set on publicizing the activity. They must put an end to the evil Ada and help the children she’s tortured rest in peace. But to do so, they must visit Ada’s grave and retrieve the item that holds Ada’s power…

Downing Hahn is known for her chilling children’s ghost stories and an author I discovered when I was my oldest son’s age. It’s been wonderful to share these books with them, reading them aloud with only a flashlight to guide us through the pages. What I truly respected about this one in particular was that it isn’t simply a ghost story, it also educates readers about the past and some of the lesser-known history of our country.

My boys in particular loved how the antics of the ghost children reflected an paralleled those of Travis and Corey. My youngest son said “Even though they are ghosts, they are still little kids!” So true! The J-Crew officially endorses this book, as well as all of Mary Downing Hahn’s ghost stories! Highly recommended.