The Ghost in Apartment 2R, by Denis Markell (middle grade, Delacorte Press, November 2019), was the only book I finished these past five days of compulsive news watching. I'm hoping now it's over nothing horrible and stressful will happen, and I'll rebound into a more normal book a day routine...But in any event, this middle grade Brooklyn ghost story was a fun read, despite the distractions!
Danny has always lived in the shadow of his smart big brother Jake, and he's always lived in a converted closet, while Jake has occupied the second bedroom of the Brooklyn apartment. Now that Jake's off to college (Cornell), Danny assumes his parents will make good on their promise that he can move out of the closet and into Jake's room. But no.
Instead, his parents, anxious about financing Jake's education, decide to rent it as an Air Hotel room. Danny's pretty bitter; it hurts to watch his parents spending money and time fixing up the room that should have been his. Then the room situation becomes the least of his problems. Spooky things start happening--a girl looking in through the window of Jake's room shows up in photographs, computer glitches make it hard for guests to rent the room, and the bed falls apart-- and though alone they could be attributed to rational explanations, a ghost seems more and more likely.
But when he hears an angry moaning, and a pale, angry face appears at the window, he can't pretend something scary isn't happening.
Danny shares his fears Gus and Nat (Natalie), but though they're supportive, and Nat immediately clears out the library's ghost section for research, they don't know what to do. Then the ghost starts possessing the house guests, using them to ask Danny where her little boy is. Danny tells his Bubbe Ruth what's been happening, and she is sure it's a dybbuk, a spirt who needs help before it can find peace. So, spearheaded by Nat, the trio embark on historical research, and at the Brooklyn Historical Society they find out about a tragedy that occurred years ago in Jake's room, in which a little boy died.
After much argument, Nat is allowed to stay overnight so she can help communicate with ghost. Gus shows up uninvited too, and when the ghost possess him, they're able to put the pieces together to figure out how to comfort the ghost.
It's a creepy story, but not tremendously spooky. For on thing, though the possession of various house guests is understandably scary for Danny when they come bursting into his room, the way it plays out is actually rather entertaining. For another, there's no sense of impending danger; the ghost is angry, but doesn't seem malevolent. The spooky parts are also considerably off-set by the warm reality of Danny's friends and the neighborhood they live in; details of all the epicurean delights sold in Nat's family's Middle Eastern deli, for instance, are so enticing that it's hard to remember the ghost (unless you're Danny....).
So this one is a very good "first middle grade ghost story," just fine for the younger kids in the middle grade ranger (the nine year olds). Those who have already read lots of mg ghost books might find it tame, but will still enjoy the humor and lively picture of Brooklyn, and story of the Air Hotel venture and the collection of guests it attracts.
It's also one I'm glad to recommend because there are very very few mg fantasy books with Jewish protagonists. Danny's family aren't particularly observant, but it's still a central part of his family identity, and his Bubbe Ruth is a great Jewish grandma! Nat, Middle Eastern, and Christian, adds diversity too. On a more specific note, I really appreciated that Nat points out all the dead white men ornamenting the historical society! Good job, Nat!
Glad it was nominated for the Cybils, which is why I read it!
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