Rachel Hawkins

Quiet Olivia and brash Ruby, her twin sister's former best friend, paired at a summer camp for troublemakers to work in an old mansion, must really unite when strange things begin to happen.

Ruby and Olivia

Denise B.

There's something very nostalgic about this book, at least for me as an adult reading middle grade. And sure, it obviously has contemporary elements i.e. cell phones and internet searches, but the atmosphere and bare bones of the story are vintage. This brought to mind my own summers as a child, filled with earning Girl Scouts badges, walking to my friends' houses for sleep-overs and quality time at the library down the street. There's also self-discovery, dealing with loss of a loved one, crushes and spooky shenanigans that make for a fast paced but not superficial read. Two girls getting sent to a day camp/correctional behavior summer group as punishment for bad deeds that come across a mystery in a place known as Live Oak House. Weird and spooky happenings start from day one and as the days turn into weeks, secrets are unearthed and the dark history of Live Oak House is unravelled and revealed. 100% recommend for everyone looking for a light hearted, but with a creepy twist, summer read.

Ruby and Olivia

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