The Ghost Job

In this animated San Diego–set heist novel from Van Eekhout (Fenris & Mott), the ghosts of four middle schoolers killed in a science lab gas explosion use their newfound skills to seek a return to life. Since “being alive is precisely a billion times better than being dead,” the four close friends form a crew following their demises, haunting their school’s theater and engaging in heists of supernatural goods. Kind team leader Nicholas can project his voice to “meat-walkers,” as the kids term the living; goth performer Vanessa can possess beings and objects; science-minded Eddie feels electricity as a sensation; and object-manipulating poltergeist Zenith serves as the crew’s muscle. When a ghost hunter comes looking for them, they learn that a wealthy necromancer is seeking ghosts, and possesses a device that can take—and restore—lives. Thoughtful ethical dilemmas soon cause them to reconsider the lengths to which they’d go to reunite with their loved ones. Zenith’s candidly funny first-person narrative applies a light, portmanteau-riddled touch to themes of death and grief, while the protagonists’ close relationships and powers offer up sheer spectral fun. Zenith is of Dutch Indonesian descent; cover art portrays the other protagonists with various skin tones. Ages 8–12. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (Sept.)