The Hollow Boy

I did not sleep well last night.  It might have been my bedtime reading.  The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud continues the ghost fighting adventures of Lockwood & Co.  Lucy Carlyle, our narrator, wants everything to remain stable in the Lockwood household.  She, Lockwood - the founder of the company, - and George of the thick glasses and love for research are busier than ever.  However, they have NOT been called in to help with the HUGE outbreak of paranormal activity in Chelsea that has resulted in deaths and large scale evacuations.  Of all the ghost fighting businesses, Lockwood & Co., alone, has been ignored.  You can imagine that doesn't sit well with Lockwood.

In the meantime, any other ghostly problems have landed on the Lockwood doorstep and Lockwood wants to hire an assistant.  George has no opinion.  Lucy wants things to stay the same.

So, what happens when the assistant is hired in Lucy's absence?  And then there is the case of the bloody footprints and its aftermath.  Lucy is tempted to enter the forbidden room.  And the Haunted Skull gives a running sarcastic commentary on everything Lucy does.

Expect specters.  Expect odd behavior on the part of the non-talented adults.  Expect hanging threads that need to be followed up.  Well, I can't tell you what else to expect because honestly, if I were a little more superstitious, I may NEVER have gotten to sleep.

Just one question for you; have you ever gone into an older department store and felt, hmmm, I don't know, a presence from the past?  Yeah, me, too.

The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud.  Read it, preferably in the daylight.