The Ghost of Spruce Point

by Nancy Tandon

A young boy must unravel a curse to save his family’s beloved Maine motel in this spooky, “tightly paced” (Publishers Weekly) middle grade novel sure to delight fans of Whispering Pines and The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street!Twelve-year-old Parker has grown up in his family’s Home Away Inn, nestled on a wooded peninsula in Maine called Spruce Point. His best friend, Frankie, has been staying at the inn every summer for years with her family. Together, they’ve had epic adventures based out of a nearby old treehouse that serves as their official headquarters for Kids Confidential Meetings. But lately, business at the inn hasn’t been great, and Parker is pretty sure he knows why. It’s long been rumored that Mrs. Gruvlig, one of the few year-rounders on Spruce Point, has unique abilities of the supernatural kind. And Frankie is absolutely sure she saw a ghost on Mrs. Gruvlig’s property! As more and more spooky happenings occur around the Point, Parker and Frankie are convinced Spruce Point has been officially cursed.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Horror, Ghosts, Adventure, Paranormal, Supernatural

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2022

About the author

Nancy Tandon is a former speech/language pathologist and author of middle grade novels, including The Way I Say It (Charlesbridge) and The Ghost of Spruce Point (Aladdin). Nancy lives in Connecticut with her family and is a fan of literacy outreach programs of all kinds.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute gem of a book. The big, loving cast of characters includes siblings, best friends, and cousins, who - as the dedication (which got me teary-eyed and made me group-text my kids and nieces) so wisely reminds us - are our first friends. THE GHOST OF SPRUCE POINT is richly atmospheric, like a trip to the Maine coast for the summer, complete with camp-outs, sea air, secret meetings that end with the mantra 'grown-ups never, kids forever,' a plan called 'Operation Inn Keepers,' a grouchy neighbor who ends up (spoiler alert) not being so grouchy after all, and even some mysterious rock cairns. Because this IS a mystery. But a mystery with SO MUCH HEART. I devoured it in one sitting, reading the last chapters with a goofy, satisfied grin on my face. Well done, Nancy Tandon. Loved it.

[Megan Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me back to the summertime adventure mysteries I used to love as a kid (looking at you, Trixie Belden). I loved the relationships among the children and between the kids and the adults, and the detailed descriptions of the marvelous setting (and mouthwatering food) left me looking at Maine vacation options. This book is a spooky delight for the ages.

[Eileen Washburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

(read as pre-published manuscript)
This is a great story for kids who want a fun, adventure at the shore with a little spooky thrown in!
Parker is on a mission to save the family Inn, and what better way to do it than with a group of summer friends. The story is perfect for middle grade readers who are starting to venture out and grow up, but still know how important family is, as well as friends who are family.

[Georgann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I entered in so quickly, that by the time the parents had their talk on the porch on page 38 (page 38!!!), I teared up. I was completely in love by the time the kids raced through the woods on page 49. What an idyllic way to grow up! I loved that Parker loved his home so so much. Not remotely scary, just a tender and heart warming tale.

[Lisa Laureano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spooky in all the right places, with a heartwarming core of food, family, and friendship. This summer tale perfectly captures the pace of the season from a child's viewpoint. Although Parker has troubles on his mind, his best friend and cousins are always there to help him out, and there's still time for bike rides, ice cream, and secret sleuthing. Hints of Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys, White Christmas (the movie), and To Kill A Mockingbird, yet The Ghost of Spruce Point is thoroughly original and grounded in its setting in coastal Maine.

[Dorothy Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an eclectic reader, I like to dip into children’s fiction now and then. I also have a young friend who is a voracious reader, and I like to share books with her. The Ghost of Spruce Point by Nancy Tandon is a good one to share with my young friend.
Parker, 12, lives in rural Maine where his family owns and runs Home Away Inn on a peninsula called Spruce Point. Parker overhears his parents talking about how difficult the last few years haven been financially. They fear they will have to sell the Home Away Inn which has been on property owned by Parker’s dad’s family for generations. Parker can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Parker loves the summer when guests fill the cottages. His friend Frankie and her family spend the summers at the Home Away Inn. Parker, Frankie, and Bailey, Parker’s younger sister, enjoy the freedom of roaming Spruce Point. Parker and Frankie formed a “gang.” When they have something to share, they use the acronym KCM meaning Kids’ Confidential Meeting. Bailey is initiated into the group too. Parker and Bailey’s cousins Sylvie and Drake are also members of the group. They don’t live on Spruce Point, but their mother brings them to visit across the water.
Parker wants to help his parents keep their property. He suggests that his mother offer cooking classes because she is a wonderful cook. At first, she is hesitant, but she decides she can do it. Parker, Bailey, Frankie, Sylvie, and Drake also want to solve the curse that people way haunts Spruce Point because of a long-ago shipwreck during a storm that killed all the sailors aboard the ship.
The Ghost of Spruce Point is a story of family and friends. The children enjoy the freedom of summer while trying to find ways to solve the problem of the curse and help Parker and Bailey’s parents keep their home. It is a delightful story.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, adventure, ghostly pursuits and spooky vibes all in one book!
👻
Parker and his family have been the owners of Home Away Inn in Maine for generations and during to climate change and a lot of bad luck, this might be their last summer as inn owners if they can’t get more people to visit their peninsula. When Parker and his best friend, Frankie, suspect their neighbor, Mrs. Gruvlig, might be the reason all these bad things are happening, they, along with cousins and Parker’s little sister, try to break the curse.
👻
This was a sweet MG book perfect for kids who love adventure, outdoors, and a little bit of spooky fun thrown in the mix. @_nancytandon_ created a space that reminded me of my childhood in that the entire novel is device-free, something we don’t read a lot about in books now. Congrats on it being a @txbbaward nominee for 24-25!

CW: parental death (off page, discussed), grief, financial troubles, climate change, OCD tendencies

3.5⭐️ just for it being a little too picture perfect with the no devices and kids who love everyone and everything lol My personal preference: it read like adults writing how kids should talk and behave instead of how they really do. No mention of cell phones? Yeah not in this world.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done MG mystery that won’t scare the kiddies too much, yet still keep them turning the pages til the end. I read it in one sitting, myself. I liked the cast of disparate characters, one of whom had a condition surely no kids will be familiar with but that can help build empathy and would make a nice tie-in to one of our curriculum books that we all read together. Both boy and girl characters will help everyone see themselves in the story. Adoption, family business, Maine and its cloistered tendencies as well as environmental changes and eating healthy foods in season all check boxes.written by a former teacher and speech therapist gives this girl hope. 😉

[Cassandra Ogren · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was a rollercoaster. At one point, I even said, “this can’t be the climax….is it?”. The character relationships made me smile and laugh,many times. Three stars because my expectations were that it was going to be more mysterious. It turned out to be more heart-felt!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, read with the students.

Bluebonnet Book for 2024, was honestly HARD to get the students into, even a tough read for me sometimes. The book is heavily detail oriented and has a large vocabulary. The details would sometimes pile on top of each other and is a hard to follow read-aloud.

[Courtney (pawsitivelybookish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ghost of Spruce Point was so spooky and fun!

I loved the small coastal town setting and the friendship between the kids! Friends, siblings, cousins! It was all so cute.

I liked how the book started out with a sea ghost story and how that continued throughout the book becoming a theme.

This was just a really fun story.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

(read pre-published version)
12 year old Parker and his friends are convinced the rising tides, a moth infestation, crop failures and too few guests booked for the summer are the result of a curse that is threatening the existence of the Home Away Inn. It also explains the strange ghostly sightings and unexplained rocks and shell formations they keep finding. Parker and friends work together to help save the inn and unravel this supernatural mystery. Readers who enjoy spooky stories but still want to be able to sleep at night will enjoy this fun, spooky, adventurous mystery that takes place in the idyllic coastal Maine.

[Melissa Dassori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Tandon's The Ghost of Spruce Point is the perfect middle grade summer adventure. Tandon brings coastal Maine to life through a story about family and friends who spend time together in a wonderfully device-free, kid-forward fashion. With echoes of Peter Pan's "I won't grow up" mantra, Parker and his sister, cousin, and summer friends, new and old, have the run of Spruce Point as they hunt for answers to the supernatural happenings around them. It's a total page-turner with lots of humor and charm.

[A Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

(read as pre-published manuscript)
A charming story that encompasses all the important parts of growing up - family, adventure, burgeoning independence, and good friends! The author is adept at making coastal Maine an important part of the narrative, and by the end I wanted to jump on a plane to find Spruce Point for myself. Delightful!

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young readers will immediately be hooked by this ghost story with heart. The Ghost of Spruce Point is a poignant mixture of adventure and nostalgia--willing summer to stay.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Public library copy

Parker lives with his younger sister Bailey and his parents, who run a small motel, the Home Away From Home Inn. The inn is located in a remote area of Maine, and belonged to his grandmother. His parents quit their stressful jobs in the city to take it over. Parker is glad when summer comes around because it means that his best friend, Frankie, stays next door, and his cousins, Drake and Sylvie, visit more frequently when their mother drops off lobsters weekly. This summer, though, things aren't going as well. Not as many people are coming to the town as the water threatens to cut off the area, and local businesses are suffering. Parker feels that a cranky neighbor, Mrs. Gruvlig, has cursed the area because she is cranky and always complaining about the business that his parents run, but also feels that there might be a mysterious presence haunting his treehouse. He and Frankie, with Bailey and the cousins' help, come up with a plan to turn things around for the motel, and also leave a note for the ghost. The ghost replies and asks to meet them!
Strengths: This had a very classic feel to it, and the idea of a summer in a remote resort community has a lot of appeal. Bar Harbor and the Acadia National Park are both beautiful areas. The parents' struggles with the business are realistic, and Parker has some good ideas, like his mother running cooking classes. The friendship with Frankie, and with Parker's cousins, is quite fun, and the group is given enough freedom to get into a tiny bit of trouble when investigatin the mystery. Tandon, whose The Way I Say It came out not too long ago, is a solid writer who creates excellent settings and characters.
Weaknesses: My students want all ghosts to be murderous, so might not consider this scary enough. I wasn't a fan of the reason Mrs. Gruvlig was so mean; she came around, but had the same sort of background as Mr. Biederman in Glaser's The Vanderbeekers.
What I really think: This is similar in feel to Markell's The Ghost in Apartment 2R Oppel's Ghostlight, and Key's Twelfth; there's a bit of history, a light mystery, and ghosts that aren't particularly scary. The real terror comes with the idea of losing the motel, and Parker's brush with the supernatural (as well as come affects of climate change revealing a hidden historical graveyard) manages to save the day.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure mixes with ghosts, friendships, and the need to save the family business or leave the most awesome place to live forever.

Parker lives with his family in northern Maine on a off-the-beaten-ground tip of a peninsula, where they run a resort for tourists. Unfortunately, the last few years have been going downhill, and if this season doesn't perk-up, their going to have to give up the business and move into a town. It'd be the end of Parker's amazing life, but luckily, his best friend, Frankie, is back with her family for the season, but she holds bad news. She saw a ghost dancing in the neighbor's backyard...the 'mean' neighbor, who secretly harbors supernatural talents. Mix that with the curse, horrible storms, and unexplainable disasters keeping the tourists away at every turn, and Parker is in for quite the summer.

This is a fun adventure with a perfect setting. A tree house, forests, beaches, boats...it's got the room and freedom for exploration pure. There will be more than a couple readers, who will wish they could spend their summer in such a place, too. The details sit just enough to let the scenes open up, while the mystery and attempt to save the resort keep the pacing high. Something is always going on, and it's hard to know what will happen next because there is quite a bit unfolding.

Friendship is key as Parker not only reunites with his bestie, Frankie, but also has other seasonal friends (as well as new ones) join in. They are ready to give their all to meet their goals and hold 'secret' meetings, where adults are definitely not welcome. I enjoyed how Parker's younger sibling melded in and found the twist with the ghostly girl well-done. It weaves active imaginations with reality and allows the paranormal to seep in with grace.

This is a gentle ghost story with enough tension to keep those pages turning but not enough spooks and scares to ward off more sensitive readers. But that doesn't make it boring. There is a lot at stake, and the curse makes things dangerous. I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the mix of adventure and paranormal.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read for middle grade readers who enjoy realistic fiction with a touch of mystery, family fun and financial troubles, and a whole lot of friendship and cooperation to resolve a variety of situations. Spruce Point is a beautiful setting in Maine with an inn that has been in the family for years. 12 year old Parker, his best friends and summer time resident Frankie tighten their relationship even more as they try to find ways to bring more bring more business to the struggling inn and determining what or who is causing eerie and unwanted things to happen may be a key to keeping Parker’s family in their home. This is absolutely not a ghost story, although the presence of one, a drowning death, and a tale of a sunken ship with ghosts who have left a curse on the whole area is threaded through the book and never settles the debate of haunted vs not haunted. Tandon’s characters could be in any town and come from a variety of family configurations- two parent home, single parent, a grandmother/granddaughter. A new neighbor has a rare allergy to sunlight called xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), giving readers a glimpse into the unique trials that come with that struggle. Targeted to readers in grades 4-6 without any profanity, sexual content, or violence. Note: The print arc received from the author had a slightly larger font than usual and a bit more white space which, should the final copy also be printed this way, makes it appealing visually and a great choice for those with dyslexia.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker lives with his parents and his younger sister at the Home Away Inn on the Maine coast. It has been in their family for generations and even though it has always been rumored to be haunted, that has never stopped the family friendly guest house/hotel from doing well. Until this summer. Parker is determined to do whatever he can to help his parents keep the Home Away and figure out the mysterious happenings around the inn. Luckily he has his best friend Frankie to help him plus cousins who live on a nearby island.

The descriptions of family, especially the close relationship between the cousins, is especially endearing, reminding me of how close I was to my cousins growing up. Descriptions of the Maine coast and delicious food will make you want to visit. The level of suspense and mystery is just right for a middle grade novel. Give this to fans of Whispering Pines, Scritch Scratch, and Small Spaces.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

An atmospheric middle grade story of loss and endurance set in the remote coastal region of Maine. Parker and his family run an inn for tourists who vacation in the area. The inn has been in the family for generations and Parker can’t imagine any other life. Spending summers with his cousins and best friend Frankie is a tradition he cherishes.
Except this summer everything is different. Fewer tourists are coming because of recent flooding from violent storms. No tourists mean no one staying at the inn. With money already tight, Parker’s parents may have to sell their beloved business and move to Boston.
Parker, his sister Bailey, and their friends hatch a plan to try and save the inn. But is it too little, too late? And what are those strange green lights that only seem to appear at night. Is it a ghost, a curse, or something even more sinister?
The book is a real page-turner with engaging characters, a vivid setting and lots of surprises.

[D'Anne Mosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker lives on the coast of Maine. His family runs an inn that has been in their family for generations. Parker and his little sister Bailey love where they live—the beautiful ocean, the small town, and the freedom of life. But the inn is failing. Not as many visitors are coming anymore. There is an old story about a shipwreck off the coast, and Parker is afraid the shipwrecks curse is affecting their business. And he may not be wrong bc strangely glowing lights can be seen on the coast at night. Strange circles of shells are found when no one will admit to creating it. Or cairns, stacks of rocks, than no one seems to be building appear. Parker his sister and friends set out to break the curse—even if it means hunting for ghosts.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book to take on summer vacation, especially because I was lucky enough to spend it in Maine! I loved this book. Fast-paced, action-packed, and the characters feel very real. Twelve-year-old Parker loves his life with his parents and younger sister Bailey at the Home Away Inn, the rustic resort his parents own not far from Bar Harbor, Maine. This year, however, bookings are down, and Parker and his friend Frankie think there's a curse on the peninsula. Odd clues start showing up in their tree fort. Could there really be a ghost on Spruce Point? A delightful summer read. Great for book clubs.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood should be magical, filled with exploration, experiences, laughter, friendship and sibling fun and irritation. This book is filled with so many wonderful moments of terror and pure joy. You can feel the weather of this Maine summer that isn’t much of a summer. More like a sloppy wet, often blustery and frigid winter many places around the world. Yet these kids are ready to face the wet and cold to discover friends, ghosts and treasures. FOREVER KIDS!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghost of Spruce Point is slow to get started but once I was about 50 pages in I was hooked. It’s pretty sophisticated and long (over 300 pages) for a middle grade book. The story is sweet and though it is not tied up in a happily ever after bow, it definitely ends on a hopeful note. The characters, including some of the side characters, are well developed. It’s pretty obvious why it was selected as a Bluebonnet Book this year.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the Maine setting of Spruce Point. I've always wanted to visit Maine and wish that the Home Away Inn was a real place! This was mildly scary and will be perfect for young readers who are more interested in the idea of a scary story than in being truly scared. The characters are lovely.

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has nothing spooky about it. Nothing! It's a feel good, atmospheric book set on the beach. It's mostly about kids trying to save the inn because it's not getting much business. (Grown up issues). MC grew up there and doesn't want to leave the area. Occasionally, they see glowing green lights. Don't even get me started on the "ghost".

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mother of 3, I loved this book! The mystery, the perfect amount of spooky for kids, the adventure, and the friendships. Makes me want to book a stay at the Home Away Inn and kick my kids outside more often to find adventures of their own. Would make a lovely read aloud.

[Katie Maybaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Texas Bluebonnet nominee for the 2024-25 school year. It brings you back to what it’s like to be a kid in the summer but the ghost story is more about friendship than ghosts. Don’t let the title mislead you.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and heartfelt kids' novel about a boy and his friends and family trying to save their struggling inn on the coast of Maine. Not very ghostly at all, but a gentle, if somewhat all-over-the-place with the plot, read.

[Lisa Schmid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun story with a few unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing until the last page. Loved it!