THE GHOST OF CUTLER CREEK
by Cynthia DeFelice
In the third story featuring young ghost magnet, 11-year-old Allie, the ghost communicating with her this time is a dog. Allie loves dogs but her brother’s allergic to them, so when her favorite teacher asks her to dog-sit, she’s delighted. But when Hoover turns up missing, Allie and her sidekick Dub are convinced that the surly new boy L.J. and his menacing father are behind it. Keen readers will quickly pick up the clues that point to the mean man and abusive father who’s running a puppy mill. Ghosts are treated matter-of-factly and the plot has a fair amount of contrivance but the child-like enthusiasm and naïveté are believable, especially Allie and Dub’s entrepreneurial plan for making and selling low-cal dog treats. This can be read independently, though those who’ve read the other two will appreciate Allie and her ghost charisma more. Enticing title and cover. (Fiction. 8-12)