TEAM CHU AND THE WILD GHOST CHASE

Is a Halloween-themed amusement park haunted by a real ghost? A squad of young sleuths takes on the case.

When their friends—brother and sister Iggy and Marta Morales—are invited to enter Tuba, their feline TikTok sensation, in the Spooky World Pet Gala fashion show, Vietnamese American siblings Clip and Sadie Chu are thrilled to tag along. But it turns out that the theme park is famed for more than the pet show: It’s also the haunt of the ghostly Weeping Lady, who pops up all over, including in mirrors, leaving behind a trail of water. But who was she, and why isn’t she moving on? The search for answers sends the group of friends scrambling all over sprawling Spooky World, including a few places that are off-limits to younger guests. The story’s suspenseful moments come more from the inventively terrifying rides and other attractions than supernatural events, making this work appropriate for those seeking milder frights. Dao also explores conflicts and anxieties involving Sadie’s efforts to hide her struggles in middle school (thanks to placement tests that landed her in too many advanced classes) and a friendship rift between Clip and his bestie over the quest to become soccer team captain. All fences are neatly mended in time for the story to wrap up on a buoyant note. Ngo’s occasional illustrations add to the atmosphere.

Friends negotiate bumpy relationships against a backdrop of gentle chills and thrills.