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“Mo is haunted by the fallout of her mother’s messy divorce, and by a minor toaster fire which symbolizes, in a way, the fiery finale of their peaceful life. …On top of it all, Mo begins to have hazy dreams about a sad-eyed elephant. With quirky classmate Nathaniel, a self-proclaimed ghost expert, they dig into the elephant’s well-documented local history and dramatic death. Their discoveries lead them to explore the conflicted heritage of New Warren, a town with a whitewashed self-image, built through the work of Black Americans and economically buoyed by Chinese laborers.”

– School Library Journal, Starred Review

Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards

Written by Susan Tan
Published by Roaring Brook Press

Moving to a new town is never easy, but it’s even harder when you’re dealing with a stepdad who just left and a mom who can’t get out of bed long enough to find a new job. But Mo doesn’t have time to dwell on these things.

Because it’s her job to keep her family together. To keep them safe.

So when an elephant starts to haunt her dreams—and a mysterious spirit attacks her home—Mo knows it’s up to her to intervene before things get too dangerous.

With her new friend, Nathaniel, she embarks on an investigation, searching for the truth about the town, its people, and their history. But things are much more complicated and tangled than she thought.

To find out what’s really going on, Mo might have to live a little dangerously after all.

Primary ISBN: 9781250797001
Publication Date: April 2023
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (Massachusetts)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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