A Black boy with magical abilities must save his family and his ancestral home in Charleston from dark forces that seek to ruin them.When he's not spending time with his magical family of aunts (both alive and ghostly) and his cousins Issa and Femi, 12-year-old Theo Tatterly is a loner. As the Tatterlys' only working medium, he can see a constant stream of ghosts-and despite his family's protests, Theo often exorcises ghosts by himself. But something goes wrong during a seemingly routine exorcism. Then, a ghostly hag ambushes Theo and Issa while they're at the aquarium. On top of that, his aunts are concerned about increasing efforts by someone unknown to disprove their legal ownership of the home that Tatterlys have occupied for generations; further back, the family lived on this land when they were enslaved. Theo's convinced that all the pieces are connected, but he's unsure how. It'll take relying on friends and family to help piece together the history and folklore behind the Tatterly name and save everything Theo cares about. Through limited omniscient narration, the author builds a steady tension as Theo pieces together information about their enemy, leading readers toward a momentous climax. Clear, reverent descriptions of Charleston's rich culture make the city just as much of a character as the members of Theo's diverse community, each of whom has a well-developed personality.A richly detailed story that amplifies the importance of connections and community. (Paranormal. 8-12)

A Black 12-year-old must take on an evil supernatural entity to save his family in this adrenaline-fueled tale by Miles (For All Time). Theo Tatterly, who has always been able to see and talk to ghosts, lives with his similarly gifted aunts and cousins in an old mansion in Charleston, S.C. Because of his abilities, he is constantly surrounded by ghosts asking for his help in crossing over to the other side. This unending supernatural chatter makes him feel as if he has no time to cultivate relationships with the living, resulting in much time alone and few friendships, save for his bond with cousin Issa. When a malevolent presence interrupts his exorcising a spirit, Theo learns that the sinister specter intends to come after his family. To protect them, Theo must bring together everyone he knows—living and dead—to fight back. Though a somewhat complicated and occasionally inconsistent magic system can sometimes befuddle, over-the-top fantastical ambiance, paired with rich depictions of Charleston’s historical and cultural lore, makes for an endearing, enchanting adventure teeming with quirky characters. Ages 8–12. (Oct.)