Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary.

References-a nod to Ghostbusters, a clowder of cats named for Goonies characters-add humor, but it’s the personal touches, such as Lucely’s opinionated, ever-present ancestors her dedication to those she loves and an emphasis on Latinx food, love, and folklore, that gives this debut its distinctive spirit. With this delightfully spooky adventure, Ortega draws upon her Dominican heritage to craft a heartwarming story with a strong focus on family genetic and found.

Augustine-one that they must reverse to defeat the evil that seeks to destroy them all. Borrowing a book of magic from Syd’s grandmother, who owns an occult store, they cast a spell that unleashes malevolent forces upon the town of St. When her grandmother’s spirit warns her of a coming darkness before falling dormant, Luna and her best friend, Syd Faires, seek to revive Mamá.

Check out the author’s website,, for a plethora of teaching resources, including a Spanish glossary, launch party video, discussion guides, and more.When Dominican-American Lucely Luna, 12, learns that her single father might lose their house, her primary concern is for the myriad ghosts of her family, who inhabit the willow tree out back as fireflies, at least when they’re not manifesting in human form. But Syd's and Lucely’s first ghost spell goes wrong, releasing even more evil spirits! With the Halloween Festival quickly approaching, will the ghost squad have enough time and witchy superpowers to save Lucely’s hometown, her father’s business, and her firefly relatives whose lights are fading fast?Ĭreepy catacombs, fun-loving cats, and enchanted books are just a few of the elements readers will encounter in this page-turning mystery. Augustine, Lucely forms a “ghost squad” with her best friend Syd and Syd’s grandmother, Babette, a witch and occult store owner. Claribel Ortega In Ghost Squad (Scholastic Press), 12-year-old Lucely Luna’s primary goal is to save her home, in part because the ghosts of her extended family, with whom she’s close. When she learns from one of these cocuyos, Mama Teresa, that an evil force is descending upon St. Lucely Luna has a deep love for family, particularly her father, whose ghost tour business is on the rocks, and her deceased relatives who live as fireflies (or cocuyos) in her backyard and morph into humans when she needs them most. Drawing from the author’s Dominican heritage, this action-packed novel is filled with cultural flavor.

Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega