The Ghost, the White House, and Me

St. George (the So You Want to Be picture books) offers a rousing tale that is part mystery, part ghost story and lightly grounded in history. When 11-year-old KayKay’s mother becomes President and the family moves into the White House, KayKay gets intrigued by a report that the ghost of Abraham Lincoln still haunts his old bedroom. Although KayKay does not believe in ghosts, she loves a mystery, and she can’t wait to investigate. In a chatty tone, KayKay as narrator works in details about day-to-day life in the White House and the responsibilities of being the President’s daughter. A “secret writer,” she also explains how she incorporates real life into plots for her stories. The quick plot and deftly sketched characters, along with a neatly resolved ending, serve the target audience well. Quirky, tongue-in-cheek anecdotes about the nation’s presidents further enhance this novel’s appeal. Ages 8-12. (Nov.)