City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

Cassidy Blake book 1. Scholastic, 2018. ISBN: 9781407192765.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Themes: Ghosts, Paranormal, Edinburgh (Scotland). Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade and Children's (2018), 2019 Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2019 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. When Cassidy Blake's parents go to Edinburgh for their TV show about ghosts, Cass and her best friend Jacob, who really is a ghost, go along too. Arriving there Cass finds that she is surrounded by ghosts and Lara, a girl who can also see them, tells her that her mission is to send them beyond the Veil, the land of ghosts who haven't moved on. This seems like a good idea when the Red Raven starts haunting her, trying to take away her life force.
City of ghosts has all the ingredients for a thrilling, quick read: there are ghosts aplenty, the setting is the magical Edinburgh, and Cass, ably helped by Jacob, is a courageous and daring girl. Readers will love the tour of Edinburgh, the old Castle which is haunted by ghosts of soldiers and children, Greyfriars graveyard where a little dog is buried, and old streets and shops where ghosts hang out.
The plot is fast paced and the suspense will keep the reader enthralled as Cass fights for her life in the Scottish graveyard. Her relationship with Jacob will also intrigue and the reader is left with questions about the Veil and their role there, and will want to pick up further books in the series.
Pat Pledger