Part of The Baby-Sitters Club, book 29
First published 1997
Mallory Pike gets more than she bargained for when Stacey McGill gives her an old trunk from the attic. Hidden at the bottom lies a diary from the 1890s, written by a girl named Sophie who once lived in Stacey's house. As Mallory reads Sophie's entries, she uncovers clues to a mystery that spans more than a century. The diary reveals that Stacey's current living situation involves more than just her and her mother. A family of spirits from Sophie's era still occupies the house, and their presence creates complications for the McGills. Mallory must piece together the puzzle from Sophie's written memories while dealing with supernatural residents who refuse to leave. The mystery challenges Mallory to connect past and present, using her detective skills to understand what keeps these ghostly inhabitants tied to their former home.
Genres: mystery, fantasy, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, mystery-solving
Setting: Stacey's House
Period: 1890s, 20th Century
144 pages · Paperback · Scholastic Paperbacks