Hart & Souls

by Lisa Schmid, Carolina Vázquez (Illustrator)

After getting bullied at Figueroa Elementary, Stix Hart wants nothing more than to fly below the radar at middle school. He's heard all the horror stories, but  none  involved ghosts.

On Stix's first day of sixth grade, his anxiety is off the charts. It doesn't help when he spots a kid who reminds him of his old bully, Xander Mack. Soon after, he encounters two other students who take a keen interest in him. He quickly learns the spooky truth—the trio are lost souls in need of a solid. When the ghosts tell him they've been stuck in middle school for decades, it's up to Stix to figure out how to help these not-so-normal new friends. 

Solving this paranormal predicament will take some serious sleuthing and a tremendous act of courage. Can Stix solve this mystery and help these spirits move on before it's too late? 

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Ghosts, Young Adult

304 pages, Paperback

Published July 23, 2024

About the author

Lisa Schmid is an author and co-host of the podcast Writers With Wrinkles. When not scaring up ghostly adventures, she visits schools and libraries to discuss writing and books. She lives in Northern California with her husband, son, two dogs, and one very sneaky hamster.

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book tremendously! I think it will appeal to a wide range of middle grade readers. This book has humor, heart, and healthy attitudes. It’s a story involving ghosts but not a spooky ghost story at all. I love the diverse characters and the way techniques for dealing with anxiety are shown without being preachy. This book is perfect for reading for pleasure but can also be a great springboard for discussion on a variety of subjects including family changes and how different people respond to that change.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ghostly MG paranormal book that (as a millennial) I couldn’t get enough of!
👻
Stix Hart is ready to put his bullied past behind him as he starts fresh in middle school, but on his first day of sixth grade, he can’t stop his anxiety from running wild. It gets worse when he sees a kid named Xander who looks just like the bully from his old school. He meets two other kids who have taken an interest in him and realize all three are lost souls in need of a solid. Turns out these ghosts have been stuck in middle school for decades and it’s now up to Stix to help them out. Who needs school anyway when there’s paranormal mysteries to be solved?
👻
This was just adorable! I loved the characters’ references to things from their past, even their clothing is reminiscent of my time growing up. I loved the 1993 movie Heart and Souls and this totally reminded me of it. This isn’t a spooky ghost story, but a novel full with humor and heart. I appreciated the representation and highly recommend this title!

CW: bullying, anxiety, coming out

[Jenifer Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! What an amazing way to capture the real anxiety of middle school in a very normalizing and supportive way. The dialogue is incredible and I loved how each character grew and learned about themselves and the world around them. It made my heart happy and yes, I cried. What a wonderful middle grade book. Highly recommend this one!

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't resist a middle grade ghost story and this one has three. They are fantastic characters from different times who finally found in Hart a friend to help them. If they solve their unfinished business they can move on. Stix Hart is a middle grade drummer but he has a lot of panic attacks and he lacks confidence, but soon he starts to see that not all is what it looks like, and even helps the "bully" to discover true friendship. All the three ghosts' issues are good stories and my favorite was Summer's storyline.

Note: Hart's mom is hilarious and loves to read Agatha Christie.

Themes: bullying, mental health, diversity, LGBTQIA representation, getting more self-confident, friendship, doing something for others, never giving up. 

Thank you publisher for the copy.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This reminded me a little of The Ghost Job by Greg Van Eekhout, with the deceased students. A little more bullying and middle school drama, and more illustrations.

[Shayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hart & Souls is a really cute book for grades 4-6. I thought Lisa Schmid did a great job channeling her inner 6th grader and it read like a middle schooler’s life, not like an older person writing the book. I think there is enough to talk about like bullying, being anxious the first day of 6th grade, friends changing, anxiety, etc that this could make a decent book club book for 6th grade or 5th graders at the end of the year. There is also some LGBTQ representation that I thought was done well. I liked the characters and even though some of the resolutions to the ghost’s problems was a little predictable, it was still a fun story about friendship and family. It’s engaging enough that it kept me reading and was actually the book I was looking forward to the most out of the 3 I’m currently reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing for providing me with an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This middle grade story has a lot going for it. Stix is in his first year of middle school and with his anxiety and panic attacks, he's not prepared for what he's going to find... Especially when he sees 3 ghosts that no one else can see. They need his help to help them move on.

Stix is a good kid and he wants to help as he can but the biggest obstacle is going to be helping Jesse because his brother is Xander, a bully. I really liked that Stix learned that people may not always be as bad or mean as they seem- sometimes we need to look closer to see the hurt and find the reason someone might be lashing out. Stix also learns that life may take away friends at one time or another but the blame isn't always on one person.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entry in the “starting junior high is hard” genre does good stuff with its fantasy element. Stix already has reasons to be nervous; he’s got anxiety and doesn’t want to have a panic attack at school, he shares no classes with his best friend (who easily finds new friends and activities, giving Stix worries about being left behind), his helicopter mom is supportive but also deeply uncool, and three of the kids he interacts with can’t be seen by anyone else, making his conversations deeply odd to non-ghost seeing peers and adults.

I did spend some time turning into a pile of dust and blowing away, since the kid from the distant past was of course much younger than me, but I liked their distinctive problems and personalities. I liked how the mundane and fantasy elements worked together, and even how the bully problem was directly addressed. The writing was fine, not distracting but not outstanding, but there were cool moments for kids and for me (I liked how one ghost thought her friend would never marry, but then discovered one of the great things about the future - women can have wives!).

[Panda Incognito · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded down.

This middle-grade novel is about a boy with anxiety who is starting middle school. He connects with some ghosts that only he can see, and helps them resolve their unfinished business so that they can move on and stop haunting the middle school. The main character also deals with changes in some of his friendships and pursues playing the drums in the talent show. There's a lot going on, and the plot points don't always come together fully, but the common middle school themes will appeal to the target audience.

The book has a comfortable font size that is easy to read, along with some occasional black-and-white illustrations. Also, even though the story involves ghosts, this is not a scary story. The paranormal themes are pretty light and humorous, and this story is mainly about people resolving their emotional struggles, without being particularly spooky.

This book has LGBT themes. One character has two moms, who never appear together in the story and are just referenced. In addition to this, there's a big reveal partway through the story about one of the ghosts, revealing that the childhood friend she needs to reconnect with to resolve her unfinished business was actually her girlfriend, not just a friend. The main character helps the ghost meet the grown-up version of her childhood best friend and first love, who is now an adult married to another woman. They have a heartfelt conversation, and the adult provides what the ghost needs to resolve the problem holding her back from the spirit world.

This book has occasional plot holes, and it bothered me that the ghosts were unaware of things they should have been familiar with from haunting this school for years. The female ghost had been haunting this school since the late 90s, but we're supposed to believe that she's never heard of Facebook? Sure, it wasn't around during her lifetime, and it hasn't been popular with kids in many years, but she was stuck haunting that school in the time in between, back when it was popular with teens! We're also supposed to believe that she was totally unaware of changing attitudes towards gay relationships. I find it difficult to believe that she'd never seen any openly gay kids at that middle school in recent years, or heard anything about contemporary gay couples.

The plot is also contrived at times, with lots of overly convenient details coming together and an unbelievably rushed resolution to the main character's relationship with a former bully. This book tackled a whole lot all at once and needed to resolve everything before the end, but could have done so in a more plausible and more satisfying way.

I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine, and am leaving an honest review voluntarily.

[Linn J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I really appreciated this e-arc.

Omg my eyes, I'm so teary!!!!

Okay okay, I need to take some breaths.
Little Stix just started middle school, bummer in one way. The school is huge, Stix just lost his best friend to another kid and he can see three ghost kids that are stuck, yelp. Like life wasn't hard enough.

Stix may be jumpy, gets panic attack and feel lost sometimes. When Stix get to know Dante, Summer and Jess; Stix life changes for the better.
The characters are so lively and cute. They are kids but have it tough. Like Summer, Dante and Jess died so young and they are full with regrets.
Throughout the story, we learn about the kids, that they have so much thoughts in their minds. They carry some luggage and may be haunted by ghosts. But with braveness, focus, kindness and friendship, anything can get a happy ending.

I liked how Stix were. He was like an old soul, to wise for his age maybe. He had an open mind and he always have his friends back, which was so nice to read about. Also that he truly tackled panic attacks with some wise methods like breathing techniques and calming methods. That was such a nice and down to earth kind of approach.

This was just an lovely book to read with a mix of ghosts, time eras, life and friendship. I also liked that the ghost was stuck in their time but learned that the modern world is more acceptable to like homosexuality. So we have that representation. Also the typical bulling and such that occur in American school. Even tiktok was included, which is kind of modern if you ask me. I liked it.

This were an amazing modern children's novel, for all ages!

[Cailleach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hart & Souls is a cute and encouraging middle grades novel which addresses typical anxieties about beginning middle school for the first time. Stix feels all the usual worries about going into the sixth grade; bullies, teachers, and ghosts. In a story centered around middle school spirits, the reader ends up coming out with a heap of helpful and comforting lessons about the transition to middle school. Gaining and losing friends, relationships, bullies and more, everyone could benefit from the sensitivity and helpfulness shown by Stix.

This would have been a five star read for me, the casual inclusion of a diverse cast of characters (including lgbtq+ representation), a fast paced and easy to read style, and characters who grow realistically through the story. My only hang up is the inclusion of some modern terms and ideas which will serve to make Hart & Souls outdated sooner than it should be (e.g. a TikTok trend which is already outdated by about two or three years). These specifics will help draw in kids right now, but in a short time it will become irrelevant to their lives. Overall these are minor details in the story, but it could lose the interest of a middle grades reader as soon as they are unable to relate.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Middle school is scary enough but adding ghosts to the mix only amps up the stakes. In HART & SOULS aspiring drummer Stix, who’s already nervous about starting sixth grade, discovers this when he realizes that he is the only student able to see a trio of ghosts who haunt his school. It turns out that each of the ghosts has some unfinished business that needs to be completed before they’re able to reach their final resting place—and they need help from Stix to make it happen. He reluctantly agrees to work with them, digging into their pasts while trying to find his own way in his current day middle school world. Each ghost has an engaging background story that unfolds as Stix helps them to unravel and ultimately resolve their issues. In the process, he tackles issues around friendship, bullying, and self-confidence that are familiar to many middle grade readers.

With a mix of mystery and paranormal elements combined with a fast pace, fun illustrations, and lots of humor, this take on the ups and downs of middle school will appeal to and delight a wide range of readers.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like reading middle school stories party because the print is friendly to my eyes and also because middle school was the most difficult period of my life.

The author, Lisa Schmid is very talented weaving together common and uncommon middle school experiences. losing a family member, parents divorcing or separating, not fitting in are among the many problems of middle schoolers.

The author had a valid reason for the ghosts in her story, unfinished business. The main character, Stix, a nickname for a drummer reminded me of the RIver Styx, the river in Greek Mythology that needs to be crossed from the living to the dead. Stix was the one to solve the problems and thus enable the ghosts to leave the earth and join the dead. So children of thirteen years old may not know of that association but if they are like at that age, they will get the homophones.

The plot, the characters and illustrations are all top notch in the book. There are places that will make you laugh and it is written in sensitive manner. This book is also very entertaining.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sweet and slightly spooky HART & SOULS by Lisa Schmid is exactly what I needed today! As a fan of spooky middle grade books, I love that this one is more friendship than frights, not that I don't love a good fright, but seriously, this book hit me in the feels. I'm not going to give a synopsis, there are plenty you can read, but I will say I really liked feeling immersed in the middle school experience -- all of it, the good, the not-so-good, and the cringe that many of us probably remember from those days.

I think HART & SOULS resonated for me because I really liked Stix. He's sweet and real and I totally wanted to be his friend. It's a fun book that kids of all ages will relate to because author Lisa Schmid touches on many issues, worries, and life-things that we are living through or have lived through -- and she does it with sensitivity, humor, and characters that you will love. Go get your copy of HART & SOULS.

[Hannah Lorenzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character in this story, Stix, is the only one at his middle school that can see three ghosts who are stuck there until they resolve their unfinished middle school business. The story is less scary, and more heartfelt (and funny!).
At the surface, Stix's challenges revolve around helping each of the three ghosts resolve their business, but underneath, it's a story of navigating friendships and dealing with anxiety. I loved the way Stix, who is an avid drummer, uses music to deal with his anxiety. The story addresses the topic of anxiety in a way that is serious, but will not feel too heavy for younger readers. I really appreciate the author's ability to seamlessly tie mental health into this fun and engaging story.
The story is sprinkled with humor (both chuckle-worthy and laugh-out-loud-worthy!) and even older readers will smile as they read along and remember the ups and downs on middle school!
I definitely recommend this as a middle grade novel!

[Lisa Riddiough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with humor, heart, and empathy! Stix Hart enters middle school with the usual jitters. But when he sees a kid who reminds him of a former bully, his anxiety kicks in for real. Eventually, that kid becomes Stix’s friend. But it’s too good to be true, because that kid is a ghost stuck at middle school along with two others with “unfinished business.” Stix must overcome his own issues in order to help the three ghosts cross over. Serious issues are deftly balanced with laugh out loud humor and ghost puns. The ensemble cast of characters are fully developed, and the author does a superb job depicting the difficulty of adjusting to middle school. As an added bonus, the author beautifully weaves in the value of libraries, bookstores, and literacy. A page turner with just the right amount of spooky!

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book! "Hart & Souls" delves into themes of bullying, anxiety, and the challenges of middle school with the help of friendly ghosts. As a 7th-grade teacher, I think this would be perfect for a read-aloud at the beginning of the school year. Schmid's funny anecdotes and introspective voice will keep kids engaged, and the creative, relatable characters will make them laugh and empathize. Vazquez's vibrant illustrations add emotional depth and are a delightful addition to the story. This is a must-read for any kid seeking a fun ghost story with characters they can relate to!

Thanks to Lisa Schmid, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC. This book is scheduled for release on July 23rd, 2024.

[Fleur Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can be difficult to find engaging middle-grade novels that aren’t too long and are easy to read aloud, but Lisa Schmid’s Hart and Souls gets it just right. With lots of heart in main character Stix Hart, a mystery plot that will keep you guessing, and a ghostly element kid readers will love, this book is sure to be a hit. I loved the illustrations and that the book wasn’t too long, which will appeal to avid and reluctant readers alike.

Hart and Souls is the perfect ghostly mystery to read aloud in class, gift to your kid reader, and add to your library. Lisa Schmid is quickly becoming one of my favorite middle-grade authors!

[Bexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stix Hart is about to start sixth grade, and all the local elementary schools are funneled into a single school. This means new people, new classes, new teachers, and he is nervous. It becomes worse when he realizes that those three kids hanging out near him are ghosts, and now he has to figure out how to help them pass on. As an adult reading this, the plot was very easy to guess and it ended the way I thought it would. I think it will be entertaining for young readers, but this is a middle grade novel that doesn't have much for an advance reader. The artwork is super fun and I would recommend this to new middle-graders who are nervous, because at least they don't have to talk to ghosts.

[A ac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Schmid is my favorite voice in the middle grade genre. Like her debut, Ollie Oxley and the Ghost, her second novel, Hart & Souls, tackles more than just the daily grind of her middle school characters. Bullying, anxiety, and friendship are at the center of this story, in which the MC must learn not only how to make friends but how to let them go. This book is a page turner that is unputdownable. I highly recommend it.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it's tough to figure out how exactly life works, even after that time has passed. Stix has finally made it to middle school and nothing is like he imagines. Surrounded by new people, he searches for his friends and happens to find a few more. However, some of them, only he can see. While not everything in this book is realistic, every reader can find a bit of "real" that applies to their life, regardless of their age.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

👦🏻 reviews: A fast, funny and quick read. This funny, spooky, adventurous, silly book is about Stix Hart dealing and helping the three paranormal friends to move on from middle-school. Stix and his drumming ability is probably the only way for the three ghosts to move up to the next level. This is a funny semi-graphic kind of book for elementary school boys who want to enjoy reading and looking at the graphics too. It is funny and silly and I recommend this short book.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much!! It’s a great page turner, I couldn’t put it down! It’s got redemption and anxiety rep. I loved the story, the characters, the style of writing, and the message about believing in yourself. I would totally read this again, and I give it 5 stars!

Thank you very much to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read and give my honest review!

[Colette Sewall · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the delightful cover to the final page, I thoroughly enjoyed this story! This fast-paced middle-grade tale features great friendships and engaging characters the reader can’t help but love and root for. The ghosts, each with their own unfinished business to remedy, are especially fun along with the cute illustrations sprinkled throughout the pages. Highly recommended! Five stars!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, fun, and clever... I adored Stix and his lost soul friends. Their solutions were creative, and several scenes made me chuckle out loud. Also, I appreciate the organic way anxiety strategies were used throughout the book. (I have a couple of new strategies for my own anxiety toolkit now. Bonus!)

[Carly West · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spooky novel for the less spooky-inclined? Look no further than this gem of a book. Those parents looking for a middle grade reader who likes ghosts but not the horrifying ones, Hart & Souls is for you. With perfectly timed humor and a beautifully crafted story about overcoming bullying, Schmid will leave you wanting more. Don't miss this one.

[Donna Lambo-Weidner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always on the lookout for a good middle grade ghost story. I found a great, heartwarming one in Lisa Schmid's Hart and Souls. It's filled with humor, has relatable characters, an intriguing plot, and quite a few mysteries to solve. I don't know about you, but just the though of being stuck in middle grade forever makes me shriek and shiver. Hart and Souls hits all the marks for a fun read.

[Kate DeMaio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stix has the usual middle school problems - avoid the bullies, dodge embarassing moments, and deal with lingering anxiety. Unfortunately, there's even more added to Stix's plate when 3 ghosts show up at school. He's the only one that can see them and they need his help. This light-hearted and relatable story was a blast to read.

[Kathy Arnold Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable mystery and adventure book set in a middle school! I loved getting to know the well-developed and very likable characters including three ghosts. I also appreciated the messages of friendship, perseverance, and bravery throughout these pages. Cute illustrations throughout the book. Highly recommend this creative children’s book!

[Matt McMann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm, funny, heartfelt story of an anxiety-ridden middle schooler who finds his courage through helping three ghosts with tasks they left unfinished in life. A quick and engaging read that is light on spooky and strong on important growth lessons for kids and adults alike. Highly recommended!