Ruby and Olivia

by Rachel Hawkins

A spooky middle-grade story that's full of fun, friendship, and humor--perfect for fans of Ingrid Law and Lisa Graff.

Ruby is best friends with Emma, but she and Emma's twin sister Olivia are definitely not friends. Unfortunately, Emma will be away for the summer, while Ruby and Olivia are going to be stuck at a community service day camp for troublemakers--together.
To kick off the spirit of service, the campers are outfitted with bright pink polka-dotted t-shirts with smiley faces on the front, then tasked with cataloging the contents of an abandoned mansion. Sorting through objects in an old house sounds boring, and working with each other is that last thing the girls want to do, but the stuff is actually pretty cool. There's everything from mink stoles to golf clubs to stuffed deer heads . . . and . . . wait . . . is that stuffed deer head watching them?
When the taps run freezing cold and doors slam inexplicably, Ruby and Olivia wonder if the other campers are having a bit of fun, or if the abandoned mansion is looking for new residents. To solve the mystery, Ruby and Olivia will have to put their grudges aside and figure out how to be a team with or without Emma.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Friendship, Ghosts, Fiction, Childrens, Paranormal

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 24, 2017

About the author

Rachel Hawkins is the New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs, Reckless Girls, The Villa, and The Heiress, as well as multiple books for young readers. Her work has been translated into over two dozen languages. She studied gender and sexuality in Victorian literature at Auburn University and currently lives in Alabama.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually a strong 3.5 stars.

A big thank you to Penguin Publishing and Edelweiss for an ARC of this middle grade book.

October was definitely an appropriate time to read this seriously spooky and spunky book about two girls who take it upon themselves to deal with a haunted house. Ruby and Olivia are sentenced to summer community service at Camp Chrysalis for minor misdemeanors (involving glitter for Ruby and a stolen lipstick for Olivia). The camp project is begin restoring the historic landmark of their town, the Live Oak House -- named for a live oak tree growing in the middle of the house. As they both share experiences in the house and discover it is haunted, Ruby and Olivia become allies and their blossoming friendship is impacted by Olivia and her twin, Emma, who got to go away to real summer camp, but used to be Ruby's BFF.

What I like about this book were the insights into being a twin and how that affects your formation of friendships. The mystery in the house was very creepy and did turn out to have supernatural causes, so not for very young impressionable kids who might have nightmares.

[Bookish Delights · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Ruby & Olivia! It was a fun, cute, and delightful middle grade read with a spooky edge, and an interesting mystery that Ruby & Olivia have to try to solve at Live Oak House. Live Oak House is rumored to be a haunted mansion and that's exactly where Ruby and Olivia end up doing community service during the summer after each of them gets into trouble - only Olivia is completely innocent, taking the blame for something her twin sister Emma does, just so Emma can go to a fun summer camp. Talk about loyalty!! Ruby & Olivia aren't considered friends in the beginning of the book, as Olivia and Emma had a falling out with Ruby previously. So there is immediate tension between the girls as they start Camp Chrysalis to catalog creepy items at Live Oak House. These girls have to learn to work together and develop a comradery despite their differences. Mysterious and spooky things start to go on in the house and this becomes the glue that binds these girls into an otherwise unlikely friendship in order to solve the mystery of Live Oak House.

I liked how Ruby & Olivia eventually bonded at Camp Chrysalis and how their relationship strengthened authentically towards the end. Each of them also had to resolve issues in their own lives and learn how to deal with people in a way that was authentic to who they really were. But growth was definitely observed in each of their personalities. Spunky, brave, and outspoken Ruby softens a bit and learns to have some boundaries, while Olivia learns to speak up about how she truly feels about things. Each of these girls take something important away from Camp Chrysalis. So that was a good thing. And an added bonus is that they had more fun at Camp Chrysalis than they thought they would have! Who knew doing community service could turn into fun?!

It was so much fun reading about Ruby & Olivia's investigative activities, thoughts, and paranormal sleuthing when it came to the strange activity going on at Live Oak House. I really wanted them to figure out what was behind it all. At some points, you can't help but laugh at their antics, in an enjoyable way. And the length these girls go to is incredibly honorable, even at the scariest of times at Live Oak House! Definitely impressive for young girls! It was also refreshing that the story is told in alternating points of view by Ruby & Olivia, so you really get an in-depth look at what each of the girls are thinking and feeling.

Olivia's twin Emma isn't a central role in this story, only mentioned sporadically, so I wish Emma was integrated more into the story. I felt that, being a twin myself, Olivia would have wanted to talk to Emma more while she was away and she would have wanted to tell her all about the creepiness of Live Oak House and maybe ask for her help on what to do. But the author does a good job of explaining away why this doesn't happen more often, even when some attempts to make contact are made but are not followed though. But I truly believe Emma being away at camp to create an intentional distance between the twins was an essential part of the plot. It was necessary in order for Olivia to become independent from her sister, develop her own identity, and grow as a person. I also liked how loyal Olivia was to Emma, but I wish the opposite was true as well. Too bad the loyalty had to be under these circumstances of being "punished" during the summer. Hawkins did a good job of describing the dynamics of twin relationships, and how they feel. I could definitely relate, especially when I was Olivia and Emma's age.

I liked the integration of the history of Live Oak House into the story. I love learning about history, especially if it pertains to a house that is considered haunted! Rachel Hawkins made this history lesson fun and interesting for kids, so they will want to be immersed in it! Also, the initial owner of the house, Felix Wrexhall, and his son Mr. Matthews were well known in the town due to happenings at Live Oak House, so this added to the drama for the kids in terms of the spook factor.

The ending felt a bit rushed and not as thoroughly developed as I would have liked. I wasn't completely satisfied with how the mechanics of the ending happened or the explanation of things and I was left with some questions at the end. But I did like the final outcome of the story. And I liked the overall message of the story. Ruby & Olivia was full of self-discovery, sisterhood, friendship, second chances, and the importance of learning from your mistakes. We can all learn something from Ruby and Olivia. It was a highly entertaining read, and I am sure not only middle grade kids and young adults will devour this book, but so will adults who are kids at heart! I enthusiastically recommend reading this book!

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: 5 stars

Review on my sister's blog: https://livthebooknerd.blogspot.com/2...

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Full review:

Hey, guys!

Today Bailey and I are bringing you an amazing Q&A review for Rachel Hawkin's Ruby and Olivia. Back in late October, I recieved an ARC for Ruby and Olivia and I reviewed it. It wasn't one of my absolute favorite middle grade novels and Bee wanted to read it, so I just gave her the ARC. In the past few weeks, Bailey has read and reread this book...she loves it...so we had to review it! I hope you love this review. We worked really hard to make this great and I'm so proud of how far she's come. Enjoy!

My Review of R&O: {click here}

~~~


Q: What is Ruby & Olivia about? Can you summarize it a bit?

A: It's about these kids who go to a mansion because Olivia's sister, Emma, is shoplifting and steals lipstick and Olivia takes the blame. Ruby did a prank at a different school where she did something with glitter in the hallways, so both of them are sent to Camp Chrysalis. They are sent to the Live Oak House mansion to clean up and they went to creepy rooms and creepy things kept happening, like a kid got bit by the house.

The reason that it's called the Live Oak House is because the house is built around a live tree. The tree actually almost killed Ruby and Olivia because it was kind of possessed by the spirits of Mr. Rexhall's dead twin sisters.

Q: What would you rate this book? Why?

A: 5 stars. It's a good book! I like how it has an actual plot and the characters are cool. I like how it's a mystery...like one of the kids' hands gets bit and it was the end of the chapter!...I was like.... (holds up hands in awe) woah, I gotta keep reading! Olivia reminds me of you because she's respectful and well behaved and you might take the blame if Sarah stole a cactus or something. I don't think she would, but if she did I think you'd take the blame so she could go to a cool camp.

[Sarah is actually my twin sister. She's a lover of plants, baking, and skincare. She would never steal anything, but she sure does love plants.]

Bailey continued to reread passages of this book to creep me out. She succeeded and I had to take the book from her so we could finish this interview review.

Q: What did you like about this book? What did you dislike?

A: I liked that there were creepy dolls involved. That is the best kind of story. [Me: why??] I just like creepy dolls. I like their horrifying faces. It reminds me of when I look in the mirror. [GUYS I'M NOT KIDDING SHE LITERALLY SAID THAT AND GIGGLED! WHO IS THIS CHILD???]

I didn't like how silent Wesley is. He barely said anything. I don't like it when other people give other people the silent treatment in books...and I don't like how he hides behind his hair.

Q: So this book is a standalone. If it had a sequel would you read it? Do you think it needs a sequel?

A: Definitely. There is no way I'm saying no to a sequel. I think it needs a shorter sequel or something. You can't just end the story with the house disappearing. What happens next? I need to know!


Q: Do you have anything else to say to the people reading this?

A: I think this book was amazing....and I like chickens.

Q: Why do you like chickens??? Why???

A: They supply you with food and they make noises like "quak" or "BOCK"


~~~

Thanks for reading this review! We hope you enjoyed it!

Happy reading!
Olivia & Bailey
~Liv & Bailey the Book Nerds~

[KWinks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Hex Hall years ago and remember liking it, and I'm not sure why I haven't picked up another Rachel Hawkins book. I am SO glad I read this one. First, Hawkins nails how kids speak. I swear it sounded like my teenager was narrating this in my head. Second, the story is cool and moves along at a good clip.
This was FUN. It was a good read and just perfect for kids who want a little something extra in their fiction.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute and so fun. I loved Ruby and Olivia - Ruby reminded me a lot of Rachel Hawkins, honestly. It was just creepy enough to keep me thoroughly invested without being TOO creepy for me to handle. I had a hard time putting it down and read it all in one day. It was just what I needed.

[Sabrina Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an entertaining story. Just not really what I was in the mood for at the time. But I didn't mind it. I think my son would like it and he just turned 11. It was a little more late elementary then I was expecting.

[Megg Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby and Olivia is a book about two girls, an unlikely friendship and a house that is haunted per say.
I personally really liked the book as it was written in the two girls perspectives every chapter, and that made it more interesting to read. It would go from Olivias perspective on a situation, to Rubys thoughts after/during the situation.
The ending was the best part in my opinion, because I didn't expect the twins to be behind all of the haunting. The concept of the tree being the 'mastermind' behind all of the creepy, bone chilling noises/things was a very smart idea. Who would've guessed that? Definitely not me.

The scene/chapter where they discovered the truth about everything made me feel very tense. It was super intense and I was relieved when they made it out of the basement.

I also liked this book because it included things about a normal teenage life. Friend problems, boy problems, going out for frozen yogurt etc. It made the story feel whole, as if it wasn't only about the terrors of the house. I especially liked the odd friendship being created between Ruby and Olivia, because their past friendship situation really interfered with them. They overcame it anyways, and they both end up being friends in the end.

I wanted to touch on the fact that they were sent to a camp for 'bad kids'. I think it wasn't really needed, but it did help the storyline. I think they could've gone to a normal summer camp where you go and fix/help the community, though it is good either way.

1. Describe a character or setting in this book that you found interesting and explain why.
2. A memorable quote from this book and why you liked it.
3. Something new you learned or thought more deeply/differently about from reading this book.

1A: Olivia is quite a reserved shy person. She allows people to take advantage of her so they don't take the blame, for example the entire reason she got sent to camp chrysalis is because she took the blame of stealing a lipstick, even though it was her twin sister who stole it. I find her interesting because she's a lot like me, and I think she deserves better than how she gets treated.

2A: "None of this was actually my fault." It is the first line of the book that Olivia says, and I think it says a lot. going back to the idea of her taking the blame, it seems like she hates covering for her sister, but does it anyways. But if she never actually covered for her sister, if she never said she stole the lipstick then the plot of the story would be changed completely. Olivia would've never become close friends with Ruby, and they'd never discover the dark secrets of the home they're renovating. They wouldn't undercover the truth about the history of the house, and who knows what would happen if they never did. Would some horrible event occur causing deaths? Would the other kids of camp chrysalis discover the trees secrets?

3A: I think something I learned from this book is that you shouldn't hold grudges against people if you don't know the full story. And how even if you had a fight with your friend or if something went wrong in your friendship you shouldn't throw the entire thing away. Don't 'forget' everything you had with your friend just because they liked the same you you did, or if they told you something they did behind your back. Instead, talk and work through it and try to understand what actually happened.

[Suzy Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This M.G book is an eclectic mix; it is a coming of age story and a ghost story.

Olivia is the fall guy for her twin sister Em, and her punishment for "her" wrongdoing is a summer day camp for miscreants, where she meets her old adversary, Ruby, who is surprised to find her there. After all, Ruby is the feisty "bad girl" troublemaker, and Liv is the "good girl."

Through their unexpected adventures at the camp, and in particular, at a creepy mansion, Ruby and Olivia, who do not get on at first, grow to like each other and become best of friends. This is a big surprise, since, until the cooling of their friendship, Ruby had been friendly with Olivia's sister, Emma. The outsider, Olivia, is no longer the outsider and finds her own voice and identity.

The themes of the story are carefully interwoven - loyalty, values, belonging and friendship on one side, and adolescent angst, exclusion, and conflict on the other. Hawkins shows that by being our authentic selves we grow to respect and embrace differences in others. True friends overcome disagreements which, in the long run, strengthens bonds between them.

Hawkins also shows that we have to put the past to rest in order to move forward in our lives, and her handling of the "taboo" theme of bereavement in the book is compelling. I particularly enjoyed the depiction of Ruby, for whom we feel compassion towards the end of the book.

The story is set in small-town America and Live Oaks, the mansion in the story, is a character in the book, and a metaphor for writing unheard histories.

Hawkins takes issue with "labeling" people as "good" or "bad" and the story makes us question authority figures and the "remedies" society takes with young people whose lives are troubled. At the same time, it shows that characters are transformed and grow through working together with shared experiences, with the choices and decisions they make revealing their true identities. Hawkins admirably challenges gender stereotypes with two young women facing up to their fears and emerging as stronger people.

My only criticism of the book is that the first few chapters lacked pace, and I would have liked to have seen more foreshadowing of the creepy mansion experiences earlier on in the story.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something very nostalgic about this book, at least for me as an adult reading middle grade. And sure, it obviously has contemporary elements i.e. cell phones and internet searches, but the atmosphere and bare bones of the story are vintage. This brought to mind my own summers as a child, filled with earning Girl Scouts badges, walking to my friends' houses for sleep-overs and quality time at the library down the street. There's also self-discovery, dealing with loss of a loved one, crushes and spooky shenanigans that make for a fast paced but not superficial read. Two girls getting sent to a day camp/correctional behavior summer group as punishment for bad deeds that come across a mystery in a place known as Live Oak House. Weird and spooky happenings start from day one and as the days turn into weeks, secrets are unearthed and the dark history of Live Oak House is unravelled and revealed. 100% recommend for everyone looking for a light hearted, but with a creepy twist, summer read.

[Liv (LivTheBookNerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 3 stars

Full Review Here: http://livthebooknerd.blogspot.com/20...

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Hey, guys!

This adorable spooky middle-grade book was sent to me for an honest review from Penguin Random House. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ruby and Olivia follows two young girls who are sent to a community service camp after getting into trouble. The kids are sent to a spooky house to inventory and count the items in preparation for renovation. Two of the girls, Ruby and Olivia, become unlikely friends as supernatural and spooky things begin to happen to the campers. They begin to investigate the house in order to figure out what's happening; and when they begin to find clues to the answer, who knows what will happen.

I was so excited to receive this book for review. I'm such a sucker for twin books and the fact that it had a spooky element to it really reeled me in. I really enjoyed those aspects, as well, however, I do not think they were incorporated as well as they could have been. I feel like the characters could have been a bit more dynamic and their relationships could have been more realistic. The relationships in this book felt like plot devices rather than something that should have been a concrete part of the book. The plot could have been more fleshed out as well. I think that Rachel Hawkins has a really sweet base to an even spookier story. However, this is an adorable middle-grade novel. I really did enjoy the characters and I really enjoyed the premise of the plot.

I really enjoyed the spooky bits of this book, but I really didn't think that they were fleshed out enough to actually be spooky. There just wasn't enough happening for it to be legitimately spooky. Granted, it's a middle-grade book, but I know plenty of kids in the age group that would like to get scared pantsless.

I really didn't think that the sister relationship between Emma and Olivia was resolved either. I just felt like it was resolved too quickly and too efficiently. There wasn't nearly enough said to resolve their issues. I also don't like how the drama between Olivia and Ruby was resolved. It was too convenient and too quick. I just felt like the characters were two dimensional and static. I wish there had been more development.

I really loved how Ruby and Olivia's friendship developed. I think that their friendship is really interesting and as they grow closer, they'll become really good for each other. I love how Ruby helped Olivia grow as a sister and I love how Olivia helped Ruby communicate and express herself. This book perfectly showed what it's like to be in the awkward middle school age. These girls were super cute. I'd love to read more about them.

For what this book is and for the age group that it is marketed for, I think this is a cute book. I think that it is thoroughly entertaining. I would have loved to read this ten years ago. This would have been one of my favorite books, I'm sure. As a twenty-year-old, it just wasn't all for me. My sister, Bailey, will love this book, though. I can't wait to show her it. She loves Liesel and Po by Lauren Oliver and this gives me some spooky vibes, so she will definitely love this one.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hawkins, Rachel Ruby and Olivia Pgs. 240. G. P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Random House), 2017. $16.99. Language: G, Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

Olivia and Emma are twins. Ruby is Emma’s former friend, who Olivia is sure has led Emma astray. When Olivia takes the fall for Emma’s shoplifting stunt, she can’t believe she is going to be stuck in detention camp all summer with Ruby while her sister gets to spend her summer at the “fun” camp. Olivia never expects to become friends with Ruby, but when the detention director puts the kids on clean-up duty at the old Live Oak mansion, that’s exactly what happens. Oddly, Ruby and Olivia seem to be the only ones who can detect the mysterious things going on at the mansion. After one boy gets hurt, they realize they must work together to solve the mystery, even if that means Olivia must commit a crime for real.

This is a book about friendship set within the context of a mystery/ghost story. Ruby and Olivia both think there is little chance of them ever being friends. In the beginning, they both judge one another and find the other annoying. As they spend more time together, they realize there is a lot to like in the other. This can teach kids about looking for the good in people and not pre-judging. The ghost story aspect will also appeal to kids who like a mystery. The ending is a little far-fetched, similar to the movie Monster House, but most kids will like the extreme paranormal ending. Chapters alternate narration between Ruby and Olivia. It’s fun to see the developing friendship from both girl’s perspective.

EL – OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Valerie McEnroe, Media Specialist
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Margo Littell · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Olivia takes the fall for her twin sister Emma’s shoplifting, she’s sent to Camp Chrysalis for the summer--the camp for “bad” kids. Making things worse is the presence of Ruby, who was once Emma’s best friend and--Olivia believes--played a big role in driving the sisters apart. Forced by circumstances to interact, Ruby and Olivia get to work on the summer’s project: documenting the contents of a creepy historic mansion. Right away, the girls discover that this house holds more than just ancient taxidermy specimens and terrifying dolls. Someone--or something--is trying to communicate with them. As Ruby and Olivia sink deeper into the mystery, they come to understand the dark secrets of Live Oak House and the Wrexhall family--and their own role in bringing the secrets into the light.

Hawkins doesn’t get too dark with the haunted elements of this story, but the ghostly incidents are creepy enough to keep readers interested. All bets are off for the conclusion, and readers will be glad Hawkins doesn’t back away from letting the eerier elements play out. Though one might wish for more of this all-in feeling throughout, there’s still reason enough to keep turning the pages.

***Review originally written for the City Book Review. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, which is about 2 girls forced to do a community service summer camp that turns into a spooky adventure. Olivia is the girl who always does everything the way she is supposed to - she is in the camp because she took responsibility for some petty shoplifting her "mirror twin" Emma did. Ruby pulled a prank at school. The two have a history - Ruby used to be the "bad influence" on Olivia's twin sister Emma! The two girls are wary of each other, but soon become allies when they realize that weird things are happening in the old house they are cleaning out as their summer community service project - and they seem to be the only ones who notice. Although this book DOES have some spooky moments, it is mainly a funny friendship story. Ruby is naughty but lovable, and her saucy ways soon rub off a little bit on Olivia's "I'm the good girl twin" persona. This children's southern gothic is unique in that it actually moves much faster than many in the genre, and it manages to retain southern charm without descending into "aren't those rural southerners quirky" shtick. A good choice for girls and boys who are looking for scares leavened with laughter and probably best for grades 4-6. I think this would be a great choice for kids who like books like One for the Murphys, Love Aubrey, or even Wonder - when they are looking for something a little lighter.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Categorizing this book is kind of difficult - is it a book about friendship? Family? Good kids getting into trouble? A haunted house mystery? Horror?

Um... yes.

Up until the ending, I enjoyed the crap out of this book. Both Olivia and Ruby were so much fun to read about. They each had their own distinct personalities. It was easy to know which one was narrating in each chapter. The mystery was great too - felt like this was reminiscent of Stranger Things or The Librarians, so high marks on that.

My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed. The mystery of the House was explained, but there didn’t seem to be much fallout from Emma’s actions at the beginning of the book. I felt like there was more to her strange behavior (or what Olivia described as her sister’s strange behavior). Kind of wanted more of a wrap-up to everything in the story.

Minor quibble, of course. This was another great book from Rachel Hawkins - one I often wished I could read faster, but something always interrupted me when I sat down to read it (something spooky causing that? Who knows...)

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book, "Ruby and Olivia," included a pretty good plot, with some mysterious elements, and humor. In the book, There was a mansion by the name of Live Oak House, which was known to be haunted. Ruby and Olivia ended up in this house in order to have to do community service, after a summer of getting into trouble. Even though they did end up here, Olivia is innocent, after taking the blame something her twin sister, Emma, had done, just so Emma could go to the fun summer camp that she had been hoping to go to. Olivia had previously been friends with Ruby, who also happened to be at the camp, by the name of Camp Chrysalis, but they had gotten into an argument a couple years back, separating them. In the Live Oak House, there were several mysteries required to be solved, which caused Ruby and Olivia to have to work together, bringing them closer together in return of the whole thing. This book was a great representation on how working together can solve any problems, and can be fun along the way.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two girls are “sentenced” to a summer camp to perform community service. Their job? To catalog the items at the oldest house in the town after its elderly, mysterious owner dies. One girl is a twin, whose sister actually committed the crime of shoplifting but let her sister take the rap. The other girl is reeling from the death of her beloved grandmother and was acting out to figure out who she really is. The girls start out by ignoring each other, but become friends on this adventure when they both start hearing voices and seeing ghosts. The friendships and family stories are well-developed and perfect for middle grade readers. The story of the mysterious house and its history introduces an element of “creepiness,” but could have been developed more to make this a 5 star book. Good for readers who like a little creepiness, but don’t like being completely freaked out.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

A middle-grade story which intends to be spooky, but I'm not sure how spooked today's kids will be.
Olivia is sent to "bad kids" camp for something she didn't do. Her twin sister's former best friend is there. They along with several others are going to be doing community service at a creepy old house. When these two begin experiencing some things the other campers aren't, they begin investigating. If they can get along long enough, they just might survive this community service.
Chapters told from alternating points of view (Olivia and Ruby). Good friendship tale. Enjoyed the relationship between Ruby and her grandmother.

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just didn't like it.
For being (even part) ghost story, there just wasn't enough spook. Even for a middle grade, I would have expected more spooky. But the focus of the story ends up being more... coming of age and growing up and... Friendship. Which a good friendship story is awesome. But this wasn't it. The characters felt insipid and one of them didn't really... change any. Too make things worse, the writing just felt bad. There were little inconsistencies that threw me off. Like not knowing where a hallway goes, then the door at the end of the hall being stuck, and them talking about the room on the other side of the door... Just a lot of little things like that.

[Addison Children's Services · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olivia and Ruby used to be friends ... sort of. They haven't hung out in a while though, and now they both find themselves in a community service summer camp for kids who have gotten in trouble. Olivia never gets in trouble, but decided to help out her twin sister Emma by confessing to something Emma did. Now she's regretting her decision, especially considering that she and Ruby have to work together - in a creepy old house on the edge of town, no less. When the creepiness turns to downright possible ghost sightings, will Ruby and Olivia be able to band together and figure out what's going on?

[Rachel Rooney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 2019-2020 Missouri Mark Twain Readers Award preliminary nominee.

Ruby used to be best friends with Olivia's twin sister, but she and Olivia never really hit it off. Now they are stuck together in a camp for kids who have gotten in trouble either with the law or with school. The campers are assigned the task of inventorying and cleaning up an old mansion. Weird things happen at the house.

So this is a friendship story with a ghost story. I didn't love it. It seemed pretty predictable to me. However it wasn't bad, and I liked the characters enough. The level of spookiness was just right for me, but I don't really like spooky.

[CR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one from the start, I liked the dual POV of Ruby and Olivia. I loved that this was about a haunting and ghosts and that Ruby plays Minecraft like me!! She talks about building a mansion in the game and I thought that was really cool. She also had dyed hair that I enjoyed. I really think they should do a book two of this because I really loved it. The pacing was really good and I loved how they did the alternate chapters. The ending was pretty cool but I wished that it would have been a little different because it was an open ending that I wished it could have been different.


Go Into This One Knowing: Ghosts, Crimes

[Sami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fiercely funny and spectacularly spooky middle grade mystery from Rachel Hawkins. Community service camp isn't enticing for shy Olivia or brash Ruby, but after encountering a mysterious music box at the old mansion they're cleaning, Ruby and Olivia will find out that Live Oak has more in store for them than they could have imagined. From enemies to reluctant partners, Ruby and Olivia unite in their investigation, and learn about friendship, responsibility, and self worth along the way.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was trying to be too many things-- a story about twin sisters wanting their own identities, friendship, a ghost story. It was a little of everything and had a bit of an identity crisis but it wasn't detrimental to the story, just a bit confusing as you were wondering what was really happening.

In a second look to the cover, I like the illustration of it all and the foreshadowing about what Olivia and Ruby would do to the house helped set up the story in a more linear fashion.

Lighthearted with a creepy factor middle grade.

[Kristina Mathioudakis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, quick spooky read to get me into the Halloween mood! I love creepy stories and haunted house shenanigans, so having it written as an upper-middle grade was nice!

Although I would have preferred more spook and less sister drama, I can appreciate the genre wanting to be relatable in that way and the demographic sending a positive message about family, sisterhood, and friendship.

More than anything, I think I’m just relieved I finally got this off my TBR after literally five years

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and fun middle grade read. I love Rachel Hawkins and I could definitely see her personality shining through in Ruby. I liked that this was a genuine ghost story with young girls who stand up for themselves and make their opinions known. It’s a good role model book for modern times which I appreciate. Also nice to show kids who have made mistakes and are learning from them but in a way that we don’t see in books often (a reform camp type thing).

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little middle grade book. Olivia and Ruby, not really enemies but definitely not friends, are forced into a camp for “bad kids” and sentenced to help catalogue artifacts a local historic house. When it turns out the house is haunted - and only Ruby and Olivia can hear the ghosts - they begin a ghost hunt that brings them together. I could see myself enjoying this book when I was a kid. The book lacks in diversity - basically all the characters seem to be white except one minor character.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly creepy middle grade that was a lot of fun and made for a wonderful start into spooky season. The characters were great, I would have loved them as a kid.
I only wish it would’ve been a little more atmospheric since the blurb said it was perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman. Not the book‘s fault though, it aimed to be more of a mixture between spooky and funny/entertaining. That it definitely is.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was very cute. Definitely a middle grade. I would love to see the same idea done as an adult paranormal. The mystery behind the house and the history behind the house is quite fascinating. I really wanted more history. I really feel like the girls did not research the house enough. What made it a three star for me, is how quickly things were wrapped up. I felt like there could of been drawn out with how it ended.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this at the library and the cover caught my attention. Thought it would be a nice break from all the dark books I read :)
This was a cute middle grade spooky book about friendship. I especially enjoyed the relationships both main girls had with their moms - I guess that hit me being a mom and all :P
If you're looking for a book for your 9-12 aged kid whose getting into spooky mysteries this is a good one.
3.5 stars

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sent to help catalog the contents of a spooky old house as punishment for their misdeeds, Ruby & Olivia discover there's more to the house and they're the only ones who can figure it out. Funny and spooky, and just a good story about navigating friendships/fractured friendships/relationships in general.