A review by betweentheshelves
Jasmine Is Haunted by Mark Oshiro

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Thanks to Tor and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Jasmine is Haunted by Mark Oshiro to review! Mark Oshiro is definitely an auto-read author for me, and their middle grade is excellent. Some of my favorite middle grade books, honestly! If you're into the supernatural and ghost hunting, you'll love the story Oshrio has spun in this one.

From the beginning, Jasmine feels lost. Since there's been a ghost haunting her, it's been hard for her to make any friends. However, it's the supernatural that helps her to find new friends at her new school. Bea and Jorge, though cautious at first, welcome Jasmine into the fold. Through the three of them, they make a little community in tune with the supernatural. I loved the way both things went hand in hand throughout the story.

The way that Oshiro writes the ghosts felt like a fresh take on the idea, especially with Jasmine's family history. There's a bit of a mystery at the core of the plot, tyring to figure out why exactly Jasmine is seeing these dark ghosts. The idea of ghosts is also woven into Jasmine's culture, and it's very well written.

In addition to being about the supernatural, this book is also about healing from losing someone you love. All of the characters are connected by loss in some way, and they all need each other to help move forward. It also shows how building community can help with the grieving process.

All in all, if you're looking for a middle grade ghost story for spooky season, definitely pick this one up! 

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