Review: The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage

Title: The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing
Author: Sheila Turnage
Publisher: Penguin
Pub. Date: February 4, 2014
Genre: Middle Grade
Rec. Age Level: 8-12

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Sheila Turnage's second book starring Mo LoBeau and her best friend Dale is both a fantastic continuation of their story and perfect starting point for readers new to Tupelo Landing. This standalone companion to THREE TIMES LUCKY takes readers back to Tupelo Landing and lands them right in the middle of a new mystery with amateur sleuths Mo and Dale. The Desperado Detective Agency has a new case after Miss Lana accidentally purchases Tupelo's Landing's Inn... with a ghost in the fine print. With the help of the new kid in town, Mo and Dale decide the ghost's identity and figure out why she's sticking around a dusty old inn. Plus, if they interview her for their school project, they'll get extra credit! As the ghost's story is revealed, Mo and Dale learn that people, not just buildings, can be haunted by the past.

Mo LoBeau is one of my favorite MG characters. Smart, hilarious (even when she doesn't mean to be, which is most of the time), and infinitely curious, she's always up for an adventure and never afraid to speak her mind. She sees the magic the world has to offer and never loses her nerve, even in the face of danger. If I find her inspiring as a 20-something year old, I can only imagine how much readers her own age will love her! Who wouldn't love a girl who makes observations like:

“It's hard to know what to say when your best friend serenades an amphibian. On one hand, Miss Lana likes me to be sensitive. On the other hand, the Colonel says most situations don't require my input.” 

I highly recommend that you read both THREE TIMES LUCKY and THE GHOSTS OF TUPELO LANDING to get the full Mo and Dale experience, but both novels successfully stand on their own as well!