Maureen Hardegree

✭✭✭

I'm a big fan of ghost stories (that don't freak me out too much), and Haint Misbehavin' is a fun one for the middle grade audience. Set in Georgia, there's enough flavor of the South to lend an air of plausibility that the ghost of a young girl from the 1800s would haunt Heather, a modern preteen girl.

While I enjoyed the ghost story, I felt enough rage about the unfair treatment Heather got from her parents and the nasty vendetta of her sister that I couldn't rate it higher.

It's a show more personal pet peeve, but I abhor books or movies that show unfair relationships toward one child with blatant favoritism of another. While the family relationships resolve and are all hunky-dory by the end, there is enough of a bias against Heather that I couldn't relax while reading most of the book. I wanted to jump into the story so I could throttle her older sister. I can't imagine anyone being that cruel to a sibling and their parents turning a blind eye, unless it was a Cinderella situation with the rest of the family being evil. But that's not how this family is portrayed. Were it not for the sibling injustice, they'd be an average American family.

Otherwise, it's an enjoyable story and I look forward to the next book, especially since the sibling rivalry won't be much of an issue in later books. I honestly hope my assessment doesn't prevent people from reading Haint Misbehavin', since it does have a fun ghost story, but as Ames would say, this is a borrow and not a buy.

The next book in the series, Hainted Love, just released in March. By the way, the cover of the second book is much better and will appeal a lot more to preteen girls.

Review originally posted at Libri Ago.

Advance copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley. show less

Heather can see ghosts. Her best friend Xavier knows this, and he also knows she's never seen his little brother, who died at aged 10. Until one day, Heather sees Stevie, and, like all little pest brothers, who won't leave until Heather makes sure Xavier is happy. By dating him. This book was cute and light, and it made me curious to read more in this series. (Provided by publisher)

Reviewed by YoungBibliophile for TeensReadToo.com

Heather Tildy has finally "become a woman." But instead of becoming closer with her cool older sister, all Heather gets is a visit from her old imaginary friend, Amy.

And it turns out that Amy is actually a ghost, and her only chance of getting to the afterlife is through Heather.

Unfortunately, Amy doesn't really want to go back, so it looks like Heather's plans of sitting by the pool staring at her crush, Drew, have been sidelined.

Heather show more needs to find a way to send Amy on to the next life, but Amy is doing everything she can to hamper Heather's efforts. With a little creative research and help from a new friend, Xavier, maybe Heather can help Amy out, and save her summer.

I really enjoyed HAINT MISBEHAVIN'. The way the story is written really makes it sound like a teenager speaking, and while the story seems light and fun, it touches on some deeper issues. I'm glad to see that this is the first of a series. I can't wait to see how Ms. Hardegree develops Heather's character and see what other messes she gets into! show less

It’s tough being 14. It’s even tougher if you’re 14, you have hyper-sensitive skin that breaks out in rashes and hives when you’re stressed, and you have an obnoxious older sister with evil friends who harass you endlessly. It could be worse though, as Heather Tildy discovers in Haint Misbehavin, you could have a mischievous ghost to deal with. Heather discovers her ghost, Amy Malcolm, in the back yard one day. Heather accepts having her own ghost, since her Aunt Geneva has one show more herself, but she is not pleased by the proposition. Heather has set a goal of being normal before she enters high school the following year and, just maybe, winning the love of hunky lifeguard Drew. Amy is putting a major kink in those plans.
Haint Misbehavin’ will be a major hit with girls. It offers humor, a bit of mystery, and romance. Heather is a likeable and believable protagonist, and her family provides some comic relief as well. Female readers will identify with trying to fit in and catch the perfect guy. This is book one in the Ghost Handler series. If the other titles are as humorous and fun, the series should be a big hit. show less