Lily's ghosts
by Laura Ruby
HarperTrophy 2003
Great fit for 5th grade
Reading level and content both target 4th–8th grade · ages 9–14
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Genre
Themes
- family secrets
- friendship
- grief and healing
- identity
- courage
- mystery and investigation
- new beginnings
- forgiveness
About this book
Thirteen-year-old Lily moves with her mom to a creaky Victorian house in a seaside New Jersey town and quickly discovers it comes with a few resident ghosts. Strange postcards, a locked room, and whispered family secrets pull her into a mystery that reaches into the past. With a new friend and her own courage, Lily pieces together clues to find out what the spirits want. Spooky, funny, and heartfelt, this is a great pick for middle-grade readers who like mysteries with a supernatural twist.
Setting: a haunted Victorian house in a coastal New Jersey town (present day)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lily's ghosts right for my child?
Yes — Lily's ghosts is a great fit for 5th grade. The reading level is AR 5, which is typical for 5th grade. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 9–14 (4th–8th grade). Themes include family secrets, friendship, grief and healing.
How long does it take to read Lily's ghosts?
At a typical 5th grade reading pace, Lily's ghosts takes around 6.1h to finish. The book has 60,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does Lily's ghosts have an AR quiz?
Yes — Lily's ghosts has an AR quiz available, worth 9 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is Lily's ghosts?
Lily's ghosts has an AR reading level of 5, which places it at a 5th grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.