Last week, I read Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland. Taking place from 1922 to 1923, this historical mystery is about Ophelia "Ophie" Harrison, a twelve-year-old Black girl who discovers her ability to see ghosts the same night a group of cruel white men murder her father and burn her home down. After she and her mother move from Georgia to live with relatives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ophie befriends Clara, a spirit who was a maid at Daffodil Manor where she begins working with her mother. Although Aunt Rose, who can also see spirits, warns her that they can't be trusted, Ophie ignores the advice and tries to help the ghosts she meets. As Ophie continues to get to know Clara better, she learns that her life was ended suddenly and unjustly and tries to solve the mystery of her friend's murder so that she can pass on.
I've always enjoyed a good historical mystery and this one was excellent. It was filled with suspense and the identify of Clara's murderer kept me guessing until the very end even though there were clues sprinkled throughout. I especially enjoyed the friendship between Ophie and Clara because they had a lot in common and it was obvious that they were both very lonely before they met each other. My heart really broke for them, Ophie because her father was murdered and Clara because her life was cut short. The major themes in this book are memories and prejudices of the past, creating a story that is quite haunting. Although the story is fairly dark, it's written in a way that is appropriate for middle grade readers. Overall, anyone who likes mysteries or ghost stories should read this book.
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