Books with author Betty Ren Wright

A girl’s scary dream may come true in this “fast moving” story starring “a likable and believable heroine” (School Library Journal). Meg’s nightmare about a thin, gray-haired man who beckons her to follow him through a dark doorway will no doubt come true. That’s the way it is with all of her “real” dreams, the ones that her grandmother calls “a secret window into the future.” Meg suspects that her dream is about sixteen-year-old Caleb Larsen’s father, who died in a car crash after allegedly stealing $50,000 from a local bank. Could Mr. Larsen be trying to reach Caleb and his mother through Meg’s dreams? Is he trying to reveal the truth about what happened? As Meg’s nightmare begins to come true, she learns to cope with her own past as well as Caleb’s, and to see the present in a different, more positive light.

Two girls suspect an abandoned mansion is haunted—but will anyone believe them before it’s too late? “[A] well-written, shivery ghost story” (Booklist). Beware! At first, Charli is excited about the Crandall family’s newest endeavor—fixing up the town’s old mansion and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. She even volunteers to help. Then strange things begin to happen. Charli hears someone singing—but no one is there. She sees the shadow of a rocking cradle—but there is no cradle. And then she hears a baby crying, and crying. . . . Something terrible happened in the old house many years ago. And it may happen again, unless Charli can figure out how to stop the past from repeating itself.

Christina is not looking forward to spending the summer with Uncle Ralph. She dreads the long days in the spooky, isolated Victorian mansion especially because Uncle Ralph dislikes her and there are no childen nearby to play with. Things change, however, when she sees the ghostly figure of a small, sad boy who mysteriously disappears before she can talk to him. Convinced that he's a ghost, Christina sets out to discover why he's there. Could he be linked to the murders that happened in the house thirty years before? And what evil, chilling presence is lurking in the attic? Betty Ren Wright adroitly combines a suspenseful tale fo the supernatural with the touching story of two very different people who learn to like each other.

The big piano recital is coming up soon, and Rosie feels anything but ready—“captures the down-to-earth rhythms of suburban life, spiced with humor” (Kirkus Reviews). Even though Rosie has only nine fingers, she’s always managed well. Until now. For some reason, she can’t master the piano solo she’s been rehearsing for the annual recital. It’s called “The Dance of the Dinosaurs,” and it’s hard! As the recital draws near, Rosie is desperate. Why does everything seem so much more difficult now? Is it because she misses her father? Since he moved to Milwaukee to take a new job, Rosie’s been miserable, and her mother has been acting kind of strange. Or is Rosie having trouble because she’s worried about the burglar who’s been secretly visiting her house? Then, too, there’s Mary Jean, the new girl in town. Not only is she rich and pretty, but she plays the piano beautifully. In the weeks before the recital, Rosie fights some hard battles. To her surprise, she discovers that having nine fingers isn’t such a bad thing after all.

A vengeful ghost haunts a small town—until two cousins confront her—in this “fast-paced, entertaining” story (School Library Journal). While thirteen-year-old Rachel dreams of becoming Pike River’s Sunbonnet Queen, her cousin Charlie Hocking dreams of leaving. But both dreams are threatened by the presence of a fierce old lady who lives just outside of town. At first Charlie is more puzzled than frightened by the fact that the woman looks younger each time he sees her. But gradually, he realizes she’s a phantom, a mad ghost who is eerily involved with the Sunbonnet Queen contest. When she threatens Rachel, Charlie decides to stay in Pike River, for a while at least. It’s a wise decision, for with the help of an unexpected ally he saves Rachel’s life on a Fourth of July morning the Hockings will never forget.

The new kid in school accepts a dare—and finds himself facing some spooky and surprising consequences: “[A] page-turner” (Booklist). Matthew Barber thinks that being the new kid in school will be the scariest thing about fourth grade. But is he ever wrong! When the class bully challenges him to spend the night in Healy Elementary, Matthew learns that the rumor of a ghost teacher wandering the halls is more than just a story. And because he has already lost his classmates’ trust by lying about his old school, no one believes the terrifying truth: There is a ghost, and she knows Matthew’s name . . . and she won’t let him rest until she gets what she wants! The Ghost in Room 11 has won the Florida, Iowa, and Oklahoma Children’s Book Awards.

Erin’s new adopted brother has ruined everything—but there are scarier things than having to share the spotlight in this “compelling summertime adventure.” (School Library Journal). Erin enjoyed being Erin Lindsay, the much-loved only child of schoolteacher parents. Everything in her life was just he way she wanted it, until nine-year-old Cowper moved in. A musical prodigy, he was adopted by Erin’s parents after his mother and father were killed in a car crash. Suddenly, Erin was no longer the center of attention. Her parents became obsessed with Cowper. Now Erin faces a long, lonely summer away from her friends and familiar surroundings. The Lindsays are renting an apartment in Milwaukee so Cowper can take piano lessons at the conservatory. Erin is crazed with boredom, until she meets senior citizen and medium Molly Panca . . . and experiences the scariest night of her life.