A Ghost in The House by Betty Ren Wright

This is the first book by Betty Ren Wright novel I have read and I am sure it will appeal to some of the upper primary girls. Teenager Sarah is more than happy in her new house in the suburbs, especially her large bedroom dominated by a beautiful fireplace, just perfect for sleep overs with her best friend Lutie. After living in small dinghy inner city dwellings, this house is a welcome change and all the family are enjoying their time there.  However, six months on her father has been laid off and now her Aunt Margaret, the  invalid owner of the house, has moved back in, into Sarah's room. Ever since Margaret's  arrival the atmosphere in the house has changed dramatically. Whenever Sarah is left to look after Margaret alone in the house strange things happen, the room will become suddenly chilly, ornaments move around the room by themselves, and then there's the eerie singing. The image in an old painting is slowly changing and Sarah starts to fear for her life and that of her great aunt. Her mother believes she is just imagining it all and Sarah has no-one to turn to. The plot is uncomplicated and there is enough suspense to keep the reader turning the pages.

The Ghost Comes Calling by Betty Ren Wright

This novel is full of suspense and a great read for upper primary students. Author, Wright, revitalizes the story of the mean ghost who cannot rest. Chad Weldon likes the shabby log cabin his dad has bought on the lake. Then his bossy friend Jeannie informs him that the shack is haunted by the old man who built it. Apparently he died with a bitter grudge against the whole town, and he doesn't want anyone in his house. Slowly, in time-honoured fashion, the ghost gets closer and closer. First Chad feels him lurking in the woods, then he hears the eerie howl of the ghost's dog. Later, a grey scowling face appears at the window and a claw-like hand. Finally, Chad finds the confidence to go beyond Jeannie and put right the wrong done to the old man long before. The contrast between the safe and cosy domestic world and the ghostly disorder intensifies the pleasure of the story. Wright picks up our fear of the rustle in the bushes, the strange shadows on the porch and the spooky atmosphere inside and outside the house.