“A delicious map of New Orleans food, sights, and culture [. . .] This Cajun-soaked yarn about ghosts, family, and reconnecting with one’s roots will captivate readers; strongly recommended.” —School Library Journal

“A family story that highlights environmentalism and personal connection.” —Kirkus Reviews

“The perfect read for anyone interested in a not scary ghost story, who enjoys being outside, and who loves (or wants to love) south Louisiana.” —Cavalier House Books

“A touching, beautifully-written, and action-packed middle grade ghost story!” —Ali Terese, author of Free Period, National Book Award longlist

“A perfect recipe of humor, family connections, honoring the natural world, and a ghost with unfinished business.” —Lynne Kelly, USA Today bestselling author of Song for a Whale.

“Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp is more than a book. It’s an experience. I could smell the fish market, taste the mirlitons, feel the bayou air, and hear the Zydeco music in the French Quarter [. . .] I wish I could share it with my grandpere.” —M.R. Fournet, author of Brick Dust and Bones

"A lovely, cozy read that proves Rachel Marsh has 'the gift.'" —Marti Dumas, author of The Wildseed Witch and Secret Society of Rebel Girls

A cozy ghost story about family, environmental activism, food, and friendship.

Basil Theriot has spent her entire life in New Orleans—in her family’s famed Cajun restaurant in the French Quarter, really—but she’s never been out to the bayou where her grandfather grew up. She’s also never seen a ghost, even though dozens of ghost tours pass by the restaurant every day and her best friend Tommy is determined to be a ghost hunter.

But then Grandpere’s ghost appears. And he has a mission for her.

Basil wouldn’t mind being haunted if Grandpere could be helpful and share his secret recipe that might save the restaurant. But instead, he’s intent on connecting Basil with her Cajun heritage. He sends her out to the bayou to meet his friends: an airboat captain, a shrimper, and a scientist rebuilding Louisiana’s fast-disappearing coastline.

But each ghostly quest pulls Basil further away from her parents’ expectation that she’ll take over the restaurant one day and jeopardizes her friendship with a jealous Tommy.

Can Basil help Grandpere move on, save the bayou, save her friendship, and not disappoint her parents?

Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp has a little bit of everything: a pinch of spookiness, a dash of environmental activism, and a heaping of family.

School Library Journal:

When Basil Theriot spots her Grandpere on the back pew at St. Joseph’s Church, it is not a surprise; given his deep Louisiana roots and that this is his funeral, his ghostly presence would almost be expected. There’s not much time for dwelling on ghosts because Basil’s navigating watching her parents struggle with their family-owned restaurant in the French Quarter. They are overwhelmed trying to keep the restaurant afloat but frequently remind the tween that she will inherit the restaurant someday. Basil feels guilty, but she knows she would never want to be a chef like her Grandpere or Dad. This comes to a head when her teacher announces the annual sixth grade career fair at school. Basil genuinely struggles with reconciling the “right” occupation with what she truly feels in her heart. Fortunately, Grandpere has a mission for her that will help. Reading like a delicious map of New Orleans food, sights, and culture; readers will absolutely want to dive into more research on this fascinating region. The characters represent a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds. Through a blend of magical realism and regional detail, the novel offers a beautiful exploration of grief and familial expectation following a death, culminating in one tween’s decision to pursue her own unique future rather than her inherited role.

VERDICT This Cajun-soaked yarn about ghosts, family, and reconnecting with one’s roots will captivate readers; strongly recommended for fiction collections.