The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing
Small-town mystery sequel charming but doesn't cut as deep.
Kids say
Based on 2 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, the sequel to Newbery Honor-winning Three Times Lucky, has a ghostly character, a little girl who died in an automobile accident in the 1920s because someone cut the brake lines. One grown-up who was a boy at the time feels responsible for her death. Another boy, abandoned by his family, isn't sure if his grandpa will take him in. Narrator Mo and her friends lie and steal to solve the mystery of the ghost and, in their minds, to protect the people they love, but they must confess and face the consequences of their actions. One boy visits his father, who's in jail for domestic violence.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
THE GHOSTS OF TUPELO LANDING picks up a couple of months after the events of Three Times Lucky. As narrator Mo says, one of the rules of living in a small town such as Tupelo Landing is "you got to stay who you are no matter how many murders you solve." But when her adoptive mother, Miss Lana, accidentally buys a haunted inn, Mo decides to interview the alleged ghost for her history project and volunteers her best friend Dale to assist. The two uncover a historic town mystery that involves moonshine, betrayal, and a tragic automobile accident. Along the way they make a new friend and resolve an old family feud.
Is It Any Good?
Narrator Mo LoBeau (accent on the second syllable) is as entertaining as ever as she and her best friend, Dale, set out to solve yet another town mystery. Readers of Three Times Lucky might be surprised to find a real ghost in The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, since there were no supernatural elements in the first novel. Though the emotional thrust doesn't cut as deeply in this sequel -- Mo's letters to the "upstream mother" she's never met seem a bit forced this time around -- the town of Tupelo Landing and its colorful characters remain as charming as ever. Mo's tendency to speak her mind and her friends' willingness to overlook her insults are sure to amuse, as are Dale's forays into learning social niceties. The action moves along at a nice, steady pace.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing compares with Three Times Lucky, the first book about Mo. What do you like better about the first one? What's better in the second?
Mo lives in a town where high-speed Internet isn't available to most of the town and where no one owns a cell phone. How would living in a town like that change what you do for fun? Do you think it would be better or worse?
Have you ever solved a mystery? Do you think you could?
Book Details
- Author: Sheila Turnage
- Genre: Mystery
- Topics: Adventures, Friendship, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Kathy Dawson Books
- Publication date: February 4, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 18
- Number of pages: 368
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
-
Because of Winn-Dixie
Stray dog helps lonely girl find friends in lovely tale.
-
Shiloh
Sweet bond forms between boy and beagle in thrilling story.
-
Chomp
Zany adventure in the Florida Everglades spoofs reality TV.
For kids who love tales of friendship and adventure
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate