Dirk Bones and the Mystery of the Haunted House

Meet Dirk Bones, a reporter from the town of Ghostly. Dirk covers all the pressing stories for the local newspaper and sometimes solves mysteries along the way. When Dirk’s boss tells him that a house occupied by ghosts on Ghoul Street is being haunted by another ghost, Dirk jumps into action to unveil the truth. 

As Dirk searches the home, he hears unusual noises. “Click, Click, Clickity! I looked around. No one was there.” He searches everywhere — the cellar, a nearby graveyard, and an old tomb — and collects stories from the people he passes along the way. With the help of the people in town and Dirk’s investigative skills, will he be able to find out who is haunting the ghost’s house? 

Dirk Bones is both brave and practical. He’s always looking for facts before drawing conclusions. Readers will admire his calm presence, especially as it contrasts with the townsfolk’s fear of the haunted house. Dirk’s admirable heroism will make young audiences feel connected to him as they follow him on his courageous journey. His presence serves as a reminder that even the scariest of mysteries can be solved with bravery and an open mind.  

Cushman builds suspense not only through Dirk’s journey but also through the use of sound. Each neighbor describes the sounds that have led them to believe the house is haunted. While one neighbor heard “Clack, cluckity-cluck bing, blub, blub,” another heard “click, cluck-clackity cling, flub, flub.” These onomatopoeic phrases are repeated eleven times and will encourage children to take the time to sound them out. The repetition of these sounds not only adds humor but also supports an interactive reading experience. Additionally, with multiple sight words on every page, Dirk Bones and the Mystery of the Haunted House is a great choice for beginner readers.  

Along with the creative sounds, each page features a sketch of Dirk — a skeleton reporter in a trench coat — as he explores the town and interacts with its neighbors. Readers will be able to see the eerie environment that Dirk experiences, from the disheveled haunted house to a graveyard with leafless trees. The illustrations will help readers envision the world and allow them to feel as though they are searching through the mysterious town with Dirk.  

Overall, Dirk Bones and the Mystery of the Haunted House blends an easy-to-follow plot with engaging writing, playful sound effects, and atmospheric illustrations. Cushman’s story is a perfect fall read and will entertain any early reader who is interested in the mystery genre. Beginning readers who enjoy ghostly fun should also read Poultrygeist and Fitz and Cleo Get Creative. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• None

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language    

• None 

Supernatural  

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• None 

by Madeline Hettrick