A Little Too Haunted

Justine Pucella Winans

$29.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Bloomsbury
06 January 2026

Horror & ghost stories, chillers (Children's&YA); Kids

The Lost Library meets Not Quite a Ghost in this middle grade horror novel about a girl uncovering secrets about her new, haunted home.

The only thing worse than having ghost hunters for parents is having fake ghost hunters for parents. Luna Catalano would know. Her moms are haunted house flippers who use their home reno skills and pretend psychic powers to turn spooky old houses into ghost-free modern homes. Not only does their job require the family to move all the time--meaning Luna is completely friendless--but the only thing haunting any of those houses is bad decor. For once Luna wishes there was an actual, for-real ghost.

When they move yet again, Luna isn't expecting much. But this house feels... different. Things start out innocent enough--items not where they should be, strange noises--but soon things turn sinister. Her moms are waking up with cuts and bruises, and disturbing drawings showing them with even worse injuries are being left in Luna's room. With the help of her next-door neighbors and a mysterious woman who seems to know a lot about the home, Luna starts to piece together what exactly happened in that house before she moved in. But not everything is as it seems. In order to save her moms, Luna will have to get the story right before everything goes completely wrong.

Stonewall Honor-winning author Justine Pucella Winans returns with another middle grade horror with heart about friendship, family, and the stories we tell when real life feels too scary.

By: Justine Pucella Winans
Imprint: Bloomsbury
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 210mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 366g
ISBN: 9781547616343
ISBN 10: 1547616342
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 06 January 2026
Recommended Age: From 8 to 12 years
Audience: Children/juvenile , English as a second language
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Justine Pucella Winans (they/she) is a queer and nonbinary writer who lives in Los Angeles with their husband and incredible Halloween-colored cats. Their books include YA thrillers like the critically acclaimed Indies Introduce title, BIANCA TORRE IS AFRAID OF EVERYTHING, and ONE KILLER PROBLEM. Their MG speculative horror titles include the acclaimed Stonewall Honor Book THE OTHERWOODS and WISHBONE. When not writing queer, creepy, and funny fiction for kids and teens, they can be found training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, reading (a lot of) manga and webcomics, and actively avoiding real life scary situations. @justinepwinans https://www.justinepucellawinans.com/.

Reviews for A Little Too Haunted

Winans summons a quirky cast of characters and plenty of cats to her horror-comedy. Luna is a treasure of a protagonist, whose struggles with loneliness and IBS give depth to her innate weirdness (a compliment!) and paranormal passion. * Booklist, starred review * In this atmospheric ghost story, Winans conjures satisfying, spine-tingling scares and a cozy mystery alongside quiet moments of adolescent uncertainty. * Publishers Weekly, starred review * Sweet meets spooky—and it’s absolutely spectacular. * Kirkus Reviews, starred review * River's very human struggles with facing fears, learning to trust in allies, and being truthful about themselves will resonate with many tweens, even the non-magical kind. * School Library Journal, starred review for THE OTHERWOODS * This reluctant hero will mean the world to many readers and be beloved by all. * Booklist, starred review for THE OTHERWOODS * [An] emotionally complex portal fantasy. . . . This middle grade debut offers up a panoply of nightmarish ghouls and harrowing perils, but the real appeal comes from tender interpersonal ties and themes of self-discovery. * Publishers Weekly, starred review for THE OTHERWOODS * An excitingly suspenseful portal horror led by a cleverly humorous, adorably queer, and intrepid nonbinary tween. . . . The Otherwoods is creepy fun with a queer heart. * Shelf Awareness, starred review for THE OTHERWOODS *