What Stays Buried

A Bram Stoker Award nominee! In her first book for middle grade readers, New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young brings together a thrilling ghost story, a heartfelt coming of age journey, and a poignant reminder that those we’ve loved and lost are never far away—perfect for fans of Bone Hollow and The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street.

Twelve-year-old Calista Wynn will lose her ability to speak with the dead on her thirteenth birthday.

And with only a few weeks left, children have started going missing.

When Calista meets the Tall Lady—an angry spirit with a grudge against Calista, her family, and the entire town—she knows she’s found the ghost responsible for the disappearances.

It’s up to Calista, the only one who can see the Tall Lady, to stop her. If she doesn’t, Calista won’t just lose her powers…she’ll lose everyone she has left.

• A Race Against Time: Calista has only weeks before her thirteenth birthday erases her gift forever. Can she solve the mystery of the missing children before she’s silenced for good?
• Family Secrets: The Tall Lady’s grudge isn’t random—it’s tied to a dark chapter in the Wynn family’s past and a curse that has haunted them for generations.
• Small Town Mystery: In the sinking town of Meadowmere, Calista is the only person who can see the angry spirit snatching children from their beds. The fate of the town rests on her shoulders.
• Spooky Middle Grade Adventure: Perfect for young readers who love a chilling ghost story with plenty of heart, suspense, and supernatural twists.

"What Stays Buried is a gripping ghost story full of vivid characters, heartache, wonder, love, and hope. Haunting in all the best ways!" - Lisa McMann, NYT bestselling author of The Unwanteds and The Forgotten Five: Map of Flames

"An exciting, well-paced, and well-structured plot." - Kirkus Reviews

"The novel shows strong family bonds across generations and worlds, while overarching themes of the power of love, family, and friendship make this a solid entry into horror for adventurous readers. Well-developed protagonist and solid plotting." - School Library Journal

"A high-stakes, fast-moving ghost story. Young employs spine-tingling horror tropes to drum up suspense. A consequential magic system facilitates explorations of grief and closure after loss." - Publishers Weekly

"This horror-saturated fantasy delivers a heart palpitating adventure." - Booklist