The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall..., Charis Cotter
The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall..., Charis Cotter
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The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall

Author: Charis Cotter

Narrator: Alison Deon

Unabridged: 10 hr 25 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tundra Books

Published: 05/13/2025


Synopsis

Set in the '60s at a summer camp, The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall is a spooky, atmospheric middle-grade story for fans of classic ghost stories, unlikely friendships and intriguing mysteries.

Bee's mom has a job in New York City for the summer, so Bee is being sent to summer camp. She's not excited about it. Being around other people is hard for her, plus she knows nothing about campfires, she's not a good swimmer and she's never even been in a canoe.

When she first arrives, things go pretty much as she expected. The other girls either make fun of her or ignore her, and the woods surrounding the camp give her the creeps: she keeps hearing elusive music coming from somewhere in the distance, and there's something unearthly about it.

But then Zippy comes on the scene — an oddball like Bee, but with a lot more confidence and hard-won knowledge gleaned from many summers spent at this exact camp. And most importantly, Zippy has also discovered mysterious behavior going on at the camp: the older girls from the Hawks cabin are sneaking out to do . . . something. They're always exhausted, and their flashlight batteries are running out at an alarming rate. But their counselors are never woken up by girls sneaking out, no one on staff doing nightly rounds ever sees them outside the cabin, and even when they start doing a bed check at night, the girls all seem to be in their bunks.

Zippy and Bee are on the case, and with the help of an unlikely ally, they try to figure out what the Hawks are up to. But they soon discover there's more going on than just the usual summer-camp hijinks. How are the Hawks getting out at night? What is the deal with the (very cute) mysterious boy who seems to be working with the groundskeeper? Where is the distant music coming from? And what does the reclusive camp founder know about all of it?

About The Author

CHARIS COTTER went to camp for ten years and never wanted to go home at the end of summer. Growing up beside a graveyard, she became well acquainted with ghosts and has been living with them ever since. Charis studied English in university and went to drama school in London, England. She is the multi-award-winning author of several novels and picture books, including The Swallow, The Ghost Road, The Dollhouse, and Screech! Ghost Stories from Old Newfoundland. She lives at the end of a road beside the ocean, in one of the most haunted parts of Newfoundland, Canada.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Rebecca on May 26, 2025

1960s. Bee is a nervous kid. Her father died when she was little, she's never been good at the "making friends" or "being around people" thing, and she has such sensitive hearing she's constantly having to filter things out to not be overwhelmed. But when her mother gets a summer job in New York, sh......more

Goodreads review by Rachael on May 21, 2025

If you like a YA/ Middle grade story about summer camp, new friends, and a mystery to solve, this one could be one to pick up. It's not perfect, but it was an enjoyable, light read. I think my biggest issue was pacing as the story does not progress very quickly with regards to the mystery we are sup......more

Goodreads review by Caila on April 18, 2025

I unfortunately DNF this book close to the 25% mark. I didn't find the voice compelling and it was too slow-paced for a book described as "spooky" and "atmospheric." I would not recommend it for kids who like to jump right into the action from the first few chapters, or those who enjoy poetic, descr......more


Quotes

A Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Book for Kids and Teens, Fall 2025
A 2026 Saskatchewan Young Readers Choice Snow Willow Award Nominee

"Cotter trusts readers with deep descriptions and a languid buildup to the action. Her writing is ethereal and evocative, evoking the dangers and glittering possibilities of summer nights away from home." STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

"Steady pacing and elegant prose combine to craft a warmly bewitching tale about young love and heartache." STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly


Awards

  • Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children's Literature
  • Snow Willow Award