88 Lime Street: The Way In is one of the six books shortlisted for this year’s Readings Children’s Book Prize. Here are five reasons why we think it’s brilliant.

1. It’s spooky… but not too spooky!

After Ellen’s family moves into the rambling 88 Lime street, she starts to notice weird things happening in the old house. There’s a strange presence that seems to follow her around, and the kids at school claim that it’s haunted. But is it ghosts haunting her house, or something else entirely? This is for all the kids out there who want something a little bit spine-tingling that won’t give them nightmares.

2. There’s a mystery to be solved.

If 88 Lime Street: The Way In is a little bit spooky, it’s also a little bit mysterious: equal parts ghost story and tangled mystery. This is a book that’ll have kids turning page after page as they try to get to the bottom of the secrets the old house has to offer.

3. This book is packed full of ideas.

From time travel to mysterious codes, Australian history to cyber bullying – there’s heaps to discuss in 88 Lime Street: The Way In, which makes it the perfect book for a classroom or family to read together.

4. There are issues in the story we can all relate to.

It’s not all spooky houses and mysterious doors. Ellen also has to deal with the very real problems surrounding moving to a new school. It can be hard making new friends, especially when some of them see the new kid as a target they can bully.

5. It’s a great read for tweens.

Tweens are a notoriously difficult group to buy books for. What do you give a 10- to 12-year-old who needs a sophisticated story without all the angst and romance of YA? The answer is 88 Lime Street. The story and characters will keep them hooked, without any of the older themes that might go over their heads.

Find the full Readings Children’s Book Prize shortlist here, and don’t forget you can buy all six of our wonderful shortlistees in a specially-priced pack.