Grandpere's Ghost Swamp

Description: "Sixth-grader Basil Theriot is haunted by her grandfather's ghost and must reconnect with her Cajun roots in order to help him pass on"-- Provided by publisher.

Brief description:

Rachel M. Marsh is the author of Rougarou Magic, which was a 2024 Junior Library Guild selection. She earned her MFA in creative writing for children from Simmons University. Originally from Baton Rouge, she now lives in New Orleans, where she and her husband eat the world's best food and renovate their almost-hundred-year-old house.

Review Quotes:

"A lovely, cozy read that proves Rachel M. Marsh has 'the gift.'" - Marti Dumas, author of Secret Society of Rebel Girls

"Grandpere's Ghost Swamp is more than a book. It's an experience. I could smell the fish market, taste the mirlitons, feel the bayou air, and hear the Zydeco music in the French Quarter." - M.R. Fournet, author of Brick Dust and Bones

I was immediately pulled into the warm and bustling kitchen of the Theriot family's New Orleans restaurant. Basil is a strong character who honors family traditions while carving out her own path, speaking up for the bayou and its inhabitants, and showing up for a friend when it matters most. A perfect recipe of humor, family connections, honoring the natural world, and a ghost with unfinished business.

- Lynne Kelly, USA Today bestselling author of Song for a Whale.

"In this slow-burn story . . . New Orleans and Louisiana's Central Wetlands . . . shine as key characters. . . . A family story that highlights environmentalism and personal connection." - Kirkus Reviews

Through a blend of magical realism and regional detail, the novel offers a beautiful exploration of grief and familial expectation following a death. . . . This Cajun-soaked yarn about ghosts, family, and reconnecting with one's roots will captivate readers; strongly recommended. - School Library Journal