School of the Dead

By Avi | Publisher: HarperCollins

About the book

In this spine-tingling story from Newbery Medal winner Avi, a boy must solve the mystery of the ghost haunting him.

For most of Tony Gilbert’s life, he has thought of his uncle as “Weird Uncle Charlie.” That is, until Uncle Charlie moves in with Tony and his family. Uncle Charlie is still odd, of course—talking about spirits and other supernatural stuff—but he and Tony become fast friends, and Tony ends up having a lot of fun with Uncle Charlie.

When Uncle Charlie dies suddenly, Tony is devastated. Then he starts seeing Uncle Charlie everywhere! It doesn’t help that Tony switched schools—it was Uncle Charlie’s dying wish that Tony attend the Penda School, where Uncle Charlie himself went as a kid. The Penda School is eerie enough without his uncle’s ghost making it worse. On top of that, rumors have been circulating about a student who went missing shortly before Tony arrived. Could that somehow be related to Uncle Charlie’s ghost?

Full of twists and turns that get spookier by the chapter, School of the Dead is a fast-paced mystery that Avi’s fans will devour!


  • A Creepy School with a Dark Secret: The Penda School isn't just old, it's eerie. When Tony learns a student vanished right before he arrived, he realizes the school's secrets are more dangerous than he imagined.
  • A Ghost Story with a Twist: After his great-uncle Charlie dies, Tony starts seeing him everywhere. But is Uncle Charlie's ghost trying to help him, or is he part of the school's haunting?
  • Middle Grade Paranormal Adventure: Tony has to uncover the truth about the Penda School and his uncle's past before he becomes the next student to disappear.
  • Family Secrets: “Weird Uncle Charlie” was always obsessed with spirits and the other side. Now Tony has to figure out if his uncle's secrets died with him, or if they're the key to surviving Penda.

Editions of School of the Dead

Paperback
ISBN 9780061740862
EBook
ISBN 9780062231512

Read an Excerpt

In this spine-tingling story from Newbery Medal winner Avi, a boy must solve the mystery of the ghost haunting him.

For most of Tony Gilbert’s life, he has thought of his uncle as “Weird Uncle Charlie.” That is, until Uncle Charlie moves in with Tony and his family. Uncle Charlie is still odd, of course—talking about spirits and other supernatural stuff—but he and Tony become fast friends, and Tony ends up having a lot of fun with Uncle Charlie.

When Uncle Charlie dies suddenly, Tony is devastated. Then he starts seeing Uncle Charlie everywhere! It doesn’t help that Tony switched schools—it was Uncle Charlie’s dying wish that Tony attend the Penda School, where Uncle Charlie himself went as a kid. The Penda School is eerie enough without his uncle’s ghost making it worse. On top of that, rumors have been circulating about a student who went missing shortly before Tony arrived. Could that somehow be related to Uncle Charlie’s ghost?

Full of twists and turns that get spookier by the chapter, School of the Dead is a fast-paced mystery that Avi’s fans will devour!


  • A Creepy School with a Dark Secret: The Penda School isn't just old, it's eerie. When Tony learns a student vanished right before he arrived, he realizes the school's secrets are more dangerous than he imagined.
  • A Ghost Story with a Twist: After his great-uncle Charlie dies, Tony starts seeing him everywhere. But is Uncle Charlie's ghost trying to help him, or is he part of the school's haunting?
  • Middle Grade Paranormal Adventure: Tony has to uncover the truth about the Penda School and his uncle's past before he becomes the next student to disappear.
  • Family Secrets: “Weird Uncle Charlie” was always obsessed with spirits and the other side. Now Tony has to figure out if his uncle's secrets died with him, or if they're the key to surviving Penda.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is School of the Dead about?

In this spine-tingling story from Newbery Medal winner Avi, a boy must solve the mystery of the ghost haunting him.

For most of Tony Gilbert’s life, he has thought of his uncle as “Weird Uncle Charlie.” That is, until Uncle Charlie moves in with Tony and his family. Uncle Charlie is still odd, of course—talking about spirits and other supernatural stuff—but he and Tony become fast friends, and Tony ends up having a lot of fun with Uncle Charlie.

When Uncle Charlie dies suddenly, Tony is devastated. Then he starts seeing Uncle Charlie everywhere! It doesn’t help that Tony switched schools—it was Uncle Charlie’s dying wish that Tony attend the Penda School, where Uncle Charlie himself went as a kid. The Penda School is eerie enough without his uncle’s ghost making it worse. On top of that, rumors have been circulating about a student who went missing shortly before Tony arrived. Could that somehow be related to Uncle Charlie’s ghost?

Full of twists and turns that get spookier by the chapter, School of the Dead is a fast-paced mystery that Avi’s fans will devour!


  • A Creepy School with a Dark Secret: The Penda School isn't just old, it's eerie. When Tony learns a student vanished right before he arrived, he realizes the school's secrets are more dangerous than he imagined.
  • A Ghost Story with a Twist: After his great-uncle Charlie dies, Tony starts seeing him everywhere. But is Uncle Charlie's ghost trying to help him, or is he part of the school's haunting?
  • Middle Grade Paranormal Adventure: Tony has to uncover the truth about the Penda School and his uncle's past before he becomes the next student to disappear.
  • Family Secrets: “Weird Uncle Charlie” was always obsessed with spirits and the other side. Now Tony has to figure out if his uncle's secrets died with him, or if they're the key to surviving Penda.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in School of the Dead?

Children’s, Teenage and Educational > Children’s / Teenage: General interest > Children’s / Teenage general interest: Communities, places and peoples > Children’s / Teenage general interest: Girls and women

Where can I read a sample of School of the Dead?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780061740862

Who is/are the Author/s of the book School of the Dead?

Avi

Who is the Publisher of the book School of the Dead?

HarperCollins

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

School of the Dead is available as paperback(ISBN 9780061740862) and ebook(ISBN 9780062231512)

Where can I buy School of the Dead online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy School of the Dead from below

Where can I buy School of the Dead?