Available Formats
The Secret Dead Club
By (Author) Karen Strong
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
11th November 2025
Reprint
United States
Children
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Places and peoples
Childrens / Teenage fiction: Friendship stories
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Friends and friendships
Paperback
256
Width 130mm, Height 194mm, Spine 16mm
The Baby-Sitters Club meets Stranger Things in this spooky, heart-filled (Lora Senf, author of The Clackity) middle grade novel about friendship, fitting in, and the afterlife, following a girl who discovers shes not the only one at her new school who can see ghosts.
Wednesday Thomas sees ghosts. But that doesnt mean she has to talk to them.
After a terrifying experience in an Arizona state park with a wicked ghost, Wednesday and her mother Olivia sell their RV and move back south to the family home in Alton, Georgia. Wednesdays determined not to use her gift anymoreuntil she meets a group of girls who also know about the spirit realm.
Theres free-spirited Miki Okada and Southern belle Danni-Lynn Porter who seem to know about the ghosts who roam the schools hallways, popular girl Alexa Scott who tells Wednesday to stay away from Miki and Danni-Lynn and not draw attention to herself, and mysterious neighbor Violet Delgado who died last year but still haunts the house across the street. Wednesday feels these girls have some kind of shared history, but it isnt until Miki gives her an official invitation to the Dead Club that she starts to understand theres a lot more going on with the ghosts in Alton and the girls who can see them.
And when another malevolent ghost threatens to harm Wednesday, it will take the help of new friends both living and dead to save her and banish the evil being to the spirit realm where it belongs.
"A strongly characterized paranormal coming-of-age story that grapples with relatable issues." -- Kirkus Reviews * 7/15/2024 *
* "Strong uses tight plotting, fully fleshed out characters, and eerie and empathetic prose to examine themes of legacy and friendship, and deliver a smartly conceived mystery." -- Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW * 5/20/2024 *
As heartwarming as it is heart-stopping, THE SECRET DEAD CLUB is a smart, sensitive look at grief, friendship and the power of lineage. This is the scary-good novel Ive been waiting for since middle school! -- Leah Johnson, bestselling author ofEllie Engle Saves Herself
"An enchanting story about friendship and loss thats equal parts touching and terrifying, and a must-have for horror enthusiasts. Get ready for a scary good time! -- -Terry J. Benton-Walker, author ofAlex Wise vs The End of The World
THE SECRET DEAD CLUB is a fast-paced tale about friendship, family, and fighting for those you love even when the odds are stacked against youKaren Strong is one of the most talented, versatile authors on the middle grade fiction landscape today and Im certain even more young readers will become fans by way of this wonderful book.I loved THE SECRET DEAD CLUB it belongs on the bookshelves of anyone who enjoys a spooky, heart-filled tale. -- - Lora Senf, Bram Stoker-nominated author ofThe Clackity
"A tale of when old curses meet new friendships,The Secret Dead Clubspeaks onhelping others process grief, accepting your power, andadapting to new environments while holding on to yourself."
-- - Eden Royce, award-winning author ofRoot Magic
Born and raised in the rural South, Karen Strong spent most of her childhood wandering the woods, meadows, and gardens on her grandmothers land. She developed a deep adoration of books from her weekly visits to the public library. A graduate of the University of Georgia, she is an advocate of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). An avid lover of strong coffee, yellow flowers, and night skies, Karen currently lives in Atlanta. You can find her online at Karen-Strong.com.