This is the kind of middle grade book that reminds you the genre can handle real complexity. Hanna Alkaf doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of friendship—the jealousy, the possessiveness, the way we can sometimes hurt the people we love most—while wrapping it in Malaysian folklore that feels both magical and grounded.

The pelesit concept is genuinely cool: inheriting a ghost from your witch grandmother, naming it Pink, and then discovering it has a shadow side that threatens to consume you both. It's creepy without being gratuitous, and the cultural specificity makes it feel fresh in a sea of Western-centric middle grade fantasy.

Kirkus Prize finalist status isn't just for show—this book does the work of being both entertaining and meaningful. It's not going to be for every kid (sensitive readers should probably wait), but for the right reader, this is exactly the kind of book that sticks with you. The 4.6 Amazon rating suggests it's landing well with its audience.

If your kid is ready to move beyond purely cozy middle grade into something with real teeth (metaphorically speaking), this is a strong pick that also happens to offer representation and folklore you won't find in most school libraries.