Is it too scary for an 8-year-old?

It falls into the 'spooky adventure' category. If they can handle Goosebumps or the more intense Harry Potter moments, they'll be fine here. The 'sinister force' is more about mystery and tension than horror.

Is this part of a larger series?

The synopsis mentions 'Spirit Service friends,' implying this is either the start of a new series or a continuation of an existing one. It's written to stand on its own as a complete mystery, though.

What's the deal with the 'boys-only' league?

It’s the primary conflict. The book uses this rivalry to explore why people exclude others and eventually shows both teams having to set aside their differences. It's a classic 'clash of the clubs' setup.

Does the phantom phone encourage more screen time?

Actually, it's the opposite. It treats the phone as a magical, physical artifact rather than an app-filled distraction. It’s more likely to spark imaginative play about what their phone might do if it were haunted.

Twice the Trouble – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Twice the Trouble

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2026Juvenile Fiction

86%

WISE Score

Raveena and her Spirit Service crew battle a boys-only paranormal league for control of a haunted smartphone that might be more trouble than it's worth.

Twice the Trouble

book

2026, Juvenile Fiction

86%

WISE Score

Raveena and her Spirit Service crew battle a boys-only paranormal league for control of a haunted smartphone that might be more trouble than it's worth.

Jump to

Where to Read

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased. Screenwise is a Bookshop.org affiliate and an Amazon Associate, so if you buy a book through one of our links, we may earn a commission. Bookshop.org purchases also support independent bookstores.

Screenwise Verdict

Twice the Trouble is a sharp, modern mystery that nails the vibe of 2026 middle-grade fiction. It pits Raveena’s Spirit Service against a 'no girls allowed' league in a competition over a phantom phone, but the real win is how it forces these groups to drop the act and work together.

It’s fast-paced, slightly eerie, and avoids the tired 'tech is evil' trope by making the gadget the center of the magic. If your kid is into Ghostbusters or ensemble adventure stories, this is a very safe bet for their next favorite read.

Age Fit

Designed for the 8-to-12 middle-grade sweet spot. It’s perfect for kids who have moved past early chapter books and want a mystery with some actual teeth.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Focuses on friendship and the necessity of cooperation, even with rivals, to defeat a common threat. The tone is adventurous rather than mean-spirited.

Imaginative

The concept of a 'magical phantom phone' and competing paranormal leagues adds a fresh, tech-magic layer to the standard ghost-hunting genre.

Safe

Simon & Schuster middle-grade fiction is consistently vetted for this age group. Expect spooky 'sinister forces' but nothing outside the norms of juvenile fantasy.

Enriching

Explores gender dynamics and the breakdown of 'boys-only' cliques through a shared mystery, encouraging readers to look past superficial rivalries.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Tech-meets-magic hook that will instantly click with kids who live on their devices but love a good ghost story.
Strong ensemble cast led by Raveena, emphasizing that the best paranormal investigations are a team sport.
Modern rivalry plot that tackles 'boys-only' gatekeeping in a way that feels organic to the competition.
High-stakes mystery involving the origins of the phantom phones that keeps the pages turning.

⚠

What to Watch For

The 'sinister force' mentioned in the synopsis suggests some mildly spooky or intense paranormal scenes that might be a bit much for very sensitive younger readers.
A heavy focus on inter-group rivalry—the competition is high-stakes, so expect some verbal sparring between the teams.

Conversation Starters

"If you found a phone that could talk to ghosts, who is the first person you'd try to call?"
"Why do you think the boys-only league felt they had to exclude Raveena and her friends?"
"Raveena has to work with her rivals to stop a bigger threat—is it harder to win a game or to make peace with an enemy?"
"What do you think is the most dangerous thing about a 'phantom phone'?"

Deep Dive

Ghostbusters for the Smartphone Generation

Middle-grade fiction is currently obsessed with blending ancient magic with modern hardware, and Twice the Trouble looks to be one of the more competent entries in that space. Published by Simon & Schuster, it carries the polish you'd expect from a major house while leaning into the 'Spirit Service' world that feels tailor-made for fans of team-based adventures.

The 'boys-only anti-paranormal league' serves as a great narrative foil. It’s a classic trope—the exclusionary clubhouse—reimagined as a high-stakes competitive agency. For parents, this provides a low-friction way to talk about gender dynamics and gatekeeping without the book feeling like a lecture. The rivalry is the engine, but the 'sinister force' is the actual plot, which is exactly how you want a mystery to be structured.

If your kid has already burned through series like Percy Jackson or Amari and the Night Brothers, this is the same shape of story. It rewards readers who like a mix of humor, gadgetry, and things that go bump in the night. The phantom phone itself is a clever MacGuffin—it turns a ubiquitous piece of kid-tech into something mysterious and potentially dangerous, which is a great way to engage kids who might otherwise be looking at their own phones instead of a book.

What Parents Ask

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Writing about Twice the Trouble? Put this WISE score on your site