Claudia and the Lighthouse Ghost (M#27)

Original Publication Date: 1996

Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis

Synopsis:

Some old family friends, the Hatts, are staying with the Kishis while they're in the process of moving back to Stoneybrook. Apparently they left because of something sinister to do with a lighthouse they own, and some people aren't thrilled to have them back, even sending them threatening notes. It turns out that a teenager was looking for something in the lighthouse one night and fell into the water while on the property and drowned. His father blames the Hatts for the death. The reason becomes a little more clear later on: the teenager had gone into the lighthouse as part of a gang initiation and was accidentally locked inside by Mr. Hatt. Fueled by claustrophobia, the teenager jumped and landed in the water. It turns out that a member of the gang is behind all the creepiness. It was his way of trying to keep the gang a secret.

There's a made-up comet making an appearance in Stoneybrook, too, complete with bad descriptions of comets and stupid superstitions. The BSC organizes a viewing party. Also, Janine is having trouble with her boyfriend, Jerry, and they end up calling things off.


Established or continued in this book:

The Girls (and Logan):

Claudia candy: Yodels in her night table drawer, Milky Ways under her mattress, cherry creams under her bed, caramels

There's really no new information about the girls.


Their Families:

Claudia worries what might happen if Janine finds her hidden candy while they share Claudia's room. I'm surprised that Claudia has forgotten that Janine hides candy, too.

Adam is forty seconds younger than Jordan, which makes it pretty likely the triplets were born via c-section.


The Club (and clients): nothing new.


SMS:

New students: Laura Hatt, Tonya Wright, both seventh grade. Actually, Tonya was mentioned before, but now we know her last name.


PSA Time: nothing stood out.


Misc:

This book used to belong to a Samantha who went by Sam, and possibly had the last initial H.

It's almost Christmas.


The numbers:

Starting 8th grade: 9

Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)

Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3

Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate, not just reference): Christmas-2, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-1

Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3

Summers after 8th grade: 9

BSC Fights: 11

SMS Staff and Faculty: 60

Students (other than the BSC): 187: 118 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 9 7th graders, 44 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.

Clients: 36 families

Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 123

Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0