Ghost Knight, by Cornelia Funke

Harry Potter made boarding schools cool to everyone. Everyone, that is, but Jon Whitcroft, who is far from happy when his mother sends him away. Jon is already unhappy about his mother's new boyfriend, "the beard" as he calls him, and this is just the cherry on top of a horrible life.

Not long after his arrival, Jon starts seeing things. Ghosts, in fact. Now, we're not talking about sweet cuddly ghosts like Casper. No. These ghosts are out for blood to revenge the blood that they lost centuries before.

Thankfully, Jon also quickly finds a friend in a pretty girl with long locks named Ella. She also has a penchant for the scary, so the two begin their quest to uncover how these spirits met such untimely deaths while trying to juggle school. Longspee, an ancient knight, is summoned by Jon for protection, but questions arise as to whether or not he is there to protect the duo or bring them to an early end as well.

In the end, his mother's offer for him to return home and her decision to not marry the beard are met with a response very different from the one Jon would have given before arriving at boarding school. After finding new places and friends, both of this world and not, and having had a ghostly run-in with "the beard," Jon's opinion has changed and the decision is made to stay. Even if he still isn't a Potter fan.

This ghost tale will be liked by guys and gals alike as they are propelled from one chapter to the next in this spooky mystery.