Sauerkraut

HD Shenk's summer plans are all about the computer he wants to build.  He's going to clean out his uncle's basement to make money, buy all the parts himself, build it, and win a blue ribbon at the county fair.  Done!  He also has his best friend Eli around to help him while Eli's mom is out of town.  Perfect summer.

But on the first day of basement cleanup, the ghost of his great-great-grandmother appears, and this summer takes an interesting turn.  HD is a little creeped out at first, but it's pretty clear this is not a vengeful ghost.  He's also not sure she will understand who he is since Oma was born in Germany, and HD looks more like his African American mom. 

That's not a problem for Oma though.  The only thing she cares about is making sauerkraut.  Her ghost has been stuck in the basement living in her sauerkraut crock for 50 years, and now she wants HD to help her make her special recipe and win first place at the county fair. 

HD's summer plans are getting a slight alteration.  He still has to clean out the basement and build his computer, but he also has to make sauerkraut with his ghostly Oma and convince his family and friends she's real! 

I enjoyed Kelly Jones's new book more than I thought I would!  It's funny, strange, and clever.  The whole thing is kind of a bizarre concept, and I'm not sure many kids even know what sauerkraut is, but they will definitely relate to HD's place in a biracial family.  It does have a bit of an after school special vibe at times with life lessons tucked into every corner, but I really enjoy the overall message that spending time with family and friends and feeling pride in your own accomplishments are more important than winning.  Recommended.