Info
- Age: 10 years and up
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books (February 23, 2027)
- Paperback: 272 pages
- ISBN-13: 978-1547619658
A haunted Broadway theater.
A ghost demanding justice.
Three kids who must follow the clues to unlock the past . . .
When Daphne, Luna, and Felix break into a shuttered theater to produce their own musical, they find it haunted by the ghost of an angry showgirl who makes a cryptic demand:
TRUTH
Daphne is already struggling with her own truth, ever since a cute older boy humiliated her in front of the drama club last spring. Now her heart is full of secrets, and she hasn’t written a new song in months.
But the ghost is persistent, and the friends find themselves sleuthing through empty research libraries and abandoned theaters in a search for answers. As the hauntings escalate from spooky to deadly, can they uncover the truth of what happened a century ago and finally free their ghosts?
Told via stage play, song lyrics, letters, and more this fast-paced, accessible novel will capture any reader.
Deluxe Limited Editions from:
GET KATE MESSNER’S VIRTUAL AUTHOR-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM FOR 2026-2027 for FREE!
- Offered at no cost for the first 500 people to pre-order one or more copies of KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON from Kate’s local independent bookstore, The Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid, NY.
- Kate’s virtual author-in-residence program includes:
- An exclusive pdf excerpt with the first 40 pages of KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON delivered to your inbox
- Writing Scary Scenes – a 20-minute on-demand writing workshop for grades 4-8 with author Kate Messner
- Songwriting is Poetry – a 20-minute on-demand workshop for grades 4-8 with author Kate Messner & Broadway music director and composer Haley Bennett, who wrote music to go along with the song lyrics in KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON.
- A Live Virtual Author Visit on February 11th – A 45-minute virtual author visit sharing Kate’s research and writing process for her NYT Bestseller THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES and her new novel KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON, including live Q&A with readers. (Each pre-order provides access to the live webinar for one device. A recording will also be available after the live event, with
unlimited access through the 2026-2027 school year.) - Preorder your copy here & you’ll automatically be signed up for the virtual author-in-residence program. You’ll get an email on October 1st (or on the first day of the next month after your order) with the excerpt and links to the on-demand writing workshops as well as your invitation to register for the live Zoom author visit.
Download the Teacher’s Guide
Kate Messner has been working with composer and Broadway music director Haley Bennett to bring the music from KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON to life!
Daphne’s “I Want” Song takes place early in the novel (before the more serious hauntings begin!) as Daphne is trying to write a piece for her musical theater elective portfolio. It features lyrics by Kate Messner, music by Broadway music director and composer Haley Bennett, vocals by Gianna Harris of & JULIET, and sound by recording engineer Derik Lee of Renaissance Recording.
HALEY BENNETT is a Music Supervisor, Conductor, Arranger, and Composer based in NYC. Broadway credits include & Juliet, Redwood, Diana: The Musical, Once on This Island, Escape to Margaritaville, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, Anastasia, Bandstand, Paramour, and Finding Neverland. TV/Film credits include Schmigadoon!, Diana: The Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar Live!, and Peter Pan Live!. Haley supervises projects for NBCUniversal, at Radio City Music Hall, The Ogunquit Playhouse, and is a Recording Coordinator for Broadway cast albums. Haley is also very passionate about education, and in addition to holding a BA in Psychology from Harvard University, she served as a curriculum designer for Duolingo’s new music education course, and is currently a volunteer counselor with the Crisis Text Line. She hopes you enjoy these songs as much as she enjoys collaborating with Kate Messner!
GIANNA HARRIS is a singer and stage and screen actress born in New Jersey. She’s best known for her work in the Broadway and touring productions of School of Rock and the Broadway production of Hell’s Kitchen, which she joined right out of high school. In 2025, Gianna took over the title role of & Juliet on Broadway, a character she loves because Juliet in this show is so confident and authentically herself.
Praise for KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON
I’ve read a lot of ghost stories. But this one will haunt me for a long time. How do I know? I read it a week ago–and I still have chills!
~ R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear Street series
Beautifully written and brimming with realistic friendship dynamics, fascinating history, and themes of bravery and empathy, this is one ghost story that belongs in every middle grade library!
~ Lindsay Currie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE MYSTERY OF LOCKED ROOMS
A moving ghost story, a juicy mystery, and an exploration of how the past haunts both the living and the dead. I loved it.
~ Eliot Schrefer, New York Times bestselling author
In her clever multi-modal style, Messner sets a spooky stage with haunted theaters, indelible friendships, and a righteous crusade to address a historical wrong. Toss in a spine-chilling mystery and an unrequited crush and you’ve got a page-turner sure to dazzle readers from the first bars of the overture to the final curtain call.
~ Megan E. Freeman, New York Times bestselling author of ALONE
Avenging ghosts and long-buried secrets take the stage in this innovative supernatural mystery. With a cast of Kate Messner’s singular middle school characters and a delightful dose of theatricality, Keep the Ghost Light On is a fun and absorbing novel about the magic of theater, the tenacity of ghosts, and the power of reclaiming your voice.
— Anne Ursu, author of NOT QUITE A GHOST
With astute intention and invention, each verse touches your soul and puts tears in your eyes–the kind of tears that comfort and heal.
— Renée Watson, New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning author, on THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES
Split this story like a log, and you’ll find concentric circles of metaphor and meaning on every page. There are passages that will gut you, and others that will leave you laughing out loud.
~ Nikki Grimes, award-winning author of ORDINARY HAZARDS, on THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES
Equal parts suspenseful adventure and heartrending emotion, this beautiful book will capture your heart.
~ Jasmine Warga, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A ROVER’S STORY and Newbery Honor-winning OTHER WORDS FOR HOME, on THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES
The Trouble with Heroes is a heartfelt, moving page-turner that tackles grief, loss, anger and redemption. Another Kate Messner triumph!
~ Dan Gemeinhart, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE MIDNIGHT CHILDREN and THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE, on THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES