When fighting (CHILDHOOD SCARY THING), make sure to pack lots of (TYPE OF METAL), (COMMON KITCHEN SEASONING), and (MAGNETIC OBJECT). Oh, and don't poke the ghost. It'll kill you. This horror/ mystery novel also sidesteps the YA genre's failings.
The heroine is competent from the start and KNOWS IT, there is no stupid romantic subplot, the mystery isn't blindly obvious from page 3, the ghosts are scary, and the world is effectively developed.