Back to Ghoul: The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids #05: Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips

This is the first and probably only case with the Bailey School Kids where I instantly remember the title and the cover from when I was a kid. I don't recall if I read it or at least read it entirely, but it's the case where the title definitely rings a bell with me. So we've had maybe-vampires, maybe-werewolves, maybe-definitely-Santas and maybe-leprechauns. So maybe-ghosts shouldn't come to be that much of a shock. Does it mean good book, or are we doomed to be haunted by the spirit of mediocrity? We're about to see for ourselves as we learn why Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips. Maybe they prefer pretzels or, like Goldfish crackers. 

Like I said, I remember this cover. The brown-ness of the attic, the ghostly guy with his hat, sweater and really nice mustache. I even remember the floating chips. I remember all of that... except the Bailey School packaging. Because the version I remember seeing wasn't labeled under the Bailey School Kids copy. I think a couple books are like that, but this one I remember specifically having a copy without the label. Features the same art as well. So maybe that's why mentally I never consider this to be a Bailey School Kids book. But even with that said, this is a neat cover. Though the transparent nature of our maybe-ghost does make him seem more supernatural than any of the maybe-monsters so far. It's a warm cover and I really like it. Good stuff.

We open with, to no surprise, Eddie being a pain in the ass again. This time he has to bring a casserole over to his Great-Aunt Mathilda who has been sick for a while. Howie tags along, eating a bag of garlic chips which, not gonna lie, sound awful. Like at least if they have some flavor to go with the garlic they'd at least sound tasty. The boys arrive at Mathilda's and she is very cranky and mean to the both of them, but notes the garlic chips Howie has are the same kind of chips her son and Eddie's uncle Jasper used to eat before he died. The two then water her garden. Eddie goes to tend to Mathilda, while Howie notices what looks to be someone in the attic. Eddie says it's not him, nor is there anyone else living in the house other than Mathilda. So either we have a ghost or a real Hider in the House type situation. Howie had put his garlic chips down, and notices the bag has spilled and the chips spell A-T-T-I-C. So either we have a ghost on our hands or that is one heck of a coincidence.

The boys tell Melody and Liza about it, but Eddie, of course, doesn't believe that any of this is legit. But he invites the three to Mathilda's so that he can prove to them that there's nobody hiding in the attic. They arrive at Mathilda's and she's still super awful to all of them, but given how much Eddie wishes she were dead, I can kind of see why she's how she is. The kids then hear a loud thump and a whistling noise coming from the attic, which Eddie thinks must be rats. The kids reheat Mathilda's casserole then go upstairs as she teaches them to play poker, which is the first thing Eddie likes about her. Eddie would definitely be into crypto if this was 2025 book. Suddenly, smoke comes from the kitchen and the stove seems to be unable to turn off. They eventually turn it off, but ye gods, the casserole is ruined! But what if Mathilda got them to purchase fast food and have that instead of home cooking? Ho ho ho, delightfully devilish, Seymour. 

Mathilda sends the kids to Doodle Burger to get her some burgers, only for Melody to trip over a root and ruin the food. They fix it up as Eddie notices that the kitchen is clean, like there was no mess with the casserole at all. The food also has bite marks in it and some of Howie's chips are missing. So the ghost just eats and runs? They give Mathilda the burgers and notice a photo on her nightstand. Howie notices that the man looks exactly like who he saw in the attic, but Howie says that it's his uncle Jasper and he's dead, and there's absolutely no possible way a ghost could be in the attic or anything. But to get them to cut the crap, he's going up to the attic to show them. That night they sneak back into Mathilda's house, but before they can go into the attic, they find Mathilda now delirious, calling out for Jasper. She can hear him whistling Yankee Doodle. She also says that she can't afford to go to a doctor because Jasper has all of the money and she needs to see him first. But they call the paramedics regardless to take her to the hospital. As they head home, the kids see a figure in the attic again. But Howie is still convinced that this is all bunk. 

There's a convenient storm going on, so the power gets cut. But the kids notice a light coming from upstairs. They head into the attic, and find a large trunk. Inside is some of Jasper's old clothing, and in his hat in particular is a large pile of cash. So that may be what Mathilda meant by the money being with Jasper. The kids think that maybe someone led them to the money, to make sure that Mathilda would be saved. And that if Jasper was here, this may have been a wrong that he needed to right before leaving the mortal coil. But with no actual proof, they just chalk it up as a mere coincidence. A couple months pass and Mathilda's much better. Her ramshackle house is rebuilt and she's in a far better mood. She invites the kids over to play some poker, which makes me think this whole money thing ends when she loses it all in Vegas. 

I really hate having quick conclusions because I do feel like they aren't as good at covering my thoughts on a book, but I'll be honest. There's not much to really say about this one. It is super quick, the plot is straightforward and the supernatural elements are done well enough. We never get any form of interaction with Jasper, but that's also the point. If the book had Jasper appear then it would nullify the entire gimmick of the series. That these kids may be encountering supernatural beings, or it could all be some really odd coincidences. And more so than vampires, leprechauns, werewolves or Santa, if the book just has them meet a ghost, then it would break the books entirely. But we at least get some hints of supernatural events with the kitchen being cleaned and the scene with the garlic chips spelling out ATTIC. And I like how the plot flows. How it's clear that the answer to helping Great-Aunt Mathilda requires going into the attic. So if Jasper existed then he was at least trying to get them to help her out. Or maybe kill Mathilda in a fire? That kitchen scene definitely raises questions.

Other than that, there's not much else to say. The characters are the same as usual. Eddie's a pain, but nowhere as bad as previous cases. I like Mathilda and wish the book did more with her other than being angry and enjoying poker. And the book is super quick, doesn't waste much time and uses everything to make for a decent little ghost story. Easy recommend for a quick little read but nothing super special either. Hopefully the next book has a bit more life to it. Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips gets a B.