This is a guide on how to get Secret of the Haunted Books with 0 A presses in an RTABC run.
Method
The first star must be selected for this method to work. Defeat all of the Boos. Defeat the Big Boo. Before the stairs rise up, Dive on the highest stair. Now you can use Vertical Speed Conservation by punching to the edge. Go into the room with the Bookends. Dive at the center book, then the right book, and finally the left book to a dive to Ledge Grab to the platform with the Door. Dive onto the railing and if you do it right you'll have just enough height to be able to ground pound and get the star.