Ruby, Lois. Rebel Spirits.

Ruby, Lois.  Rebel Spirits.  Scholastic Press/Point  2013  292p  ISBN 978-0-545-42623-7  ms/hs  Hardback    E-BN  Fantasy

Lori Chase’s parents buy a haunted inn in Gettysburg just when the yearly reenactments of the Civil War occur.  Shortly after moving in, she meets a ghost who desperately needs her help.  This cross-dimensional novel is a great read. Lori Chase doesn’t want to move to Gettysburg and lose contact with her friend Jocelyn.

As she helps her family get Coolspring Inn ready for their first guest, Lori encounters a devastatingly handsome soldier named Nathaniel Pierce who wants her help.  Nathaniel is a ghost, and his soul cannot pass over because he was murdered and not killed in the famous battle.  He convinces her to investigate his murder.  As Lori investigates the mystery, she realizes that not all guests of the inn (for example, the Crandalls) and staff members (Bertha and her husband) are on the up and up.  Lori skypes her brother Randy for help and forms a casual friendship with the lawn-mowing “hunk.”  Her actions frequently get her in trouble with her parents.  However, her persistence aids her in outwitting some treasure hunters and solving the murder, all while she is being grounded.

The author has developed some very believable characters and events that will keep readers avidly anticipating the next turn of events.  This cross-dimensional novel makes a great read.  It is a very well-written book that will appeal to many young readers.  It is recommended as a basic book for any middle- or high-school library.  It would make an excellent selection for a basic books list for school libraries.   

Summary: Lori Chase’s parents buy a haunted inn in Gettysburg just when the yearly reenactments of the Civil War occur.  Shortly after moving in, she meets a ghost who desperately needs her help.  This cross-dimensional novel is a great read.      Lori Chase doesn’t want to move to Gettysburg and lose contact with her friend Jocelyn.

Ghosts-Fiction                                              --Linda McNeil

Harrington, Kim. The Dead and Buried.

Harrington, Kim.  The Dead and Buried.  Scholastic Press/Point    2012  297p  $17.99  ISBN 978-0-545-33302-3      jr/sr   Supernatural, Mystery   E-BN 

From the moment you open the book, this story captures your imagination. Jade is not thrilled to have to go to a new high school, and she can’t help but wonder how her family is able to afford their new house. Then her little brother tells her that he is seeing the ghost of a girl with black hair.

At school Jade begins making friends, and at first everything seems all right, until she tells them where she lives. Their reaction is surprising, and finally one girl tells her to check the real estate pages. Jade is shocked when she reads that a teenage girl fell down the stairs of her house and died just a few months ago.  The ghost of the girl is not happy, and wants her murder to be solved, and this places Jade in the position of doing the detective work, whether she likes it or not. Everyone is a suspect and everyone has a motive, but the most important clue is to be found in the diary of the murdered girl. Jade realizes that if she can find the diary, the killer will be revealed.

This excellent story will keep readers guessing up to the very end. A cute romance is thrown in to help lighten up the story.           

Haunted houses, Ghosts, Romance   --Magna Diaz

Bailey, Diane. Ghosts In America.

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Bailey, Diane.  Ghosts In America.  Rosen Publishing Group  48p  $29.25                   978-1-4488-5527-8  2012  elm/ms  VG-BNS  series: America's Supernatural Secrets

Several intriguing ghost stories, accompanied by factual and scientific information, make up the core of this appealing book about American ghosts.  Up-to-date information is also presented about current phenomena and ghost-hunting activities.            While this thin volume does not include everything a young reader will want to know about ghosts in America, it presents intriguing stories, as well as the “science” behind current phenomena and ghost-hunting activities.  All this is done in a manner that will attract even the most reluctant reader. 

The layout is attractive, and, for the most part, sufficiently spooky to lead the reader on.  The only detraction is that a number of brightly-colored insets, with totally unrelated shorter stories, appear in the middle of the text of a longer story, interrupting the flow of the story.  This may also create confusion for some readers. 

Supplemental materials include a glossary, sources of further information, both print and electronic, a list of agencies, a good bibliography and a comprehensive index.  All in all, this volume will whet the appetite for well-researched ghost stories and encourage young readers to explore further.  It would be a good addition for elementary and middle-school collections.

Ghosts, Folklore, Spooky stories                                                                                                                                                       --Pat Naismith

 

Shusterman, Neal. Everfound (Bk3 Skinjacker Trilogy)

Shusterman, Neal.  Everfound (Bk3 Skinjacker Trilogy)   

Simon & Schuster/Little

Brown 2011  512p  17.99 978-1-41699-0499   

ms/jr   Fantasy           VG     

The Skinjacker Trilogy concludes with a satisfying dramatic road trip aboard a ghost train, populated by Afterlights on a mission to carry out evil Mary Hightower’s plan to extinguish the real world forever.      Purgatory will never be the same. 

Shusterman has created a  fascinating universe in Everlost,  a "world between

life and death" inhabited by children and teens, existing side-by-side with the

everyday world.  New characters join the cast: Jix,a furjacker who choses to

inhabit the skins of big cats, is a spy of the Mayan King of Everlost, sent to

infiltrate the child army of Mary Hightower.  Add to this, Clarence, a scar

wraith, half in the real world and half in Everlost, with the abiltiy to

permanently extinguish the life of an Afterlight.  Longer than others in the

trilogy, this neatly ties up the loose ends, but will leave fans yearing for a

return trip.  

This volume does not stand particularly well on its own, leaving too much of the back story of individual characters as speculation, however, a handy and

informative FAQ (narrated by Allie the Outlaw) helps integrate background

material at the beginning of the novel.  Newcomers to the series will want to

pick up the previous offerings.  A satisfying end to a popular series from a

masterful storyteller.              Naismith, Pat

Koontz, Dean. Odd Is On Our Side.

Koontz, Dean. Odd Is On Our Side.
Ballantine see Random 2010 186p 10.99
978-0-345-51560-5 ms/hs ghost - crimes - mysteries - E-BN


Odd Thomas sees dead people. Usually that means something is wrong or about to go wrong. The problem is how discover where it is going to go wrong and how can he stop it from harming anyone.
Odd Thomas lives in Pico Mundo. He is a short order cook and makes the Best Pancakes but he also sees dead people. They can’t talk to him but they have ways of communicating with him. The one ghost that visits him the most is Elvis Presley. Odd is still trying to figure that one out. His girlfriend Stormy is also odd in that although she can not see what Odd sees she understands and supports him.

Odd Thomas has accepted his fate and just tries to figure out the clues that dead people give him when things look bleak. On this particular day everyone in the town of Pico Mundo is getting ready to celebrate Halloween. On the surface all seems like it is going well and everyone should be having fun but Odd knows better. He and Stormy are trying to figure out what Elvis is trying to tell him and find where things can and will go wrong.

This graphic novel is fun and entertaining. Introduces all the characters and takes you on a crime solving, ghost hunting ride through the town of Pico Mundo. A fun read. Graphic novel Diaz, Magna

Dunkle, Clare B. The House of Dead Maids.

Dunkle, Clare B. The House of Dead Maids
Henry Holt/macmillan children's pub group 2010 146p 15.99 978-0-8050-9116-8 ghost - Rites & ceremonies- Orphans - Bronte family E-BN


Tabby Aykroyd tells the strange tale of a her time as a nanny to a poor orphan boy at a ghost-filled mansion with bizarre rituals and ceremonies. An orphan and still a small child herself, Tabby Aykroyd was taken to a haunted mansion to be a nursemaid to a small wild orphan boy without a name. Together they roamed the old mansion discovering hiding places and quite gardens to pass the time at play. At night the housekeeper locks them into the bedroom telling them that it is for their safety but every night,angry ghost haunt the bedroom trying to tell them something. Tabby is terrified but willing to discover the truth behind the ghost haunting. Her charge she discovers needs a name but she feels that she should not be the one to name him so she calls him himself. The master of the house has taken the barely six year old child in and tells him that he is master of the house. That is all the child needs to hear and acts accordingly but Tabby must reign in his temper and bad manners.

Then the day comes when the reason they were both brought to the house becomes clear to Tabby. It is with horror that she discovers that both she and the child are to be sacrificed for the land.
The ending of the story is full of surprises and shocks that will lead you to the book written by Emily Bronte.

A scary story not to be read at night. The descriptions of the ghost are quite terrifying and creepy. Some readers may wonder about justice and the way it is used in the book but for others it is only a prelude to the book Wuthering Heights.

Supernatural Diaz, Magna

Deception (Haunting Emma series)

Nichols, Lee. Deception (Haunting Emma series)
Bloomsbury see St. Martins 2010 326p 9.99
978-1-59990-421-4 ms/hs Fantasy VG-BN
This is a psychological ghostly thriller for young adults that interweaves the thoughts of Emma Vaille and what her parents never told her about her ability to see, hear, and talk with ghosts.
Emma’s parents go away on a business trip leaving her in charge of the antiquities shop. At the same time her best friend moves away; and her new friends talk her into hosting a party. After the cops crash the party, Emma ends up in Child Protective Services. Bennett, her brother’s friend, shows up with guardianship papers and whisks her away to a museum like mansion in New England that seems to be staffed by ghosts.

The Emma’s story is told in a back and forth style that allows the reader to understand Emma’s thoughts and fascinations with the ghosts, friendships, and love interests while continuing with her struggles to understand herself. She constantly wonders about whereabouts of her parents and brother. More importantly, why did they leave her out in the dark about her special abilities? The story builds to a dramatic ending which will lead into the next episode in the “Haunting Emma’s series”.
Lee Nichols has written a ghost thriller that will intrigue and entrance the young adult reader. The characters are believable and portrayed in a manner that shows the courage and strength of the main character.

This is a very well written book that will relate well to many young readers. It is recommended as a basic book for any middle or high school library. McNeil, Linda
Ghosts-fiction

Smith-Ready, Jeri. Shade.

Smith-Ready, Jeri. Shade.
Simon Pulse see Simon & Schuster 2010 320p 17.99
978-1-4169-9406-0 hs Supernatural VG-BN
Aura was born after the shift and Zachary was the last born before the shifted. Together they discover that there is a mystery involving their birth. Aura’s boyfriend loses his life just as she meets Zachary. Now she is trying to understand her feelings understanding that before she can move on she must let go.
Aura and Logan had a true love relationship. He was a singer with his brother and sister and were on their way to stardom. On his birthday they received an offer with a record company then Logan, Aura and the group went to his house to celebrate but at the party something went wrong.
Logan drank to much and took drugs and ended up a ghost. Aura who can see ghost was horrified to find Logan was dead and now a ghost who need to cross over. How did everything so right could go so wrong?
Enters Zachary into her life. He is handsome and he has been assigned to work with her on her science project. Aura is now confused. She knows that she should help Logan move on but she is not ready yet to do that, now to complicate things she discovers that she is on the right track on her science project and Zachary is a big part of it all.
A mystery that is left unsolved. This book probably will have a second book explaining the mystery behind Aura and Zachary’s birth. There is a sexual scene of masturbation and Logan’s little brother at one point of frustration repeats the “F” word repeatedly. The sexual scene is really not necessary and does not do much for the story but it will get kids checking out the book. It is a book that is for High School and above.
Diaz, Magna

Creive, Megan. Give Up the Ghost.

Creive, Megan. Give Up the Ghost.
Henry Holt 2009 244p 16.99 978-0-8050-8930-1 ms/hs

Cass could not tell you when it all started, but one minute she was popular and the next she was an outcast. She knows who started it, but she does not understand why. Now her only friends are ghosts! Yes, Ghosts! She can see ghosts ever since her sister died the year before. Cass could not tell you when it all started but one minute she was popular the next she was an outcast. She knows who started it but she does not understand why. Now her only friends are ghost! Yes, Ghost! She can see ghost ever since her sister died the year before. With her life school life falling apart, Cass was shocked when her home life and her family suffered the loss of her sister. Now her sister’s ghost keeps her company all the time. At school for some reason Cass can the see the teen ghost that haunt the school. She has adopted an attitude of ‘I don’t care”. And for the most part everyone leaves her alone. Then one of the in crowd begins to follow her and keeps asking her about ghost. Turns out he just lost his mom and he is looking to communicate with her. His biggest problem though is that fact the he is depressed and drinking. How on earth can Cass help him if she can barely help herself. A great story of loss and despair with plenty of humorous moments. Kids will love it. Diaz, Magna

The dreadful revenge of Ernest Gallen by James Lincoln Collier

Collier, James Lincoln. The dreadful revenge of Ernest Gallen.
Bloomsbury see St. Martins, 2008, 232p, $16.99, 978-1-59990-220-3.

A ghost comes to the rural town of Magnolia, intent on revenge and he wants young Gene Richards to help him achieve his goal, but Gene has other ideas.
The Dreadful Revenge of Ernest Gallen will haunt believers of ghost stories until the last page. Gene Richards, a young boy who lives with his mother and grandfather during the Great Depression. His life revolves around baseball and hanging out with his best friend Sonny Hawkins. Little do Gene and Sonny, and their friend Samantha know, but the sleepy rural town of Magnolia is hiding a secret, a secret that will soon be exposed thanks to an unknown, threatening voice that begins to haunt Gene. The voice belongs to an unnamed man and hints at untold power over Gene. The voice comes and goes and very quickly shows Gene that it can make him do anything that the voice wants him to do. The haunt eventually reveals to Gene that he wants him to kill his grandfather, a thought which horrifies Gene and which he does his best to resist. The voice also harasses other members of the community, causing deaths and accidents, all the while dropping hints to Gene that sets Gene, Sonny and Sam on an investigation to uncover a secret that involves the ghost and members of their families as well as an injustice that was never acknowledged. With Sonny’s help, Gene breaks free of the haunt’s power, but not without a great sacrifice for Gene. This first person narrative includes well-developed characters, a fast paced plot and an eerie, uneasy atmosphere that will propel readers to accompany Gene and his friends as they unravel the mysterious secret that has been unspoken for many years. Middle readers who are looking for a haunting ghost story will be mesmerized by the possibility of visitations from the other side. RZ

Spine Tinglers: Ghoulish Ghost Stories

Westall, Robert. Spine Tinglers: Ghoulish Ghost Stories. Kingfisher (HMCo.) 1991/2007. 264p. $6.95 978-9-7534-6-1402.

22 spine tingling stories written by some of the best master writers. Be prepared to be entertained with these wonderful ghost stories. A book you will not be able to put down.
Spine tingling stories written by some of the best master writers. Be prepared to be entertained with these wonderful ghost stories. From the moment you open the book you will be thrilled to bone and feel the hairs on your neck rise with excitement at the excellently well written ghost stories. You will find stories from such writer as Kafka, Dickens, Bradbury, Maupassant and Jacobs to name a few. This is a book all student who want to fiction writers should read as an examples of excellent writing.

I found this book to be a treasure and a book you will not be able to put down even if the stories will scare you witless. These are old fashion ghost stories of the first kind. Among my favorite were “The Monkeys Paw”, “ A Legion Marching by”, “Lost Hearts” and “Not at Home”.
M.D.

Hauntings

Hearne, Betsy. Hauntings. Greenwillow (see Harper Collins), 2007. 211p. $16.89 978-0-0612-3-9113

This is a collection of fifteen haunting tale divided into the past, the present and beyond the past and present. The stories are at times a little odd with a strange twist not quite understandable to me. I did not find many of them haunting at all but I did find all of them strange. They do’nt have that spine tingling feeling about them but they are odd and sometimes bizarre. They feel like modern tales that leave you feeling like “I don’t get it” type of reaction.

The stories are not outstanding but the book might make a good read-a-loud book to give the story atmosphere. M.D.

Scary stories for a scary time of year....

Alter, Stephen. The Phantom Isles. Bloomsbury (ST Martins) 2007. 210pages $16.95
1-58234-7387 Ghost - auroras - South Pacific

An old mystery is discovered in the Carville library. Orion, Courtney and Ming have stumbled upon an old book with a ghost trapped within it’s pages. At first they are frightened of what they have uncovered but they become involved in the mystery and begin to research how it all happened. They realize that in order to find an answer to this mystery they will need adult help and they reveal what they have so far uncovered to the town librarian.
As the mystery begins to unfold they discover that an American professor, an island in the South Pacific and auroras are all connected and the only one who seems to have the key to resolve the mystery is the professor’s son. The only problem is, that the professor’s son has just died before he could give voice to the solution.

An interesting theory on how ghost are captured within the pages of books. This fast reading ghost story will keep you reading to the very end.