cleverbaggins's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
3.5
It was probably fine when I was a kid but doesn't hold up now that I'm older.
dandelion323's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kieranlit's review against another edition
3.0
This is a 3.5. A little too fast in the beginning, and no explanation at the end, but overall a good book.
jenrok's review against another edition
5.0
I read this when I was 8 or 9 and it still remains one of my favorite book memories.
corkycorcoran's review against another edition
5.0
Readalong with Sally & Beth.
Thoughts:
Todd is a future serial killer
I cried at the end!
This was so dark and quite spooky!
I felt like this could have been written by Joan Lowery Nixon (high praise) and I’ll look for more of this author’s books.
Really excellent and interesting for middle grade.
Thoughts:
Todd is a future serial killer
I cried at the end!
This was so dark and quite spooky!
I felt like this could have been written by Joan Lowery Nixon (high praise) and I’ll look for more of this author’s books.
Really excellent and interesting for middle grade.
manwithanagenda's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Like I'd pass up something called 'Ghost Cat'.
Thank you 'Ghost Cat' for justifying my picking up these weird preteen books, because, against all evidence to the contrary, this was pretty good.
After her widowed mother starts getting serious with a new boyfriend, Annabel is sent to stay with her father's relatives on the family farm in Wisconsin. She resents being shuttled off and not being "enough" for her mother the way she had been since her dad died. She doesn't know her relatives at all and so things get to a rocky start as she offends her bully of a cousin (a favorite of her great aunt and uncle) and accidentally dredges up some bad family history.
The mystery of the ghost itself is simple and most authors wouldn't have bothered to flesh out the other aspects of the story, but Butler spends a good amount of time developing Annabel's relationship with her family, the good and the bad. The main story may wrap up nicely, but the complicated family matters don't. A welcome touch of realism in a book that, for all the cover advertises, should have just been about a lonely girl child finding a ghost cat of her very own!
Thank you 'Ghost Cat' for justifying my picking up these weird preteen books, because, against all evidence to the contrary, this was pretty good.
After her widowed mother starts getting serious with a new boyfriend, Annabel is sent to stay with her father's relatives on the family farm in Wisconsin. She resents being shuttled off and not being "enough" for her mother the way she had been since her dad died. She doesn't know her relatives at all and so things get to a rocky start as she offends her bully of a cousin (a favorite of her great aunt and uncle) and accidentally dredges up some bad family history.
The mystery of the ghost itself is simple and most authors wouldn't have bothered to flesh out the other aspects of the story, but Butler spends a good amount of time developing Annabel's relationship with her family, the good and the bad. The main story may wrap up nicely, but the complicated family matters don't. A welcome touch of realism in a book that, for all the cover advertises, should have just been about a lonely girl child finding a ghost cat of her very own!
pussreboots's review
2.0
Ghost Cat by Beverly Butler takes its inspiration from "Annabel Lee", Edgar Allan Poe's last poem. The young protagonist is named for the ill fated girl in Poe's poem and while staying with relatives she barely knows, Annabel Lee dredges up memories of a 40 year old feud.
While Poe may have been the starting point for this mystery, the book reminds me most of Be Buried in the Rain by Barbara Michaels but aimed at a younger audience. Although I enjoyed the 40 year old mystery and the ghost story bits, the family tension at the farm dragged the pacing of the book down.
The biggest problem with the book is Annabel herself. She's not a well defined character. Her only point seems to be to dredge up the past to bring closure for her family. Since she is mostly a plot device, she doesn't make an interesting enough character to tell the story. Her grandfather who actually knows what is going on is a far more fascinating character but he can't be the narrator since he knows too much. Butler's set up started with the plot painted into a corner.
While Poe may have been the starting point for this mystery, the book reminds me most of Be Buried in the Rain by Barbara Michaels but aimed at a younger audience. Although I enjoyed the 40 year old mystery and the ghost story bits, the family tension at the farm dragged the pacing of the book down.
The biggest problem with the book is Annabel herself. She's not a well defined character. Her only point seems to be to dredge up the past to bring closure for her family. Since she is mostly a plot device, she doesn't make an interesting enough character to tell the story. Her grandfather who actually knows what is going on is a far more fascinating character but he can't be the narrator since he knows too much. Butler's set up started with the plot painted into a corner.
nce14210's review
2.0
Pretty good. Young girl who is quite tall sent to stay the summer with relatives she doesn't know. This one is not the typical supportive relatives help child to bloom. Poor kid has to deal with very unkind cousins and an uncle who rejects her. I found much of this uncomfortable and there wasn't really enough time at the end to relax in her new understanding and growth.