Scan barcode
estevens08's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
housedesignerking's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wow...
Just...
Wow...
^ I really don't think there's a better way to start this review than with that. Cordelia Liu is a half Asian, half White girl who's just moved from California to New Hampshire with her parents. At first, she is not pleased at all and not very understanding that their parents didn't have much of a choice. She's 11 years old, and isn't very silent about how displeased she is to be "in the middle of nowhere" instead of in California. Back "home," she had some friends (Mabel and Ava). She shows up at the school being the new girl with all that that implies.
Not long into her first day, however, she realizes that the school is haunted. This couldn't have come at a worst time, because -- as often happens in young adult/youth chapterbook stories -- the child tends to feel that the best thing to do is to go to an adult and it's something that the reader ultimately already knows is a fruitless endeavor (but I'm not going to let this affect my rating or review). Her parents assume she's either concocted this story out of sheer desperation or boredom during her school day, or that she truly "thinks" she saw a ghost.
Even though she can't get her parents to bite, she at least doesn't have to lapse into insanity. She meets a girl named Agnes Matheson, who isn't altogether that popular. Also, she later finds herself figuring out that she isn't the only person who can see ghosts. A boy named Benji Nunez constantly takes the longest ways possible to get from one class to another, and is always wearing headphones. The beginning of their friendship has to be one of the most interesting that I've ever read. I know none of my friendships have ever begun that way (I doubt I should try it, heh heh).
Honestly, I was intrigued when I saw first saw this book. I'd walked past it a couple of times without picking it up, but had looked at the cover and read the inside cover before finally taking it home with me. I haven't really read many ghost stories except for Goosebumps stories that I liked (some more than others) and two compilations that I unfortunately ended up putting in my Goodreads folder called 'Start The Fire.'
I was very hesitant to decide who to trust in this story, I really was. There comes a part in the series where, as the reader, you're presented with this situation that Cordelia and Benji find themselves in, and you have figure out if it's a trap or not. At other times, the mystery is 'who's who?', and 'where's this?' and 'what's going on?' Unfortunately, I have never read the Thickety books that White wrote, but I just might check those out because this story really kept you wondering where the author decided to take the story. I also find it interesting White decided to use a lot of 'old world' names for this story. Really makes it stand out in contrast especially since books nowadays are starting to include mentions of touch screen phones and other technological gadgets.
There are times I'm disappointed where a writer takes a story and times I'm thrilled with where they went with it (probably because I'm a writer myself). This would be one of the latter, and I'll be waiting for the second book. Partially because I started to like Cordelia more than I already did on 238. Cordelia, in a clever rouse to get to the next phase of her plan, tells a teacher she and her friends were late to the class because the class was so painfully boring. God, I wish I'd said that a teacher or two of mine.
5 out of 5 stars.
Just...
Wow...
^ I really don't think there's a better way to start this review than with that. Cordelia Liu is a half Asian, half White girl who's just moved from California to New Hampshire with her parents. At first, she is not pleased at all and not very understanding that their parents didn't have much of a choice. She's 11 years old, and isn't very silent about how displeased she is to be "in the middle of nowhere" instead of in California. Back "home," she had some friends (Mabel and Ava). She shows up at the school being the new girl with all that that implies.
Not long into her first day, however, she realizes that the school is haunted. This couldn't have come at a worst time, because -- as often happens in young adult/youth chapterbook stories -- the child tends to feel that the best thing to do is to go to an adult and it's something that the reader ultimately already knows is a fruitless endeavor (but I'm not going to let this affect my rating or review). Her parents assume she's either concocted this story out of sheer desperation or boredom during her school day, or that she truly "thinks" she saw a ghost.
Even though she can't get her parents to bite, she at least doesn't have to lapse into insanity. She meets a girl named Agnes Matheson, who isn't altogether that popular. Also, she later finds herself figuring out that she isn't the only person who can see ghosts. A boy named Benji Nunez constantly takes the longest ways possible to get from one class to another, and is always wearing headphones. The beginning of their friendship has to be one of the most interesting that I've ever read. I know none of my friendships have ever begun that way (I doubt I should try it, heh heh).
Honestly, I was intrigued when I saw first saw this book. I'd walked past it a couple of times without picking it up, but had looked at the cover and read the inside cover before finally taking it home with me. I haven't really read many ghost stories except for Goosebumps stories that I liked (some more than others) and two compilations that I unfortunately ended up putting in my Goodreads folder called 'Start The Fire.'
I was very hesitant to decide who to trust in this story, I really was. There comes a part in the series where, as the reader, you're presented with this situation that Cordelia and Benji find themselves in, and you have figure out if it's a trap or not. At other times, the mystery is 'who's who?', and 'where's this?' and 'what's going on?' Unfortunately, I have never read the Thickety books that White wrote, but I just might check those out because this story really kept you wondering where the author decided to take the story. I also find it interesting White decided to use a lot of 'old world' names for this story. Really makes it stand out in contrast especially since books nowadays are starting to include mentions of touch screen phones and other technological gadgets.
There are times I'm disappointed where a writer takes a story and times I'm thrilled with where they went with it (probably because I'm a writer myself). This would be one of the latter, and I'll be waiting for the second book. Partially because I started to like Cordelia more than I already did on 238. Cordelia, in a clever rouse to get to the next phase of her plan, tells a teacher she and her friends were late to the class because the class was so painfully boring. God, I wish I'd said that a teacher or two of mine.
5 out of 5 stars.
gracew's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
booksandpops4000's review against another edition
3.0
* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I found this book to be prefect read for right around halloween and really loved how this book tackled ghosts and ghosts hunting. I also really enjoyed how this book developed "golden" trio element. I also really loved the school setting as well. I though the world building in this book was solid and easy to follow. I really grew to love the characters. This was fun and spooky read that had took me by suprise. If you like books like prosper redding this might be a good read for you!
I found this book to be prefect read for right around halloween and really loved how this book tackled ghosts and ghosts hunting. I also really enjoyed how this book developed "golden" trio element. I also really loved the school setting as well. I though the world building in this book was solid and easy to follow. I really grew to love the characters. This was fun and spooky read that had took me by suprise. If you like books like prosper redding this might be a good read for you!
pancakeducks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
carterrose's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was amazing! It has the perfect combination of calm mystery and absolute thriller. The end of the book got me so hard, it was so sad. I would recommend this book for people who like mystery, on the edge of your seat suspense, and a little bit of comedy.