singerji's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
spiderfelt's review against another edition
4.0
This is a perfect title for fans of old-fashioned mystery, the way I remember first reading it in Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. Just when it seems like the bad guys have got the best of the kid detectives, they pull an ace out of their sleeve. The copy we read was printed with a large font and included occasional illustrations, which made it perfect for my son to read on his own, though it was more fun to read it together.
pwbalto's review against another edition
5.0
Excerpt from an interview with my son:
What did you think of this book?
M: Well I think that it's good, and the cover gives you a really good idea of how it is -- exciting, but also like kind of suspenseful. On the cover, you see them underwater in a pool with bullets coming down, and that is really suspenseful.
YNL: Because?
M: Because, well, I don't want to ruin anything if you haven't read the book...
YNL: But I have.
M: Ok well then because THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN THE BOOK!!
YNL: The bullets raining down on them in the pool.
M: Yes!
YNL: And that's important to you because...
M: Kids do not usually get shot at in kids books! That part was great!
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2010/10/ghostwriter-secret-mac-barnett-review.html
What did you think of this book?
M: Well I think that it's good, and the cover gives you a really good idea of how it is -- exciting, but also like kind of suspenseful. On the cover, you see them underwater in a pool with bullets coming down, and that is really suspenseful.
YNL: Because?
M: Because, well, I don't want to ruin anything if you haven't read the book...
YNL: But I have.
M: Ok well then because THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN THE BOOK!!
YNL: The bullets raining down on them in the pool.
M: Yes!
YNL: And that's important to you because...
M: Kids do not usually get shot at in kids books! That part was great!
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2010/10/ghostwriter-secret-mac-barnett-review.html
mon_ique's review against another edition
5.0
I love how Steve just figures out everything so fast! I love his funny detective agency too and Dana (the silent partner) is so not funny he's funny. He doesn't even try. Ghostwriter: A person whose job it is to write material for someone else who is the named author. Can't wait for the next one in the series after "It happened on a train"!
quietjenn's review
2.0
it's pretty much on par with the first one, so if you liked the first you'll probably like this. i didn't, really - it's just not my cup of tea. maybe i'm too close to the source. as ridiculous as i know they are, i still love the old school nancy drew, hardy boys, dana girls, etc. but, even though it's not my cup of tea, the kids at my library seemed to like the first one, so i'm glad to have this for them.
librarykristin's review
3.0
This one is as funny as the first. The joke will get old within the next 1 or 2 titles...just like with MT Anderson's Amazing Tales...but it'll be a fun ride while it lasts :)
cuocuo's review against another edition
4.0
Totally ace! Perhaps a bit convoluted but builds nicely on the stakes of its predecessor.
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