teacher2library's review against another edition
3.0
Rosa's ghostly world remains as interesting as ever in this follow up to A Properly Unhaunted Place. The town of Ingott is trying (and mostly failing) to learn how to live with the very much active remnants of its past. While Jasper is consumed with trying to find a way to save the Renaissance Festival, Rosa finds herself struggling to contain paranormal chaos in the classrooms of her new school.
I loved many things about this book. The scene where Rosa and her mother sort unhappy Interlibrary Loans was just delightful - appeasing books pulled because of misinformation, books that remember being trees, books that remember their first drafts, books that "pushed subtext too close to the surface." Ha!
I think what made this a 3 star review for me was really not liking the direction the author took the plot with Rosa's dad. In a world full of free-flying ghosts and supernatural steeds, that was the only thing I found unbelievable. It makes me wonder if Alexander had the idea all along and just didn't sow the seeds well enough in the first book, or if it occurred later as a way to spin a sequel.
I loved many things about this book. The scene where Rosa and her mother sort unhappy Interlibrary Loans was just delightful - appeasing books pulled because of misinformation, books that remember being trees, books that remember their first drafts, books that "pushed subtext too close to the surface." Ha!
I think what made this a 3 star review for me was really not liking the direction the author took the plot with Rosa's dad. In a world full of free-flying ghosts and supernatural steeds, that was the only thing I found unbelievable. It makes me wonder if Alexander had the idea all along and just didn't sow the seeds well enough in the first book, or if it occurred later as a way to spin a sequel.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
We enjoyed reading this second book. The ghosts have to duke it out -- the medieval ones vs. the town's miners, who died in droves mining the copper that held them out for so long. Again, the Renaissance Festival is key -- but I won't spoil how.
Visit my blog for more book reviews, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Visit my blog for more book reviews, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
peyton_'s review against another edition
3.0
Another good story, but I did prefer the first book. I didn’t feel this story was as strong as the first. Elements seemed disjointed and the characters weren’t as easy to relate to; there was a lot going on. I still enjoy the ghost world in this book and think it is a fun read.
bethmitcham's review
4.0
Great tone balancing humor and real emotion as two kids deal with ghosts and petty schoolkids whose bullying sometimes rises to the level of real harm (both the ghosts and the kids). And an extra twist of a secret about her dead dad raises the emotional stakes. Lots of fun even though I haven't read the first book.
More...