Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost!
Last night I read the latest U.S. release from Cornelia Funke (yes, she of The Thief Lord, Dragon Rider, and the Inkheart books, none of which I've yet read (insert audible *gasps* here)).
Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost is the first book in a new series being issued in the States by Scholastic/Chicken Shack featuring a young boy named Tom, a wacky grandmother-aged lady named Hetty Hyssop who happens to be his grandmother's best friend and a preeminent ghosthunter, and an Averagely Spooky Ghost (ASG) named Hugo.
Our book starts with Tom having a scary encounter with Hugo down in the storage cellar of his apartment building and being mocked mercilessly by his older sister Lola. After Tom finds out Hugo's real story, he decides to help Hugo reclaim his old haunted mansion from an IRG -- an Incredibly Revolting Ghost. Hijinks and mortal peril ensue.
At the close of the first chapter, I was so distracted by the writing style (a mix of telling and cutesy comments seemingly directed to the reader) that I nearly gave up on it, but I was very glad I didn't. The story took off in chapter two and turned out to be compelling and entertaining and all the things a young chapter-book reader might be looking for. I would have devoured this book (and likely the forthcoming series) when I was a kid:
Ghostbusting, friends in need, nerdy kid triumphing over a somewhat bullying older sister and over his own fears, finding the hero within -- this has it all, told with humor and cleverness.
If you go looking for it, Barnes & Noble is shelving it with "popular series" even though there is only one book in the series thus far. Book two comes out in October, and promises to deal with a GILIG (Gruesome Invincible Lightning Ghost). The teaser in the back of ILG promises another ghoulishly exciting adventure.
Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost is the first book in a new series being issued in the States by Scholastic/Chicken Shack featuring a young boy named Tom, a wacky grandmother-aged lady named Hetty Hyssop who happens to be his grandmother's best friend and a preeminent ghosthunter, and an Averagely Spooky Ghost (ASG) named Hugo.
Our book starts with Tom having a scary encounter with Hugo down in the storage cellar of his apartment building and being mocked mercilessly by his older sister Lola. After Tom finds out Hugo's real story, he decides to help Hugo reclaim his old haunted mansion from an IRG -- an Incredibly Revolting Ghost. Hijinks and mortal peril ensue.
At the close of the first chapter, I was so distracted by the writing style (a mix of telling and cutesy comments seemingly directed to the reader) that I nearly gave up on it, but I was very glad I didn't. The story took off in chapter two and turned out to be compelling and entertaining and all the things a young chapter-book reader might be looking for. I would have devoured this book (and likely the forthcoming series) when I was a kid:
Ghostbusting, friends in need, nerdy kid triumphing over a somewhat bullying older sister and over his own fears, finding the hero within -- this has it all, told with humor and cleverness.
If you go looking for it, Barnes & Noble is shelving it with "popular series" even though there is only one book in the series thus far. Book two comes out in October, and promises to deal with a GILIG (Gruesome Invincible Lightning Ghost). The teaser in the back of ILG promises another ghoulishly exciting adventure.