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v_v_'s review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
katie_samsock's review against another edition
5.0
I read this as a kid and it instantly became one of my all time overall favorite books. To this day, as a full grown adult, I recommend this to anyone who loves a great ghost story.
maddymissimo's review against another edition
1.0
I know this is a children’s book, but it was no where near scary. As an elementary school librarian, I would not recommend this book to my students, because they would get bored at the lack of drama and stilted dialogue. The characters were one-dimensional stereotypes, and the parents were irresponsible and used Michael and Molly as babysitters because they were too busy with their art. The author also threw in random word choices in the dialogue that made made the book read flat and stiff—for example saying cross and quarreling instead of mad and fighting. I am all for expanding kids’ vocabulary, but it needs to be authentic, and the way the author tried to throw the words into the dialogue instead of narration read false. This book was a huge let down.
cleaoverstreet's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
alexlikesbooks123's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jtt's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Rly good. Enjoyed the ending
thewallflower00's review against another edition
2.0
This was one of the books I gleaned from “Ban This Book” by Alan Gratz. I’m not sure why it was challenged. Maybe someone thought it was too spoopy for the targeted audience. A second-marriage mom and dad move their family to a quaint farmhouse in Maine so they can work on their art (reminds me of the House Hunters joke: I’m a mouse trainer and he’s a toothpick collector; our budget is 2 million dollars). But the littlest girl, the main character’s stepsister, keeps seeing a ghost nearby. A ghost trying to push her into going full Bad Seed.
The pacing is poor. I should have lowered my expectations when I saw the cover–one of those mass-market Avon-Camelot numbers that look like they’re part of a series. The kind with the border and standard typeface you saw in the spinning racks in the school library. Being a ghost story it s t r e t c h e s the narration out, trying to provide a spooky atmosphere. Maybe it’s just me, or it could be the times, but I wanted her to stop being such a whiner and show some initiative regarding finding out the truth. Not to keep going back to mom and dad. But it was written in 1987 after all. It goes a little farther than those “for kids” scary shows like “Goosebumps” and “Are You Afraid of the Dark”, but it doesn’t do anything to stand out among the tropes.
The pacing is poor. I should have lowered my expectations when I saw the cover–one of those mass-market Avon-Camelot numbers that look like they’re part of a series. The kind with the border and standard typeface you saw in the spinning racks in the school library. Being a ghost story it s t r e t c h e s the narration out, trying to provide a spooky atmosphere. Maybe it’s just me, or it could be the times, but I wanted her to stop being such a whiner and show some initiative regarding finding out the truth. Not to keep going back to mom and dad. But it was written in 1987 after all. It goes a little farther than those “for kids” scary shows like “Goosebumps” and “Are You Afraid of the Dark”, but it doesn’t do anything to stand out among the tropes.
jackdziatkowiec's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
3.25
eainala's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book when I was younger. I generally don't like scary stories, but I remember I read it 13 times in a summer because I loved it so much. I wonder how much I'd still like it if I went back and read it.