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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well done ghost story. The plot is complex enough and moves quickly enough to engage adult readers, making up for the somewhat flat characters. Nice inversion of the wicked stepmother. Would've given it four stars had a read it closer to Halloween.
listened to the audio book - perhaps I would have liked it better if I read it? Loved Lemoncello's Library but this one didn't show - it told. Was frustrating to listen to.
Interesting ghost story. The plot had good pacing and kept the story moving. Some of the characters are a little flat, but the main characters are well fleshed out. The conclusion of the story tied everything up nicely, except how the dad was going to react. I am sure young kids will enjoy it, especially boys.
If I'd read this this at a different time or in different circumstances I most likely would have given it four stars instead of five, but I'm inflating the rating because it did such a good job of engaging me. I have a lot going on in my life right now that's keeping my mind very occupied, and often when I listen to an audiobook in this mindset it will never fully grab my attention or focus because of all the noise in my head distracting me. This one did the opposite, giving me a break from the noise by drawing me all the way into its story and keeping me there. Very good storytelling that was a lot of fun, smart without being stuffy, fast-paced without being empty.
Have you ever seen a face hidden in the bark of a tree and known that the man trapped inside wanted to hurt you?
Have you ever seen a face hidden in the bark of a tree and known that the man trapped inside wanted to hurt you?
Reviewed for: Awake at Midnight
Zack Jennings just lost his mom. It wasn’t an easy death either, it was a cancer death, and to make things worse, Zack’s mom could be cruel. The book starts with a new beginning for Zack, his dad, and his new step-mom, but the stress of coping with his mother’s illness has already defined Zack as a fighter. Good thing, too. Because he can see ghosts. And one of them has it in for his family.
In the front yard of Zack’s new house, a huge old oak sits watching with malignant evil. When the ancient tree is hit by lightning, the soul of an evil, brylcreem-wearing greaser straight out of Christine is freed, seething with hate. You see, it was Zack’s grandfather, the town sheriff, who killed the Happy Days reject’s only son.
With the help from other spirits who were killed in a bus crash at The Crossroads, Zack and his new mom Judy face the very real, corporeal threat when the spirit realizes that Zack is a descendent of the man who shot his son and tries to exact revenge. The ghost of Clint Eberhart possesses the body of his own grandson and forces him to do unspeakable things, then with the aid of his surviving fiancée, the two kidnap Zack. When the Grandson dies struggling to re-gain control of his body, the infant great-grandson becomes the target of the spirit’s mad aspirations, and it’s up to Zach to save the baby.
The story is confusing at times, and what the character’s relationships are to one another becomes convoluted in an attempt to provide unnecessary surprises. It’s always clear who the bad guy is, though, and there are some genuinely scary elements here. The idea of a spirit being trapped in a tree, especially a malevolent one that can affect the lives of the living by dropping branches on passing cars, can make you think twice about that gnarled old tree at the end of the path while walking alone through the woods at dusk. In fact, Grabenstein offers a new aspect to the mythology of ghosts: that one spirit's unfinished business might not only keep him earthbound, but prevent the spirits of many other innocents from passing on.
The mystery of The Crossroads is the central theme, why have so many ghosts gathered and what truly happened in the Greyhound bus crash so long ago. Judy’s research also reveals the relationship between the evil Eberhart and the Jennings family, allowing her to come to Zack’s aid, and helping her come to terms with her sudden new role as mother. The other creepy component is the tree itself. Even after the tree itself has been reduced to cinders, the stump remains, anchoring the spirit it has held for so long. Luckily Zack has found a friend in Davy, who has insight on dealing with the supernatural.
Aside from an unnecessary scene where Zack confronts a bully, the story flows well, and the light-hearted humor makes for easy reading. It is realistic in its treatment of how its characters would respond to ghostly happenings and in the results of a fire that gets out of control to change the family’s lives forever.
Zack Jennings just lost his mom. It wasn’t an easy death either, it was a cancer death, and to make things worse, Zack’s mom could be cruel. The book starts with a new beginning for Zack, his dad, and his new step-mom, but the stress of coping with his mother’s illness has already defined Zack as a fighter. Good thing, too. Because he can see ghosts. And one of them has it in for his family.
In the front yard of Zack’s new house, a huge old oak sits watching with malignant evil. When the ancient tree is hit by lightning, the soul of an evil, brylcreem-wearing greaser straight out of Christine is freed, seething with hate. You see, it was Zack’s grandfather, the town sheriff, who killed the Happy Days reject’s only son.
With the help from other spirits who were killed in a bus crash at The Crossroads, Zack and his new mom Judy face the very real, corporeal threat when the spirit realizes that Zack is a descendent of the man who shot his son and tries to exact revenge. The ghost of Clint Eberhart possesses the body of his own grandson and forces him to do unspeakable things, then with the aid of his surviving fiancée, the two kidnap Zack. When the Grandson dies struggling to re-gain control of his body, the infant great-grandson becomes the target of the spirit’s mad aspirations, and it’s up to Zach to save the baby.
The story is confusing at times, and what the character’s relationships are to one another becomes convoluted in an attempt to provide unnecessary surprises. It’s always clear who the bad guy is, though, and there are some genuinely scary elements here. The idea of a spirit being trapped in a tree, especially a malevolent one that can affect the lives of the living by dropping branches on passing cars, can make you think twice about that gnarled old tree at the end of the path while walking alone through the woods at dusk. In fact, Grabenstein offers a new aspect to the mythology of ghosts: that one spirit's unfinished business might not only keep him earthbound, but prevent the spirits of many other innocents from passing on.
The mystery of The Crossroads is the central theme, why have so many ghosts gathered and what truly happened in the Greyhound bus crash so long ago. Judy’s research also reveals the relationship between the evil Eberhart and the Jennings family, allowing her to come to Zack’s aid, and helping her come to terms with her sudden new role as mother. The other creepy component is the tree itself. Even after the tree itself has been reduced to cinders, the stump remains, anchoring the spirit it has held for so long. Luckily Zack has found a friend in Davy, who has insight on dealing with the supernatural.
Aside from an unnecessary scene where Zack confronts a bully, the story flows well, and the light-hearted humor makes for easy reading. It is realistic in its treatment of how its characters would respond to ghostly happenings and in the results of a fire that gets out of control to change the family’s lives forever.
Here's a good tween ghost story with a lot of plot twists and some creepy/somewhat-violent moments. It took me a while to get used to the main character Zack's shyness and introversion after just having read the confident, cocky narration of the boys in "Frindle" and "Swindle." Also, I read this one in spurts, and lost track of some of the characters and their...state of being living. So you might want to read this uninterrupted. I liked that there was an evil old lady, but NOT an evil stepmom.
The simplicity of the writing and Zack's young age, alongside the spooks and a couple deaths, occasionally made me wonder about the intended audience. Nonetheless, this is a great standalone book for Goosebumps fans who have read through R.L. Stine, or, gasp gasp, are looking for some less formulaic writing.
Also...best. cover. ever.
The simplicity of the writing and Zack's young age, alongside the spooks and a couple deaths, occasionally made me wonder about the intended audience. Nonetheless, this is a great standalone book for Goosebumps fans who have read through R.L. Stine, or, gasp gasp, are looking for some less formulaic writing.
Also...best. cover. ever.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced