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jesforeverlostinbooks's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
“Ghost stories are like history class only better. It’s sort of like time travel.”
Oh I loved this middle grade ghostbusting adventure… it’s action packed & I seriously
listened to this book in one day. I loved the historical elements & the thought that ghost stories tell us about history. This is the second book I’ve read by Kenneth Oppel & after finishing this book you can guarantee I’ll be reading more of his books. Gabe’s summer job is scaring tourists with ghost stories but he doesn't actually believe in ghosts until one day he summons the spirit of a dead girl & comes face to face with Rebecca Strand. He discovers the truth behind her death & it’s up to he with the help of his two friends, Callie & Yuri to set things right. It’s full of treasure hunts, Canadian history, non stop action & throw in some ghost & I’m here for it!
smalltownbookmom's review
4.0
This was a fantastic spooky season middle grade fantasy novel. I loved that it was set in and around Toronto and has a group of children fighting against a powerful ghost. Highly recommended and great on audio. Perfect for fans of Ghost squad by Claribel A. Ortega, Halloween Moon by Joseph Fink or the Small spaces series by Katherine Arden.
fallingletters's review
3.0
Review originally published 24 October 2022 at Falling Letters. I received a free copy for review from the publisher via NetGalley.
Ghostlight follows a trio of friends around Toronto Islands and downtown Toronto as they team up with a ghost from 1839 to locate the titular ghostlight and defend Toronto’s living from a ghostly uprising. The plot follows a ‘treasure hunt’ structure, as the group works step by step following clues and getting items to take down the villain. I prefer other types of narrative structure. I found it slow going at times as they resolve ‘clue’ after ‘clue’.
I believe [b: The Nest|332613|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest|Ken Kesey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516211014l/332613._SX50_.jpg|2100252] contains Oppel’s best creepy writing. Ghostlight offers a completely different take on creepy. The worst moments in this novel for me were ones related to body horror. Overall, I didn’t find the story too scary, but then I had a nightmare based on the final page of the book, soooooo… Viker and Flynn make for great villains, the kind you can love to hate.
I would have appreciated more page time devoted to the subplot of protagonist Gabe and his father, who died recently after being hit by a car and whose ghost still lingers. There were some great scenes exploring Gabe’s complex feelings about his father. That storyline could have been more fully explored, with its conclusion delivering a stronger impact if there had been steady build up to it.
I can’t stand romance, and I am learning I especially can’t stand romance in Oppel’s novels. I still remember the romance in [b: Every Hidden Thing|28374370|Every Hidden Thing|Kenneth Oppel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454535874l/28374370._SY75_.jpg|48455715] making me frown, even though that is a young adult novel. While I still consider this upper middle grade, the romantic elements stretched that for me. A hallmark feature of middle grade which I love is a focus on family and friends, so I get impatient when a romantic storyline takes prominence in the way that it does in Ghostlight. (IE just a big crush between a guy and a girl, and not part of any identity discovery, which I think is romance’s most valuable role in middle grade, if it has to be present.)
Ghostlight follows a trio of friends around Toronto Islands and downtown Toronto as they team up with a ghost from 1839 to locate the titular ghostlight and defend Toronto’s living from a ghostly uprising. The plot follows a ‘treasure hunt’ structure, as the group works step by step following clues and getting items to take down the villain. I prefer other types of narrative structure. I found it slow going at times as they resolve ‘clue’ after ‘clue’.
I believe [b: The Nest|332613|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest|Ken Kesey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516211014l/332613._SX50_.jpg|2100252] contains Oppel’s best creepy writing. Ghostlight offers a completely different take on creepy. The worst moments in this novel for me were ones related to body horror. Overall, I didn’t find the story too scary, but then I had a nightmare based on the final page of the book, soooooo… Viker and Flynn make for great villains, the kind you can love to hate.
I would have appreciated more page time devoted to the subplot of protagonist Gabe and his father, who died recently after being hit by a car and whose ghost still lingers. There were some great scenes exploring Gabe’s complex feelings about his father. That storyline could have been more fully explored, with its conclusion delivering a stronger impact if there had been steady build up to it.
I can’t stand romance, and I am learning I especially can’t stand romance in Oppel’s novels. I still remember the romance in [b: Every Hidden Thing|28374370|Every Hidden Thing|Kenneth Oppel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454535874l/28374370._SY75_.jpg|48455715] making me frown, even though that is a young adult novel. While I still consider this upper middle grade, the romantic elements stretched that for me. A hallmark feature of middle grade which I love is a focus on family and friends, so I get impatient when a romantic storyline takes prominence in the way that it does in Ghostlight. (IE just a big crush between a guy and a girl, and not part of any identity discovery, which I think is romance’s most valuable role in middle grade, if it has to be present.)
fscottfishgerald's review
4.0
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel creates a supernatural, fantasy world set in mordent day Toronto. The plot moves very quickly, and the tensions are always high. So this is perfect for younger readers who might not have the best attention span! The supernatural parts of this book can be spooky, but nothing too scary or graphic. The tension is built well in the beginning and increases as the plot moves along. Once you get into the story, you won't be able to put the book down.
While the plot is certainly entertaining, the key too this story's success is definitely the different relationships between the characters. Of course, Gabe and Rebecca's relationship is front and center. And Oppel does a good job of building up their character development while also moving the plot along. Gabe and his mother also had sweet and realistic interactions. Callie and Turi were adorable, both separately and their interactions together.
I do wish there were more interactions between Rebecca, Callie, and Yuri, I think some of the sacrifices/efforts would have made more sense if their relationship was built up more. I also think the relationship between Gabe and brother could have also been developed. The references to Andrew were scattered around the book, but it never resulted in even an interaction.
Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel creates a supernatural, fantasy world set in mordent day Toronto. The plot moves very quickly, and the tensions are always high. So this is perfect for younger readers who might not have the best attention span! The supernatural parts of this book can be spooky, but nothing too scary or graphic. The tension is built well in the beginning and increases as the plot moves along. Once you get into the story, you won't be able to put the book down.
While the plot is certainly entertaining, the key too this story's success is definitely the different relationships between the characters. Of course, Gabe and Rebecca's relationship is front and center. And Oppel does a good job of building up their character development while also moving the plot along. Gabe and his mother also had sweet and realistic interactions. Callie and Turi were adorable, both separately and their interactions together.
I do wish there were more interactions between Rebecca, Callie, and Yuri, I think some of the sacrifices/efforts would have made more sense if their relationship was built up more. I also think the relationship between Gabe and brother could have also been developed. The references to Andrew were scattered around the book, but it never resulted in even an interaction.
krep___'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.25
Plenty of action, but somewhat weak when compared in plot, style and characters to "ghost lit" like Lockwood & Co.
jennyd83's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
atlantisfrost's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Fun spooky read! I found the tidbits of Toronto history really interesting and they worked well in the story.
shaouais's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5