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marieintheraw's review
5.0
July 2020: Sticking with my initial review, but adding in that I would also be okay with Babette's backstory.
April 2020: Honestly, what a treat? Friendships that are so close that's found family, check. Magical cats, check. Ghosts, check. I want to spend forever with these characters (but I'd also settle for more information on all the Goonies cats).
April 2020: Honestly, what a treat? Friendships that are so close that's found family, check. Magical cats, check. Ghosts, check. I want to spend forever with these characters (but I'd also settle for more information on all the Goonies cats).
sherrise's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.5
musingswithmiranda's review against another edition
4.0
I am trying to read more middle grades whenever I get the chance, and this one has caught my eye more than once. Every time I think of picking a middle grade, this is one of the first ones that comes to mind. I am glad I finally picked it up though, especially since I am highly anticipating the author’s upcoming release!
Claribel A. Ortega’s Ghost Squad is a middle grade novel that follows Lucely Luna who lives with her dad and helps run his ghost tour business. She also has a rather unique gift where she can see ghosts, and her dead relatives live in a tree as fireflies. As the town prepares for Halloween, Lucely and Syd accidentally cast a spell that awakens malicious spirits. The two try to fix this while also attempting to save Lucely’s family, business, and home. This turns out to be a lot to handle, which makes the girls turn to Babette, Syd’s witchy grandmother, for help saving the town and Lucely’s fireflies.
This story was so cute and entertaining. It ended up being funnier than I was expecting too. Ortega does an amazing job at writing a spooky story that will appeal to middle grade children. It is also rich with Dominican folklore. This quest-like story with magic, ghosts, and jokes is well balanced and written. I love anything with ghosts, magic, witches, etc. so this book was really up my alley. Things were resolved much quicker and easier than I was expecting at the end though. I loved how the author included family and friendship at the heart of the novel. Lucely and Syd’s friendship was very sweet and heartwarming.
Ghost Squad is something I can definitely see having in my future classroom one day! If you’re looking for a fun read for spooky season, this book is a great option.
*Content warning: parental abandonment, death of a loved one, Harry Potter references*
Claribel A. Ortega’s Ghost Squad is a middle grade novel that follows Lucely Luna who lives with her dad and helps run his ghost tour business. She also has a rather unique gift where she can see ghosts, and her dead relatives live in a tree as fireflies. As the town prepares for Halloween, Lucely and Syd accidentally cast a spell that awakens malicious spirits. The two try to fix this while also attempting to save Lucely’s family, business, and home. This turns out to be a lot to handle, which makes the girls turn to Babette, Syd’s witchy grandmother, for help saving the town and Lucely’s fireflies.
This story was so cute and entertaining. It ended up being funnier than I was expecting too. Ortega does an amazing job at writing a spooky story that will appeal to middle grade children. It is also rich with Dominican folklore. This quest-like story with magic, ghosts, and jokes is well balanced and written. I love anything with ghosts, magic, witches, etc. so this book was really up my alley. Things were resolved much quicker and easier than I was expecting at the end though. I loved how the author included family and friendship at the heart of the novel. Lucely and Syd’s friendship was very sweet and heartwarming.
Ghost Squad is something I can definitely see having in my future classroom one day! If you’re looking for a fun read for spooky season, this book is a great option.
*Content warning: parental abandonment, death of a loved one, Harry Potter references*
pcarney's review against another edition
1.0
Mum recommended but it read like a Disney channel movie
bookish_mrs_w's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure what it was about the ending of this book but it had me in tears and took me by surprise.
vrrrmm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bickie's review against another edition
Scary story about two girls who deal with paranormal threats to save their town (St. Augustine, FL). Of Dominican heritage, Lucely enlists the help of her dead relatives who live on as fireflies who sometimes take on corporeal form. Nods to Coco, the Goonies, Ghostbusters, and Harry Potter.
Great spooky read with strong family ties (blood + found).
One thing that seemed odd was that a villain was mentioned as being a "Daughter of the American Revolution," an organization that started in 1890, but who seems to have come from a time shortly after the 1690s/Salem Witch Trials. I went back and reread the parts about her, but I might have missed something there.
Great spooky read with strong family ties (blood + found).
One thing that seemed odd was that a villain was mentioned as being a "Daughter of the American Revolution," an organization that started in 1890, but who seems to have come from a time shortly after the 1690s/Salem Witch Trials. I went back and reread the parts about her, but I might have missed something there.
holarosarita's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
bkclub4one's review against another edition
4.0
I never thought I'd find ghosts comforting until I read this book. Who knew?
jaydionne's review against another edition
5.0
This was a really cute, light read. I wanted something “Disney Channel scary” for my last Halloween read of October. This book definitely delivered.