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booklvr10's review against another edition
3.0
Olive is a natural performer but has issues of being on stage in front of others. She has lost her dad in the last year and does not have a very good relationship with her mother, who expects too much from Olive since she was a performer in the past. She finds solace on the stage of an old yet beautiful theatre, which is run by a lady named Maude. She suddenly begins to become friends with the other performers at the theatre. Through these friendships, Olive learns more about the mystery of a boy dying in the theatre, who has come back as a ghost. Olive tries to make amends with this boy and his family (his sister is one of the performers and his brother refuses to enter the theatre). Olive soon realizes that maybe Maude isn't truly who is she thought she was. This is a very dark and somewhat creepy mystery. I would suggest it for high schoolers instead of middle grades.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ashleyraye's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tshepiso's review
3.5
Olive and the Backstage Ghost is a thoroughly chilling middle-grade horror. I went into the novel unaware of its genre expecting a lighthearted children's adventure and was thoroughly unsettled by Michelle Shusterman's ability to capture gut-twisting dread and wonderful tension
the heart of this story is its protagonist olive. she was completely charming. her absolute love of performance and desire for a family made her instantly compelling. and I deeply appreciated the ways Shusterman unpacked olive's grief at the loss of her father and incredibly strained relationship with her mother
I love it when I read children's books that respect their audience not only by providing kids with good stories but by holding space for the complex inner lives of children. the ways Shusterman captures the ways children can be made to feel small and unworthy by their own parents felt authentic and real
I will say this story's biggest flaw was its abrupt ending. I felt unsatisfied by the resolution of olive's relationship with her mother because the story ended before olive could ever really confront her about her behaviour and therefore he happily ever after felt unearned
If you're looking for a solid middle-grade horror with solid found family aspects great tension and suspense and a well-realized protagonist I would recommend Olive and the Backstage Ghost.
the heart of this story is its protagonist olive. she was completely charming. her absolute love of performance and desire for a family made her instantly compelling. and I deeply appreciated the ways Shusterman unpacked olive's grief at the loss of her father and incredibly strained relationship with her mother
I love it when I read children's books that respect their audience not only by providing kids with good stories but by holding space for the complex inner lives of children. the ways Shusterman captures the ways children can be made to feel small and unworthy by their own parents felt authentic and real
I will say this story's biggest flaw was its abrupt ending. I felt unsatisfied by the resolution of olive's relationship with her mother because the story ended before olive could ever really confront her about her behaviour and therefore he happily ever after felt unearned
If you're looking for a solid middle-grade horror with solid found family aspects great tension and suspense and a well-realized protagonist I would recommend Olive and the Backstage Ghost.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
This Edgar Allen Poe inspired ghost story is exquisitely crafted.
The musical references in the beginning resonated with us, although we're string players, not theatrical singers.
The perfection-seeking mother and the MC's motivation to please her mother was spot-on.
I won't ruin the ending, but be sure to read Poe's poem in the back, first, and even delve into some analyses of it, so you catch all the subtly-woven references throughout the story.
I'd love to teach this one, but the poem is generally taught in high school, not middle school, and the publisher / author don't offer a free teaching or educator's guide for the text. Nor is one offered for sale on TpT (Teachers Pay Teachers). If you've made one aimed at middle school (7-8th grades), I'd love to hear about it, and please share on my blog!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
The musical references in the beginning resonated with us, although we're string players, not theatrical singers.
The perfection-seeking mother and the MC's motivation to please her mother was spot-on.
I won't ruin the ending, but be sure to read Poe's poem in the back, first, and even delve into some analyses of it, so you catch all the subtly-woven references throughout the story.
I'd love to teach this one, but the poem is generally taught in high school, not middle school, and the publisher / author don't offer a free teaching or educator's guide for the text. Nor is one offered for sale on TpT (Teachers Pay Teachers). If you've made one aimed at middle school (7-8th grades), I'd love to hear about it, and please share on my blog!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
lareinadehades's review
adventurous
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
booksandbosox's review against another edition
3.0
This was a pretty dark read and I don't think the marketing of it indicates just how dark it is. The title and the cover both make it seem like a pretty innocuous tale, but there is murder and child neglect and hints at suicide and very malevolent spirits. I don't object to dark stories for kids; this one just seemed really out of left field for me. At the same time, I found it a bit simplistic and mostly forgettable. Not sure how this will go over with young readers.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via Edelweiss.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via Edelweiss.
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