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geekymomontheprairie's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
whisperedaria's review
4.0
Pretty good read, good children's read, not too scary. However, not one you'll pick up and read a lot over and over.
tcbueti's review
4.0
What makes this different from the usual ghost story is the attitude of the characters, and the focus on the GHOST's experience of being ghostly. The main LIVING character, Charlotte, doesn't really want to be involved, but she feels sorry for Susie, the ghost who has been haunting Charlotte's new home for the last 50 years, and tries to help her accept that she's dead. Susie doesn't understand why everyone ignores her and where her family has gone. She plays with (in effect babysits) the various youngest inhabitants of her house, because they are the only ones who notice her (along with pets). When Susie tries to be seen by others, they usually move out shortly thereafter. So Charlotte's first proof of Susie's existence (she scoffed when her new neighbor, Shannon, told her the house was haunted) is her little brother Brandon's desire to have Susie play with him again.
Griffin has done a great job of suggesting how hard it would be to keep one's body-ness working--Susie has to muster her fading energy and focus on one task--using her hands or touching someone so they can feel it, hearing a conversation, or being seen. She often fades out and goes missing for a while, maybe underground or in the sky. And Susie is lonely--there isn't much left for her here--how can Charlotte get her to understand and finally rest? She can't get help from her parents--they don't believe in nor approve of Charlotte's reluctant new interest in ghosts.
I especially liked the creepy description of Charlote and Brandon playing catch with the invisible Susie. And the pull of Susie's family ties gives this more depth than most ghostly tales. Poignant and satisfying.
Griffin has done a great job of suggesting how hard it would be to keep one's body-ness working--Susie has to muster her fading energy and focus on one task--using her hands or touching someone so they can feel it, hearing a conversation, or being seen. She often fades out and goes missing for a while, maybe underground or in the sky. And Susie is lonely--there isn't much left for her here--how can Charlotte get her to understand and finally rest? She can't get help from her parents--they don't believe in nor approve of Charlotte's reluctant new interest in ghosts.
I especially liked the creepy description of Charlote and Brandon playing catch with the invisible Susie. And the pull of Susie's family ties gives this more depth than most ghostly tales. Poignant and satisfying.
melanietownsend's review
3.0
This book was OK. Interesting premise, but I just never felt connected to any of the characters and the plot semeed far fetched to me.
bookiesncookies's review
Sometimes you randomly recall old books you bought & read from Scholastic book fairs and need to add them to your Goodreads account.
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