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meavedouglass's review against another edition
4.0
Would make a great literature circle book for elementary aged kiddos. Good vocabulary, easy to use for predictions, possibilities for related creative narrative assignments.
mallorykjorgensen's review against another edition
2.0
This book was weird. Several times there would be a foreshadowing of information that lead absolutely nowhere. Very disappointing!
theartolater's review against another edition
4.0
I'm enough of a Whedon fanboy to pick up a kids book written by Tara from Buffy. I'm enough of a kiddie book nerd to actually unabashedly enjoy it.
The book tells the story of Noh, who is off to a new school and has a special ability to see ghosts. There is a mystery about this school and the ghosts, however, and it's a mystery Noh is off to solve. It's a really simple premise, and it's a book that works really well for me. Things are very neat and tidy, and the narration plays up the mystery quite well. Incredibly well done, overall.
The book tells the story of Noh, who is off to a new school and has a special ability to see ghosts. There is a mystery about this school and the ghosts, however, and it's a mystery Noh is off to solve. It's a really simple premise, and it's a book that works really well for me. Things are very neat and tidy, and the narration plays up the mystery quite well. Incredibly well done, overall.
alexctelander's review against another edition
4.0
Amber Benson takes a break from Calliope Reaper-Jones and tells an enchanting little story for the younger folk. In the style of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and Graveyard Book, Benson creates a unique world of fun characters in a very interesting place, with just enough scariness to keep young readers on the edge of their seats.
Noleen-Anne Harris Morgan Maypother, better known as Noh, is a strange little girl who likes her time to herself; her inquisitive and investigative nature makes her wiser beyond her years, and it seems like fate when she ends up visiting and staying with her aunt who works at the gothic and enchanting New Newbridge Academy. Noh arrives early before the start of school where there are only teachers and no students yet to walk its high, echoing halls. But this is a dream come true to her: a giant empty school, like an ancient castle, asking to be explored, filled with mysteries and enigmas.
And then there’s the West Wing, which mysteriously burned down. As Noh gets to know some of the teachers, she also meets some kids her own age, which shouldn’t be possible since classes haven’t started yet. It doesn’t take Noh long to realize that these kids are actually all ghosts. The really strange thing is that you should only be able to see ghosts if you are one too. And then there’s something that seems to be taking the ghosts, making them disappear for good.
Amber Benson seems to have found a perfect niche with Among the Ghosts, using a simple but descriptive and colorful language style that will keep any reader hooked and interested, as well as providing a compelling mystery that serves to compel her protagonist to find out what’s going on, as well as force the reader to keep reading until the very last page.
Originally written on October 6 2010 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
Noleen-Anne Harris Morgan Maypother, better known as Noh, is a strange little girl who likes her time to herself; her inquisitive and investigative nature makes her wiser beyond her years, and it seems like fate when she ends up visiting and staying with her aunt who works at the gothic and enchanting New Newbridge Academy. Noh arrives early before the start of school where there are only teachers and no students yet to walk its high, echoing halls. But this is a dream come true to her: a giant empty school, like an ancient castle, asking to be explored, filled with mysteries and enigmas.
And then there’s the West Wing, which mysteriously burned down. As Noh gets to know some of the teachers, she also meets some kids her own age, which shouldn’t be possible since classes haven’t started yet. It doesn’t take Noh long to realize that these kids are actually all ghosts. The really strange thing is that you should only be able to see ghosts if you are one too. And then there’s something that seems to be taking the ghosts, making them disappear for good.
Amber Benson seems to have found a perfect niche with Among the Ghosts, using a simple but descriptive and colorful language style that will keep any reader hooked and interested, as well as providing a compelling mystery that serves to compel her protagonist to find out what’s going on, as well as force the reader to keep reading until the very last page.
Originally written on October 6 2010 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
absentminded_reader's review against another edition
3.0
Cute book. Imaginative. Leads up to a sequel. If you like books with chatty narratives, you'll like this one. Personally, I would have preferred less "My evil character just wants you to know that it's super, wicked evil" type chapters. Less telling; more showing. But then the book wouldn't have read like a bedtime story, which seemed to be the effect Benson was going for.
annettewolf's review
3.0
What a delightful middle grade novel. I think I was right in expecting Amber Benson to be good at writing middle grade. I found this one more enjoyable in some ways than The Witches of Echo Park.
That isn’t to say there aren’t some things that snagged my attention. There are a couple times when our protagonist transitions a little too quickly from plucky heroine to scared child. And there are some plot holes that are noticeable enough to make me wonder if there are meant to be more books in the series, because some things feel a bit unfinished by the end. However, I thought the use of supernatural elements was cleverly done, and folding in some science balanced it nicely. The protagonist is clever and observant, though sometimes the amount she “noticed” about the adults around her made me wonder if Benson felt a little restrained, writing solely from the protagonist’s point of view in those sections.
The “villain” was a smart concept, once we find out who/what it is, though it could have used a little more time or explanation just to give it due attention toward the end.
Overall this was an enjoyable read, and I’ll definitely keep my signed copy in my personal library.
This and other book reviews by me can be found at: www.annaimber.com
That isn’t to say there aren’t some things that snagged my attention. There are a couple times when our protagonist transitions a little too quickly from plucky heroine to scared child. And there are some plot holes that are noticeable enough to make me wonder if there are meant to be more books in the series, because some things feel a bit unfinished by the end. However, I thought the use of supernatural elements was cleverly done, and folding in some science balanced it nicely. The protagonist is clever and observant, though sometimes the amount she “noticed” about the adults around her made me wonder if Benson felt a little restrained, writing solely from the protagonist’s point of view in those sections.
The “villain” was a smart concept, once we find out who/what it is, though it could have used a little more time or explanation just to give it due attention toward the end.
Overall this was an enjoyable read, and I’ll definitely keep my signed copy in my personal library.
This and other book reviews by me can be found at: www.annaimber.com
shutupnread's review
3.0
I’m not sure who filed this book under as YA when it’s clearly MG. The writing style, plot, photos in the book, and everything else just screamed “MIDDLE SCHOOL”. That being said, it was still a quick and cute read. There weren’t much depth to anything in this book – more of a brush through with a semi interesting plot.
The main character, Noh, was a very quirky little girl. She didn’t talk much, was curious, and was very shy. She didn’t seem like the type of have many friends which definitely showed through her actions and the way she conversed with the adults around her. In a way, she was very mature for her age but at the same time, very childish and innocent with her curiosity. She was definitely one of those independent children who ventured on her own to do things the way how she wanted to and when she wanted to do them. I didn’t particularly enjoy reading her nor did I connect with her because I wasn’t like that when I was younger. I was independent but I also liked to have a lot of friends so we were extremely different.
The plot was the extremely predictable with no real plot twists. I basically figured out everything right from the beginning and wasn’t particularly surprised when “surprises” showed up, lol. The writing was also very choppy and clearly meant for younger kids. There were also a surprisingly lack of descriptions that I am usually used to since all of the books I read usually have a wealth of descriptive paragraphs about literally everything. This book was clearly the opposite. I had to picture a lot of stuff from the drawings scattered throughout the book to place some of the objects or scenes or just the people in general.
Overall, very, very short read. It just took me some time because I wasn’t really interested but I did want to finish it.
The main character, Noh, was a very quirky little girl. She didn’t talk much, was curious, and was very shy. She didn’t seem like the type of have many friends which definitely showed through her actions and the way she conversed with the adults around her. In a way, she was very mature for her age but at the same time, very childish and innocent with her curiosity. She was definitely one of those independent children who ventured on her own to do things the way how she wanted to and when she wanted to do them. I didn’t particularly enjoy reading her nor did I connect with her because I wasn’t like that when I was younger. I was independent but I also liked to have a lot of friends so we were extremely different.
The plot was the extremely predictable with no real plot twists. I basically figured out everything right from the beginning and wasn’t particularly surprised when “surprises” showed up, lol. The writing was also very choppy and clearly meant for younger kids. There were also a surprisingly lack of descriptions that I am usually used to since all of the books I read usually have a wealth of descriptive paragraphs about literally everything. This book was clearly the opposite. I had to picture a lot of stuff from the drawings scattered throughout the book to place some of the objects or scenes or just the people in general.
Overall, very, very short read. It just took me some time because I wasn’t really interested but I did want to finish it.
alexctelander's review
4.0
Amber Benson takes a break from Calliope Reaper-Jones and tells an enchanting little story for the younger folk. In the style of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and Graveyard Book, Benson creates a unique world of fun characters in a very interesting place, with just enough scariness to keep young readers on the edge of their seats.
Noleen-Anne Harris Morgan Maypother, better known as Noh, is a strange little girl who likes her time to herself; her inquisitive and investigative nature makes her wiser beyond her years, and it seems like fate when she ends up visiting and staying with her aunt who works at the gothic and enchanting New Newbridge Academy. Noh arrives early before the start of school where there are only teachers and no students yet to walk its high, echoing halls. But this is a dream come true to her: a giant empty school, like an ancient castle, asking to be explored, filled with mysteries and enigmas.
And then there’s the West Wing, which mysteriously burned down. As Noh gets to know some of the teachers, she also meets some kids her own age, which shouldn’t be possible since classes haven’t started yet. It doesn’t take Noh long to realize that these kids are actually all ghosts. The really strange thing is that you should only be able to see ghosts if you are one too. And then there’s something that seems to be taking the ghosts, making them disappear for good.
Amber Benson seems to have found a perfect niche with Among the Ghosts, using a simple but descriptive and colorful language style that will keep any reader hooked and interested, as well as providing a compelling mystery that serves to compel her protagonist to find out what’s going on, as well as force the reader to keep reading until the very last page.
Originally written on October 6 2010 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
Noleen-Anne Harris Morgan Maypother, better known as Noh, is a strange little girl who likes her time to herself; her inquisitive and investigative nature makes her wiser beyond her years, and it seems like fate when she ends up visiting and staying with her aunt who works at the gothic and enchanting New Newbridge Academy. Noh arrives early before the start of school where there are only teachers and no students yet to walk its high, echoing halls. But this is a dream come true to her: a giant empty school, like an ancient castle, asking to be explored, filled with mysteries and enigmas.
And then there’s the West Wing, which mysteriously burned down. As Noh gets to know some of the teachers, she also meets some kids her own age, which shouldn’t be possible since classes haven’t started yet. It doesn’t take Noh long to realize that these kids are actually all ghosts. The really strange thing is that you should only be able to see ghosts if you are one too. And then there’s something that seems to be taking the ghosts, making them disappear for good.
Amber Benson seems to have found a perfect niche with Among the Ghosts, using a simple but descriptive and colorful language style that will keep any reader hooked and interested, as well as providing a compelling mystery that serves to compel her protagonist to find out what’s going on, as well as force the reader to keep reading until the very last page.
Originally written on October 6 2010 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.