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Ghost Ship
12-year-old Vicki is facing another long, boring summer waitressing at her father's seaside restaurant. But everything changes when the bay goes dry and a mysterious ship appears - an 18th century square-rigger called the Storm Goddess.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
June 5, 2022
Although in Dietlof Reiche's Geisterschiff the main villains (of both the present and the past) are sometimes a bit too stereotypically one-sided for my tastes (especially Bullinger and the Mayor, who really do feel a bit like caricactures, but indeed even the captain of the Windsbraut appears as a bit too typecast and inherently through and through evil) and that there are also one or two story elements that do not make all that much logical sense (in particular that since the horrid captain of the Windsbraut is described as being an orphan who supposedly also left no children, why is the contemporary mayor of the town then supposedly his descendant just like Lena's family is descended from the main helmsman and mate), I have still found Geisterschiff both massively, majorly fun, engaging and at the same time also presenting and featuring valuable history lessons (with much nautical lore and superstitions being presented by Dietlof Reiche, alongside of painful but important information on the slave trade and that making money from and because of the latter was sadly often what kept the slave trade going and flourishing, that unscrupulous captains generally felt no qualms transporting slaves from Africa to the West Indies etc. and that even if they did, the lure of money often outshone all or at least many of their scruples).
Furthermore, the developing friendship between Lena and Felix is absolutely delightfully presented and described in Geisterschiff, and in particular I do find it totally and utterly refreshing that there is NEVER ONCE any talk of Lena and Felix being a romantically linked boyfriend and girlfriend type of couple (even though they are both tweens and soon to be full-fledged teenagers), that in Geisterschiff, Dietlof Reiche makes Lena and Felix into very much best friends but without thoughts of romance and sexuality, simply two companions trying to solve the mystery of why in Lena's hometown by the ocean, the local cove has suddenly gone dry and a large sailing vessel from the 18th century has equally magically appeared (and yes, I also absolutely do find the ghost ship story itself fascinating but also not too creepy or uncanny and how Lena, with Felix's help manages to lift the curse that has been hounding the Windsbraut for centuries). And indeed and in my opinion, Geisterschiff is thus a perfect ghost/adventure type tale for Middle Grade readers (with the added bonus being that Dietlof Reiche also never talks down to his readers and that he portrays particularly Lena and Felix as children of course, but also never as childish, and thankfully not as either exaggeratedly overly confidently adult-like or as simpletons who just stumble upon their mystery by accident and solve everything without forethought and analysis).
And yes, I do therefore definitely highly recommend Dietlof Reiche's Geisterschiff but with the necessary caveat that I have ONLY read the German original and therefore really cannot and should not make any specific and detailed comments as to the possibly quality of John Brownjohn's English language translation except to state that there perhaps might be some possible issues encountered there (for I have certainly and personally noticed that the reviews of Geisterschiff on especially Amazon Germany are generally all very much glowingly positive, whereas the reviews of the English language version, of Ghost Ship, on both Goodreads and on Amazon are in fact considerably more variable and at times even quite negative in particular with regard to writing style, but if this is indeed true, if John Brownjohn's translation might have some shortcomings, I will only be able to verify this once I have actually had the chance to read Ghost Ship and to specifically and meticulously compare and contrast it with Geisterschiff).
EDITED TO ADD IN JULY 2019: I have now also read John Brownjohn's translation and while with regard to general stylistics and storytelling, while with regard to how the novel has been rendered from German into English Ghost Ship indeed works well enough, I absolutely DO NOT in any way understand and accept that the setting in Ghost Ship has been moved by John Brownjohn from the North Sea coast of Germany to New England. For not only do I consider that change of setting something which really makes no sense whatsoever in and of itself, the story in translation, Ghost Ship, it still rather feels like Dietlof Reiche's original North German place setting but now just artificially painted over with a thin and strange veneer of New England, something that in my opinion both has made my reading experience of Ghost Ship not all that personally enjoyable and is equally an insult to Dietlof Reiche who as the original author obviously had a very good reason for placing the action of his Geisterschiff in Germany, on the North Sea coast of Germany, and not somewhere else.
Furthermore, the developing friendship between Lena and Felix is absolutely delightfully presented and described in Geisterschiff, and in particular I do find it totally and utterly refreshing that there is NEVER ONCE any talk of Lena and Felix being a romantically linked boyfriend and girlfriend type of couple (even though they are both tweens and soon to be full-fledged teenagers), that in Geisterschiff, Dietlof Reiche makes Lena and Felix into very much best friends but without thoughts of romance and sexuality, simply two companions trying to solve the mystery of why in Lena's hometown by the ocean, the local cove has suddenly gone dry and a large sailing vessel from the 18th century has equally magically appeared (and yes, I also absolutely do find the ghost ship story itself fascinating but also not too creepy or uncanny and how Lena, with Felix's help manages to lift the curse that has been hounding the Windsbraut for centuries). And indeed and in my opinion, Geisterschiff is thus a perfect ghost/adventure type tale for Middle Grade readers (with the added bonus being that Dietlof Reiche also never talks down to his readers and that he portrays particularly Lena and Felix as children of course, but also never as childish, and thankfully not as either exaggeratedly overly confidently adult-like or as simpletons who just stumble upon their mystery by accident and solve everything without forethought and analysis).
And yes, I do therefore definitely highly recommend Dietlof Reiche's Geisterschiff but with the necessary caveat that I have ONLY read the German original and therefore really cannot and should not make any specific and detailed comments as to the possibly quality of John Brownjohn's English language translation except to state that there perhaps might be some possible issues encountered there (for I have certainly and personally noticed that the reviews of Geisterschiff on especially Amazon Germany are generally all very much glowingly positive, whereas the reviews of the English language version, of Ghost Ship, on both Goodreads and on Amazon are in fact considerably more variable and at times even quite negative in particular with regard to writing style, but if this is indeed true, if John Brownjohn's translation might have some shortcomings, I will only be able to verify this once I have actually had the chance to read Ghost Ship and to specifically and meticulously compare and contrast it with Geisterschiff).
EDITED TO ADD IN JULY 2019: I have now also read John Brownjohn's translation and while with regard to general stylistics and storytelling, while with regard to how the novel has been rendered from German into English Ghost Ship indeed works well enough, I absolutely DO NOT in any way understand and accept that the setting in Ghost Ship has been moved by John Brownjohn from the North Sea coast of Germany to New England. For not only do I consider that change of setting something which really makes no sense whatsoever in and of itself, the story in translation, Ghost Ship, it still rather feels like Dietlof Reiche's original North German place setting but now just artificially painted over with a thin and strange veneer of New England, something that in my opinion both has made my reading experience of Ghost Ship not all that personally enjoyable and is equally an insult to Dietlof Reiche who as the original author obviously had a very good reason for placing the action of his Geisterschiff in Germany, on the North Sea coast of Germany, and not somewhere else.
November 15, 2016
Not many books can match Dietlof Reiche's perfect blend of mystery, history, and adventure in his novel "Ghost Ship". This was the most exciting historical fiction that I have ever read. I normally tend to stay away from this genre because I find it quite boring, but I did enjoy everything that the 313 pages of "Ghost Ship" had to offer. This novel started off by talking about the carving of a figurehead, a figure that most often resembles a women or mermaid. Seamen believed that figureheads symbolized good luck on voyages." It guided the vessel through dangers of all kinds and protected it from sea monsters, storms, and pirates. Or so sailors believed."
One reason this book was unlike other historical fiction books was because of the thrilling plot devices. There were cliffhangers, plot twists, and many flashbacks."The bay lay there in the brilliant light of the full moon. It was empty. The bay was completely dry. The sea had disappeared." I give this book four stars because although it wasn't my favorite genre, it definitely was one of the best historical fictions I have read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes surprises and a good mystery.
One reason this book was unlike other historical fiction books was because of the thrilling plot devices. There were cliffhangers, plot twists, and many flashbacks."The bay lay there in the brilliant light of the full moon. It was empty. The bay was completely dry. The sea had disappeared." I give this book four stars because although it wasn't my favorite genre, it definitely was one of the best historical fictions I have read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes surprises and a good mystery.
July 2, 2018
The Storm Goddess, an ancient sailing ship lost at sea in 1772 mysteriously appears in the bay. Her ghost crew is doomed to fight their last battle every night. Only twelve-year-old Vicki can break the curse. But, she does not know how.
This is an excellent ghost story and appropriate reading for middle-school readers.
This is an excellent ghost story and appropriate reading for middle-school readers.
November 11, 2021
This is one of the books that has been on my shelf since I've had a shelf.
A wonderfully descriptive and creative tale. Truly some of the best imagery I've read
A wonderfully descriptive and creative tale. Truly some of the best imagery I've read
August 21, 2009
Terrible terrible writing; nothing is descriptive and events fly by too fast. Characters are not stable and are not introduced very well.
February 25, 2021
Enjoyable, but I think something was lost in translation.
July 14, 2012
I kinda liked this book. It's writing was choppy and not deep (which I think was partly due to the writing and partly to being translated out of it's original language), the characters didn't add up and there were some plot holes, but it was quaint. You know, it's one of those books that you shouldn't like because other books with the same failings have made you sooo mad. But something made you like it.
The characters didn't seem to be shocked that there were actual ghosts involved. Vicki confides in Peter with these great secrets even though she's only known him one day. It never really explained how the picture on the inside of the figurehead worked, just that it was possible. Why does Redd have a grudge against the Mayor? Yeah the mayor is after money, but what about the fact there's ghosts on the ship? He's just going to ignore it so people won't investigate? Like it's not important? You think, you know, you'd be a little scared. And the journal was missing in all the important parts, a little convenient. And I wanted them to just read it and be done with it, because drawn through the book was annoying. I see why it was done, but if you have something that life changing in your possession, you spend a night reading it, not a few moments here or there. And yeah, I sooo called the money behind the sea shells the moment the author mentioned they felt loose. How much did her father know about what Vicki was doing? It never said. And the fact she was was by the ship twice and had to try a third time before a lousy excuse didn't drive her away from it was annoying as well.
The whole end where she broke the curse was a tad confusing, because just being there and screaming seemed a bit strange. Could it have been anyone else? What if it was a generational thing her family had to do? That would have been cool (Please tell me other people have those books that they keep thinking "what if?" and wish they could change the story)
Anyway, that sounds like a rant and there were all those issues I found with it, and yet, it was different. I like ships. I haven't really read many ghost stories before, but I found I like this one. I wouldn't not pick up a ghost story because of this book, anyway. It had some draw for me. It wasn't deep by any means (Oh, I can imagine if it was!) and maybe that parenthesis is part of me liking it, because it keeps me thinking and creating a bit on my own... anyway, enough rambling.
The characters didn't seem to be shocked that there were actual ghosts involved. Vicki confides in Peter with these great secrets even though she's only known him one day. It never really explained how the picture on the inside of the figurehead worked, just that it was possible. Why does Redd have a grudge against the Mayor? Yeah the mayor is after money, but what about the fact there's ghosts on the ship? He's just going to ignore it so people won't investigate? Like it's not important? You think, you know, you'd be a little scared. And the journal was missing in all the important parts, a little convenient. And I wanted them to just read it and be done with it, because drawn through the book was annoying. I see why it was done, but if you have something that life changing in your possession, you spend a night reading it, not a few moments here or there. And yeah, I sooo called the money behind the sea shells the moment the author mentioned they felt loose. How much did her father know about what Vicki was doing? It never said. And the fact she was was by the ship twice and had to try a third time before a lousy excuse didn't drive her away from it was annoying as well.
The whole end where she broke the curse was a tad confusing, because just being there and screaming seemed a bit strange. Could it have been anyone else? What if it was a generational thing her family had to do? That would have been cool (Please tell me other people have those books that they keep thinking "what if?" and wish they could change the story)
Anyway, that sounds like a rant and there were all those issues I found with it, and yet, it was different. I like ships. I haven't really read many ghost stories before, but I found I like this one. I wouldn't not pick up a ghost story because of this book, anyway. It had some draw for me. It wasn't deep by any means (Oh, I can imagine if it was!) and maybe that parenthesis is part of me liking it, because it keeps me thinking and creating a bit on my own... anyway, enough rambling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2011
The book “Ghost Ship” by Dietlof Reiche I originally read when I was in middle school, when I was the rough age of the characters of the book. When I read it then, I thought it was a fairly entertaining story, enjoying the level of mystery and the storyline. After reading it a second time, several years later, I still found it interesting, but I could better see the literary devices that Reiche used, and what actually went into creating the story.
Ghost Ship is the story of how an 18th century square rigged ship called the Storm Goddess went down at sea, with nothing being found but the journal of the ship’s quartermaster and the head of the figurehead. Roughly 200 years after the fact, the descendant of the ship’s quartermaster, a girl by the name of Vicky, finds the history of the Storm Goddess fascinating. Eventually she finds out that the Storm Goddess has a secret…one that she’s kept for over 200 years, since she went down with her crew. After discovering a picture of the full Storm Goddess, a series of bizarre events ensue, from the disappearance of the bay they live by to the appearance of the Storm Goddess herself. But what Vicki might find aboard her, readers won’t know until the very end.
“Ghost Ship” is a book more for entertainment, it seems, than for any actual academic value. However, this is suitable for the audience for which it was written. Mr. Reiche is a children’s writer in Germany, and Ghost Ship is one such story. It does provide entertainment for the intended audience, and yet, it also has some underlying lessons behind it that have value in the practical world. Things such as the Storm Goddess’s captain’s actions and his ensuing fate show that actions have consequences, that ill intent is always met with ill repercussions. It is an idea that is useful in the practical world because it shows what becomes of those who choose to act with ill intention.
Taking that into consideration, the author achieved what seems to be an attempt at creating a sort of fable, though in a modern setting, as opposed to previous fables. In this sense, Reiche has met his goal. He’s fused old-fashioned life-lessons and a modern setting to create a better connection with his reader. For this reason, I would certainly recommend this book to others, because it is a story which one will want to read, even after having grown up.
Ghost Ship is the story of how an 18th century square rigged ship called the Storm Goddess went down at sea, with nothing being found but the journal of the ship’s quartermaster and the head of the figurehead. Roughly 200 years after the fact, the descendant of the ship’s quartermaster, a girl by the name of Vicky, finds the history of the Storm Goddess fascinating. Eventually she finds out that the Storm Goddess has a secret…one that she’s kept for over 200 years, since she went down with her crew. After discovering a picture of the full Storm Goddess, a series of bizarre events ensue, from the disappearance of the bay they live by to the appearance of the Storm Goddess herself. But what Vicki might find aboard her, readers won’t know until the very end.
“Ghost Ship” is a book more for entertainment, it seems, than for any actual academic value. However, this is suitable for the audience for which it was written. Mr. Reiche is a children’s writer in Germany, and Ghost Ship is one such story. It does provide entertainment for the intended audience, and yet, it also has some underlying lessons behind it that have value in the practical world. Things such as the Storm Goddess’s captain’s actions and his ensuing fate show that actions have consequences, that ill intent is always met with ill repercussions. It is an idea that is useful in the practical world because it shows what becomes of those who choose to act with ill intention.
Taking that into consideration, the author achieved what seems to be an attempt at creating a sort of fable, though in a modern setting, as opposed to previous fables. In this sense, Reiche has met his goal. He’s fused old-fashioned life-lessons and a modern setting to create a better connection with his reader. For this reason, I would certainly recommend this book to others, because it is a story which one will want to read, even after having grown up.
October 29, 2008
The book would have been better if it had been shorter. It was trying to be creepy but the length of the book made it hard to maintain the scare and slowed the pace of action. The book also has a basic logic flaw. The Mayor is suppose to be a descedent of the Captain. But, the Captain is an orphan and died with no children. So, where did the Mayor come from?
February 7, 2014
This book is still one of my favorite books. Every time I would decided that it's time to stop reading and go out or go to bed something new would hook me in and I would fall for it all over again. Definitely an amazing book!
December 31, 2024
This book is a blend of mystery, ghost story and pirate tale. It is a brilliant novel that will keep readers intrigued until the end.
Vicki,an average twelve year old, plans to spend her summer vacation waitressing in her father's famous seaside restaurant.
The town that has two main attractions; the bay and the Ye Olde Seashell Room.
The bay is special because half of it recedes every day to expose mudflats, while the other half remains filled.
The Seashell Room is special because its walls are all covered in seashells and it contains the head of a figure head that was part of a ship named the Storm Goddess,
which sank to the bottom of the ocean with many dark secrets.
But when the bay goes dry and a 1772 sailing ship appears, Vicki's course is reset. Where the greedy mayor sees dollar signs, and a nosy reporter
sees something fishy, Vicki sees ghosts. Determined to discover the truth and to uncover old family secrets,
Vicki and her new best friend, Peter, who is on vacation there with his parents, venture into the deep to face the unimaginable.
As Vicki learns more, the regular world becomes stranger by the minute. Questions arise: why won't the mayor, the captain of the Storm Goddess' ancestor, sell the Seashell Room to Vicki's father,
the quartermaster of the Storm Goddess' ancestor? Who is Belper? Why did the Storm Goddess reappear? And finally, what happened to its infamous gold? And what happened on the Storm Goddess the day it sank?
Rumors have it that when The Storm Goddess, an ancient sailing ship lost at sea in 1772 mysteriously appears in the bay. Her ghost crew is doomed to fight their last battle every night.
Vicki,an average twelve year old, plans to spend her summer vacation waitressing in her father's famous seaside restaurant.
The town that has two main attractions; the bay and the Ye Olde Seashell Room.
The bay is special because half of it recedes every day to expose mudflats, while the other half remains filled.
The Seashell Room is special because its walls are all covered in seashells and it contains the head of a figure head that was part of a ship named the Storm Goddess,
which sank to the bottom of the ocean with many dark secrets.
But when the bay goes dry and a 1772 sailing ship appears, Vicki's course is reset. Where the greedy mayor sees dollar signs, and a nosy reporter
sees something fishy, Vicki sees ghosts. Determined to discover the truth and to uncover old family secrets,
Vicki and her new best friend, Peter, who is on vacation there with his parents, venture into the deep to face the unimaginable.
As Vicki learns more, the regular world becomes stranger by the minute. Questions arise: why won't the mayor, the captain of the Storm Goddess' ancestor, sell the Seashell Room to Vicki's father,
the quartermaster of the Storm Goddess' ancestor? Who is Belper? Why did the Storm Goddess reappear? And finally, what happened to its infamous gold? And what happened on the Storm Goddess the day it sank?
Rumors have it that when The Storm Goddess, an ancient sailing ship lost at sea in 1772 mysteriously appears in the bay. Her ghost crew is doomed to fight their last battle every night.
June 30, 2021
I have listened to this audiobook so many times! As a child I found it in the Library and took it on a trip with me, listening to it on my walkman. Ahh, brings back memories. I don't know if it's the storytelling or the progression of the story and the cuteness of the characters, but I just have such fond memories of listening to this book, and so I read it again after so many years and it still holds up. it's... not a genre I normally read but somehow I just adore this paranormal mystery set in a little coastal restaurant and the legend that surrounds a figurehead from a legendary (to the locals) ship. I can't quite tell you what it is about this book I love but I've listened to it multiple times and will continue to pick it up when I randomly remember it throughout the years. It's a 5-hour audiobook, so, short and easy to get through, I recommend it for when you want a quick read/listen and have no expectations. It's a fun and nicely paced exciting mystery about some kids who are fascinated by this mysterious figurehead when unusual things begin to happen. Again, I can't quite explain what I love about this, but I absolutely adore it!! A good recommendation for a rainy day with nothing to do :)
April 28, 2022
This book was originally published in German and translated into English. This ghost story takes place in a small town in Maine. Vicki, a 12-year-old girl, is spending her summer waitressing in her father's must-see tourist attraction restaurant, Ye Olde Seashell Room, that has seashell covered walls and a two-hundred-and thirty-year-old figurehead from the lost ship named Storm Goddess on its' wall. She befriends Peter, a tourist of her age, and strange things immediately begin to happen. The bay turns dry one night and the ghost ship appears fully intact. While the mayor sees opportunity for more tourists to come to his town, Vicki and Peter see ghosts and the need to solve a mystery that involves a hanged man and a curse. Both girls and boys in grades 4-6 will enjoy this plot filled with pirates and gold.
May 31, 2018
I read this book because when I went to the library and was looking through the titles of all the books I was really interested in the Ghost part of the title. Also once I picked up the book I read the back of it, and it intergeded me even me more. The book is about a figure head that is in a seashell room that was apart of ship a long time ago. Once the figure head was taken away from the restaurant and then that same night the whole sea disappeared and there was a random ship that was in the middle of the mudflats. I really enjoyed this book because I love mystery books. Also this book kept me on cliffhangers everytime I read it so it made me want to keep reading everytime. I would recommend this book to Ethan and to anyone who enjoys mystery books because that's what most of it was.
January 22, 2020
The sea has just disappeared and Vicky needs to get to the bottom of it. But then the storm goddess appears out of nowhere. Vicky needs to get onboard. But she needs help from a friend. As they try and try to get aboard the storm goddess it keeps getting harder and harder. Other people are also trying to get aboard the storm goddess. Will she get aboard the storm goddess. Or will she be too late.
I recommend this book to people who like lots of adventure and scary stories. This book was ok because it had some mystery but it had a lot of action and I don’t really like a lot of action. But overall i think this book was really good. I like who this Author writes his stories.
I recommend this book to people who like lots of adventure and scary stories. This book was ok because it had some mystery but it had a lot of action and I don’t really like a lot of action. But overall i think this book was really good. I like who this Author writes his stories.
June 8, 2017
Es fühlt sich so an, als hätte ich eine alte Schuld beglichen. Über 12 Jahre lag das Buch jetzt in der hintersten Ecke eines Bücherregales, ein lang vergessenes Geschenk. Dem Alter der Zielgruppe bin ich längst entwachsen, trotzdem wollte ich es endlich lesen. Für die Altersgruppe 10 - 14 ist es m.E. geeignet, allerdings mit ca. 317 Seiten für die recht vorhersehbaren Wendungen und den etwas flachen Spannungsbogen ein gutes Stück zu lang. Jetzt kann ich es abee beruhigt in andere Hände geben.
April 4, 2020
This is a book for youth! I emphasize that because the audio certain I listened to was not so marked. The strongest part of the book was the female protagonist. Everything else was so-so. The plot was entertaining but run if the mill and had a couple holes that didn't get explained. One character came out of nowhere to save the day on the 11ty hour, which felt awkward. Not a bad book overall but not a keeper.
July 11, 2020
This is a translated children's work and honestly it was a pretty poor one. Not only did they change the German names, but completely moved the location from North Germany to America.
Read for Becca's 48hr BookopolAThon.
Read for Becca's 48hr BookopolAThon.
May 10, 2019
Great adventure for younger readers - maybe 4-6 grade or so? Fast-paced, compelling, and entertaining. Just enough mystery and horror to keep a reader on their toes but not enough to linger when the book is done.
September 28, 2024
Die - nicht neue - Grundidee war sicher nicht schlecht, aber in der Umsetzung dann doch eher zäh. Auch für den Maßstab eines Kinderbuches fehlte mir in der Geschichte um ein Geisterschiff deutlich die Gänsehaut-Komponente. Und ein wenig mehr Fantasie wäre auch nicht schlecht gewesen.
June 7, 2018
I enjoyed this easy read. I will be passing it on to my mom and my granddaughter.
December 24, 2020
3.0 stars
March 4, 2021
Charming characters, a interesting mystery, and a couple of chills here and there. A decent middle grade read.
June 22, 2021
A fun and exciting adventure for Vicki and Peter! Ghosts, pirates, hidden treasure and nefarious villains!
August 19, 2021
There were some parts that were gripping and others that were slow. A fun summer easy read.
October 30, 2021
2.5. Neat ending
February 25, 2022
Read this out loud over several weeks to an audience of an 8, 10 and 12 year old. The youngest was the most enthusiastic listener.
June 9, 2022
Hard to follow. Not very enjoyable. A fun twist at the end. Would not recommend.
January 19, 2023
Wurde in der Mitte bzw. am Ende, für mich, etwas langweilig aber sonst gut geschrieben und spannend
July 11, 2023
3.5* For a book based for younger audiance, was pretty ok read. Pirate story with a bit of mistery
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews