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Felix & Squeak and the Ghost Who Forgot Everything
When eleven-year-old Felix's family inherits an old mansion and moves without warning, it doesn't take long to figure out there's a ghost living in the basement. But Papa Joe is no typical ghost. He's--well--nice. He's also been stuck in the basement since the 1800s, housebound by the rules of the Ghost Protocol Book. He's desperate to escape and it looks like the new kid in town is his only hope.
But Felix doesn't stand a chance of helping Papa Joe without the help of his new friend Squeak, and an Irish Wolfhound named Honest Abe. Together, this accidental ghost squad will brave dark woods, dusty basements, and snooping parents to get to the bottom of this ghostly mystery.
But Felix doesn't stand a chance of helping Papa Joe without the help of his new friend Squeak, and an Irish Wolfhound named Honest Abe. Together, this accidental ghost squad will brave dark woods, dusty basements, and snooping parents to get to the bottom of this ghostly mystery.
268 pages, Paperback
Published May 19, 2023
2 people are currently reading
2123 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Roesch
3 books41 followersBENJAMIN ROESCH is an award-winning young adult and middle grade author of stories for young readers and the young at heart. His debut novel, Blowin’ My Mind Like a Summer Breeze, won the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award. A veteran English teacher with an MFA from Lesley University, Benjamin is passionate about helping young writers find their voices. He also co-hosts the writing podcast Perspectives on Pages. He lives in Burlington, Vermont, where he writes, teaches, and plays dad to two teenage sons and a scrappy dog named Shiloh. Oh, and his name is pronounced “Rush,” like the band from Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 7, 2023
I enjoyed this entertaining, heartwarming story about eleven-year-old Felix, who feels lonely and sad after leaving behind his best friend to move into a mansion his family inherited. To make matters worse—his new home is haunted. Felix is unable to retrieve his boxes of treasured belongings because there’s a ghost in the basement.
I love the book’s messages about friendship, following your bliss and living life to the fullest. The humor sprinkled throughout the pages kept me laughing out loud. I also love the illustrations and the fact that the author used to tell these made-up-on-the-spot stories to his two sons, something my own dad used to do. I highly recommend this one!
I love the book’s messages about friendship, following your bliss and living life to the fullest. The humor sprinkled throughout the pages kept me laughing out loud. I also love the illustrations and the fact that the author used to tell these made-up-on-the-spot stories to his two sons, something my own dad used to do. I highly recommend this one!
May 18, 2023
Felix & Squeak and the Ghost Who Forgot Everything is a whimsical little tale about an eleven year old boy whose life has been turned upside. Torn from his best friend Phineas and the only home he's ever know, Felix Prue is lonely and sad. To make matters worse, the movers have delivered all of his boxes to the basement of this massive old home his family has inherited. His parents too busy to help, Felix is sent on a mission to collect his prized belongings himself. Just when he thought things were at their worst Felix comes face to face with a ghost!
I enjoyed this story and all of the colorful characters, which there are many. Felix's parents are a little bit quirky, his dad builds kites and his mom paints terrible, unrecognizable pictures that she tries to sell at the Sunday market. At the market is where Felix makes the acquaintance of a girl name Squeak who is living a miserable life of her own. There's an accident involving an eccentric woman which leaves Felix in the care of a great big dog named Honest Abe. With every new person he meets, the adventures start to stack up.
There are many useful lessons built into this story ranging from courage to friendship to adaptability. Although the tale is about a soon to be fifth grader I think it could really appeal to younger kids too. The vocabulary is rich and challenging, rewarding the reader with many knew words to look up. As a mom I love seeing a story that will keep my kid engaged, while at the same time challenge them to learn more. This is the type of story that teachers will have fun reading to their classrooms.
I received an advanced review copy from BookSirens and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this story and all of the colorful characters, which there are many. Felix's parents are a little bit quirky, his dad builds kites and his mom paints terrible, unrecognizable pictures that she tries to sell at the Sunday market. At the market is where Felix makes the acquaintance of a girl name Squeak who is living a miserable life of her own. There's an accident involving an eccentric woman which leaves Felix in the care of a great big dog named Honest Abe. With every new person he meets, the adventures start to stack up.
There are many useful lessons built into this story ranging from courage to friendship to adaptability. Although the tale is about a soon to be fifth grader I think it could really appeal to younger kids too. The vocabulary is rich and challenging, rewarding the reader with many knew words to look up. As a mom I love seeing a story that will keep my kid engaged, while at the same time challenge them to learn more. This is the type of story that teachers will have fun reading to their classrooms.
I received an advanced review copy from BookSirens and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
April 24, 2023
“Well,” Papa Joe said, “maybe your joy is the one who’s supposed to find you.”
Absolutely amazing. One of the best middle grade books I’ve read in awhile! I felt so many emotions from happiness, to full blown tears. The art illustrations were amazing and they added to the story a little more. There were so many quotes In this book that will continue to stick to me. I love Benjamins writing style so much it’s very capturing. I love how In depth into life changes he goes because that’s important for our younger generation as well and seeing how they handle it. Just all around amazing amazing read. I thankfully received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Absolutely amazing. One of the best middle grade books I’ve read in awhile! I felt so many emotions from happiness, to full blown tears. The art illustrations were amazing and they added to the story a little more. There were so many quotes In this book that will continue to stick to me. I love Benjamins writing style so much it’s very capturing. I love how In depth into life changes he goes because that’s important for our younger generation as well and seeing how they handle it. Just all around amazing amazing read. I thankfully received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 24, 2023
A heartwarming story about friendship - both lost and found - sucking out the marrow of life, and finding your joy, 'Felix and Squeak and the ghost who forgot everything' by @benjaminroeschwrites is a MG story with loads of positive messages that will appeal to both adults and children alike.
Felix is lonely and miserable in his new family home with preoccupied parents and no one but his reflection to talk to. But when he discovers an overly polite ghost called Papa Joe in his basement, a feisty local girl called Squeak and a giant irish wolfhound called Honest Abe, he finds himself on a quest which may just help him to forget about the past and find joy in the now...
Full of lovely touches (involving kites, fans, saddles and plastic gladiator swords) and delightful characters, this is a book that hits all those warm and fuzzy feels and reminds you what it is to grow up and try to find your passions.
Highly recommended!
Felix is lonely and miserable in his new family home with preoccupied parents and no one but his reflection to talk to. But when he discovers an overly polite ghost called Papa Joe in his basement, a feisty local girl called Squeak and a giant irish wolfhound called Honest Abe, he finds himself on a quest which may just help him to forget about the past and find joy in the now...
Full of lovely touches (involving kites, fans, saddles and plastic gladiator swords) and delightful characters, this is a book that hits all those warm and fuzzy feels and reminds you what it is to grow up and try to find your passions.
Highly recommended!
April 28, 2023
Felix & Squeak is a charmer of a book sure to delight young middle grade readers. Benjamin Roesch is deft in his ability to see the world through the imaginative eyes of children, where dogs are big as ponies, ghosts are real and not scary, and the laws of physics are flexible. Coupled with Jacob Roesch’s rich and playful illustrations, this is a book that’s fun to read aloud or under the covers with a flashlight when it’s past bedtime and you just need to find out what happens next.
July 24, 2023
When a boy moves into a new home, adventures await him.
Felix Prue, an eleven-year-old boy, has felt miserable ever since he and his family moved into his Uncle Win's home after he died in an accident. One of the worst things is that a ghost named Papa Joe from the 1800s haunts the basement. But it turns out that the spirit is friendly.
Now, Felix, with the help of his best friends Squeak and Honest Abe (the dog), has to find out who Papa Joe was when he was alive.
This book was heartwarming; the characters sometimes make you laugh and cry simultaneously. The ending, however, almost made me tear up. (I can't tell you why it almost made me cry.) On the bright side, the book had lots of excellent humor, mostly involving the antics of Felix and Honest Abe. This book also focuses on friendship, and the theme of "When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade" is also commonplace here. The bonds of the three friends were powerful. When a book like this one has those good themes, then this book is the perfect read.
Felix is a relatable and humorous character. He almost made me giggle at the silly gladiator fantasies. Squeak is a well-read person. Papa Joe was a good and tragic character. Honest Abe is the best Irish Wolfhound dog you could ever ask for.
Give this book to anyone who loves humorous yet heartbreaking stories filled with lots of love.
Thank you to the author for sharing this fantastic book!
Felix Prue, an eleven-year-old boy, has felt miserable ever since he and his family moved into his Uncle Win's home after he died in an accident. One of the worst things is that a ghost named Papa Joe from the 1800s haunts the basement. But it turns out that the spirit is friendly.
Now, Felix, with the help of his best friends Squeak and Honest Abe (the dog), has to find out who Papa Joe was when he was alive.
This book was heartwarming; the characters sometimes make you laugh and cry simultaneously. The ending, however, almost made me tear up. (I can't tell you why it almost made me cry.) On the bright side, the book had lots of excellent humor, mostly involving the antics of Felix and Honest Abe. This book also focuses on friendship, and the theme of "When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade" is also commonplace here. The bonds of the three friends were powerful. When a book like this one has those good themes, then this book is the perfect read.
Felix is a relatable and humorous character. He almost made me giggle at the silly gladiator fantasies. Squeak is a well-read person. Papa Joe was a good and tragic character. Honest Abe is the best Irish Wolfhound dog you could ever ask for.
Give this book to anyone who loves humorous yet heartbreaking stories filled with lots of love.
Thank you to the author for sharing this fantastic book!
May 11, 2023
Felix & Squeak and the Ghost Who Forgot Everything is an easy read and is a perfect middle grade book for young, aspiring horror readers. The story is a ghost story yet so much more. It is about friendship, finding your path in life and getting the chance to do good in the world.
I liked the young characters, Felix and Squeak and how they have a connection, which bridges them into a friendship. The adult characters in the book are also likable for the most part and even the ghost has some new attributes not seen in other ghost stories. The book was easy to read and follow and allowed for a reader to sit down and pick up the book as I had time, which is good for middle grade readers attention spans.
In addition, the illustrations were perfect to help tell the story and move the reader throughout the book. They showed movement, emotion and life in perfect compliment to the story.
However, with all the good parts to this book, I did find myself distracted in the middle when the action of the story had died down and gone somewhat flat. I wanted there to be more peaks of suspense and action.
Overall, this book is a good ghost story and is a definite must read for any middle grade readers out there.
Kudos to the author and illustrator.
I was provided an advance copy of this book in trade for my honest review of the story.
I liked the young characters, Felix and Squeak and how they have a connection, which bridges them into a friendship. The adult characters in the book are also likable for the most part and even the ghost has some new attributes not seen in other ghost stories. The book was easy to read and follow and allowed for a reader to sit down and pick up the book as I had time, which is good for middle grade readers attention spans.
In addition, the illustrations were perfect to help tell the story and move the reader throughout the book. They showed movement, emotion and life in perfect compliment to the story.
However, with all the good parts to this book, I did find myself distracted in the middle when the action of the story had died down and gone somewhat flat. I wanted there to be more peaks of suspense and action.
Overall, this book is a good ghost story and is a definite must read for any middle grade readers out there.
Kudos to the author and illustrator.
I was provided an advance copy of this book in trade for my honest review of the story.
May 3, 2023
A heartwarming tale about a boy, a girl, a dog, and of course a ghost with a terrible memory!
This was a great read a loud book for nightly storytime at our house. The characters were all very relatable to children as well as adults. The authors writing style was easy to follow and the story captured your attention right from the start.
I loved the messages of friendship and living life to the fullest, but mostly the message about finding joy in life. These are messages that can be applied to all generations reading this book.
This is a middle grade read, but had a little something for everyone. The story deals with some real life problems many young people face such as moving, making friends, and making the best out of every situation. The humor throughout the book also led to many laugh out loud moments as we read. I highly recommend this for young readers as well as a good family read.
I received a free copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone
This was a great read a loud book for nightly storytime at our house. The characters were all very relatable to children as well as adults. The authors writing style was easy to follow and the story captured your attention right from the start.
I loved the messages of friendship and living life to the fullest, but mostly the message about finding joy in life. These are messages that can be applied to all generations reading this book.
This is a middle grade read, but had a little something for everyone. The story deals with some real life problems many young people face such as moving, making friends, and making the best out of every situation. The humor throughout the book also led to many laugh out loud moments as we read. I highly recommend this for young readers as well as a good family read.
I received a free copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone
June 12, 2023
My daughter (8) and I read Felix and Squeak together. My daughter will read on her own but she still likes us to read together, so a lot of the books she chooses are not books that I like or enjoy reading. In some of the other kid books, the writing is all right but it's dialogue heavy, i.e., the plot is propelled forward in dialogue. Not the case with Felix and Squeak. We were in good hands with Benjamin Roesch. Felix and Squeak was a book I enjoyed reading out loud. Her favorite characters were Honest Abe, the dog, and Squeak, because she said she was mysterious. There were a few surprises in the book as well (which I won't spoil) but of one in particular toward the end (a new character), my daughter said the "shock" of it felt exciting. To me, this book had everything I'd want in children's literature: compassion, lessons on kindness, a little bit of history, and a little bit of the supernatural. For my daughter, she enjoyed the mystery elements and the ghosts.
May 18, 2023
I got this book for free, in exchange for my honest opinion via BookSirens.
Felix just got uprooted from everything he knows, including his best friend. When he and his family move into a mansion that his family has inherited, Felix soon realises that his new home is haunted. Through his mother, Felix meets Squeak, who like himself, has just moved and has found herself with no friends. Through a series of events, Felix and Squeak develop a friendship.
Don't get me wrong, this is a cute and heartwarming story. It's just very slow moving. Even so, I enjoyed it. While it is marketed as "middle grade," I think the younger crowd may like it as well. I think this is a great read for those who don't want to read children's books anymore, but not quite at middle grade level.
Felix just got uprooted from everything he knows, including his best friend. When he and his family move into a mansion that his family has inherited, Felix soon realises that his new home is haunted. Through his mother, Felix meets Squeak, who like himself, has just moved and has found herself with no friends. Through a series of events, Felix and Squeak develop a friendship.
Don't get me wrong, this is a cute and heartwarming story. It's just very slow moving. Even so, I enjoyed it. While it is marketed as "middle grade," I think the younger crowd may like it as well. I think this is a great read for those who don't want to read children's books anymore, but not quite at middle grade level.
May 20, 2023
What happens when a kid moves and leaves behind a best friend four states and a time zone away? Eleven-year-old Felix Prue hates his new neighborhood and house. Until he meets up with another new kid on the block, Squeak, who’s equally miserable. Together they join forces to help a mustached, ice-cream loving ancestral ghost named Papa Joe search for his mysterious purpose in life. Luckily they're helped by a ginormous Irish Wolfhound, a ghost protocol book, and eccentric parents whose jobs play surprising, just-enough roles. Author Roesch is particularly adept at characterization, including the secondary ones, and connecting family interactions. If you also love bits of history and flying kites, saddle up to read this heartwarming middle-grade winner!
April 5, 2023
There is so much to enjoy in this story about moving to a new town, making new friends and helping a ghost find his way home. I read this story with my own 11 year old and found that while the specifics of Felix's story are unique, the themes of growing up and navigating the world are universal, especially when it comes to friendships - with humans, canines or ghosts. Felix's journey has some challenging obstacles, but we also found ourselves laughing and feeling invested in all the characters stories. Plus the illustrations are amazing. Definitely one to read!
April 12, 2023
Heartwarming and wholesome with important themes and satisfying full-circle moments. The characters are charming, relatable, and so much fun. I absolutely love the voice and find that so many touches augment it, from the peppered comments about parents to all the indulgent foods Felix and Squeak enjoy. With burst-out-laughing and tear-filled moments and everything in between, this is the good stuff.
May 5, 2023
Full review coming soon but this was SUCH a fun book! Felix's antics and personality had me chuckling, and I absolutely loved the writing style. This book is perfectly sweet for middle grade. It not only keeps you engaged with a fun storyline, but I also loved the messages of the book.
April 5, 2023
You will fall in love with these characters!! Such a cute story!!
May 19, 2023
I received a ARC free from Book Sirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
Heart warming!
Delightful characters!
Captivating!
Heart warming!
Delightful characters!
Captivating!
July 16, 2023
A fun read by a talented author, and amazing illustrations to boot!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews