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Haunted Histories: Creepy Castles, Dark Dungeons, and Powerful Palaces
Guided by tween “ghostorian” Virgil, readers will discover fascinating facts about calamitous events throughout history as they explore castles, palaces and dungeons and those infamous figures associated with each. For instance, did you know that many castles were made out of wood painted to look like stone? Or that wealthy prisoners in the Tower of London could keep servants? The book is chock-full of details that kids will find intriguing--dungeon life for prisoners, methods of torture, and even the most popular methods of poisoning enemies. So join Virgil and the other ghostly inhabitants for an historical adventure on the dark side.
146 pages, Hardcover
First published July 17, 2012
7 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
J.H. Everett
2 books16 followersVisual storyteller (illustrator), writer, and historian
J.H. Everett (aka. Ev Stanton) - Media Artist/ Writer/ Maker - Ev enjoys learning about everything and meeting new people. He is the father of two boys, and is married to Dr. Rebecca Stanton, a professor of Education. On a daily basis, his Pembroke Welsh Corgi, named Lucy, herds him around the house and studio.
Ev has worked as a professional musician, theater director, editor, writer, teacher, and illustrator. He holds a Ph.D in Early Modern European and World history from the University of California, Irvine. He has spent a lot of life traveling, living, and studying in the UK and Western Europe. No matter what he is doing or where he is, he compulsively draws and doodles on everything.
Currently...
J.H. Everett's first picturebook, The Candy Palace, has been published by the MMJ Foundation Press and Second Harvest Food Bank (along with retail partner, Dior). In partnership with MMJ Foundation, Ev has also helped create and implement the school giving programs for the Candy Palace project. He is co-creating the fully illustrated middle-grade nonfiction series, HAUNTED HISTORIES, forthcoming from Christy Ottaviano Books/ Henry Holt Publishing, Inc. And, is co-authoring the biography of Hanna Barbera artist/designer Bob Singer. He is a regular contributing illustrator to the Los Angleles Times. Ev is represented by Jamie Weiss-Chilton of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.
Professional background...
In addition to his current book projects, Ev has had the pleasure of working as a freelance concept illustrator for a Jim Henson Company development property and has created concept covers for Scholastic Books. He served as an editor on Me and My World, as well as several other titles for the educational publisher, Teacher Created Resources. He has written articles for children’s literature publications and websites including: SCBWI Kite Tales, Children’s Book Insider, and The Reading Tub and is a featured author in the California Reader's Association and Authors Now! Together, Ev and his wife, Dr. Rebecca Stanton (Professor of Education, Concordia University) continue to write articles and children's books. They also regularly present for school educational programs and academic conferences.
Always learning...
Ev first learned how to write stories from his mom, who happened to be his 8th grade language arts teacher. Over the years, Ev had several wonderful teachers and professors who taught him writing. As a lyricist, Ev was lucky enough to briefly study with famed lyricist, Hal David. In music and theater, he produced several original albums and two original children's musical theater shows. In college, he focused on humanities based disciplines: English Literature, Art, Music, Philosophy, and History.
Ev's first art teacher was his grandfather, Al. Ev would go over to his house after school and create paintings of the local Tucson, Arizona area landscapes, where he grew up. He was influenced by the photography of longtime family friend, Arizona Highways photographer and writer, Dick Frontain. As an adult, Ev studied privately under famed Disney watercolorist, cartoonist, and artist Roger Armstrong. Currently, Ev is a long-time student of celebrated Hanna Barbera artist/designer and animator, Bob Singer. He has also worked with Caldecott award winning artist, Alice Provensen, as part of Studio 5.
Ev has taught students from preschool through the college level. The students and kids that he has worked with have always been a great source of inspriation. While in graduate school, Ev moonlighted as a book store manager who specialized in children’s literature. He has won numerous teaching awards for his pedagogical workshops, and classroom teaching. Ev continues to do research and writing worldwide. He loves visiting people and cultures all over the world.
Influences and favorites...
Ev's art is greatly influenced by the British trad
J.H. Everett (aka. Ev Stanton) - Media Artist/ Writer/ Maker - Ev enjoys learning about everything and meeting new people. He is the father of two boys, and is married to Dr. Rebecca Stanton, a professor of Education. On a daily basis, his Pembroke Welsh Corgi, named Lucy, herds him around the house and studio.
Ev has worked as a professional musician, theater director, editor, writer, teacher, and illustrator. He holds a Ph.D in Early Modern European and World history from the University of California, Irvine. He has spent a lot of life traveling, living, and studying in the UK and Western Europe. No matter what he is doing or where he is, he compulsively draws and doodles on everything.
Currently...
J.H. Everett's first picturebook, The Candy Palace, has been published by the MMJ Foundation Press and Second Harvest Food Bank (along with retail partner, Dior). In partnership with MMJ Foundation, Ev has also helped create and implement the school giving programs for the Candy Palace project. He is co-creating the fully illustrated middle-grade nonfiction series, HAUNTED HISTORIES, forthcoming from Christy Ottaviano Books/ Henry Holt Publishing, Inc. And, is co-authoring the biography of Hanna Barbera artist/designer Bob Singer. He is a regular contributing illustrator to the Los Angleles Times. Ev is represented by Jamie Weiss-Chilton of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.
Professional background...
In addition to his current book projects, Ev has had the pleasure of working as a freelance concept illustrator for a Jim Henson Company development property and has created concept covers for Scholastic Books. He served as an editor on Me and My World, as well as several other titles for the educational publisher, Teacher Created Resources. He has written articles for children’s literature publications and websites including: SCBWI Kite Tales, Children’s Book Insider, and The Reading Tub and is a featured author in the California Reader's Association and Authors Now! Together, Ev and his wife, Dr. Rebecca Stanton (Professor of Education, Concordia University) continue to write articles and children's books. They also regularly present for school educational programs and academic conferences.
Always learning...
Ev first learned how to write stories from his mom, who happened to be his 8th grade language arts teacher. Over the years, Ev had several wonderful teachers and professors who taught him writing. As a lyricist, Ev was lucky enough to briefly study with famed lyricist, Hal David. In music and theater, he produced several original albums and two original children's musical theater shows. In college, he focused on humanities based disciplines: English Literature, Art, Music, Philosophy, and History.
Ev's first art teacher was his grandfather, Al. Ev would go over to his house after school and create paintings of the local Tucson, Arizona area landscapes, where he grew up. He was influenced by the photography of longtime family friend, Arizona Highways photographer and writer, Dick Frontain. As an adult, Ev studied privately under famed Disney watercolorist, cartoonist, and artist Roger Armstrong. Currently, Ev is a long-time student of celebrated Hanna Barbera artist/designer and animator, Bob Singer. He has also worked with Caldecott award winning artist, Alice Provensen, as part of Studio 5.
Ev has taught students from preschool through the college level. The students and kids that he has worked with have always been a great source of inspriation. While in graduate school, Ev moonlighted as a book store manager who specialized in children’s literature. He has won numerous teaching awards for his pedagogical workshops, and classroom teaching. Ev continues to do research and writing worldwide. He loves visiting people and cultures all over the world.
Influences and favorites...
Ev's art is greatly influenced by the British trad
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 28, 2014
Probably more like. 3.5 for me. This one is a little too disjointed to be a total success, and yet I learned some fascinating things about castles, dungeons and palaces. However I didn't really learn much about ghosts or hauntings so I felt the title was a bit misleading. Good for kids into history, graphic adaptations, Kings, queens, palaces, torture and ghosts.
July 13, 2012
Yes, I only gave this 3 stars (probably actually a 3.5), but for me, that's pretty a pretty good rating. I liked the book, particularly with things related to the format. It's a great book design- a good size and shape with a silky black cover that says that the book is going to be focused on the historical but is going to be a modern and fun approach to this information. The book reads super quickly with few words to a page and lots of entertaining and informative illustrations. It's a bit of a miscellany covering several topics that it attempts to make a case for holding together. In fact, it reminds me quite a bit of How They Croaked except for younger children and less focused. While I'm sure that it's well researched, it seems like there should be more references than the 4 books and 3 websites listed. I might have taken the informative aspects more seriously had there been a source for each different building. The entertainment aspects are pretty decent, although as an adult I was more interested in the facts than a contrived frame to make more exciting. The personable tone of the writing is easily accessible to young kids although some of the places names and people might be hard to pronounce. The book initially helps with this, giving the pronunciation for Himeji Castle and Krak des Chevaliers but then doeen't do this for other names like Neuschwanstein (which is really a lot of fun to say correctly). I found it a bit distracting with the pronunciation is and a bit disappointing without, but I think I'd be happiest going one way or the other for the whole book. Overall, it's a pretty fun book andI'd be interested to see if it continues in a series.
December 3, 2019
This is not a fiction book. But a history book for children. Has illustrations inside and some history about castles and palaces, also bits of historical events and people. Pretty good
November 9, 2017
Haunted Histories is an amusing illustrated informational text that fourth and fifth graders would most likely find both informative and approachable. Using the fictional Virgil Dante, and his equally fictional ghostorian order, the book travels to several reportedly haunted locations all over the world, telling their histories and what ghosts are said to haunt them. However, the book also details what daily life would have likely been like during the time period or at the location, as well as curious places such as the Hellbrunn Water Palace in Germany and the Jag Mandir Floating Palace in India. By blending ghost stories, morbid facts, and interesting stories about places all over the world, Haunted Histories manages to be a fun, and surprisingly informative way for students to learn the histories of places that they likely would never have heard of before.
One of the strongest elements of the book is that, while it goes into detail of Medieval European life and the roles of children, it does not purely focus on in. Students are invited to learn about the No Theatre, and Syrian fortresses. Even those European stories often mention people like the Mad King Ludwig, who students would not necessarily be familiar with. Children can have difficulty learning history since it seems boring or unobtainable to them, but because it mixes history, ghost stories and information, this is a book that students could easily find interesting and approach able as an independent read, as well as something read aloud, or as a shared reading.
As a teacher there is a great deal that I can do with this book as well. It could be something that students could read as an introduction to a graveyard study, which could offer a great deal of information about the local history of an area. I could also ask students, if we are learning to research, to use the laptops or I-pads that are offered by the school to research one of the locations that is mentioned, based on teams, and give a presentation about the history of the area.
Children are drawn to things that are creepy, which is why the Goosebumps books retain their popularity. As teachers, rather than fight against children’s interests and inclinations, it might be a good idea to use them to help them learn.
August 21, 2012
The opening page displays the "Ancient Order of Ghostorians Creed" which explains that the group encourages research
and fact. In the introduction we meet our narrator, Virgil Dante who rides the border between seductive and creepy. He tells the reader that his cursed pocket watch allows him to control time and place and more importantly, it allows him to talk to ghosts.
After the introduction including a quote from Shakespeare, we delve into the world of castles. From Japan to Syria and finally to the infamous Tower of London we fly with the narrator around the world learning about the histories of the buildings and the societies that created them. The text is brief and colorful and there are humorous and informative illustrations throughout including diagrams of the class system in Medieval times and an annotated map of a traditional castle layout.
Told in a whimsical voice, there is a balance of humor and horrible fact that keeps the pages turning. Physically the book is small, 5.5"x 7.125", which will be appealing to non-readers. It can be read in a short time period which will be appealing to most readers. Another strength in the content is that it has everything that one would hope is included but chooses to sprinkle in un-necessary but relevant fun facts such as the origin of the word "goth" and the secret code of heraldic symbols.
This is a great read for kids that like the dark side, are interested in history or studying castles.
(*Not to be confused with the wildly popular DVD series from the History Channel with the same name)
and fact. In the introduction we meet our narrator, Virgil Dante who rides the border between seductive and creepy. He tells the reader that his cursed pocket watch allows him to control time and place and more importantly, it allows him to talk to ghosts.
After the introduction including a quote from Shakespeare, we delve into the world of castles. From Japan to Syria and finally to the infamous Tower of London we fly with the narrator around the world learning about the histories of the buildings and the societies that created them. The text is brief and colorful and there are humorous and informative illustrations throughout including diagrams of the class system in Medieval times and an annotated map of a traditional castle layout.
Told in a whimsical voice, there is a balance of humor and horrible fact that keeps the pages turning. Physically the book is small, 5.5"x 7.125", which will be appealing to non-readers. It can be read in a short time period which will be appealing to most readers. Another strength in the content is that it has everything that one would hope is included but chooses to sprinkle in un-necessary but relevant fun facts such as the origin of the word "goth" and the secret code of heraldic symbols.
This is a great read for kids that like the dark side, are interested in history or studying castles.
(*Not to be confused with the wildly popular DVD series from the History Channel with the same name)
April 21, 2012
I really enjoyed the way this book uses comparative history - history as it is really done professionally and academically - instead of linear history. It is a bit more challenging, but the authors make the information very accessible to their young readers through their language, examples, and illustrations. I also like how the authors give examples of each theme (palaces, castles, and dungeons) from around the world, instead of just sticking with Western Europe. A recent article states that the authors are creating a free, online historical research tool for kids based on the HH books. That should be a nice addition to the resources and indexes already in the book. As a professor of education, I believe that the HH format will make the book accessible to reluctant readers, something that is sorely needed. The dozen or more children I personally know who are currently reading HH - strong and weak readers alike - are loving this book. They are hoping for even more ghosts in the next book in the series.
June 24, 2013
I picked up this book because it sounded like it would be an interesting read and I am so glad I did because I really liked it! One of my favorite types of books is Historical Fiction and this was perfect!
It was nice to read a story that incorporated facts about castels, kings and queens with fictional stories about ghosts. I loved that it had facts about the castles listed in the book because we had just learned about some of these features like arrow loops, round towers, and portcullis in a unit we had just finished in my 4E(gifted program) on Medieval Times.
This was a quick read for me, I finished it in an hour and forty five minutes, and I am 8 years old. I would recommend this to those who are not easily scared and who have a love for stories about time travel.
It was nice to read a story that incorporated facts about castels, kings and queens with fictional stories about ghosts. I loved that it had facts about the castles listed in the book because we had just learned about some of these features like arrow loops, round towers, and portcullis in a unit we had just finished in my 4E(gifted program) on Medieval Times.
This was a quick read for me, I finished it in an hour and forty five minutes, and I am 8 years old. I would recommend this to those who are not easily scared and who have a love for stories about time travel.
August 23, 2012
Reveals the history of castles, dungeons, palaces, and graveyards of medieval times. Includes plenty of gross information that will appeal to boys. Told in narrative voice of a "ghostorian"- an historian who finds ghosts and other creepy historical sites. Also includes drawings and sketch art to accompany discussion on the castles, dungeons, etc. Table of contents and index. With the fascination of old torture, this nonfiction book could be useful in the new Common Core standards with interest in nonfiction.
November 18, 2020
You can learn a lot about history by studying ancient castles and the ghosts that supposedly inhabit them. In this book, Virgil, a master ghostorian, takes readers on a trip through history’s creepiest places.
My 13-year-old daughter and I began reading this together, hoping for ghost stories and maybe juicy tales of romance and murder. Instead, we got a fairly straight picture of life in medieval times, along with the history of several different castles built during medieval times. We were a little disappointed by the false advertising. Having said that, this would make a good introduction for upper elementary school students to medieval life, and I’ll be keeping it in case I decide to use the book for that.
Emalee’s rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
My rating: ⭐️⭐️💫 (docked 1/2 star for false advertising)
My 13-year-old daughter and I began reading this together, hoping for ghost stories and maybe juicy tales of romance and murder. Instead, we got a fairly straight picture of life in medieval times, along with the history of several different castles built during medieval times. We were a little disappointed by the false advertising. Having said that, this would make a good introduction for upper elementary school students to medieval life, and I’ll be keeping it in case I decide to use the book for that.
Emalee’s rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
My rating: ⭐️⭐️💫 (docked 1/2 star for false advertising)
April 18, 2022
This is more about history and life of the times than scary stuff.
Info gathered by the Ghostorians: discoverers and chroniclers of the history and stories behind haunted places around the world, with supplementary information. It’s an interesting method of presenting historical information. Illustrated with humorous black & white drawings
Castles: Himeji castle: Japan, Krak des Chevaliers: Syria and the White Tower of London, England.
Dungeons & Jails: Newgate prison, Tower of London, Castle Neuschwanstein, Bastille.
Palaces: Hampton Court, Jag Mandir Floating palace. Graveyards: monuments, heraldry and cemeteries.
Info gathered by the Ghostorians: discoverers and chroniclers of the history and stories behind haunted places around the world, with supplementary information. It’s an interesting method of presenting historical information. Illustrated with humorous black & white drawings
Castles: Himeji castle: Japan, Krak des Chevaliers: Syria and the White Tower of London, England.
Dungeons & Jails: Newgate prison, Tower of London, Castle Neuschwanstein, Bastille.
Palaces: Hampton Court, Jag Mandir Floating palace. Graveyards: monuments, heraldry and cemeteries.
November 2, 2025
Haunted Histories: Creepy Castles, Dark Dungeons, and Powerful Palaces is a middle-grade nonfiction book by J.H. Everett and Marilyn Scott-Waters. Ghostorian, Virgil Dante, and his raven companion Thor take readers on a tour of castles, dungeons, palaces, and graveyards while explaining their haunted histories and doling out historical facts about the time periods.
This reading adventure through history to tour haunted places was interesting. There were several stories about ghosts, historical figures, and parts of a castle that I found fascinating. I especially liked learning about Okiku, a female ghost seeking revenge at Himeji Castle in Japan.
Despite being a history book, I think middle-graders would enjoy the topics covered, especially during the spooky season. There are plenty of illustrations, charts, and diagrams that make reading about these historical events, places, and people more enjoyable. After reading about the "daily workhouse activities for kids," they might even be grateful that taking out the trash and loading the dishwasher are their only chores at home. I gave this informative and entertaining read 3.5 stars.
This reading adventure through history to tour haunted places was interesting. There were several stories about ghosts, historical figures, and parts of a castle that I found fascinating. I especially liked learning about Okiku, a female ghost seeking revenge at Himeji Castle in Japan.
Despite being a history book, I think middle-graders would enjoy the topics covered, especially during the spooky season. There are plenty of illustrations, charts, and diagrams that make reading about these historical events, places, and people more enjoyable. After reading about the "daily workhouse activities for kids," they might even be grateful that taking out the trash and loading the dishwasher are their only chores at home. I gave this informative and entertaining read 3.5 stars.
October 29, 2019
Interesting information! A bit scattered. Would like more references, further reading, and / or source notes. A glossary would be helpful, too. And page numbers on every page! A fun book for children with all their favorite untoward things - ghosts, dungeons, kings warfare, and potty humor! The book is heavier on the history than on the haunted, so it's a little misleading but a great suggestion for a reluctant reader.
December 31, 2018
fun book that tells of world history through castles, dungeons and palaces
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2021
Read this with my 4th grader. He actually enjoyed learning about medieval times.
November 4, 2021
I came across this book when I was in "Halloween reading mode". It was a quirky little informative book.
October 19, 2023
This book is a great nonfiction book for kids at Halloween time! It is loaded with information, and it has good illustrations!
October 23, 2023
Just okay.
October 16, 2013
Would you like a tour from a Ghostorian? Would you like to know all about what it would be like to live in a castle or live the life of a king, queen, or peasant? Would you like to meet the ghosts of those who did? If you answered, "yes" to all the above...then you definitely want to pick up "Haunted Histories" and read it. This title offers a great deal of facts about living in creepy castles, dwelling in dark dungeons, and prancing around powerful palaces. It basically gives kids a disgusting and cool look at history in a cool way complete with great little side notes and a somewhat "graphic" novel-like format.
This book was fast paced and the majority of the locations took place in Europe, Japan, and India. I would recommend this read for kids 3rd grade and up and those who also love kings, queens, and knights or history in general. Reluctant readers will also appreciate this book!
Good Read-a-likes:
"Ghosts: a nonfiction companion to a good night for ghosts" by Mary Pope Osborne because it has a very similar format and would appeal to the same type of audience.
The "Who was..." biography series
"A street through time" by (Ill. Steve Noon) because it gives great pictures and information about different ways of living and daily activities throughout history.
This book was fast paced and the majority of the locations took place in Europe, Japan, and India. I would recommend this read for kids 3rd grade and up and those who also love kings, queens, and knights or history in general. Reluctant readers will also appreciate this book!
Good Read-a-likes:
"Ghosts: a nonfiction companion to a good night for ghosts" by Mary Pope Osborne because it has a very similar format and would appeal to the same type of audience.
The "Who was..." biography series
"A street through time" by (Ill. Steve Noon) because it gives great pictures and information about different ways of living and daily activities throughout history.
February 22, 2013
When I picked this book out, because of the title, I thought it was going to tell of haunted dungeons, castles and so forth. And while it does tell a few haunted stories, it's really poorly written. I wondered if the writing was lowered down for kids, but I can see kids getting bored with the writing style real fast.
Basically, its about a kid with a magic watch that lets him travel through time and space and go to these haunted places and talk to ghosts. He really just pops from one pace to the other, tells more about how a place was built then the ghosts, which he barely mentions, almost in passing, as if he forgets the book is about ghosts, not architecture.
I would recommend this book for anyone wanting a quick read. Anyone who wants a serious book, with content you can sink your teeth in, keep looking, this is not the book for you.
Basically, its about a kid with a magic watch that lets him travel through time and space and go to these haunted places and talk to ghosts. He really just pops from one pace to the other, tells more about how a place was built then the ghosts, which he barely mentions, almost in passing, as if he forgets the book is about ghosts, not architecture.
I would recommend this book for anyone wanting a quick read. Anyone who wants a serious book, with content you can sink your teeth in, keep looking, this is not the book for you.
August 28, 2017
The framing device is a group of historians who can teleport to anywhere on earth and get history directly from the mouths of ghosts. Okay, the ghost aspect is way oversold, there's actually almost nothing to that. But the history itself is accurate to current understanding, diverse in both region and figures mentioned, and presented in a fun way. When talking about castles many people focus exclusively on European castles, but this presents as well the fortress used by the Hospitaliers during the Crusades and a Japanese edifice.
A fun, quick read that should engage a broad array of middle-grade readers. I'm eager to continue the series (please, let this be the first in a series).
Library copy.
A fun, quick read that should engage a broad array of middle-grade readers. I'm eager to continue the series (please, let this be the first in a series).
Library copy.
February 12, 2013
This book follows fictional Virgil Dante, a ghostarian, and Thor, his faithful raven, as they travel through time and space using a magical pocket watch to meet and greet ghosts. Through this method, we learn of may haunted places and their histories. It is an interesting take on “ghost stories” and I think my students will enjoy it. I know they will enjoy descriptions of torture devices and methods of punishment. Overall, a good read, albeit gruesome at parts.
Price: 14.99
Suitability:Grades 5-8
Illustrations: Black and white drawings
Genre: Nonfiction/Ghost stories
Possible censorship issues: A bit gruesome at parts
Call #: 133.1 EVE
Price: 14.99
Suitability:Grades 5-8
Illustrations: Black and white drawings
Genre: Nonfiction/Ghost stories
Possible censorship issues: A bit gruesome at parts
Call #: 133.1 EVE
August 13, 2013
Overall, this book was a bitter disappointment. Initially, the narrator idea was intriguing, with the potential for good characterization. The subject matter promised a focus on the ghostly entities of various historical locations, with "interviews" conducted, etc. However, I counted less than a handful of "ghosts" in the book, with most of the pages taken up by stock historical data that was written in such a dry, flat voice that I felt no desire to even finish the book. I forced myself all of the way through it, and closed the cover with a sense of being cheated out of something that could have been great, but fell far short of the mark.
May 7, 2014
Literary Awards: N/A
Book Level: 6.3
Interest Level: MG (4-8)
Brief Summary:
In this nonfiction text, readers are guided by tween ghostorian, Virgil Dante, who informs readers of some of the most creepiest and powerful places. Virgil reveals shocking facts about events and people throughout history while exploring castles, palaces, and dungeons. Students will be enthralled with the detailed illustrations as they take a spooky tour through some of the most historical places in the world.
Content Connections:
History: Use this book when discussing certain events, people, and places that are presented in this text.
Book Level: 6.3
Interest Level: MG (4-8)
Brief Summary:
In this nonfiction text, readers are guided by tween ghostorian, Virgil Dante, who informs readers of some of the most creepiest and powerful places. Virgil reveals shocking facts about events and people throughout history while exploring castles, palaces, and dungeons. Students will be enthralled with the detailed illustrations as they take a spooky tour through some of the most historical places in the world.
Content Connections:
History: Use this book when discussing certain events, people, and places that are presented in this text.
January 20, 2013
Ghostorian, Virgil Dante, vaguely reminiscent of a teen-age Poe, complete with pet raven, flits about history with his trusty pocket watch. There are cartoons; there's irreverence, there are humorous asides. The castles are interesting enough, but I would've liked more. There weren't many ghosts. The information seemed a bit scattershot. But, it's small size and cardboard cover should appeal to those certain someones.
October 23, 2012
The book uses a fictional narrator to take the reader on a tour of haunted castles around the globe. I really enjoyed the historical background of these places, and the descriptions of all the barbaric implements of torture, but I found the "haunted" factor to be a very small part of the book. There is a detailed index, a list of resources, and a map, but I think the title is misleading.
February 18, 2013
The title, cover art, and book design are very appealing, but a little misleading. They indicate that this concerns haunted places, but it is more of a book on how castles are constructed through history. It was fun, but jumped around and was a little too incomplete to be helpful to report writers.
February 3, 2016
This was very obviously a children's book, but it was so cute I couldn't help but love it. It was informative, witty, and at times funny, but still kept things serious and worth reading. Hey, I even learned a few things! Totally worth the quick read and I'd recommend this book to any kid. So adorable despite the content. 5 out of 5 stars.
March 6, 2013
It was okay. There were just little snippets of information that I was already familiar with or left me wanting more.
This would be a good intro for kids who say they don't like history, but if you've already got an avid history buff, you could do better.
This would be a good intro for kids who say they don't like history, but if you've already got an avid history buff, you could do better.
March 11, 2016
An interesting non-fiction read about historical prisons and palaces. The author uses a wide variety of text features which makes the book more interesting to read. Neat information about some spooky topics.
April 7, 2016
Definitely a fun read for kiddos (or adults) interested in the more macabre parts of history. A cheeky narrator, brief summaries, and illustrated castle layouts make this a good non-fiction for reluctant readers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews