The Phantom of the Post Office

43 Old Cemetery Road #4

by Kate Klise, M. Sarah Klise (Illustrator)

The letter-loving trio at Spence Mansion has something to grieve about—Ghastly's post office is about to close, which will cut off their connection to their fans. A new invention called VEXT-mail is threatening to replace not only letters, but books, hair dryers, and even garage door openers! Could the mysterious occupant of P.O. Box 5 and his seemingly sinister plan save the doomed post office? Will he strike down Ghastly’s beloved ghostwriter in the process? In this fourth book in the award-winning 43 Old Cemetery Road series, eleven-year-old Seymour Hope and his new friend, Wy Fye, must solve this postmortem mystery . . . before it's too late!

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Mystery, Humor, Fiction, Childrens, Ghosts

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Catherine "Kate" Klise is an American author of children's literature. Many of her books are illustrated by her sister, M. Sarah Klise. Their popular Regarding series is presented in a scrapbook style format, with letters, journal entries, and related ephemera telling the story. She is also known for her picture books as well as the bestselling 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Kate Klise's first adult novel, In the Bag, was released in 2012.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a mysterious Phantom in the post office and he/she has absconded with the letter "F." Imagine all your "f" sounds being written with a "ph." That is just a small part of this latest installment. There are some fabulous punny names like Sal U. Tayshuns (U.S. Postmaster General), Sue Pertishus (Ghastly Post Office Postmaster) and Dr. Izzy Dedyet. So much PHUN! Seymour even makes a new friend. If you have been following along with the Ghastly folks, you will not want to miss this one.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I do with all of the titles in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series, I have some credibility issues with this book. Namely, no one stays in the hospital for an entire month, especially not for the flu. On the other hand, I admire the Klise sisters' ability to tell a fully fleshed-out and rather entertaining story using only letters and newspaper entries. While the identity of the phantom was obvious, the strands of the plot are tightly woven. And I really enjoyed this fourth book in the series, whose message is so timely and relevant: Is human communication dying at the hands of technology?

[Camille Dickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me realize the sadness of letter writing as a dying communication form. I remember writing letters back and forth with my mom, and she would deliver them to me through a little slot in a cardboard box 'door' to my play nook. I had the best time creatively addressing the envelopes, and it was so exciting to get a new letter from my mom.
I also remember sharing a notebook with my sister, and we would write notes back and forth, and set it on each others' pillows. I also used to write letters to my cousins and one friend because I was too young to have a phone. We sent pictures of ourselves and drawings.
I would love to incorporate more letter writing in my friendships and relationships. It's so lovely.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another funny and clever entry to the series. I love that the phantom of the post office lives in (P.O.) box 5 and all of the other Phantom of the Opera parallels. Of course most kids have not read or seen Phantom, but that's not a problem because Klise's young characters are currently reading the book and make sure we see the parallels. The decision of the USPS to quit postal mail and go to virtual mail will probably not matter terribly much to kids, although I am sure that there are still plenty who like checking their mailbox or receiving a package. Likewise, some kids may not see the humor in the VEXT-mail veil's all-in-one/oh-so-convenient attributes. Both kids and adults, however, will see the humor as the virtual VEXT-mail continues to be a flop. And this book (and series!) will also be a hit for anyone who likes to read their books in letter format.

[Susan Siow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 4th book in the series continues to charm. Loved the original storyline!

[Isabella Aracely]

The Phantom of the Post Office was an amazing book. I loved the ending and the part when Seymour made a new friend. The twist in the story made the story so much more interesting and I really enjoyed it. If you have never read this series, but you enjoy funny ghost adventures, you might like this book series. I know I have liked all the other books. Seymour got something that he really wanted at the end, but realizes that what he got wasn’t as important as writing letters.[ to true friends and family anyway]In the story the post office is in danger of being demolished, in the end you will find out if it gets demolished or not.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read in the series (it was on our new shelf at the library), and it is so charming! It is written in letters, emails, and newspaper clippings, which is a style of interest to me because of the popularity of "diary" books. The series revolves around three main characters who live in an old mansion, Ignatius (Iggy) Grumply; Seymour, a young boy; and Olive, who is a ghost. They live without modern technology, and Olive writes stories that are solely delivered by snail mail and are immensely popular (there is a certain excitement in getting real mail, that's for sure).

In this book, the post office is being forced to close, in hopes to be replaced with a faulty technology called VEXT-mail (it's a veil), which Olive is very against. Another mysterious character is also against the move to complete virtual/digital service and begins writing letters to Olive from post office box 5 signed as the Phantom (play on the Phantom of the Opera, which I had the privilege to see in the 7th grade in SF).

I just love all the humor in this book: the names of the characters and word play are nerdtastic. This is also a good book to explain to children about technological changes and how not all people have fancy gadgets. As a public library staff person/reference librarian at a small community college, the digital divide is definitely alive.

[Bailey Kincaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very creatively told through letters and messages and newspaper clippings. It's a mystery and even though there is a ghost (a 'phantom'), it is not scary. An Illinois post office is set to close to make room for a more technologically savvy building called VEXT-mail. The people who live at Spence Mansion start receiving mysterious messages that need solved. We follow the story to discover who the mysterious phantom of the post office is.

This book is good for ages 9 and up.

This book is very cleverly written, and students LOVE mystery books, so they would enjoy reading it.

It could be a good way to introduce how to write letters, or could be used as a novel to read during Halloween time.

[Kerry W · Rating 5 out of 5]

kept my interest-very quick, easy read.

[Jane Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

The post office is being shut down and being replaced by vext mail (which doesn't work very well). Olive and Grumply are very upset since they almost always communicate by letter. Seymour falls victim to a very contagious phantom flu as does the librarian's niece Wynonna "Wy" Fye. Her uncle has taken away her phone and given her book to read she selects Phantom of the Opera. She goes through with drawl from her device, but Seymour is willing to read the book and they exchange notes back and forth. (Seymour thinks Wy is cute). Grumply sends food and letters up to Seymour via a pulley system since Seymour is so contagious. Olive also looks at old letters from her friend Weston Peece, because she says it tells the story of how you can fall in love through letters. However in the end she decides against the letters since she says the ending is too depressing because Weston becomes a mailman and wants to deliever Olive's letter that she is a published author but none arrive before her death. Meanwhile a phantom is haunting the town and objecting to the post office closure. (At one point he steals the letter "f" so that every word that has an "f" in it has to be spelled with a "ph" instead - oph rather than of. The post office is spared by a last minute text from Wy. The town decides to keep the post office and loose the vextmail. The phantom is revealed to be the ghost of Weston Peece, who said that he felt guilty that he didn't get Olive's acceptance letter to her before she died.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very much enjoying this series. This one tackles the intrusion and addiction of modern technology in a very fun way. Wy Fye is being sent to her uncle's house in Ghastly for a one month separation from her cell phone. If she can avoid digital devices for one month, she will get her cell phone back. Meanwhile, the town of Ghastly has been chosen to be the launch for a new technology which will make postal mail and the post office obsolete. VEXT-mail is a veil that fits over your head and not only has phone and video capabilities, but also movies, games, an expresso maker, microwave, and garage door opener. The exchanges between the postmaster general and the local postmistress are very funny. The whole thing over your head to communicate is hilarious.
Also, Seymour and Wy Fye both contract the flu and end up in the hospital where they are forced to connect through notes and letters and share the reading of The Phantom of the Opera as they try to solve the mystery of the phantom who is haunting the post office.
Will the post office become obsolete and torn down? How will Olive, Grumply and Seymour deliver their next 3 chapters to their loyal fans? Who is the Phantom of the Post Office?
This is my favorite so date.

[AnneMayaJannika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rettung in letzter Minute

Cover: Severin sitzt auf dem Sofa, der Hund liegt davor - er liest einen (altertümlichen) Brief.

Zum Inhalt:
Das Postamt von Schauderburg soll geschlossen werden, da keiner mehr Briefe schreibt. Es soll durch moderne Technik ersetzt werden (Sprechmasken?). Natürlich sind Olivia und Ignaz dagegen, sie besitzen ja noch nicht mal ein Handy und sie verschicken ihre Geschichten immer per Post.

Außerdem schreibt ein Phantom Drohbriefe, in dem es Buchstaben klaut, was die Kommunikation erheblich einschränkt und dessen Identität geklärt werden muss, aber ausgerechnet jetzt ist Severin krank und muss ins Krankenhaus - Quarantäne! Aber er hat ja Vi und zusammen lösen sie den Fall.

Meine Meinung:
Die vierte Geschichte um Ignaz, Geist Olivia und "Waisenjunge" Severin.

Kindgerecht beschrieben, super umgesetzt und ein Genuss zuzuhören.

Wie immer ist alt - modern ein Thema, welches aber nicht mit erhobenem Zeigefinger, sondern ganz sympathisch vermittelt wird.

Meine Kinder sind begeistert von der Geschichte.


Fazit: Ich liebe diese Hörspielreihe. Sie ist ganz wunderbar umgesetzt mit den Sprechern und auch mit der Musik.

Den letzten Band haben wir jetzt als Buch, mal sehen, wie das selbst lesen so ist.

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man. I know I'm not in the target-range audience for this series, but this may be the best one yet. This book is certainly the most mysterious one so far, and it really captivated me. When I got to the end and found out the great news, I got chills about how wonderfully crafted the whole situation was. I teared up with joy for Olive, and was so sad for all the guilt a certain someone must have been living with. Also, when Seymour asked someone the same thing someone once asked Olive, I kind of fangirled for the two of them. I can't wait to see where that goes in the next book. I think all of the technology bashing can be justified by how in the end it's shown that technology can be very useful and sometimes necessary.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute twist on the phantom of the opera. The post office is set to close in the town of Ghastly when a new form of corresponding in the way of "Vext" mail is scheduled to take over. Iggy, Seymour and their resident ghost, Olive, dig up a long lost friend and together find a way to save the post office and continue their book series.

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up this quirky gem at the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum, and it was a fun, entertaining read that made humorous parallels with Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera.

[Hapzydeco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 in this wonderful series. Do yourself a favor and read the entire series.
Host of new characters, Sue Perstishus, Wy Fye, Sal U. Tayshums, and Weston Peece. correlation with the Phantom of the Opera.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a key book when I was in upper elementary. I could read one of these books in a go. This book particularly different from the others. I like the way they communicate with each other. And I thought that it was creepy how the phantom was everywhere.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was fun even though I found the vext-mail veil ridiculous but that was pretty much the point. I figured out that Weston was the phantom pretty early on but I still enjoyed the story and meeting the new characters. This is a fun, fast-paced series when you need something light and fluffy.

[Laurie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute as always. Got to meet more new characters. I enjoyed the plot of this one, and even though I assumed it would all work out, it had me on the edge of my seat! I liked the take on technology and "old-fashioned" letter-writing. Still loving these characters!

[Isabel Jazmín · Rating 4 out of 5]

Además del uso de las diferentes formas de escribir mensajes, en esta cuarta historia se agrega una serie de referencias y menciones a El Fantasma de la Ópera, con lo que se despierta la curiosidad por otro tipo de historias que lleven a los lectores hacia nuevos rumbos.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. 3 more to the series!!

[Sharon Anton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is too cute for words. Can't wait for the next one.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book because I like Olivia the ghost

[Iris Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion they talked too much about why they only communicate with letters, which could have better been left unexplained. It overall was find but not as good as the rest of the series.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clever and fun! On to book 5!

[Steven Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming!

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is cool that it related to the phantomof the opra and that the phantom was weston olives old friend

[Elisa Ivonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

good

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book about ghosts and people that believe letters and the post office are the best way to communicate. Doctor's name was Izzy Dedyet.