Ghost Ride

by Marina Cohen

2011 Red Maple Award — Shortlisted Fourteen-year-old Sam McLean is less than thrilled with the prospect of moving to a collection of old mansions on the northern fringe of a small town called Ringwood. A nobody at his old school, Sam is desperate to be accepted by the cool kids and latches on to Cody Barns, aka Maniac. Cody’s claim to fame is performing wild stunts — the crazier the better — and posting them on his blog. When Sam reluctantly joins Cody and his sidekick, Javon, on their midnight ghost riding, a practice in which the driver and passenger climb onto the hood of their moving car and dance, something goes terribly wrong. Cody convinces Sam to flee the scene, leaving Javon for dead. But soon mysterious messages appear on Cody’s blog and anonymous notes are slid into Sam’s locker. As Sam struggles with his conscience, a haunting question Who else knows the truth?

Genres: Paranormal, School, Fiction

184 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Marina Cohen is the author of several horror and fantasy books for children and young teens. Her novels THE INN BETWEEN, THE DOLL'S EYE, A BOX OF BONES and SHADOW GRAVE have been nominated for various awards in Canada and the United States including, The Sunburst Award, The Ontario Library Association's Red Maple and Silver Birch Awards, The Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, The Rocky Mountain Book Award, The Manitoba Young Reacher's Choice Award, and The Pacific Northwest Library Association Children's Choice Award. THE INN BETWEEN and A BOX OF BONES and SHADOW GRAVE are also Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections.

Marina loves old castles, hot cocoa, mysterious doors of all shapes and sizes, gingerbread and all things dark and creepy. She spends far too much time asking herself "What if?"

Reviews

[Kori · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was such a horrible, predictable book. The entire thing was weak: dialogue, characters, plot, pace. The only good thing about it is that it's so short (I read it in under an hour), like getting a kick in the face. It's super painful all at once, then you go back to normal.

[Peter Lam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a 14 year old boy named Sam McLean; he isn't thrilled to be moving to a new home located in Ringwood. Sam is desperate to fit in, as he was a nobody at his old school, so Sam latches on to Cody Barns. Cody Barns is known for performing crazy stunts. One day Sam, Cody and another student name Javon, went to practice some stunts at night, but something goes terribly wrong and Cody convinces Sam to flee the scene leaving Javon for dead. Days after Mysterious messages and notes are put in Sam's locker and Cody's blog. Everyone is trying to figure out what happened but Sam and Cody wouldn't talk. The McLean family decide to move somewhere in Toronto, because of all the drama that has happened and that is still happening. The real question is, who else knows the truth of what happened that night.

I recommend this book to teenagers because I enjoyed this book and I am a teenager also because this book is about a teenage life, and could somehow relate with that teenager. This book keeps you guessing with all the mystery that is always going on, such as who is sending the mysterious messages and notes. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 because this book got me hooked from the start.

[Erika Sav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam McLean move's to a new "city" and he doesn't like the move. When he arrived he saw strange things happen and wants to find out whats happening.

I picked this book because Marina Cohen visited our school last year and her book sounded really cool.

I finiished this book because I wanted to know how the situatiob was going to be handled and I wanted to know what was going to happen.

I think that Calvin might want to read it because at the moment he is reading another Marina Cohen book. So if he likes that book he should read this book if he hasn't already.

IM DONEEEE!!! :D

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not think the author did a good job pacing the story. Also I think it was way too obvious at some parts. Also I think the whole idea of "Moving to a new house, going to a new school, not fitting in, doing stupid things to fit in" is kinda getting old.
I did not like it. Also I did not think the story was scary. AT ALL

[Sophie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hardest 184 pages I've ever read. It's 90% dialogue- sounds like a script of a TV show. Lots of unnecessary description for visuals and setting, almost as if the author forgot what she was writing about. Inconsistent italicizing. The chapters were meaningless time skips, each scene doesn't connect with one another, very episotic. Seems like a teenage boy with a narrow vocabulary wrote it- maybe it was Sam. The plot had substantial potential for a good psychoanalysis, but the author clearly missed every important checkmark. Also, what in the world is the cover..

[Abi]

it good

[Canadian Children's Book Centre]

Reviewed by Rachel Seigel

Fourteen-year-old Sam McLean is none too happy about moving to an old mansion on the fringe of his dad’s old hometown. Desperate to be accepted by the cool kids, he latches on to Cody Barns, who’s known for performing wild stunts and then posting them on his blog. When Sam reluctantly participates in one of Cody’s ghost riding stunts, something goes terribly wrong. Soon after the accident, mysterious messages start appearing on Cody’s blog, and Sam is faced with a terrifying question: Who knows the truth about what happened that night?

This spooky new story by Marina Cohen – loosely tied in with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – will grab readers from the beginning, and keep them hooked until the surprise twist ending. The town of Ringwood is a perfect setting for a ghost story, and it is more than fitting that the neighbourhood is referred to as Sleepy Hollow. There always seems to be something not quite right that Sam can’t put his finger on, and a creepy cast of supporting characters such as the odd neighbour boy and the old lady across the street contribute to the atmosphere in the town. Sam is a likeable and authentic character, and readers will completely identify with his desire to fit in, and his frustrations with his parents. Sam is also a thoroughly modern teenager, and his dependence on his cell phone and the internet will ring true with readers.

Reluctant boy readers especially will find this an enjoyable read.

Canadian Children's Book News (Winter 2010, Vol. 33, No. 1)

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excerpt from my review below. You can read my full, original review here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2010...

"Haunting. Spine-chilling. Genius. These are the words I would use to describe Marina Cohen's imaginatively suspense filled YA novel, Ghost Ride...........In the end, Ghost Ride was an intensely creepy, thrilling, and enthralling read that I just could not put down. Cohen truly did a wonderful job writing this book and I can't wait to read more of her work. It is a new personal favorite of mine and I really look forward to reading it again in the furture. I would recommend this book to, well, about anyone really; I think this would especially appeal to those reluctant male readers. If you don't read Ghost Ride I'll have no other choice but to send the Headless Horseman after you. *laughs maniacally* Seriously though, this book hasn't gotten near the attention it deserves and I feel priveledged to be one of those lucky few out there to realize just how awesome this book is. Isn't that something you, as a reader, would want to be a part of?"

[Dylan Dao · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great short novel. There are so many twists in the plot that add to the "mystery" effect of the novel. At the same time, that's why I can't give it 5 stars. At times, it was hard to distinguish the main idea. I guess that can either be good or bad, but that uncertainty is quite enough. Nonetheless, a great novel that I would definitely recommend.

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book that should appeal to boys, this eerie mystery is about fourteen-year-old Sam who reluctantly moves to his father’s hometown. Desperate to fit in he hooks up with a boy called Maniac. Not only is he haunted by his wrong decisions, he has strange hallucinations and his perfect dad begins acting weird. Easy read for ages 12 and up.

[Deborah Kerbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously creepy! I found this to be a perfectly paced YA mystery (I honestly couldn't turn off the light until after I read the last page). With it's spooky subject matter, spot-on dialogue, and realistic characters, Ghost Ride is a guaranteed teen pleaser!

[Claudia Osmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Picked this one up yesterday, early afternoon, and couldn't put it down. Finished it in the evening. Marina Cohen's done a creeptastic job of putting a modern spin on the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid YA boys book, great recommendation for reluctant readers.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading the book. It was really good, But now I feel like my teacher is creeping me at the things that I'm doing... strange...

[Andre]

8uibh

[Amy Mathers · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://amysmarathonofbooks.ca/ghost-r...

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but seeing as I get scared easily I kinda freaked out at times.

[Evieee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about trying to fit in and peer pressure. Also great spooky story!

[CanadianReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well liked by the reluctant middle school boy readers I know.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good suspenseful novel for anyone who wants to believe that little things are possible.

[Read N' Ramble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this when I was younger and it was the first book to give me the chills. Sooo Gooddd