Ghost Stadium

by Tom Palmer

A thrilling ghost story from the author of the popular Football Academy series. Lucas, Irfan and Jack want to mark the beginning of their summer holidays in style! Tricking their parents with a camping cover story, the boys sneak into the old abandoned football stadium to spend the night. Are the rumours about it being haunted true? They're about to find out - Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers of 12+

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Short Stories, Young Adult

96 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2013

Reviews

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went to my local library during a College lunch break and knew I was in the mood to read a book but not a 500 page novel, rather a short story or a novella. I have been in contact with the publishers Barrington Stoke before regarding reviewing books and being interested in their back catalogue. Ghost Stadium is a short novella suitable for readers who have dyslexia or are reluctant readers over the age of 11. It tells the story of three boys: Lucas, Irfan and Jack who are celebrating the start of the summer holidays by breaking into the Northface Football Stadium which has been closed off for five years and to spend the night there. However, a man died in the Stadium and his deadly spirit still lurks around.

Over the course of one night, scary things start to happen to all of the boys and they realise that something sinister is happening, how do they escape? Ghost Stadium was a quick read with very short chapters and a large font making it easy to see the text. It was generally a scary story with a second to last chapter being particularly thrilling.

I do recommend this for readers who would like to read something but are not keen to read something with a long length. With it being October and the month of Halloween, this was a relevant read for the time of year even though the setting was in summer.

(Disclaimer: I don't have dyslexia but I do sometimes find myself nervous to read a novel length book).

[Amy Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for a Year 4 class - cleverly thought out and full of suspense. It's a shame this book wasn't around when I was a child as it definitely would have been one of my favourites. Palmer's books are also extremely accessible for dyslexic learners through his print choices. I would recommend putting this on your school's curriculum or reading list.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Трохи дитяча та не страшна спочатку, а потім... Історія про хоробрих або самовпевнених хлопців, які вирішили проникнути на чужу територію покинутого стадіону. Чому б не піти і не сказати про це нікому? Гарна ж ідея! Якраз жителі міста пліткують про дивну смерть одного з гравців місцевої команди, у якого було перспективне майбутнє. Поліція довго розслідувала цю справу. Врешті-решт, вони  записали «нещасний випадок» і на цьому поставили крапку. Але... Чому тоді після смерті Томмі закрили стадіон і розпустили футбольну команду? Хм, підозріло...
Повернемося до хлопців. Іфран, Лукас і Джеймс під час підготовки до ночівлі (так, так, вони вирішили там переночувати. Як же без гострих відчуттів!) Хлопці діляться своїми спогади, спілкуються, сперечаються, ставлять намет. Начебто все добре, але Лукас перший, хто помічає щось дуже дивне - "можливо, це пташка". Лукас, якби ви знали, чим закінчиться ваш вечір, ви б точно не лишилися осторонь. Як вам, хлопці, пригода? Як довго ви будете пам'ятати про нього? Чи проходить Том до вас у кошмарах? Чи бачите його пильний погляд повністю чорних очей? А ти, Джек? Як воно бути вмістилищем для справжнього "власника" стадіону? Ну що? Весело було, так? Думаю, ви ніколи не забудете те, що сталося з вами... Ця ніч точно змінить ваші погляди на життя. Ви будете на межі смерті...
Події останніх сторінок змушують понервувати - серцебиття пришвидшується. Хто-небудь допоможіть хлопцям! Тільки б він встиг, тільки б встиг! Від нього залежить все! Я б ніколи не хотіла зустрітися з Томмі... Думаю, хлопці теж.
Ps: читати було не складно. Останній глави я неймовірно швидко читала.

[Marite Juul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kjapt og greit om tre kamerater som bryter seg inn på et nedlagt stadium hvor det etter sigende spøker. Det gjør det... Guttene oppklarer et mordmysterium, og alt ender vel. Lettlest og sånn passe spennende.

[Mrs Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. A short but thrilling tale of 3 friends battling against the odds! Definitely worth a read.

[Declan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spooky

[Jacaranda21 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barrington Stokes RA8 IA11+
Very short chapters, text to the point and brief buts enough to hold narrative. Element of spookiness, supernatural.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as part of my Year 7 Reading Group.

A fast-paced, mysterious tale that builds the tension brilliantly, until the explosive conclusion. Split into short and snappy chapters, this book is a perfect quick read for reluctant or struggling readers.

[Maisie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my class at school we were learning about building the tension and creating imagery in literacy, and this book has all of these important things in it.

When I first started reading Ghost Stadium, I thought it would be a book that would take ages to properly get started and would be slow paced, however this book is completely different which is what I like about it. It draws your attention in and the adjectives used create an image in your mind.

I like the book because it hooks you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way through, making you think what is going to happen next? The only thing I dislike about this book is that maybe in the book Tom Palmer could have introduced and explained about the boys' families or a bit more about what was going on.

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend!

[Emma Radford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Palmer's Ghost Stadium is printed in a dyslexia-friendly format by Barrington Stoke. It is perfectly suited to its teenage target audience with thrilling story lines, very short chapters and an incredibly spooky, supernatural climax. The use of the football setting also lends the book an added appeal and the characters are cleverly created, allowing younger readers easy empathy and identification. This is a book that reluctant readers can really engage with and truly attempt independent reading with the minimum of frustration. Both age appropriate and reading age appropriate - a rare mix - and still enjoyable (although quite eerie!) for adults. Great read!

[Zaki Abdullahi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the last day of school. Most children are still hanging around school, saying goodbye to their friends. Lucas, Jack and Irfan have other plans. They are going camping in the old abandoned Northface football stadium. But all is not as it seems. The boys get nervous when a shadow seems to fall from the top and hit the ground with a thud. What's going on? Does it have anything to do with the mysterious death of a Yorkshire County F.C. player years ago? Can they escape the stadium alive?

Tom Palmer's Ghost Stadium is a fast-paced and properly spooky ghost story. The book is an exciting mystery that grabs the reader's attention.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book for a reluctant reader. Short chapters full of suspense, with lots of cliffhanger endings. A big hit with my nine year old!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good books a great classroom read you will love it I mean I'm 10