The Legend of The Ghost Buck

Hometown Hunters #1

by Lane Walker

Mason couldn't believe his eyes. He really does exist, he thought, as his left hand trembled on the bow. Thirty yards away was the biggest buck he'd ever seen. It was a moment he'd been waiting for all of his young life. Somehow, his quivering right hand found the bowstring. His heart hammered, and he struggled to slow his frantic breathing. Slowly, the enormous buck turned . . . and looked directly at him. Boone held his breath. He froze. Had the buck spotted him? He hadn't had time to raise the bow and aim before the buck had spotted him. Now, if we moved an inch, the deer most certainly would bolt, and Boone would miss the opportunity of a lifetime. Tense seconds ticked past. The buck looked away. It was Boone's only chance . . . the chance he'd been waiting for. Slowly, he raised the bow . . . Was the crazy old man right? Is Boone just going to blow it and ruin everything? Or will this be a hunt that rewrites the record books and a small town?

Genres: Childrens, Young Adult, Novels, Juvenile, Kids, Fiction

133 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boone is obsessed with bagging the elusive ghost buck as his first deer. Told as a flashback leading up to the big moment when Boone has the opportunity. Will he make the kill or not? Even though many readers will know what the outcome of the hunt will be before the end, this is a short read with chapters (many with cliffhangers) that make it easy to keep reading. Part of the Hometown Chronicles series.
Anyone who is looking for a book for tweens who love hunting or the outdoors will want to give this story with a small town setting, traditional family and an old curmudgeon with a soft side a try.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story for young hunters. A monster size buck is reported to be in the area and Boone is determined to get it. There is a touch of faith and Boone has a good relationship with his grandfather. He eventually is able to start a relationship with his dad and the nasty neighbor next door. I enjoyed this story as it was a quick and easy read. As a non-hunter I would have preferred if the buck would have gone free but of course that is not the purpose of the story!

[Jamie Hop · Rating 4 out of 5]

My nephew lent me this book :) it was very cute!

[Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone that likes the thrill of whitetail hunting will love this book. I personally loved it.

[Emmett Egley · Rating 5 out of 5]

He got the ghost buck

[Alida Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My eight year old son LOVED this book. He said “This is the BEST book in the world.”

[Jessica Gibbons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, clean, wholesome story for young boys. Scripture taken out of context, though. Typical mainstream big Eva stuff, but gives good opportunity to rightly explain it.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good. Great for kids interested in shooting and hunting; perfect for young boys. It is written from a Christian perspective, which is awesome, and is totally appropriate for the entire family.

There are a few chapters that seem to go nowhere, lots of "hunting" where Boone looks for signs of the deer. The heart of the story is the relationship with his father; which I wasn't fully satisfied with at the end, and the book didn't seem to spend much time there.

Still, very worth the read. My kids were begging me to keep reading when we got into the climax, they didn't want to put it down and were fascinated by Boone trying to get the Ghost Buck.

[Summereyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

My father-in-law found these books and bought the whole set. He thoroughly enjoyed reading these books and shared them with my kids. I thought I would read a few of them but the kids were struggling to share them with me!! haha This was a quick, enjoyable read and the author does a good job of teaching a few character lessons and developing his characters in such a way that the book was hard to put down.

[Terri Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book for boys whose passions is to find that trophy. You can tell that the author shares the same passion for the outdoors as the characters.
I am definitely recommending this to my reluctant boy readers who don’t want to be in the confines of the classroom while their head and their heart are in the woods. This book will let them travel there.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice story for Midwestern juvenile hunters. I like that the author incorporated faith in Jesus Christ into Boone’s actions.

Needs some editing in places:

1. The author uses “horns” and “antlers” interchangeably. But deer don’t have horns, they have antlers.
2. One or two places where the author used “your” when he should have use “you’re.”

[Sheila Dailie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sighting of a giant buck was clever and wise from all his year's avoiding hunters. Boone, a beginning hunter, learned a lot about hunting, tracking, and being a kind person.
Since I'm not a hunter, I was more interested in how Boone's family became friendly with old neighbor.
Restores one's faith in the goodness of humanity.

[Jake Hessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would highly recommend reading this book if you are in to hunting and like the outdoors. Its a great book about bow hunting and is a great story to read.

[Trey]

Great book about hunting!

[Jeffrey]

I just began this book so far it is good. I am on page 15.

[Dawn Brinks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for young readers (boys) who love hunting.

[Brent]

It's a really good book if you like the outdoors and hunting.

[KK · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve got fourth graders who love this author and series

[Kapaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good

[Jenn Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colton (8 years old) rated this 5 stars!

[Sarah Bowling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clean, though unrealistic, story. It bothers me a lot when people use Philippians 4:13 to “magically” accomplish completely temporal things.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see how some people would not like this book. It is very short, kind of childish, and almost like a comic book in the way they talk. I could see someone who likes a book with a lot of detail not liking this book. I could also see people who don’t like to hunt, not liking this book because that’s all its about hunting. It also could definitely upset some people with some of the stories and things they do when they hunt.

On the other hand, other people like hunting stories and simple text. I really liked this book. It was right up my alley, and I found it relatable. It was jam packed with action and was very entertaining. I also loved it because it was written in a way that made it easy to read. I’m often overwhelmed with bigger books that can be very hard to read and follow. Also, they can be very bland. I felt like this book was the opposite. It held my attention; it was fun, and I love hunting. I would highly recommend this book to people who consider themselves outdoorsy, or people who really enjoy hunting books. I would give it a 10/10 and can't wait to read it again and recommend it to my friends.

[Kaye S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Audiobook and Paperback Read Along with my Son** This is the second Hometown Hunters series that my son and I have read together this year. And I have teared up at the ending of both books! I love being able to read a Christian based book with my son while sharing his interests of hunting. Lane Walker masterfully weaves Christian values into a gripping story of perseverance and family aimed at middle grade readers. The story is wholesome and perfect for any passionate hunters. I love how God is using Mr. Walker to create a Christian fiction hunting and fishing book genre for middle grade readers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jacob Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set against the backdrop of Michigan's hunting culture, this heartwarming tale follows Mason's rite of passage. Overcome with "buck fever," he is determined to hunt the elusive Ghost Buck using his new bow. However, the buck roams his neighbor's property, guarded by a fierce dog and an owner who threatens trespassers. With his father constantly working, Mason must find time to train for the big hunt. This hero's journey, set in a small-town hunting community, is sure to captivate children interested in this culture.

[Emily Cottle · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it wasn't my favorite, I'm excited to recommend it to my students. I struggle to find books that will interest my outdoorsy kids, but this one is a solid option. I loved the setting--a quaint small town in Michigan. The writing could have used some polish, but the fast-paced chapters and focus on hunting will keep my 5th-8th grade boys (and girls) turning pages.

[Kinzie Moffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My six year old son chose this book from our library and I was concerned he would quickly lose interest because there were no illustrations. But, I was wrong. He absolutely LOVED it.

This book also has completely wholesome themes: faith, family, facing your fears, and being kind to your neighbor and enemies alike. It was so refreshing!

[Leann S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young hunters should love this book. I thought I was reading the story of Albia's very own monster buck. The one disappointing thing is that the ending wrapped up way too quickly. Nevertheless, kids are going to love this series!

[Kelly Birmingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series for young readers or readers who struggle with reading. I have used it with students grades 4-9. Each story brings together an activity that young students love, but also a touch of mystery.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge reviews from my boys!

So thankful to finally have a BOY book.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great outdoorsy book. It is very inspiring to be outside in the woods more just enjoying nature