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Ghost of Widdecot Manor
Children's ghost story for 9 to 14-year-olds. 12-year-old Joshua doesn't want to go to football camp until he hears the manor house he'll be staying in has a resident ghost. Problems come thick and fast when the ghost asks for help sending Joshua and his friend Sarah on a series of spine-chilling escapades in order to discover the dreadful truth of the dark past of the manor. This is a magical tale of good and evil which will keep the reader captivated right up to the unpredictable ending.
184 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 22, 2015
12-year-old Joshua Clarke reluctantly goes to a football camp because he doesn't like sports. When the brochure reveals ghosts reside at the manor, he decided to investigate. After he gets there he pairs up with a girl named Sarah who follows him on his adventure to reveal the identity of the ghosts. As the two uncover the truth, they realize the past has a great secret to hide. Will they be able to discover the truth and uncover the dreadful events that lead to the good and evil ghosts haunting the Widdecot Manor? The adventures will keep the reader on the edge as they turn the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it for children and adults alike.
February 28, 2015
Really nice and wonderfully written ghost story.
Enough suspense, good flow of the narrative.
I'd enjoy it very much when I was 10-13. And now I enjoyed it, too.
I got interested in the story when I read in one of the reviews here, that there are miscarriages and adulter not appropriate for middle grade book. I found out there is nothing wrong with it - there are both, but there is nothing I could not show to my six years old daughter (she knows even now that both exist).
Speaking about love, the main characters are boy and girl who are friends and happy with it, no any mentioning of deeper senses at all.
Some historical facts are mentioned in the book (I write it for those parent's who love their kids being not only entertained, but educated constantly, too - I am kind of it, actually).
I got the free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review and I am happy to write one. I feel I spent my time worthy while reading it.
Enough suspense, good flow of the narrative.
I'd enjoy it very much when I was 10-13. And now I enjoyed it, too.
I got interested in the story when I read in one of the reviews here, that there are miscarriages and adulter not appropriate for middle grade book. I found out there is nothing wrong with it - there are both, but there is nothing I could not show to my six years old daughter (she knows even now that both exist).
Speaking about love, the main characters are boy and girl who are friends and happy with it, no any mentioning of deeper senses at all.
Some historical facts are mentioned in the book (I write it for those parent's who love their kids being not only entertained, but educated constantly, too - I am kind of it, actually).
I got the free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review and I am happy to write one. I feel I spent my time worthy while reading it.
February 23, 2015
The Ghost of Widdecot Manor features 12 year-old Joshua who must spend one week in a summer "football" course (i.e., soccer camp) at an old manor. At first he is none too keen to participate, but upon learning of rumors of a ghost, he changes his tune and heads off to camp. It doesn't take long for Joshua to meet up with the manor's resident ghost. As the story unfolds, the reader learns the dark past of the ghosts(!) and a history involving treachery and betrayal is revealed.
I was asked to read and review this book for Mother Daughter Book Reviews, a website that provides recommendations for books appropriate for children ages 12 and under. This book is currently marketed as a book for "middle grade readers". Given the main character's age (12) and the length of the book (short at 122 pages), I would say that this is probably accurate. On the positive side, I found that the story is fast-paced, well-written, and features suspense and many plot twists and turns.
However, IN MY OPINION, some of the themes touched upon in the book (namely adultery, miscarriages, hangings, etc.) I feel are not appropriate for the target audience. In the end, I asked myself if I would be ok with my 10 year old daughter reading this book and upon reflection, I decided that I would not. That is simply my opinion and other parents may not feel the same way. If the author had chosen a different mystery to feature (i.e., what is the ghost's troubled past?), I could easily have recommended it to children under the age of 13. However, I do feel that there are adult themes in the story that are not appropriate for middle grade children.
My star rating reflects my opinion about this book as a "middle grade book".
I was asked to read and review this book for Mother Daughter Book Reviews, a website that provides recommendations for books appropriate for children ages 12 and under. This book is currently marketed as a book for "middle grade readers". Given the main character's age (12) and the length of the book (short at 122 pages), I would say that this is probably accurate. On the positive side, I found that the story is fast-paced, well-written, and features suspense and many plot twists and turns.
However, IN MY OPINION, some of the themes touched upon in the book (namely adultery, miscarriages, hangings, etc.) I feel are not appropriate for the target audience. In the end, I asked myself if I would be ok with my 10 year old daughter reading this book and upon reflection, I decided that I would not. That is simply my opinion and other parents may not feel the same way. If the author had chosen a different mystery to feature (i.e., what is the ghost's troubled past?), I could easily have recommended it to children under the age of 13. However, I do feel that there are adult themes in the story that are not appropriate for middle grade children.
My star rating reflects my opinion about this book as a "middle grade book".
March 5, 2014
Although the book is targeted for middle school aged children, I can guarantee the story will enthrall any adult who loves to read. The story is fast-paced and every page is exciting as the previous one. I had planned on reading this book over a period of a few days, but ended up completing it in a few hours.
The book is an easy read for the intended audience, while offering the readers fresh opportunities to advance their vocabulary. In addition, the plots and twists in the story offer every bit of excitement for the reader.
One interesting feature of the book is the characterization of the ‘Hero’, Joshua. He hates sports, yet is forced by his parents to pursue some form of sports. When his parents sign him up for the football camp, it is Joshua’s passion for history that motivates him to go the camp, and not the football itself. The young readers may or may not relate Joshua’s emotion to their own, but, growing up, I was subjected to the same pressures by my parents (and, ahem, I am a sports hater myself) and now, as a parent, I see my seven year old son resisting some of my pressures. Such emotions are briefly, but well described in the initial pages of the book.
Great book, and looking forward to read Joshua’s future adventures.
The book is an easy read for the intended audience, while offering the readers fresh opportunities to advance their vocabulary. In addition, the plots and twists in the story offer every bit of excitement for the reader.
One interesting feature of the book is the characterization of the ‘Hero’, Joshua. He hates sports, yet is forced by his parents to pursue some form of sports. When his parents sign him up for the football camp, it is Joshua’s passion for history that motivates him to go the camp, and not the football itself. The young readers may or may not relate Joshua’s emotion to their own, but, growing up, I was subjected to the same pressures by my parents (and, ahem, I am a sports hater myself) and now, as a parent, I see my seven year old son resisting some of my pressures. Such emotions are briefly, but well described in the initial pages of the book.
Great book, and looking forward to read Joshua’s future adventures.
September 8, 2013
I can't tell you how often I've heard agents, publishers, librarians, and teachers say there is a lack on middle grade books which branch off from a sport theme. Well, here's one! And this story has another twist boys will love - ghosts and mystery.
Joshua is a sport dud. He can't play soccer to save his life. Does he want to go to soccer camp? No way - at least, not until he reads in a flyer that there are ghosts haunting Widdecot Manor. When he meets one on his first night, it's a stroke of luck, and definitely a great way to dive right into the story. There's ghosts, there's mystery, there's tension, there's humor and there's a bit of history woven in too. Oh, and what about soccer? I was glad to see that this wasn't forgotten either. It wasn't at the center of the story, but constantly played right along on the sidelines.
Joshua is a confident, clever character, who's easy to sympathize with from the very beginning, and the other characters were very believable. I did find some of the subject matter in the historical details behind the mystery of the curse a little mature for middle grade and would tend to recommend this more to an upper middle grade audience. But I'm being overly careful on that.
The only thing I was a little disappointed with was the cover itself. Yep, I tend to be superficial in that way and often catch myself judging a book by it's cover. This time I was wrong; the story was much better than I expected. I really think kids (especially boys) will enjoy Joshua and his ghostly adventure.
Joshua is a sport dud. He can't play soccer to save his life. Does he want to go to soccer camp? No way - at least, not until he reads in a flyer that there are ghosts haunting Widdecot Manor. When he meets one on his first night, it's a stroke of luck, and definitely a great way to dive right into the story. There's ghosts, there's mystery, there's tension, there's humor and there's a bit of history woven in too. Oh, and what about soccer? I was glad to see that this wasn't forgotten either. It wasn't at the center of the story, but constantly played right along on the sidelines.
Joshua is a confident, clever character, who's easy to sympathize with from the very beginning, and the other characters were very believable. I did find some of the subject matter in the historical details behind the mystery of the curse a little mature for middle grade and would tend to recommend this more to an upper middle grade audience. But I'm being overly careful on that.
The only thing I was a little disappointed with was the cover itself. Yep, I tend to be superficial in that way and often catch myself judging a book by it's cover. This time I was wrong; the story was much better than I expected. I really think kids (especially boys) will enjoy Joshua and his ghostly adventure.
February 22, 2015
For anyone interested in ghosts and hauntings and spooky places!
If you don't read another book this year, you have got to read this one.
It's a book that grips you from the very beginning; every page is jam-packed with mystery, secrets, clues and of course, ghosts!
Great characters and a brilliant story with twists and turns on every page.
I thought I'd open the book up, read a few pages and then put it down for a week or two. It got me hooked from the first page and is such a fast-paced and exciting book you just have to keep reading.
A very satisfying and enjoyable read that holds you to the very end. I can't wait to read the next one!
If you don't read another book this year, you have got to read this one.
It's a book that grips you from the very beginning; every page is jam-packed with mystery, secrets, clues and of course, ghosts!
Great characters and a brilliant story with twists and turns on every page.
I thought I'd open the book up, read a few pages and then put it down for a week or two. It got me hooked from the first page and is such a fast-paced and exciting book you just have to keep reading.
A very satisfying and enjoyable read that holds you to the very end. I can't wait to read the next one!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews