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Popchuck's Ghost
Neil and Adam, two 12-year-old best friends, go off to summer camp together for the first time but only one of them plans to enjoy himself. Adam is afraid of anything new, hates nature and just wants to go home. Meanwhile, Neil discovers a secret network of caves below the camp that seem linked to a series of mysteries — and a troubled ghost. He needs someone to help him explore further and may have to recruit Adam’s favourite girl camper if his friend refuses to help. Things get even more complicated when the creepy camp director gets suspicious about Neil’s evening activities.
184 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2014
About the author
Paul Toffanello
11 books19 followersPaul J. Toffanello (the “J” is for Joseph) grew up in Timmins, Ontario, a small northern mining town that once held the distinction of being the greatest gold mining town in the world. He grew up in a family of five boys, nearly driving his mother crazy. Both parents worked, mother in life insurance and dad as an auto mechanics teacher.
Paul majored in English and minored in Psychology at Ottawa’s Carleton University, gained a Bachelor of Education after which he taught at the elementary level for 10 years, then taught as a secondary school English teacher. He later became a secondary school Principal, a Superintendent of Education and finally a Director of Education. Paul acquired his Masters of Education during his time in administration.
Paul had been writing most of his life, and the first draft of Popchuck’s Ghost was written in 1984, but it wasn’t until Paul met Frank B. Edwards that he gave serious thought to publication. Since then, Paul has written, and Frank has published the first two novels in the trilogy, both currently available – with book 3 to be completed in 2016. (go to www.bungalobooks.com)
Paul also writes rhyming stories for children with a focus on emerging readers and has recently been published through Mercury Filmworks/Active: http://www.mercuryconnects.com/case-s... and has written professional articles over the years. The list below offers a glimpse of his writing.
Paul majored in English and minored in Psychology at Ottawa’s Carleton University, gained a Bachelor of Education after which he taught at the elementary level for 10 years, then taught as a secondary school English teacher. He later became a secondary school Principal, a Superintendent of Education and finally a Director of Education. Paul acquired his Masters of Education during his time in administration.
Paul had been writing most of his life, and the first draft of Popchuck’s Ghost was written in 1984, but it wasn’t until Paul met Frank B. Edwards that he gave serious thought to publication. Since then, Paul has written, and Frank has published the first two novels in the trilogy, both currently available – with book 3 to be completed in 2016. (go to www.bungalobooks.com)
Paul also writes rhyming stories for children with a focus on emerging readers and has recently been published through Mercury Filmworks/Active: http://www.mercuryconnects.com/case-s... and has written professional articles over the years. The list below offers a glimpse of his writing.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 28, 2020
This was such a fun read! I think it’s a perfect read for anytime, but during the summer it would be even more perfect! Summer camp with a ghost mystery on top of it! What a grand adventure for these kids! All the kids personalities were all different, & described so well. They didn’t all blend into each other to where they all seemed the same. The author did such a great job w/that. This was so spooky, mysterious, & full of adventure. Neil, Adam-& Ally too-all great characters. Adam can get annoying lol but that’s just realistic w/the kid he is. He grows on you though, & you realize you’ve grown fond of him lol The mystery was great & kept me engrossed in the story, as did the summer camp details. All the events & challenges they did. So great. The ghost was real & that made me happy. I was worried it was going to be one of those fake ghost stories-but nope! Lol Highly recommend! Can’t wait to start the 2nd one soon!💜
January 22, 2014
Everybody who ever went on a (summer) camp will recognize something in this book. The book is easy to read and I know for sure if you start with it you want to finish it to know the clue.
Popchuck's Ghost
I want to thank Paul Toffanello and Goodreads.com for giving me the opportunity to read this book
Popchuck's Ghost
I want to thank Paul Toffanello and Goodreads.com for giving me the opportunity to read this book
January 31, 2026
Popchuck’s Ghost by Paul Toffanello is a fun, spooky coming-of-age adventure that perfectly captures the excitement and unease of summer camp. The contrast between boisterous Neil and cautious Adam makes their friendship feel authentic, while the eerie mystery surrounding Camp McAbre keeps the pages turning. With humor, heart, and just the right touch of ghostly suspense, this story is an engaging read that will delight middle-grade readers who love friendship, mystery, and a good campfire chill.
October 26, 2020
What a gift to read something that we can relate to in our town of Northern Ontario. Loved it. Thank you Paul. Can’t wait to read the other 2 that follows. 💕
July 11, 2020
𝙿𝚘𝚙𝚌𝚑𝚞𝚌𝚔'𝚜 𝙶𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚝 is a perfect summer read full of all the things you expect to do while away at summer camp… fishing competitions, scavenger hunts, mess hall lunches, and scary campfire 👻 stories.
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My son loved that this was truly a ghost story & not just a "Scooby-Doo pretend ghost mystery" [←his words]. But I think what we both loved the most was how relatable the characters are! The author did a great job highlighting each of their personalities and also their friendships with one another as they searched for the truth.
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If you are looking for a scary-ish story to share with your middle schooler-- look no further! We highly recommend this one.
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My son loved that this was truly a ghost story & not just a "Scooby-Doo pretend ghost mystery" [←his words]. But I think what we both loved the most was how relatable the characters are! The author did a great job highlighting each of their personalities and also their friendships with one another as they searched for the truth.
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If you are looking for a scary-ish story to share with your middle schooler-- look no further! We highly recommend this one.
October 22, 2015
I must begin by stating that I am no expert on Teen Fiction. I am considerably older than the intended audience of 10 – 15-year-olds, and I have no memory of ever liking ghost stories, so I am not the best reviewer of this book. I read it because it was written by a friend and former colleague. With those provisos, here’s my review:
Twelve-year-old Neil Wybred arrives at summer camp with his best friend Adam. The week has the usual fun activities, but Neil is soon pre-occupied with other things: why are odd things happening in Cabin 5, why are his athletic feats strangely sabotaged, and who is that “old geezer . . . [who] was wearing old, raggedy clothing and had long scraggly hair and a beard” (15) whom no one else seems to see? Neil and Adam and their friend Ally discover secret tunnels which seem to have some connection to the strange happenings at Camp McAbre. But the trio must investigate while avoiding the watchful eyes of the camp director, Charles Atrom.
The book opens with sufficient suspense to catch the reader’s interest. The opening mentions a “lonesome figure” (5) waiting at the camp, and the first chapter ends with Neil’s brother warning him, “’Make sure you don’t get stuck in Cabin 5. Seriously’” (8). Within the first ten pages, Neil twice spies a mysterious figure who just seems to evaporate. From there, the plot moves at a quick pace.
Neil and Adam are clearly differentiated: Neil is the brave one whereas Adam is his foil, being constantly nervous and fearful. Unfortunately, they do not emerge as fully round characters. The other cabin-mates and campers remain largely opaque, though the touches of humour added by the Chung brothers are welcome. The inclusion of Ally is a nice touch, extending the appeal of the book to girls, especially when it is mentioned that “both boys had not-so-secret crushes on Ally” (7).
There are some unanswered questions which are problematic for me. Why is Neil the camper chosen by the ghost to be his “contact”? Neil first sees the eerie apparition staring at him when he’s on the bus enroute to the camp so how can the ghost know that Neil is curious and courageous, the two traits he needs to have? Why can another person “neither see nor hear Arnold Popchuck” (175) even though that person is of especial interest to him?
And there are some other events that indicate plot weaknesses. Adam claims to win a race because he was so angry at Neil, yet there is nothing in the earlier conversation between the boys that indicates Adam was so upset. Later the three sleuths are told by the camp director to report to the campfire after their walk (111), yet they return directly to the cabin (118) and risk Mr. Atrom’s wrath? Ally does something in the tunnel for which no explanation is given (136); her action becomes important later so a logical motive should be provided. Why is everyone struck silent by the ghost when one of the group cannot see or hear the ghost (175)?
The book should appeal to young teens and might be especially useful for reluctant middle-grade readers. The plot does not drag, and there is a lot of dialogue and no unnecessary lengthy description that might be a turn-off. There is considerable suspense so interest should not lag. My only reservation is those unanswered questions and plot inconsistencies, but perhaps they would not be noticed by young readers?
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
Twelve-year-old Neil Wybred arrives at summer camp with his best friend Adam. The week has the usual fun activities, but Neil is soon pre-occupied with other things: why are odd things happening in Cabin 5, why are his athletic feats strangely sabotaged, and who is that “old geezer . . . [who] was wearing old, raggedy clothing and had long scraggly hair and a beard” (15) whom no one else seems to see? Neil and Adam and their friend Ally discover secret tunnels which seem to have some connection to the strange happenings at Camp McAbre. But the trio must investigate while avoiding the watchful eyes of the camp director, Charles Atrom.
The book opens with sufficient suspense to catch the reader’s interest. The opening mentions a “lonesome figure” (5) waiting at the camp, and the first chapter ends with Neil’s brother warning him, “’Make sure you don’t get stuck in Cabin 5. Seriously’” (8). Within the first ten pages, Neil twice spies a mysterious figure who just seems to evaporate. From there, the plot moves at a quick pace.
Neil and Adam are clearly differentiated: Neil is the brave one whereas Adam is his foil, being constantly nervous and fearful. Unfortunately, they do not emerge as fully round characters. The other cabin-mates and campers remain largely opaque, though the touches of humour added by the Chung brothers are welcome. The inclusion of Ally is a nice touch, extending the appeal of the book to girls, especially when it is mentioned that “both boys had not-so-secret crushes on Ally” (7).
There are some unanswered questions which are problematic for me. Why is Neil the camper chosen by the ghost to be his “contact”? Neil first sees the eerie apparition staring at him when he’s on the bus enroute to the camp so how can the ghost know that Neil is curious and courageous, the two traits he needs to have? Why can another person “neither see nor hear Arnold Popchuck” (175) even though that person is of especial interest to him?
And there are some other events that indicate plot weaknesses. Adam claims to win a race because he was so angry at Neil, yet there is nothing in the earlier conversation between the boys that indicates Adam was so upset. Later the three sleuths are told by the camp director to report to the campfire after their walk (111), yet they return directly to the cabin (118) and risk Mr. Atrom’s wrath? Ally does something in the tunnel for which no explanation is given (136); her action becomes important later so a logical motive should be provided. Why is everyone struck silent by the ghost when one of the group cannot see or hear the ghost (175)?
The book should appeal to young teens and might be especially useful for reluctant middle-grade readers. The plot does not drag, and there is a lot of dialogue and no unnecessary lengthy description that might be a turn-off. There is considerable suspense so interest should not lag. My only reservation is those unanswered questions and plot inconsistencies, but perhaps they would not be noticed by young readers?
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
February 25, 2014
This book came to me as a GoodReads giveaway.
Twelve year old Neil Wybred and his not-so-eager best friend Adam are at Camp McAbre for a week of summer camp.
Unfortunately, they are assigned to notorious Cabin 5, the only cabin at the camp reputed to be haunted.
Director Atrom runs Camp McAbre with a dictatorial hand, awarding or — more likely — slashing merit points in arbitrary fashion. At least that’s how it seems to the campers.
On arrival at camp Neil spots an unidentified man lurking in the woods, a man who seems to vanish almost immediately.
Considering this book’s title, readers are likely to wonder if the lurker is not a flesh-and-blood human at all. Rather, they will wonder if he is Popchuck’s ghost.
Well, I’m not telling.
Camp activities commence. Cabin completions are encouraged. Standard summer camp fare happens on a daily basis.
Neil, however, encounters bewildering interference in the group games — his water-balloon bombs are surprisingly filled with green slime; a ball flying directly towards his glove, as if with a mind of its own, veers off to one side; something in the lake [Popchuck’s ghost?] yanks Neil’s paddle from his hand.
In Cabin 5 strange things occur. Adam’s sleeping bag disappears and is replaced with a girl’s sleeping bag, for instance.
Popchuck’s ghost? Or might it be that Director Atrom is up to some shifty business?
I’m not saying.
Of course, before the week is out Neil learns that perhaps someone was murdered years ago in the vicinity of Camp McAbre.
Is the re-appearing mysterious man the murderer returned to the scene of his crime? Is he the victim’s ghost seeking vengeance?
There’s only one way to find out!
Paul Toffanello has written an enjoyable novel. While it does follow the formula of summer camp stories — wicked director, competitive games, local mystery — there’s no harm in that. Thousands of the books we enjoy are crafted in the same manner. Consider the numerous, ever-popular cops and killers yarns on the market, for instance. Where would hours and hours of fun reading be without them?
I’m well beyond the age of Toffanello’s targeted group, and I got a kick out of this story — real ghost or not!
Oh, color me forgetful; Mrs. Hattersmack’s chocolate chip cookies deserve mention. This venerable [?!] scribbler loves frozen — yes, frozen! — chocolate chip cookies.
March 7, 2014
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
Usually I read YA novels and I would classify this book as a middle grade read but I thought it sounded interesting and I wanted to give it a try. I'm glad I gave this book a shot because I really enjoyed the story and I found it to be pretty action packed for a children's book. I loved that the setting was based at a summer camp and I loved the camps backstory. I always wanted to go to summer camp when I was younger, but unfortunately the parents never let me lol so this novel let me live a bit of that fantasy.
I enjoyed all of the characters, I found them each to have their own unique personalities. Neil was brave, Adams as a scardy cat, but could also be brave when needed. The only character that threw me a bit was Popchuck. This was because he was only supposed to be 23 years old, but the picture if the guy/ ghost on the front of the book was like 45.
Otherwise this was a great, fun and easy read for people of any age. I look forward to more books by Paul Taffanello.
Usually I read YA novels and I would classify this book as a middle grade read but I thought it sounded interesting and I wanted to give it a try. I'm glad I gave this book a shot because I really enjoyed the story and I found it to be pretty action packed for a children's book. I loved that the setting was based at a summer camp and I loved the camps backstory. I always wanted to go to summer camp when I was younger, but unfortunately the parents never let me lol so this novel let me live a bit of that fantasy.
I enjoyed all of the characters, I found them each to have their own unique personalities. Neil was brave, Adams as a scardy cat, but could also be brave when needed. The only character that threw me a bit was Popchuck. This was because he was only supposed to be 23 years old, but the picture if the guy/ ghost on the front of the book was like 45.
Otherwise this was a great, fun and easy read for people of any age. I look forward to more books by Paul Taffanello.
July 12, 2016
I won this book on Goodreads first reads and I decided to pick it up right away and give it a read. This book was a lot of fun it brought back a lot of memories for me in summer camps in days gone by and yes I realize this book is for younger readers but that did not stop me from enjoying myself and the writing. I will for sure be passing this one on to my younger sister and saving for my nieces and nephews for when they grow because I believe that this fun tale will last through the ages. I would like to thank the author for the opportunity to read this book and I think anyone who has children should get this for them and as I proved you do not to be young to enjoy this one, just young at heart.
April 1, 2014
I recieved this book through the Goodreads First Read program.
After reading this book, my first thought is; why didn't we get books like this to read in high school!? It is a perfect introduction to soft-horror for teens, even pre-teens for the more adventurous of them. As an adult, I appreciated all the twists, backstories and characters, so I can imagine the fun of being able to relate to the characters can be when you read it as a twelve year old.
This book came with a lot of info concerning school programs and activities with the author and students. I totally agree and encourage schools and teachers to pick up this book and give it a chance, for it is quite a read!
After reading this book, my first thought is; why didn't we get books like this to read in high school!? It is a perfect introduction to soft-horror for teens, even pre-teens for the more adventurous of them. As an adult, I appreciated all the twists, backstories and characters, so I can imagine the fun of being able to relate to the characters can be when you read it as a twelve year old.
This book came with a lot of info concerning school programs and activities with the author and students. I totally agree and encourage schools and teachers to pick up this book and give it a chance, for it is quite a read!
January 10, 2014
For anyone who has ever been to camp and sat around a campfire and listened to ghost stories, they will certainly have an appreciation for this book and for those who have never been to camp this book will make you wish you had gone. This book is an exciting read for any age, but specifically its target audience of youth, it is not just a ghost story but also about friendship, adventure, and mystery, the ghost story does not aim to scare in a horror sense but to intrigue and excite the reader. This is the perfect ghost story for the young reader.
January 12, 2014
I won this book on Goodreads Giveaways, it was meant for a younger generation but I still really enjoyed it!
it's about 12 year old Neil and his friends Adam and Ally who go spend a week at summer camp and they discover mine tunnels under the camp site that are haunted by a ghost. Together they try to solve the mystery of who that ghost is and what he's doing there.
I will definitely check out the next book because I'm curious to see what happens next
it's about 12 year old Neil and his friends Adam and Ally who go spend a week at summer camp and they discover mine tunnels under the camp site that are haunted by a ghost. Together they try to solve the mystery of who that ghost is and what he's doing there.
I will definitely check out the next book because I'm curious to see what happens next
August 6, 2016
This book is great for the younger reader but reading it as an adult, I still found it to be a very good story. Whether you're looking for a quick read for yourself or a good story for your preteen/teen then this book is a great choice. The story has a good amount of action in it - it kept me reading without being bored of the storyline and it wasn't entirely predictable as some stories for young readers tend to be to adults. All in all, great book and I give it two thumbs up.
February 27, 2014
***Won this book in giveaway***
Excellent book, looking forward to other books. The camping in the book matches my camping experience well. Finished the book in one session. Nice spooky tale, not too scary for the young children would suggest to read this before some of the scarier Goosebumps tales.
Excellent book, looking forward to other books. The camping in the book matches my camping experience well. Finished the book in one session. Nice spooky tale, not too scary for the young children would suggest to read this before some of the scarier Goosebumps tales.
January 15, 2014
This book was pretty good. I love a good ghost story and this one was no exception in my opinion. It's like a ghost story, with a humourous twist. I thought it was really good. I thought it was a really fun read.
*won on GoodReads First Reads*
*won on GoodReads First Reads*
January 8, 2014
Very well written story for older children. I found the it very interesting right up until the end. I would recommend it for reading material in schools
August 10, 2016
Book was easy to read - interesting and I'd recommend for teens and up. This book was a GoodReads win.
January 8, 2014
Well, considering that I wrote it (and lived it), I LOVE it!!!!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews