Hollywood, Dead Ahead

43 Old Cemetery Road #5

by Kate Klise, M. Sarah Klise (Illustrator)

In this fifth volume from 43 Old Cemetery Road, the trio at Spence Mansion leaves Ghastly for Hollywood, California . . . and for a shot at stardom! The film producer Moe Block Busters wants to make the 43 Old Cemetery Road story into a movie—and he promises it will be a sure-fire hit! Lured by the lights of Tinseltown, Ignatius B. Grumply, Olive C. Spence, and Seymour Hope pack their suitcases. But when they arrive in Hollywood, Olive has a sure-fire fit when she discovers how quickly fame changes Iggy and Seymour. Even worse, Olive has been written out of the script! “Little old lady ghosts are so yesterday,” says Moe. “What America wants is a terrifying ghost named Evilo.” Well, if it’s Evilo they want, it’s Evilo they’ll get. And Olive knows just the femme fatale to help her scare Hollywood’s most despicable director half to death.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Humor, Ghosts, Childrens, Fiction, Mystery

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Catherine "Kate" Klise is an American author of children's literature. Many of her books are illustrated by her sister, M. Sarah Klise. Their popular Regarding series is presented in a scrapbook style format, with letters, journal entries, and related ephemera telling the story. She is also known for her picture books as well as the bestselling 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Kate Klise's first adult novel, In the Bag, was released in 2012.

Reviews

[Darla]

I think this has got to be my favorite yet in this series. The punny names abound from moviemaker Moe Block Busters to makeover artist Luke Ahtmee and screen star Ivana Oscar. The family at 34 Old Cemetery Road gets an offer to make a movie based on their series. The moviemaker assigns director Phillip D. Rubbish to direct and heads for the beach. Meanwhile there are shenanigans afoot. Leave it to Olive to help get to the bottom of it and save the day. Back at home, the new handyman in town is fixing up the place. His name is Hugh Briss. . . Foreshadowing, anyone?

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee]

Ignaz B. Griegram, Severin und Geist Olivia bekommen das Angebot, dass ihr Buch in Hollywood verfilmt wird. Doch der Regisseur Phillip S. Schund und seine Assistentin Mira Mähne, sind mit allen Wassern gewaschen. Hätte Ignaz doch den Vertrag genau durchgelesen!

Dies ist wohl leider der vierte und letzte Band mit Geschichten aus der Friedhofstraße 43. Diesmal dreht sich alles um das skrupellose Hollywood und Menschen, die für Geld auch über Leichen gehen. Das Buch ist auch von innen ein echtes Schmuckstück, liebevollst illustriert.

[Nancy Kotkin]

Illustrated middle grade series told in epistolary style, using an exchange of letters with a few newspaper articles in the mix. This fifth title in the series doesn't come together for me. The character of Phillip Rubbish gives up much too easily to be credible. But Myra Manes is even more problematic. Having nice hair, especially as there is no sign that Myra Manes is the least bit obsessed with her appearance, is neither a crime nor a fatal flaw. But having so much ambition that you attempt to murder an elderly actress is both a crime and a fatal flaw; though Myra Manes does get arrested at the end of the story, so does everyone else including the dentist and the fashion consultant, making her murder attempts seem like petty offenses.

[Amends]

💙💙💙💙
Une saga épistolaire toujours aussi agréable 😊

[Emma sophia]

**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** This book is so fun to read!It's very easy for young kids to read and
Challenging.It has so much suspense!This book goes in letters which I'm think is pretty cool.Read it!!!!!!!

[Isabella Aracely]

“Hollywood, Dead Ahead” is a book by Kate Klise. This is the fifth book in the series. This book is about a man named Mr. Grumply and his child Seymour, and of course the famous ghost in the book Olive C. Spence. They get invited to go to Hollywood for a movie, but something goes terribly wrong. If you haven’t read the first and second book in the series, you should, to understand what is going on with the family. I really enjoyed the book, and all the adventure that was included.

[Jennifer]

Summary:
After the success of the 43 Old Cemetery Road stories, a movie producer in Hollywood asks if he can make a movie out of the trio's work. Ignatius is against it, but Olive and Seymour overrule and they agree to become movie stars. The contract comes and Ignatius signs it without reading it. Ignatius and Seymour hurry to Hollywood with Olive a little bit behind. Once Iggy and Seymour make it to Hollywood, they realize that the movie isn't at all as they pictured it. It's about a ghost named Evilo (Olive spelled backwards) that terrifies the older man and his son within the house. The story is going to be scary and none of the 43 Old Cemetery Road residents will actually be in the movie. They've cast Ivana Oscar as Evilo, leaving Olive out completely. Ivana encourages Seymour to make up a fake name and audition for himself and Iggy is in teeth make-over hell. This is when things really get weird, somehow the contracts are worded in a way that leaves everyone with nothing and the studio with everything. How are our beloved characters going to survive Hollywood and make it back to give another 3 chapters of 43 Old Cemetery Road?

My thoughts:
This is such a fun series. Reading straight through this book, it takes a little less than an hour. I recommend another glance through though, the details in every letter, news article, or postcard are just stunning. It's so much fun! I also love how the characters are clearly identified through font. Even if you don't read the to or from, it's easy to figure out what character is doing what by the type of script that is used. Seymour grows a good amount within this book. He accidentally stumbles in and out of stardom without ever understanding what is going on. This actually ends up helping him realize what is truly important. Compared to the overwhelming amounts of the humor in the first books, this one is a little bit darker. There is attempted murder and cutthroat business tactics within this book, so it's a little bit more than the first four within the series. If you are reading to younger ones, keep that in mind.

[Samantha]

I love this series! In this book, the trio heads to Hollywood where their book, 43 Old Cemetery Road, is being made into a movie. Shooting a movie doesn't turn out to be nearly as fun as it sounds though. After all the legal paperwork the movie doesn't read anything like the books and all the stylists are turning Iggy and Seymour into unrecognizable versions of themselves.

Olive is rewritten to be an evil ghost and a major movie star is cast as the lead. As it turns out, she signed a bad contract that included a death clause and executives will go to great lengths to cause her death before the movie wraps to generate buzz that will make the movie a box office smash. It's the perfect time for Olive to play at being a bad ghost in order to get everyone out of Hollywood and back home safe and sound.

A fast, funny read for grades 3-5.

[Yeva]

The functional family of boy, writer, and ghost go to Hollywood hoping for stardom, except things don't quite turn out as they'd planned. Hollywood, Dead Ahead was funny, and the play on names was great, especially Ivana Oscar. I'm not sure why it was not as good as the other books have been, but it was a bit slow. Even though I really liked Seymour and his family, I did not find care about the other characters much. This book has one really great line though...I won't spoil it, but I will hint. Read the Ghastly News about the new handyman Hugh Bris. Now, that I am writing about the book, I am also finding that I remember quite a lot of funny moments. This is such an enjoyable children's series.

[Taylor]

I thought the book was amazing! I liked the format of the book, and how is was written like letters and newspaper articles. I also liked how Kate Klise made their names into phrases. For example, Moe Block Busters, and Ivana Oscar. One thing I didn't like was how short the book was.
****SPOILER ALERT****
My favorite part of the book was when they cut Myra Manes hair. Also, when Ivana Oscar asked Seymour to be her adopted grandson. A part of the book I did not like was when Iggy and Seymour got too caught up in being famous that they forgot who they are. I also didn't like it when Ivana Oscar kissed Phillip Rubish. But, I guess every book needs conflict. All in all, "43 Old Cemetery Road: Hollywood Dead Ahead" was an amazing book with very few flaws.

[Tweller83]

8/14/25: Hollywood...can't live or work there but can't do without, right? I think the target audience would get a kick out of this installment and there is only one left in the series, so I'll be finishing it up. Not one that I particularly enjoy as an adult, but I could see the appeal to the target audience. I'll be keeping for the grandchildren to see what they think. 3.5 rounded up to 4 for me anyway.

[Hapzydeco]

Book 5 in this wonderful series. Do yourself a favor and read the entire series.
Host of new characters, Hugh Bliss, Myra Manes, Philip D. Rubbish, and Evilo (Olive spelled backwards), Matt N. Nay, Dr. Miles Smyle, Don Worrie, Max Schlock, and Mel O. Drama (L.A. District Attorney).The Klise sisters go to Hollywood.

[Megan]

This one was entertaining too. I loved reading about the FAA’s investigation of Olive’s flight to LA. I didn’t expect her to get along with Ivana Oscar but I’m glad they became friends.

I really like these little books but I’m kinda glad there are only two left. I feel like I am going to need a break from these characters soon.

[Isabel Jazmín]

Olive es la más emocionada cuando les ofrecen comprarles su historia para convertirla en película, sin embargo, se encontrarán con un productor que quiere aprovecharse de ellos por lo que deberán encontrar aliados.

[Jessie Wheeler]

Glad that we have a new family member!

[Samantha]

Fun installment in the series. A new setting gives the story some new potential and intrigue.

[Max Stapleton]

I like how it`s told from different points of view. You will get to tell how some people feel. For example how the parents feels compared to how the kid feels.

[Susan]

So true - always read every boring word of a contract before you sign!!! So glad Olive was able to get them out of their contact. Cute storyline.

[Sharon Anton]

Ok I wasn't sure how this one would be since they traveled to Hollywood. It proved to be a hit just like the others. Now to find out if there are more.

[Jillian]

I like how it conected dead in the title because that was a bi thing in the book

[M.J. Prest]

My kids love these books, and I love them myself for their read-aloud potential, but No. 4 was probably the weakest entry in the series for me.

[Elisa Ivonne]

good

[Brittany]

Maybe closer to a 3.5 Stars. This one started out frustrating, but wasn't an okay story by the end. Always read the fine print before you sign your name to something!

[Kasi]

As always, a joy to read.

[Ponde]

Enjoy

[Kathleen]

What a hoot! The gang hits Hollywood and makes quite a splash, defeating scads of schemers and scammers along the way!

[Jen]

I liked this book, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the third one in this series, Till Death Do Us Bark, or the fourth one, The Phantom of the Post Office. Ivana Oscar was a very enjoyable new character, and Moe Block Busters and Myra Manes were nicely villainous, but I didn't like that they plotted to kill Ivana. I have a feeling this won't faze the kids who enjoy this series, but as an adult, I thought it a bit inappropriate in a children's story. I did like that Seymour was pivotal in helping avert Ivana's death, though. That helped remove the blemish, but my pleasure in this book was still diminished. I also found myself conflicted over how fully fame overtook Seymour and Iggy. I both found it entertaining and wished they had displayed more sense sooner.

So while I still really liked this book - and still love the series - I am hoping the next book will be better suited to my tastes. :)

[Rebecca]

In Ghastly, Illinois live the unusual family of Olive C. Spence, a ghost, Ignatius Grumply, a writer, and their adopted son, Seymour Hope. Together they write up their adventures in serial novels so beloved by the public that Hollywood takes note, and Moe Blockbuster offers them a contract to make the book into a movie. Ignatius is doubtful, but Olive and Seymour push him to sign the contract before he reads it through, and they are off to Hollywood. It's not quite what they expected, though; the studio refuses to believe in Olive, they're trying to make over Ignatius and Seymour, and they've completely changed the plot of the book. In addition, the aging actress they've brought in to play the role of the evil ghost has a little clause in her contract that she didn't bother to read, either. Things are looking grim for everyone; will they survive Hollywood?

This is another fun documentary novel, full of the same ridiculous humor and terrible pun-names the Klises are known for. The plot goes a bit darker this time, but the reader is never in any doubt about how it will end. I love storytelling in unusual form, where the reader gets to piece the story together for themselves (not that it's hard!), and I just think these books are great fun.

[Brittany]

I just thought I'd share how much I am still loving this series. Each book is just as delightful as the last. The illustrations and the format just make these such quick and enjoyable reads. If you like quirky middle grade fiction, these are books for you. I highly recommend these for reluctant readers or kids who enjoy graphic novels. There's lots to keep the attention of kids who aren't huge fans of reading (and ones who love to devour stories).

In this novel they are casting the movie of 43 Old Cemetery Road and the family is excited, because they figure now they will be famous. Unfortunately Hollywood thinks that the family isn't quite right for the parts of themselves and some of them need huge makeovers. They do get to meet someone very interesting though, that turns out to be a great edition to their family. This was a fun and fast and delightful read.

First Line:
"Welcome to 43 Old Cemetery Road!"

Favorite Line:
"Look at Olive cut your long hair with her death claws."

Read more: http://www.areadingnook.com/search?up...

[The Styling Librarian]

Hollywood, Dead Ahead Series, #5: 43 Old Cemetary Road by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise – thoughts

How much do I love this series? Let me count the ways:

No back story
Fascinating complicated problems throughout
Interesting characters
Hilarious situations
Best character names
Illustrations pull my readers through the book
Great tongue-in-cheek humor thoughout
I love the ideas… of course the fantastic books, 43 Old Cemetary Road, could be optioned for a movie deal… how many of us have said “yes, I agree to this upgrade contract’ on iTunes without reading the entire contract? So, couldn’t a book character sign a contract without reading the entire thing? I think so!
photo 1Have you ever known better but been pulled into something that wasn’t good for you? Have you ever had loved ones making huge mistakes without you being able to do anything about it? Read to find out how three very different beloved characters react to the Hollywood bug! This new story is perfect for fans of the series but doesn’t necessarily need to be read in order. There are many new wonderful characters that you will enjoy despising, laughing and also learn to appreciate! Enjoy…