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Rebel Spirits
Sixteen year old Lorelei is not happy when her family moves into an old bed-and-breakfast in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — and that is before she meets the Civil War ghost, Nathaniel, who needs her help, and discovers that some of the hotel staff are not what they seen to be.
292 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2013
59 people are currently reading
1413 people want to read
About the author
Lois Ruby
25 books87 followersLois Ruby is the author of fifteen books for middle-graders and teens, including STEAL AWAY HOME, SKIN DEEP, and THE SECRET OF LAUREL OAKS. She and her husband live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the foothills of the awesome Sandia Mountains. Lois explores lots of haunted places, including ghostly locations in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and even a few spooky spots in Australia and Thailand. No spirits have tapped her on the shoulder yet, but she hasn't given up hope.
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October 28, 2023
The first feature to grab me was the tone of Rebel Spirits. It is more than confident, not yet cocky; accepting, unapologetic; charming; and totally void of any defensive vibe. As the story centers around “nearly seventeen” year old Lorelei; this reader was stunned by Ms. Ruby’s ability to, seemingly effortlessly, capture the open desire, the willingness to believe, that most teens still carry inside of them (albeit, some much…much deeper than others). While her steadier, yet clearly open-minded older by brother, leans more towards logic and rational explanations; even he has that tiny glimmer of hope….the “why not?” that is sometimes lost in adulthood.
Yes, Lori’s parents truly are startlingly naïve and absent-minded with matters of upmost importance; yet oddly tenacious and relentless on the most trivial of things. The “caretakers” are undoubtedly a bit past odd, edging toward dangerous. The “lawn-boy”…well, okay, he seems like a typical, bleary-eyed, sun-baked kid. Nathaniel Pierce has a starring role, as…..well, Nathaniel is: of course, and why not; a ghost. Not just “a ghost”; but the ghost of a Civil War Soldier, calmly and curiously, standing over Lori’s shoulder, in her tower room, in the creepy, creaky bed-and-breakfast that she can now call home…in Gettysburg.
None of the aforementioned could be construed as spoilers, and that is one of the coolest quirks of Ms. Ruby’s story. At a blush, it would seem that with all of this already in the open, there can’t be room for mystique and intrigue; on the contrary, the plot thickens….and thickens. As quick as Lorelei is to end an annoying conversation; this reader was immersed. Mysteries abound, romance flickers and flutters by, all while Miss Lori boldly plows through, looking for answers and keeping careful watch on the caretakers and some pretty suspicious guests.
Rebel Spirits is historical fiction, but with Ms. Ruby’s characters feeling oh, so human; the history revealed in such a heart-felt fashion, this reader effortlessly let the “fiction” part slip away, to become fully mesmerized in the few, time-critical, fast-paced days Lori & Nathaniel spend together. Ms. Ruby’s enviable skill of combining a story that in turn; elicits chills, danger, even fear and yet references “red-checkered Vans” under an 1860s(ish) hoop skirt is impressive and makes for a fascinating book.
Review written for Buried Under Books Blog.
Yes, Lori’s parents truly are startlingly naïve and absent-minded with matters of upmost importance; yet oddly tenacious and relentless on the most trivial of things. The “caretakers” are undoubtedly a bit past odd, edging toward dangerous. The “lawn-boy”…well, okay, he seems like a typical, bleary-eyed, sun-baked kid. Nathaniel Pierce has a starring role, as…..well, Nathaniel is: of course, and why not; a ghost. Not just “a ghost”; but the ghost of a Civil War Soldier, calmly and curiously, standing over Lori’s shoulder, in her tower room, in the creepy, creaky bed-and-breakfast that she can now call home…in Gettysburg.
None of the aforementioned could be construed as spoilers, and that is one of the coolest quirks of Ms. Ruby’s story. At a blush, it would seem that with all of this already in the open, there can’t be room for mystique and intrigue; on the contrary, the plot thickens….and thickens. As quick as Lorelei is to end an annoying conversation; this reader was immersed. Mysteries abound, romance flickers and flutters by, all while Miss Lori boldly plows through, looking for answers and keeping careful watch on the caretakers and some pretty suspicious guests.
Rebel Spirits is historical fiction, but with Ms. Ruby’s characters feeling oh, so human; the history revealed in such a heart-felt fashion, this reader effortlessly let the “fiction” part slip away, to become fully mesmerized in the few, time-critical, fast-paced days Lori & Nathaniel spend together. Ms. Ruby’s enviable skill of combining a story that in turn; elicits chills, danger, even fear and yet references “red-checkered Vans” under an 1860s(ish) hoop skirt is impressive and makes for a fascinating book.
Review written for Buried Under Books Blog.
May 30, 2013
I really try not to judge books by their cover, caption, blurbs or jacket copy. I’ve found books that sound interesting but were terrible, and I’ve found books with beautiful covers but terrible insides, but then again I have a lot of books I’ve picked up on a whim and absolutely loved, even if the cover looked generic or the blurb wasn’t the greatest thing ever. When my boss handed me the latest crop of YA ARCs at work, I looked at Rebel Spirits’ cover blurb…and immediately rolled my eyes. “What if you fell in love with a ghost?” Yes because that concept has never been explored, ever.
But, as I said, I was willing to give a fair shot. And then I started reading it. And about ten pages in, I knew that this was not going to be a fun read for me. Because not only is this book an unresearched mess but everything else about it is just terrible. Let’s be fair here: this is nothing new. This is another slot of “Let’s try to get the next Twilight! Has anyone done ghosts yet?” (Yes. Yes they have; it started six years before that whole thing and IT WAS BETTER.) The plot is not only nonexistent, but in the end it’s proven to be futile seeing as the love interest is able to move on AND it wasn’t a murder anyway so…why?!
The characters. Ye gods. Lorelei is allegedly “sixteen—almost seventeen!” and going into her senior year of high school. She acts like a thirteen year old, throwing temper tantrums whenever she’s grounded and the way she acts around Nathaniel. Btw, I think this is a new record for insta-love—Lorelei falls in love with Nathaniel after the second time he appears to her, and she goes into depression after he disappears at the end. FIVE DAYS. YOU’VE TALKED TO THIS GUY FOR LESS THAN A WEEK. The Disney version of The Little Mermaid had a stronger relationship build-up than this.
Also, Nathanial and Lorelei’s ‘witty banter’ is a treat too:
“February second. The whole country waits for the famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, to poke his head out of the ground. If he sees his shadow, we’re in for six more weeks of winter. “ Which sounds appealing now, because we’re sweltering up in the attic.
Nathaniel raises his eyebrows. “Well, I’ll be. Punxsutawney Phil, eh? And if the famous groundhog doesn’t see his shadow, we’re in for roughly six more weeks of winter, right?” We both laugh at the absurdity of a rodent predicting weather. (pg 78-79)
“You’re quite the bossy girl, aren’t you?”
“Of course. I’m a Scorpio!”
“You don’t look a bit like a scorpion, for which I’m immensely grateful.” (pg. 97)
“You look magical in the fading light of day, like a fairy princess,” Nathaniel says, materializing by my side.
I wish I could stop blushing. I’m not sure what to do with all these compliments.
“A princess in a Phillies T-shirt and cutoff jeans,” I say. He has no idea what the Phillies are, or even what jeans are, but I wonder if his otherworldly eyes see something different in me. (pg. 153)
Also, all of the other characters are completely stupid. The only one I liked was Charlotte, basically because the one page she gets an establishing character moment was halfway decent and then she wisely disappears for the majority of the book. Lorelei’s parents are complete idiots, because you know, taking over an inn the week before the Gettysburg anniversary should probably be indicative of how they run a hotel. Also, at the end, when Lorelei reveals the fact that she’s been running around with a ghost for the past week, they actually believe her. Even though that it’s been established that they’ve never had any supernatural dealings and called Lorelei’s previous sightings when she was little “cute” and a way to cope. (I don’t want to sit and harp that “OMG Mediator is the best thing ever” but you know what? It’s acknowledged that Suze went through therapy and that not everyone believes her about the ghost thing—it takes five books for her best friend to figure it out and accept it.) The other characters are a collection of stereotypes and one-note appearances who barely make any impact on the plot.
Speaking of the plot…there was a plot? Nathaniel spends half the time info-dumping about what happened to him and Lorelei makes half-assed connections based on that. There’s this whole plot about a MacGuffin ring that allegedly belonged to William Lincoln and fell into the hands of an Army doctor that Nathaniel stole for good luck. And then apparently the nonexistent housekeeper and her creepy husband (both of who just started right before Lorelei’s family moved in, and no one mentions this in the business emails?) are trying to find it for…reasons. But then it turns out that Charlotte hid the ring and put on a chain, so that Lorelei will have something to remember Nathaniel by forever! Gag me.
And all of this is more than qualification for me to rate this one star. But here’s how I know Lois Ruby didn’t do any research aside from Wiki-searching the Battle of Gettysburg:
“Lorelei, you know about Abraham Lincoln’s famous ‘four score and seven years ago’ address that he delivered at Gettysburg, don’t you?”
“Yes, Dad. We had to memorize it in eighth grade.”….
I wonder about this…If it was such a horrible battle, why would they want to keep reliving it? “But it’s been about a hundred and fifty years,” I say, calculating. “Isn’t it time they got over it?”
Things to note about Lorelei: She claims that she’s going to be a high school senior. And that she’s lived in the Philadelphia her entire life.
HOW IN THE FUCK DOES SHE KNOW JACKSHIT ABOUT GETTYSBURG.
*I* live in Pittsburgh, I’m about four and a half hours away to the west from the Gettysburg area. I went to college a half hour away from there; I have friends who grew up in the area. If Lorelei actually lived in Philadelphia for a good chunk of her schooling, not only would she have gone to the battleground multiple times, but she would have also known a good chunk of the history around it.
Not to mention, IT’S FUCKING GETTYSBURG. It’s not some random skirmish that’s only famous for having a lot of soldiers die and Lincoln making a speech on the battlegrounds. This is not something that’s so impossible to research or not know next to nothing about it. And yet, here’s how it’s treated in the book:
“Those loonies, they take vacation days…Every boss man in Adams County gives ‘em off. But look at ‘em. There’s thousands…
“Those diehards, they take their uniforms out of mothballs and pour in from all over the U.S. of A. They’d bawl like babies if they had to miss these first few days in July. The crazies want it the way it was back when, so folks gussy up in Civil-War blues and grays and red britches, shooting at each. Used to be a battleground, you know…” (pg. 51)
Excuse me. *bashes head against wall*
Here’s some info about Gettysburg: they service a million people A YEAR. According to this article, 200,000 people are expected for the anniversary reenactment next month. (Hence, why the fact Lorelei’s family is moving in the week before is not only laughable, but they probably have the worst inn in the area. No wonder they only have one guest family without ulterior motives.) And guess what! I know that compared to Philly, Gettysburg is a small town. It’s NOT a Podunk town in the middle of nowhere with three historical houses and that’s it. There’s a local college nearby. It’s actually got a really nice downtown area. I would really like to know the reason why Lois Ruby couldn’t be bothered to take a trip, because going to Gettysburg, even in the off months, is fairly inexpensive, even when you take in the airline tickets. Did Point not want to foot the bill for her? I know she did some tourism research, because she mentions a ghost tour and that the town is obsessed with spirits. Unfortunately, the only place this tour goes to is the citizens’ cemetery and that’s it. Try that there’s eight different ghost tours, many running at the same time, and they’re a massive draw as well. Gettysburg is repeatedly described as “the boonies”—nope, try again. (I believe the county you’re looking for is Lancaster County, aka Amish Country. It's the reason my best friend is desperately trying to move out towards me. Gettysburg is a big city to her.)
(All right, I have to mention this: I’ve taken one of these ghost tours, when my mom and I went to visit my college. We got the most narmastic tour guide ever, he was trying to be mysterious but it was so boring to hear him talk. At the end of the tour, he related stories of tourists would encounter “reenactors” only to turn around and find the reenactor disappearing in thin air. He ended the tour by saying, “So remember…if you see someone in period clothing, it may be a reenactor…OR IT MAY BE A GHOST!”
Hence why I burst out laughing whenever Lorelei meets Nathaniel for the first time and she thinks he’s a reenactor.)
This isn’t even touching on how the history’s handled. This is what Lorelei actually says about the Civil War:
I know that most soldiers in the Army of the Potomac were fighting to preserve the Union after the Southern states pulled out. Most in General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia fought to preserve the Confederacy, to keep slavery as their way of life. That much I learned in US history last year, even though I read that Lee wasn’t all that keen on slavery. But the rest, on both sides? Some were pure abolitionists, totally against slavery, and others were fighting on any which side, just for the adrenaline rush of war. (pg 124)
Aside from the horrible editing in that sentence (the editing job could be worse, but it’s still bad), that’s an explanation of the Civil War I expect from a third grader. By the time you’ve hit junior year of high school, you really ought to have a better grasp on the politics surrounding the split—it’s not just about the slavery, and even Lincoln was extremely reluctant at the onset to including freeing slaves. I read that above passage to my sister—a US history major whose specialization is the Civil War—and I can’t begin to describe the look of horror and depression on her face.
This isn’t just bad research, this is an insult to history. Is this what the standards for junior high/high school are nowadays? Because this isn’t only insulting, it’s embarrassing to assume that your target audience isn’t going to know anything about the history involved. My current WIP is a alternate history/steampunk-fantasy YA novel that centers on the Homestead Strike, which is a very well-known event in the area and to historians. To everyone else, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t know names like Andrew Carnegie and Henry Frick automatically, so I do spend some time explaining things about the history of the steel mills and the unionization of workers. Because I know people won’t know these things. And even though the name Gettysburg ought to be instantly recognizable to anyone of school age, there’s still a lot of details that you can add in—talk about the fields and the forests, all the monuments that litter the battlefield. Oh, wait, that requires research, doesn’t it.
(OH AND BTW the weak-ass Lincoln connection? This is how Lorelei describes it: “[William] was eleven when he died. I know it for a fact.” If Wikipedia is factual. YES IT’S THE TRUTH YOU IDIOTIC BINT. The Lincolns losing three sons is not an exaggeration, it’s fact, and while it’s a tragic story you sure as hell don’t get to use it to justify your fucking “omgsotragic and deeeep romance.”)
As I said towards the beginning, I was more than willing to give this a fair shot. The plot and characters were enough to drive the rating down, but add on the sheer carelessness to the research and the history, and I’m ready to cause physical harm to my copy. (And did. Multiple times.) This is a book not only to be thrown at a wall with great force, but to be avoided at great cost. And, just because I’m curious, if anyone living in Gettysburg actually finds this book, I really wanna know your thoughts on it, because I think you all should sue for misrepresentation.
But, as I said, I was willing to give a fair shot. And then I started reading it. And about ten pages in, I knew that this was not going to be a fun read for me. Because not only is this book an unresearched mess but everything else about it is just terrible. Let’s be fair here: this is nothing new. This is another slot of “Let’s try to get the next Twilight! Has anyone done ghosts yet?” (Yes. Yes they have; it started six years before that whole thing and IT WAS BETTER.) The plot is not only nonexistent, but in the end it’s proven to be futile seeing as the love interest is able to move on AND it wasn’t a murder anyway so…why?!
The characters. Ye gods. Lorelei is allegedly “sixteen—almost seventeen!” and going into her senior year of high school. She acts like a thirteen year old, throwing temper tantrums whenever she’s grounded and the way she acts around Nathaniel. Btw, I think this is a new record for insta-love—Lorelei falls in love with Nathaniel after the second time he appears to her, and she goes into depression after he disappears at the end. FIVE DAYS. YOU’VE TALKED TO THIS GUY FOR LESS THAN A WEEK. The Disney version of The Little Mermaid had a stronger relationship build-up than this.
Also, Nathanial and Lorelei’s ‘witty banter’ is a treat too:
“February second. The whole country waits for the famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, to poke his head out of the ground. If he sees his shadow, we’re in for six more weeks of winter. “ Which sounds appealing now, because we’re sweltering up in the attic.
Nathaniel raises his eyebrows. “Well, I’ll be. Punxsutawney Phil, eh? And if the famous groundhog doesn’t see his shadow, we’re in for roughly six more weeks of winter, right?” We both laugh at the absurdity of a rodent predicting weather. (pg 78-79)
“You’re quite the bossy girl, aren’t you?”
“Of course. I’m a Scorpio!”
“You don’t look a bit like a scorpion, for which I’m immensely grateful.” (pg. 97)
“You look magical in the fading light of day, like a fairy princess,” Nathaniel says, materializing by my side.
I wish I could stop blushing. I’m not sure what to do with all these compliments.
“A princess in a Phillies T-shirt and cutoff jeans,” I say. He has no idea what the Phillies are, or even what jeans are, but I wonder if his otherworldly eyes see something different in me. (pg. 153)
Also, all of the other characters are completely stupid. The only one I liked was Charlotte, basically because the one page she gets an establishing character moment was halfway decent and then she wisely disappears for the majority of the book. Lorelei’s parents are complete idiots, because you know, taking over an inn the week before the Gettysburg anniversary should probably be indicative of how they run a hotel. Also, at the end, when Lorelei reveals the fact that she’s been running around with a ghost for the past week, they actually believe her. Even though that it’s been established that they’ve never had any supernatural dealings and called Lorelei’s previous sightings when she was little “cute” and a way to cope. (I don’t want to sit and harp that “OMG Mediator is the best thing ever” but you know what? It’s acknowledged that Suze went through therapy and that not everyone believes her about the ghost thing—it takes five books for her best friend to figure it out and accept it.) The other characters are a collection of stereotypes and one-note appearances who barely make any impact on the plot.
Speaking of the plot…there was a plot? Nathaniel spends half the time info-dumping about what happened to him and Lorelei makes half-assed connections based on that. There’s this whole plot about a MacGuffin ring that allegedly belonged to William Lincoln and fell into the hands of an Army doctor that Nathaniel stole for good luck. And then apparently the nonexistent housekeeper and her creepy husband (both of who just started right before Lorelei’s family moved in, and no one mentions this in the business emails?) are trying to find it for…reasons. But then it turns out that Charlotte hid the ring and put on a chain, so that Lorelei will have something to remember Nathaniel by forever! Gag me.
And all of this is more than qualification for me to rate this one star. But here’s how I know Lois Ruby didn’t do any research aside from Wiki-searching the Battle of Gettysburg:
“Lorelei, you know about Abraham Lincoln’s famous ‘four score and seven years ago’ address that he delivered at Gettysburg, don’t you?”
“Yes, Dad. We had to memorize it in eighth grade.”….
I wonder about this…If it was such a horrible battle, why would they want to keep reliving it? “But it’s been about a hundred and fifty years,” I say, calculating. “Isn’t it time they got over it?”
Things to note about Lorelei: She claims that she’s going to be a high school senior. And that she’s lived in the Philadelphia her entire life.
HOW IN THE FUCK DOES SHE KNOW JACKSHIT ABOUT GETTYSBURG.
*I* live in Pittsburgh, I’m about four and a half hours away to the west from the Gettysburg area. I went to college a half hour away from there; I have friends who grew up in the area. If Lorelei actually lived in Philadelphia for a good chunk of her schooling, not only would she have gone to the battleground multiple times, but she would have also known a good chunk of the history around it.
Not to mention, IT’S FUCKING GETTYSBURG. It’s not some random skirmish that’s only famous for having a lot of soldiers die and Lincoln making a speech on the battlegrounds. This is not something that’s so impossible to research or not know next to nothing about it. And yet, here’s how it’s treated in the book:
“Those loonies, they take vacation days…Every boss man in Adams County gives ‘em off. But look at ‘em. There’s thousands…
“Those diehards, they take their uniforms out of mothballs and pour in from all over the U.S. of A. They’d bawl like babies if they had to miss these first few days in July. The crazies want it the way it was back when, so folks gussy up in Civil-War blues and grays and red britches, shooting at each. Used to be a battleground, you know…” (pg. 51)
Excuse me. *bashes head against wall*
Here’s some info about Gettysburg: they service a million people A YEAR. According to this article, 200,000 people are expected for the anniversary reenactment next month. (Hence, why the fact Lorelei’s family is moving in the week before is not only laughable, but they probably have the worst inn in the area. No wonder they only have one guest family without ulterior motives.) And guess what! I know that compared to Philly, Gettysburg is a small town. It’s NOT a Podunk town in the middle of nowhere with three historical houses and that’s it. There’s a local college nearby. It’s actually got a really nice downtown area. I would really like to know the reason why Lois Ruby couldn’t be bothered to take a trip, because going to Gettysburg, even in the off months, is fairly inexpensive, even when you take in the airline tickets. Did Point not want to foot the bill for her? I know she did some tourism research, because she mentions a ghost tour and that the town is obsessed with spirits. Unfortunately, the only place this tour goes to is the citizens’ cemetery and that’s it. Try that there’s eight different ghost tours, many running at the same time, and they’re a massive draw as well. Gettysburg is repeatedly described as “the boonies”—nope, try again. (I believe the county you’re looking for is Lancaster County, aka Amish Country. It's the reason my best friend is desperately trying to move out towards me. Gettysburg is a big city to her.)
(All right, I have to mention this: I’ve taken one of these ghost tours, when my mom and I went to visit my college. We got the most narmastic tour guide ever, he was trying to be mysterious but it was so boring to hear him talk. At the end of the tour, he related stories of tourists would encounter “reenactors” only to turn around and find the reenactor disappearing in thin air. He ended the tour by saying, “So remember…if you see someone in period clothing, it may be a reenactor…OR IT MAY BE A GHOST!”
Hence why I burst out laughing whenever Lorelei meets Nathaniel for the first time and she thinks he’s a reenactor.)
This isn’t even touching on how the history’s handled. This is what Lorelei actually says about the Civil War:
I know that most soldiers in the Army of the Potomac were fighting to preserve the Union after the Southern states pulled out. Most in General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia fought to preserve the Confederacy, to keep slavery as their way of life. That much I learned in US history last year, even though I read that Lee wasn’t all that keen on slavery. But the rest, on both sides? Some were pure abolitionists, totally against slavery, and others were fighting on any which side, just for the adrenaline rush of war. (pg 124)
Aside from the horrible editing in that sentence (the editing job could be worse, but it’s still bad), that’s an explanation of the Civil War I expect from a third grader. By the time you’ve hit junior year of high school, you really ought to have a better grasp on the politics surrounding the split—it’s not just about the slavery, and even Lincoln was extremely reluctant at the onset to including freeing slaves. I read that above passage to my sister—a US history major whose specialization is the Civil War—and I can’t begin to describe the look of horror and depression on her face.
This isn’t just bad research, this is an insult to history. Is this what the standards for junior high/high school are nowadays? Because this isn’t only insulting, it’s embarrassing to assume that your target audience isn’t going to know anything about the history involved. My current WIP is a alternate history/steampunk-fantasy YA novel that centers on the Homestead Strike, which is a very well-known event in the area and to historians. To everyone else, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t know names like Andrew Carnegie and Henry Frick automatically, so I do spend some time explaining things about the history of the steel mills and the unionization of workers. Because I know people won’t know these things. And even though the name Gettysburg ought to be instantly recognizable to anyone of school age, there’s still a lot of details that you can add in—talk about the fields and the forests, all the monuments that litter the battlefield. Oh, wait, that requires research, doesn’t it.
(OH AND BTW the weak-ass Lincoln connection? This is how Lorelei describes it: “[William] was eleven when he died. I know it for a fact.” If Wikipedia is factual. YES IT’S THE TRUTH YOU IDIOTIC BINT. The Lincolns losing three sons is not an exaggeration, it’s fact, and while it’s a tragic story you sure as hell don’t get to use it to justify your fucking “omgsotragic and deeeep romance.”)
As I said towards the beginning, I was more than willing to give this a fair shot. The plot and characters were enough to drive the rating down, but add on the sheer carelessness to the research and the history, and I’m ready to cause physical harm to my copy. (And did. Multiple times.) This is a book not only to be thrown at a wall with great force, but to be avoided at great cost. And, just because I’m curious, if anyone living in Gettysburg actually finds this book, I really wanna know your thoughts on it, because I think you all should sue for misrepresentation.
April 21, 2015
First off before I dig an deeper than the surface of this book, the title is a COMPLETE misnomer! This book centers around the ghost of a soldier from the Union, a.k.a. the Northern Army. Not the Southern one, who are referred to as the 'rebel' army. Therefore it makes no offense, and is slightly confusing. There, now that inconsistency is out of the way, let's get on with the actual review! :) Lorelai 'Lori' Chase is a sixteen year old girl who is forced to move with her parents to Gettysburg, away from all her friends, so they can finally open their own Bed and Breakfast like they've always wanted to. The building they've purchased comes with an inherited staff, some creaks and fix-it situations - oh yeah, and did anyone mention the ghost of a murdered soldier? Lori has been keeping a secret from her parents and her best friend for a long time that makes this ghost a nuisance. She can see him and communicate with him. Lori has been able to see spirits for years. With the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg approaching, soldier Nathaniel Pierce only has a short amount of time to discover who murdered him and why so he can rest in peace. With treasure, scorned relatives and battlefield mayhem clouding the truth will Lori ever be able to help him find out what really happened? And how can she stop herself from falling for such a charming guy...even though he's dead? With treasure at stake things quickly turn deadly and it will take all her wits for Lori to make it out alive.
What's new Scooby Doo? That's what I felt like saying as I read a good majority of this novel. It reads like a movie-of-the-week suspense piece and the middle grade feel/style did it no favors for me either. Of course, sucker that I am, I couldn't resist a book involving a Civil War ghost and a murder mystery. *Slaps forehead dramatically.* D'oh! This wasn't a badly written book by any means - a cute, cookie cutter, middle-grade romance. It was just unfortunately predictable, the characters were bland without any real development/spice and the whodunit was pretty cut and dried. Oh yeah, it also employed the dreaded paranormal love triangle and insta-love tropes. The cute lawn boy who's in his summer before college or the ghost of a Union soldier (who actually seems like kind of a smug dick most of the time to me). Choices, choices and of course they both luuurrrvvveee Lori and want to be with her. Yeah, sure. Also, this whole thing takes place in less than a week. To me that just comes across as lazy under the pretense of plot momentum. Ruby mentions some seriously great stuff like reenactments on battlefields, cemetery 'ghost' tours and presidential connections to her own murder mystery. But that's all they are in a really short and underdeveloped book - tidbits of things that could have made this book far better than it was.
This is the kind of book that 12 year old me would have devoured and 'loved forever and ever!' (As evidenced by my recent Caroline B. Cooney re-reads, I was nowhere near as harsh [i.e. bitter] of a book reader back then]). I would read anything with pages and ink at that point in my life, so that isn't really saying much. Even Ruby's attempt at inserting interesting guests at the B&B fell short of a working plot device. The ending is very neatly tied up, but is very vague in terms of answering what the characters will end up doing/being. I would recommend this to teachers with reluctant readers, and those who want to get a kid interested in history with some light fiction. Overall, not for me but I'm sure it would entice someone to read and I do give props to the author (and subtract some personal points) that she kept me reading to the end.
VERDICT: 2/5 Stars
*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published on June 1st, 2013.*
What's new Scooby Doo? That's what I felt like saying as I read a good majority of this novel. It reads like a movie-of-the-week suspense piece and the middle grade feel/style did it no favors for me either. Of course, sucker that I am, I couldn't resist a book involving a Civil War ghost and a murder mystery. *Slaps forehead dramatically.* D'oh! This wasn't a badly written book by any means - a cute, cookie cutter, middle-grade romance. It was just unfortunately predictable, the characters were bland without any real development/spice and the whodunit was pretty cut and dried. Oh yeah, it also employed the dreaded paranormal love triangle and insta-love tropes. The cute lawn boy who's in his summer before college or the ghost of a Union soldier (who actually seems like kind of a smug dick most of the time to me). Choices, choices and of course they both luuurrrvvveee Lori and want to be with her. Yeah, sure. Also, this whole thing takes place in less than a week. To me that just comes across as lazy under the pretense of plot momentum. Ruby mentions some seriously great stuff like reenactments on battlefields, cemetery 'ghost' tours and presidential connections to her own murder mystery. But that's all they are in a really short and underdeveloped book - tidbits of things that could have made this book far better than it was.
This is the kind of book that 12 year old me would have devoured and 'loved forever and ever!' (As evidenced by my recent Caroline B. Cooney re-reads, I was nowhere near as harsh [i.e. bitter] of a book reader back then]). I would read anything with pages and ink at that point in my life, so that isn't really saying much. Even Ruby's attempt at inserting interesting guests at the B&B fell short of a working plot device. The ending is very neatly tied up, but is very vague in terms of answering what the characters will end up doing/being. I would recommend this to teachers with reluctant readers, and those who want to get a kid interested in history with some light fiction. Overall, not for me but I'm sure it would entice someone to read and I do give props to the author (and subtract some personal points) that she kept me reading to the end.
VERDICT: 2/5 Stars
*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published on June 1st, 2013.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2025
”My dream is to win a beach volleyball game, and then take a dip in the ocean. Icy raspberry lemonade will be delivered to me by a surfer boy with golden hair. My dream is definitely not moldering in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, population: eight thousand people obsessed with a bloody past.”
3.5 out of 5 stars
Well, considering how absolutely unrealistic this novel is (and the fact that it read more like a 90s teen novel than one set in the present day), this was a surprisingly sweet read.
Lori Chase has moved with her family to Gettysburg to run a bed and breakfast. She’s decidedly not enthused until she meets the mysterious Nathaniel Pearce. He’s handsome, charming, chilvarous… and very, very dead. Turns out, Nathaniel is a Union Soldier from the Civil War who was murdered, and his soul can’t rest in peace until he discovers who did it.
The best way to describe this novel is cute. If you’re a fan of Disney Channel Original movies, Hallmark flicks that make you feel good, and 1990s after school specials, then you’ll like this book (and I mean it with the best regards). Nothing was particularly offending about it, if you take it for what it’s worth. The characters are sweet but nothing particularly special. Those adjectives pretty much describe the whole entire novel. Again, it’s like a really corny made-for-TV flick, but you can’t stop reading.
Lori and Nathaniel’s romance is extremely instalovey. Though I guess if you were being fair about it, you could say that since he only has like five days in his human form, it HAS to go fast. But can we just admire the author poking fun at her own trope? Lori’s explaining it to her parents and I swear it’s the funniest thing in this book.
However, I will have to say that the subplot about a missing artifact kind of made the novel fall apart a bit towards the middle and the end. It turned the book more into Indiana Jones than Nancy Drew meets Liberty’s Kids, if you know what I mean. I didn’t think it was necessary to have it in there for the main story line, but the historical background was done fairly well.
Ghost story romances are kind of hard to write, as there’s a fine balance between making a ghost seem human without being too human or too ghostlike. But for the most part, this book was a fast, sweet read, even if the ending act was executed poorly.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Well, considering how absolutely unrealistic this novel is (and the fact that it read more like a 90s teen novel than one set in the present day), this was a surprisingly sweet read.
Lori Chase has moved with her family to Gettysburg to run a bed and breakfast. She’s decidedly not enthused until she meets the mysterious Nathaniel Pearce. He’s handsome, charming, chilvarous… and very, very dead. Turns out, Nathaniel is a Union Soldier from the Civil War who was murdered, and his soul can’t rest in peace until he discovers who did it.
”’I need your help to solve a murder.Lori has the power to see ghosts, so she agrees to help him, even if it means putting her life (and heart) on the line.
‘Oh, really? Who’s the murder victim?
‘I am.’”
The best way to describe this novel is cute. If you’re a fan of Disney Channel Original movies, Hallmark flicks that make you feel good, and 1990s after school specials, then you’ll like this book (and I mean it with the best regards). Nothing was particularly offending about it, if you take it for what it’s worth. The characters are sweet but nothing particularly special. Those adjectives pretty much describe the whole entire novel. Again, it’s like a really corny made-for-TV flick, but you can’t stop reading.
Lori and Nathaniel’s romance is extremely instalovey. Though I guess if you were being fair about it, you could say that since he only has like five days in his human form, it HAS to go fast. But can we just admire the author poking fun at her own trope? Lori’s explaining it to her parents and I swear it’s the funniest thing in this book.
”’I fell in love with him during the Battle Days.’I was laughing so hard at that point I could hardly see straight. For an author to use said trope, but than to basically savage it through her characters is pure gold.
‘With a ghost? In three days?! This is more than I can handle without pastry. Miriam- lots of it, the gooier the better. In fact give them to me intravenously.’
Dad’s popping one mini cream puff after another into his mouth, and Mom’s breathing like an asthmatic, but on the whole, they’re handling it pretty well for parents.”
However, I will have to say that the subplot about a missing artifact kind of made the novel fall apart a bit towards the middle and the end. It turned the book more into Indiana Jones than Nancy Drew meets Liberty’s Kids, if you know what I mean. I didn’t think it was necessary to have it in there for the main story line, but the historical background was done fairly well.
Ghost story romances are kind of hard to write, as there’s a fine balance between making a ghost seem human without being too human or too ghostlike. But for the most part, this book was a fast, sweet read, even if the ending act was executed poorly.
August 4, 2019
It was stupid and unintentionally hilarious. Well worth my fifty cents. 😂
August 12, 2013
Originally post at The Book Babe.
Let me make something clear. I don't like writing negative book reviews. I'm sorry Scholastic, you're a great publisher, a favorite of mine since I was a child. I gave the last review I wrote for you, Better To Wish, 5 out of 5 stars. To the author, I'm sorry also. I could never write a book, so you at least have better writing talent than I do. However, I did not enjoy this book. AT ALL. I actually stopped reading for about a week because I just could not force myself to read this. Somehow I prevailed, mostly because I'm doing a group reading challenge and I didn't want to let my teammates down.
I'm trying to analyze and determine why it is that I don't like this book.Was it because it was Young Adult? That can't be it, because I have rated many Young Adult books between three and five stars. Was it because it was a paranormal romance? Eh, it's not my favorite genre, but I do have a soft-spot for ghosts. I don't feel like the fact that a ghost was a love interest ruined the book, at all. So what could it be? I think it really just boils down to the writing. It was almost like the book was written by someones mother who was trying to convince her teenage daughters that she can be cool. She obviously failed miserably. Here are some examples of times I shook my head throughout the book:
"The shirtless guy riding on the mower checks us out as we pull into the gravel driveway. He is maybe a year older than me, and as tan as a muffin, with longish blond hair sweaty on his shoulders. He reminds me of a border collie."
LMBO, really? REALLY? He was "tan as a muffin"? What kind of muffin would that be? Blueberry? Chocolate? I don't even think my grandma ever described a man as being "tan as a muffin". Who says that?? And this is supposed to be a 16-year-old girl talking. I'm not even going to go into the border collie comment.
"He's wearing a Dallas Cowboys T-shirt today, I see from way up here. I grab my glasses off my desk to inspect closer."
She had to grab her glasses to checkout a guy. Oh wait, she didn't check him out, she "inspected" him.
"What a fair-weather friend Gertie's turning out to be."
Look Lois, no teenager says "fair-weather friend". Did the author write this book while watching The Golden Girls and taking her arthritis medication?
"In the front parlor there are about a million copies of her book for sale. It's called What a Girl Saw and Heard of the Battle. Maybe I ought to buy a copy. Sixteen dollars? Forget it."
I usually love first-person narratives. However, the main character's mind is so simple. She thinks nothing deep. This is basically the complexity of her thoughts. The reader gains nothing by having insight into the main character's personal thoughts and feelings.
""Oh Hello!" You're the daughter of that new couple running Coolspring Inn," she says, clapping her hands as if she's smashing gnats."
How exactly does one clap their hands as if smashing gnats?
"We yammer like magpies, and I tell her everything I know about Nathaniel."
She and her friend not only "yammered", but did so as if they were magpies.
Okay, so I could go on and on. At this point, I'm 25% into the book. This could take all day. So, what it comes down to is this book was torture to read. It could have been good... the Civil War is an era that has always intrigued me as well as haunted houses. Unfortunately, the writing put up a block that stopped me from enjoying this book at all. 1 out of 5 stars. Sorry.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Scholastic in exchange for an honest review.
Let me make something clear. I don't like writing negative book reviews. I'm sorry Scholastic, you're a great publisher, a favorite of mine since I was a child. I gave the last review I wrote for you, Better To Wish, 5 out of 5 stars. To the author, I'm sorry also. I could never write a book, so you at least have better writing talent than I do. However, I did not enjoy this book. AT ALL. I actually stopped reading for about a week because I just could not force myself to read this. Somehow I prevailed, mostly because I'm doing a group reading challenge and I didn't want to let my teammates down.
I'm trying to analyze and determine why it is that I don't like this book.Was it because it was Young Adult? That can't be it, because I have rated many Young Adult books between three and five stars. Was it because it was a paranormal romance? Eh, it's not my favorite genre, but I do have a soft-spot for ghosts. I don't feel like the fact that a ghost was a love interest ruined the book, at all. So what could it be? I think it really just boils down to the writing. It was almost like the book was written by someones mother who was trying to convince her teenage daughters that she can be cool. She obviously failed miserably. Here are some examples of times I shook my head throughout the book:
"The shirtless guy riding on the mower checks us out as we pull into the gravel driveway. He is maybe a year older than me, and as tan as a muffin, with longish blond hair sweaty on his shoulders. He reminds me of a border collie."
LMBO, really? REALLY? He was "tan as a muffin"? What kind of muffin would that be? Blueberry? Chocolate? I don't even think my grandma ever described a man as being "tan as a muffin". Who says that?? And this is supposed to be a 16-year-old girl talking. I'm not even going to go into the border collie comment.
"He's wearing a Dallas Cowboys T-shirt today, I see from way up here. I grab my glasses off my desk to inspect closer."
She had to grab her glasses to checkout a guy. Oh wait, she didn't check him out, she "inspected" him.
"What a fair-weather friend Gertie's turning out to be."
Look Lois, no teenager says "fair-weather friend". Did the author write this book while watching The Golden Girls and taking her arthritis medication?
"In the front parlor there are about a million copies of her book for sale. It's called What a Girl Saw and Heard of the Battle. Maybe I ought to buy a copy. Sixteen dollars? Forget it."
I usually love first-person narratives. However, the main character's mind is so simple. She thinks nothing deep. This is basically the complexity of her thoughts. The reader gains nothing by having insight into the main character's personal thoughts and feelings.
""Oh Hello!" You're the daughter of that new couple running Coolspring Inn," she says, clapping her hands as if she's smashing gnats."
How exactly does one clap their hands as if smashing gnats?
"We yammer like magpies, and I tell her everything I know about Nathaniel."
She and her friend not only "yammered", but did so as if they were magpies.
Okay, so I could go on and on. At this point, I'm 25% into the book. This could take all day. So, what it comes down to is this book was torture to read. It could have been good... the Civil War is an era that has always intrigued me as well as haunted houses. Unfortunately, the writing put up a block that stopped me from enjoying this book at all. 1 out of 5 stars. Sorry.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Scholastic in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2013
I hate to say it, but I was disappointed by Rebel Spirits. While the plot was intriguing, I couldn't get past the characters.
I'll go ahead and start with the problem I had with Rebel Spirits - the characters just felt too two-dimensional for me. I couldn't connect with Lori, which was the biggest problem I had. She just seemed too flat for me to get in touch with, and I just didn't like her. Nathaniel was better because of his secretive backstory, and I enjoyed learning about his past!
And luckily, that's what redeemed Rebel Spirits for me. The scandal, the secrets and the hidden past makes Rebel Spirits an enjoyable, quick read. Whenever it's brought up in the book of Nathaniel's mysterious past, I was reeled in and hooked deep into the story, and it kept my interest the entire time. It definitely was my favorite part about the book and redeemed it for me.
And the entire story felt too jumbled, for me at least. We had the hidden past-thing going on, and then, BAM insta-love, which I didn't care for in this case. I don't read many ghosts stories, especially not ones with insta-love, so I guess Rebel Spirits does stand out in that way. I just would have preferred more eerie and haunting scenes, less romantic. But that's just for me.
Overall, Rebel Spirits let me down. Who knows, this may be the book for me! Some parts worked for me, some didn't, unfortunately.
I'll go ahead and start with the problem I had with Rebel Spirits - the characters just felt too two-dimensional for me. I couldn't connect with Lori, which was the biggest problem I had. She just seemed too flat for me to get in touch with, and I just didn't like her. Nathaniel was better because of his secretive backstory, and I enjoyed learning about his past!
And luckily, that's what redeemed Rebel Spirits for me. The scandal, the secrets and the hidden past makes Rebel Spirits an enjoyable, quick read. Whenever it's brought up in the book of Nathaniel's mysterious past, I was reeled in and hooked deep into the story, and it kept my interest the entire time. It definitely was my favorite part about the book and redeemed it for me.
And the entire story felt too jumbled, for me at least. We had the hidden past-thing going on, and then, BAM insta-love, which I didn't care for in this case. I don't read many ghosts stories, especially not ones with insta-love, so I guess Rebel Spirits does stand out in that way. I just would have preferred more eerie and haunting scenes, less romantic. But that's just for me.
Overall, Rebel Spirits let me down. Who knows, this may be the book for me! Some parts worked for me, some didn't, unfortunately.
June 21, 2013
Rebel Spirits isn't exactly a bad book, but it certainly isn't a good one either. The general premise (high school girl falls in love with Civil War Confederate soldier who has asked her to solve his murder) is simultaneously interesting, and ridiculously cliché. The writing was what ruined the story for me. The book only take place during three short days (during which time the characters manage to fall in love, AND solve a long ago murder), so events are extremely rushed, and therefore highly unbelievable. Lois Ruby uses the plot devise of "coincidence" far too often, ruining its effectiveness and leaving me rolling my eyes about the large number of things that just happened to work out at the right time.
If YA Civil War ghost mysteries are your thing, then this might be a book for you. However, there are many more, much better written, and much more interesting books out there. I would suggest not wasting your time on this one.
If YA Civil War ghost mysteries are your thing, then this might be a book for you. However, there are many more, much better written, and much more interesting books out there. I would suggest not wasting your time on this one.
September 1, 2013
I loved this haunting twist on the classic Romeo Juliet style forbidden love. A lot of people are saying that they didn't like it because they felt that Lori fell in love too fast, but ever hear of love at first sight? Think of the movie The Titanic. Rose and jack were head over heals in even thess time than Lori and Nate. As a total sucker for romance and mystery, this book was a great choice for me. Although I do wish the author would have done a better job of explaining why Nathaniel had to go away fater the battle days.
April 26, 2024
Two stars. It’s okay!
My main problem was that the plot was thin and I didn’t understand the rush (couldn’t he come back next year…?) and the dialogue, including internal dialogue.
The teenagers didn’t sound young. They sounded like old people trying to be young. There were odd comparisons. “Pie-shaped face” and “tan as a muffin” and “so hot you could steam artichoke” to name a few odd descriptions that are both odd and oddly specific.
The three days was a ridiculous timeframe and the book often felt like it was being “strung along” or “fluffed”. There were a lot of things for the plot that hung on communication, simply sharing factual details to figure out the mystery. So a lot of needing to disappear and untimely interruptions. Also, just added dialogue for tone and suspense. Characters often asked the same question, such as “what does this have to do with that?” Or simply saying over and over, “so tell me what happened.”
This was INFURIATING!!!! Please. Just talk to each other. Omg. So much of the plot hung on them simply talking to each other.
Other than that it was at least fun. Not my fave, but an easy read, and the odd descriptions were funny to read, but I honestly wasn’t sure if it was funny on purpose or if the author and editor are out of touch with how teenagers speak lol.
Do I recommend it? Yes, for a short good time and a few eye rolls and a few laughs and some fun with the mystery. Not everything has to be a masterpiece to enjoy it.
My main problem was that the plot was thin and I didn’t understand the rush (couldn’t he come back next year…?) and the dialogue, including internal dialogue.
The teenagers didn’t sound young. They sounded like old people trying to be young. There were odd comparisons. “Pie-shaped face” and “tan as a muffin” and “so hot you could steam artichoke” to name a few odd descriptions that are both odd and oddly specific.
The three days was a ridiculous timeframe and the book often felt like it was being “strung along” or “fluffed”. There were a lot of things for the plot that hung on communication, simply sharing factual details to figure out the mystery. So a lot of needing to disappear and untimely interruptions. Also, just added dialogue for tone and suspense. Characters often asked the same question, such as “what does this have to do with that?” Or simply saying over and over, “so tell me what happened.”
This was INFURIATING!!!! Please. Just talk to each other. Omg. So much of the plot hung on them simply talking to each other.
Other than that it was at least fun. Not my fave, but an easy read, and the odd descriptions were funny to read, but I honestly wasn’t sure if it was funny on purpose or if the author and editor are out of touch with how teenagers speak lol.
Do I recommend it? Yes, for a short good time and a few eye rolls and a few laughs and some fun with the mystery. Not everything has to be a masterpiece to enjoy it.
May 30, 2023
Wow that was incredible. At times the writing was a bit cringy, and the mystery didn't resolve itself very smoothly and consistently, I was a bit confused at the end. But overall the plot was engaging and kept me reading and wanting more. And the dual love interest was a good way to cushion the ending. Lori and Nathan's chemistry was incredible and had me squealing from the cuteness, and I even cried at the end. Definitely a 10/10
August 28, 2024
This books isn’t exactly a bad book but it’s not exactly good either. The idea behind it was good, but the writing? Questionable. And I COULD NOT get over the fact that she fell in love in 3 days and solved a 150 year old murder case! And I’ve watched the movie “The spirit of Christmas” the ghost is suppose to stay with her after she solves his murder not leave!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2021
I loved this as my first YA paranormal romance. I loved all the different civil war references and it just made me smile😁. This story is about Lori and she moves into this big house that's a hotel and its June/July and she meets this ghost named Nathanial. Nathaniel says that lori needs to solve a mystery of how Nathaniel was murdered because Nathaniel is a ghost from the civil war. And they both fall in love but it wasn't a strong romance. I was sad by the end. (You have to read it to see what happens. 🙃). But it's a really good book and its not a scary or weird paranormal book. Very simple and adorable. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants civil war references, (since its probably hard to find a book with that), a simple paranormal romance, or mystery.
Read
December 21, 2023if this doesn't happen to me i will sue
October 6, 2019
This book was a great book, I enjoyed the mystery aspect of it and also the romantic drama.
August 30, 2020
Lemme just tell you all the reasons this book should be avoided at all cost. First of all the main character has a complete disdain for American history and everything she says about it is chickenshit. Second of all, she falls in love with a confederate soldier, which by the way in case you guys don't know but the confederates fought to keep black people as slaves. But apparently that doesn't matter when the dead racist white boy soldier has half a brain and shows interest to a 16 (almost 17) year old girl who IS SOMEHOW GOING INTO HER SENIOR YEAR??????? Do you know how many credits you need to skip an entire grade? The main character is the stupidest character I have ever read about I highly doubt she would be able to be a senior at 16. Also that the fact that Ruby wrote a whole ass book glorifying the confederacy just shows how stupid the book is. Bro its literally too late to defend racist murderers and slaveholders. Just admit you're racist and you're set on glorifying the times that black people weren't considered people. And not only that but also that she expected everyone to not care about the civil war when she's in actual Gettysburg. I've been there and bro they are SO obsessed with it. It's the most passive-aggressive racist thing I've ever seen a town collectively agree on. How many fucking black people glorify the civil war era? Like none because they were killed for existing which honestly sounds a lot like today but it was somehow even worse. If she expected to come to a town and just shop and meet cute boys or whatever she should have moved to the suburbs of Chicago. And her PARENTS oh my god does this woman not have parents or something because like bro they BELIEVE HER when shes talking about her creepy racist ghost fuckboy like it isn't built up trauma from having parents with brains of an actual peanut. Just like, honestly stay the fuck away from this book it almost ruined my passion for reading altogether.
April 16, 2013
Being the history lover that I am, when I saw this book summary on Netgalley about a Civil War era YA title; I had to give it a try. And, I'm happy to report I was not disappointed.
Lori and her parents have just relocated from Philly to Gettysburg to take on ownership of a bed and breakfast. Along with the staff that seems to think they come with the home, the locals who re enact Civil War battles each year and the teen hot shot who mows the lawn; there is also a resident ghost. Nathaniel is drawn to Lori as someone with the ability to see those who have passed on. She may just be the key to solving his murder and how exactly he ended up buried in the local cemetery instead of being honored as a fallen soldier. With a ring that belonged to Lincoln's infant son, a night time visitor to the shed behind the hotel and a foggy graveyard there is plenty of suspense.
Rebel Spirits would be a good one to teach in the classroom as it is clean and has historical elements. There are a lot of themes that could be explored surrounding Lincoln, the Gettysburg area and period homes. The only minor flaw I struggled with was the role of Lori's parents. They were completely hands off, wrapped up in managing the affairs of their business until the plot re introduces them at a conveniently crucial time and their reaction seems not in sync with their previous absence of influence in Lori's comings and goings. I also would have loved more fleshing out of the characters. The romance is sweet and the story stuck with me after I was done!
Content: Some kissing, sneaking out to be together and mild violence.
Lori and her parents have just relocated from Philly to Gettysburg to take on ownership of a bed and breakfast. Along with the staff that seems to think they come with the home, the locals who re enact Civil War battles each year and the teen hot shot who mows the lawn; there is also a resident ghost. Nathaniel is drawn to Lori as someone with the ability to see those who have passed on. She may just be the key to solving his murder and how exactly he ended up buried in the local cemetery instead of being honored as a fallen soldier. With a ring that belonged to Lincoln's infant son, a night time visitor to the shed behind the hotel and a foggy graveyard there is plenty of suspense.
Rebel Spirits would be a good one to teach in the classroom as it is clean and has historical elements. There are a lot of themes that could be explored surrounding Lincoln, the Gettysburg area and period homes. The only minor flaw I struggled with was the role of Lori's parents. They were completely hands off, wrapped up in managing the affairs of their business until the plot re introduces them at a conveniently crucial time and their reaction seems not in sync with their previous absence of influence in Lori's comings and goings. I also would have loved more fleshing out of the characters. The romance is sweet and the story stuck with me after I was done!
Content: Some kissing, sneaking out to be together and mild violence.
February 14, 2014
I really love this book. It's my favorite!I was at my school book fair, I was looking at the history section because I love history. Then I saw a picture of an handsome solider and I automatically take it and buy it. I brought 5 books totals including this one. I like so many books, I was deciding should I take the books or not. I judge the book by its cover. I saw this book in my hand I automatically decided that I have to take this book. I didn't know what it's about, I didn't even read the summary. I starting reading and reading. I woke up @ 2:00am just to read this book. I brought it to school and read it when the teacher is not looking xD For me it's so addicting. The next day, I went to the book fair again and I brought another copied of this book. I gave it to my friend and she fell in love with it. I finished this book in 2 days. That's how much I love it. I never finish a book in 2 days before :P I really love studying history and I like reading about war. Tbh I wasn't sure what the book is about but it include 3 of my favorite genres (Historial Fiction, Mystery and Horror) I know some people might not like it but this is my opinion of this book :)
July 4, 2013
I'd probably give this book a 2.5 because 2 seems harsh but, its not exactly a 3 either. The idea is nice, girl falls in love with ghost and solves his murder. However,I kept asking myself, "What do they think is going to come of this?" Are they just going to keep dating even though he's dead?
I didn't dislike this books, but I wasn't liking it either. The writing felt very "fanfiction-y" and Mary Sueish. For example, when Lori tells her friends and family shes talking to a dead ghost no one thinks she crazy! They simply go along with it, without a second thought. There's also a lot of cliche writing.
The book is also very rushed for nearly 300 pages. Lori manages, to move, meet Nathaniel, fall in love, and solve his murder in 3 days.
Overall, I liked the idea but the book wasn't that great for me. I wouldn't recommend to anyone, but if you like Civil War books, or this seems like your cup a tea I'd tell you to pick it up from your library instead of purchasing.
I didn't dislike this books, but I wasn't liking it either. The writing felt very "fanfiction-y" and Mary Sueish. For example, when Lori tells her friends and family shes talking to a dead ghost no one thinks she crazy! They simply go along with it, without a second thought. There's also a lot of cliche writing.
The book is also very rushed for nearly 300 pages. Lori manages, to move, meet Nathaniel, fall in love, and solve his murder in 3 days.
Overall, I liked the idea but the book wasn't that great for me. I wouldn't recommend to anyone, but if you like Civil War books, or this seems like your cup a tea I'd tell you to pick it up from your library instead of purchasing.
February 2, 2014
This is an amazing book that has everything! From love, ghosts, to mystery. It has a lot of suspense, and a lot of shocking parts. The characters are very easy to fall in love with. The author made a well-written book that was able to capture my attention, and I hope to be able to read more books by this author in the future, and that the author keeps writing books like this one, filled with romance and mystery. I do recommend this book for people who like suspenseful reads, and mysteries with some romance, there might even be a love triangle involved, so get your hands on a copy as soon as you can.
March 5, 2020
I can suspend my disbelief for ghosts, and centuries-old murders to solve, but I can't suspend it far enough to go with the storyline that has the main character falling in love with a ghost practically the second time she sees him. If the romance was left out, this book would have rated much higher for me. I did love the dad's line at the end though, when she tells him she's fell in love with a ghost - "With a ghost? In three days?" Thanks for having some sense there, Daddy-o.
December 15, 2020
I tought the idea was good, but it was missing something in the writing.
July 1, 2016
I AM SO SORRY BUT I WILL NOT BE REVIEWING THIS :( However, read my other reviews!!
May 25, 2021
This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read and it has tons of romance.....What happens when a ghost haunting you? What about a handsome one?
August 3, 2017
The history and mystery filled teen tale Rebel Spirits by Lois Ruby takes place in present-day Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The town is still obsessed with the Civil War. When Lori Chase and her parents move into an old inn she is told that the inn is occupied by the ghosts of Civil War soldiers. One ghost in particular, the overwhelmingly handsome Nathaniel Pierce contacts Lori to help him solve an age old mystery. His own death off the battlefield. Lori had only seen a few ghosts in the past but never like this. While in Gettysburg Lori experiences more more paranormal activity than ever before. Along the way Lori uproots shocking secrets not only about Nathaniel’s murder but also about the people that work in the inn. Lori has to try to solve Nathaniel’s murder before the end of the battle days because Nathaniel will leave at midnight on the last battle day. Over the few days Lori and Nathaniel spend together they can’t help but falling for each other. This Romeo and Juliet like forbidden love story makes the plot intriguing. Even though the author doesn’t give much to develop the characters, readers are still able to connect to Lori’s emotions about Nathaniel and other situations through the first person point of view and figurative language. Overall, I think that Rebel Spirits is a great summer mystery and love tale to escape reality.
Author Lois Ruby frequently uses imagery throughout the book to help the reader connect to Lori Chase’s true feelings. The author uses this imagery mostly during encounters with Nathaniel. During a conversation with Nathaniel Ruby writes “ Then he gazes at me, sending chills and warmth through me at once” (pg 9) to reveal Lori’s thoughts. The description of Lori’s chills and warmth shows that Lori is starting to become fond of Nathaniel. The author also uses subtle dialogue to reveal the characters’ emotions. A mere few seconds before Nathaniel is going to disappear he says that he has loved Lori for a thousand years as to which Lori replys that she also loves Nathaniel. The hasty discussion was enough to give the readers the key detail for the plot of the story.
Ruby also did an excellent job conveying Lori’s surroundings. Ruby used descriptive words such as gloomy and gothic to describe Lori’s first impression of the inn. The imagery used by Ruby while physically characterizing is the best by far especially of Nathaniel. Ruby writes descriptions such as “ His eyes capture me; obsidian black pools”(pg 35). The best account of Nathaniel is “ He’s tall, dressed in a rumpled soldier’s uniform. His face, shadowed with dark stubble, stares back at me, his deep-set eyes a luminous black. There is such pain in those eyes; they tug at my heart” (pg 17). As a reader I respect and enjoy the vivid account because it adds to the visual image in your head and it also adds to the mood.
The author’s clever use of inserting certain thoughts of Lori’s plays into the suspenseful and sometimes intense plot. During a scary and intense point of the book Ruby inserts “ What if he turns the mower on, opens the door, and shoves me down the hill towards the creek?” (pg 252). The cleverly inserted frantic thought that Lori has adds to the intense nature of the situation. Her the worst thing possible thinking just adds to the story line. Lori’s thoughts also occasionally foreshadowed important plot points that come at the end of the book. While Lori is touring the cemetery a statue catches her eye and asked what was the person’s importance. In the end this person that the statue is of becomes very important to Lori and Nathaniel.
Overall, the book was a good read. I recommend this book be read by more teens than adults. Although I personally loved the setting and love story, I think there could be improvements made. There wasn’t much character progression. The characters stayed the same through the whole book. Also, the relationship between Nathaniel and Lori didn’t grow throughout the book. It was basically known that there was a romantic relationship between the two from their first conversation. Lois Ruby could have also put more similes, metaphors, etc. to add to the quality of the writing. I think that using more of these elements would complement the sophisticated vocabulary and imagery. Personally, I thought that the book was addicting and the perfect book for a short read. I believe that there will many people that will not enjoy the book simply because this book is meant for a teenage reader and is not the best at developing the characters and the relationships. I loved Rebel Spirits and would recommend this book to any of my fellow teen romance junkies.
Author Lois Ruby frequently uses imagery throughout the book to help the reader connect to Lori Chase’s true feelings. The author uses this imagery mostly during encounters with Nathaniel. During a conversation with Nathaniel Ruby writes “ Then he gazes at me, sending chills and warmth through me at once” (pg 9) to reveal Lori’s thoughts. The description of Lori’s chills and warmth shows that Lori is starting to become fond of Nathaniel. The author also uses subtle dialogue to reveal the characters’ emotions. A mere few seconds before Nathaniel is going to disappear he says that he has loved Lori for a thousand years as to which Lori replys that she also loves Nathaniel. The hasty discussion was enough to give the readers the key detail for the plot of the story.
Ruby also did an excellent job conveying Lori’s surroundings. Ruby used descriptive words such as gloomy and gothic to describe Lori’s first impression of the inn. The imagery used by Ruby while physically characterizing is the best by far especially of Nathaniel. Ruby writes descriptions such as “ His eyes capture me; obsidian black pools”(pg 35). The best account of Nathaniel is “ He’s tall, dressed in a rumpled soldier’s uniform. His face, shadowed with dark stubble, stares back at me, his deep-set eyes a luminous black. There is such pain in those eyes; they tug at my heart” (pg 17). As a reader I respect and enjoy the vivid account because it adds to the visual image in your head and it also adds to the mood.
The author’s clever use of inserting certain thoughts of Lori’s plays into the suspenseful and sometimes intense plot. During a scary and intense point of the book Ruby inserts “ What if he turns the mower on, opens the door, and shoves me down the hill towards the creek?” (pg 252). The cleverly inserted frantic thought that Lori has adds to the intense nature of the situation. Her the worst thing possible thinking just adds to the story line. Lori’s thoughts also occasionally foreshadowed important plot points that come at the end of the book. While Lori is touring the cemetery a statue catches her eye and asked what was the person’s importance. In the end this person that the statue is of becomes very important to Lori and Nathaniel.
Overall, the book was a good read. I recommend this book be read by more teens than adults. Although I personally loved the setting and love story, I think there could be improvements made. There wasn’t much character progression. The characters stayed the same through the whole book. Also, the relationship between Nathaniel and Lori didn’t grow throughout the book. It was basically known that there was a romantic relationship between the two from their first conversation. Lois Ruby could have also put more similes, metaphors, etc. to add to the quality of the writing. I think that using more of these elements would complement the sophisticated vocabulary and imagery. Personally, I thought that the book was addicting and the perfect book for a short read. I believe that there will many people that will not enjoy the book simply because this book is meant for a teenage reader and is not the best at developing the characters and the relationships. I loved Rebel Spirits and would recommend this book to any of my fellow teen romance junkies.
September 21, 2024
Lori Chase, a teenager living in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, finds herself in the middle of a ghostly mystery when she encounters the spirit of Nathaniel Pierce, a soldier from the Civil War. Nathaniel’s soul cannot rest because he wasn’t killed in battle—he was murdered. Lori must help him solve the mystery of his death, uncovering shocking secrets in the process. But the clock is ticking—this all happens in a whirlwind of three short days, during which Lori not only solves the murder but also falls in love with the dashing ghost.
While the book's premise is intriguing—combining historical elements, supernatural intrigue, and a dash of romance—the execution falls short. The fast-paced plot feels rushed and unrealistic. A murder mystery solved in three days, alongside a romance between a living teenager and a ghost, is hard to believe. The frequent use of convenient plot devices and coincidences weakens the overall tension, making the story feel more like a string of lucky breaks than a well-developed mystery.
The characters’ dialogue also doesn’t help the story’s credibility. The teenagers often sound unnatural, with odd and outdated descriptions like "pie-shaped face" and "tan as a muffin," which feel more suited to older generations than modern teens. This disconnect from how young people speak today detracts from the immersion of the story.
Additionally, the book’s pacing feels uneven. Much of the plot hinges on characters simply communicating with each other, but they rarely do, leading to unnecessary misunderstandings and repetitive dialogue. There are multiple moments where characters ask the same questions or stall for no apparent reason, which becomes frustrating and drags down the narrative.
That said, there are some fun elements in the book. The setting of Gettysburg, with its haunted history, provides a rich backdrop for a ghost story. The concept of a Civil War soldier seeking justice from beyond the grave is an exciting one, even if the execution is lacking.
For fans of YA historical ghost stories, the book might be worth a quick read, but it’s not the most gripping or well-crafted of its kind. The rushed plot, unbelievable romance, and awkward dialogue make it difficult to fully invest in the story. Overall, it’s an easy read with some entertaining moments, but it doesn’t quite live up to its intriguing premise. For those curious, it might be worth checking out from the library, but not a must-buy.
While the book's premise is intriguing—combining historical elements, supernatural intrigue, and a dash of romance—the execution falls short. The fast-paced plot feels rushed and unrealistic. A murder mystery solved in three days, alongside a romance between a living teenager and a ghost, is hard to believe. The frequent use of convenient plot devices and coincidences weakens the overall tension, making the story feel more like a string of lucky breaks than a well-developed mystery.
The characters’ dialogue also doesn’t help the story’s credibility. The teenagers often sound unnatural, with odd and outdated descriptions like "pie-shaped face" and "tan as a muffin," which feel more suited to older generations than modern teens. This disconnect from how young people speak today detracts from the immersion of the story.
Additionally, the book’s pacing feels uneven. Much of the plot hinges on characters simply communicating with each other, but they rarely do, leading to unnecessary misunderstandings and repetitive dialogue. There are multiple moments where characters ask the same questions or stall for no apparent reason, which becomes frustrating and drags down the narrative.
That said, there are some fun elements in the book. The setting of Gettysburg, with its haunted history, provides a rich backdrop for a ghost story. The concept of a Civil War soldier seeking justice from beyond the grave is an exciting one, even if the execution is lacking.
For fans of YA historical ghost stories, the book might be worth a quick read, but it’s not the most gripping or well-crafted of its kind. The rushed plot, unbelievable romance, and awkward dialogue make it difficult to fully invest in the story. Overall, it’s an easy read with some entertaining moments, but it doesn’t quite live up to its intriguing premise. For those curious, it might be worth checking out from the library, but not a must-buy.
February 11, 2018
What the hell did I just read?
Okay, I'm not even going to get into the glaring plot holes because I'm just so angry about this whole book. Warning, some spoilers, not gonna lie.
How did this teenager fall for a dead guy in less than 20 seconds? This was worse than Twilight. Another thing, how the hell was everyone just okay with her seeing ghosts? No one really had a weird reaction to it. They just took it in stride. Also, how the hell was the love triangle between a dead guy and a living guy. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD HE'S A FUCKING GHOST! How substantial can that relationship be? Other questions: How is a live girl supposed to solve a fucking 100 year old murder when she knows fuck all about the battle? Why the fuck was there a random fucking confession in a water sealed ring box at the bottom of a lake? What was that bit at the end where she's gonna meet the ghost in the afterlife but for the time being he'd be fine if she was with Evan cause she's gotta have something to pass the time until she dies and can be with him? Seriously, what the actual fuck is this book?
Also, her family was like the worst. She's on skype with her brother, who also sees a strange man in her room and he's like "Huh we must be having the same hallucination." And then she nearly gets murdered by a deranged house keeper who apparently showed up out of no where and her family but Lorelei's parents are totally cool with her visiting a cemetery after getting released from the ER. Seriously. What. The. Fuck.
I have no words for this book. This could have been great but it just so wasn't.
Okay, I'm not even going to get into the glaring plot holes because I'm just so angry about this whole book. Warning, some spoilers, not gonna lie.
How did this teenager fall for a dead guy in less than 20 seconds? This was worse than Twilight. Another thing, how the hell was everyone just okay with her seeing ghosts? No one really had a weird reaction to it. They just took it in stride. Also, how the hell was the love triangle between a dead guy and a living guy. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD HE'S A FUCKING GHOST! How substantial can that relationship be? Other questions: How is a live girl supposed to solve a fucking 100 year old murder when she knows fuck all about the battle? Why the fuck was there a random fucking confession in a water sealed ring box at the bottom of a lake? What was that bit at the end where she's gonna meet the ghost in the afterlife but for the time being he'd be fine if she was with Evan cause she's gotta have something to pass the time until she dies and can be with him? Seriously, what the actual fuck is this book?
Also, her family was like the worst. She's on skype with her brother, who also sees a strange man in her room and he's like "Huh we must be having the same hallucination." And then she nearly gets murdered by a deranged house keeper who apparently showed up out of no where and her family but Lorelei's parents are totally cool with her visiting a cemetery after getting released from the ER. Seriously. What. The. Fuck.
I have no words for this book. This could have been great but it just so wasn't.
May 11, 2021
There are two things... okay maybe three things that I love in a book to make the perfect combination for me, supernatural stuff, a little bit of romance (love triangle included), and a good mystery. That is the holy trinity of book awesomeness for me. For a college class we have to read 25 books and so of course I tried to find as many books as I thought I would adore. I DID. One of the best Young adult books I have read, it leans on the younger end of the YA spectrum, but that’s okay because its amazing. If I ran a library at a school, this would be included in the many books because it’s just a Fun cute book that is clean and it talks about the Battle of Gettysburg. There’s so many different genres that make this book and I think it would be favored by many students. This book wouldn’t be a book I would assign for a grade in an english class, but just a good book for some laid back time.
Warnings include that of course, it is a book that has the paranormal in it. There is a mention of a ouija board that is used but only for a split few words. A child does die at the beginning after falling from a tree and there is murder in the book. That is the whole mystery aspect of the story, you would expect a soldier to die on the battlefield but he was murdered. There is slight public display of affection with a few kisses but nothing more. Great book!
Warnings include that of course, it is a book that has the paranormal in it. There is a mention of a ouija board that is used but only for a split few words. A child does die at the beginning after falling from a tree and there is murder in the book. That is the whole mystery aspect of the story, you would expect a soldier to die on the battlefield but he was murdered. There is slight public display of affection with a few kisses but nothing more. Great book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2023
Oh my god, I absolutely hated this book. It is so bad, I want to give it a zero, but I can't do that so I'll give it a 1.
The main character is my main problem. Lorelai bothered me. AS SOON AS SHE MET NATHANIEL she fell in love with him. Both the front and the back focus on her falling in love with him. "What if you fell in love with a ghost" IT ISN'T EVEN THE IDEA OF THE STORY. On the back it says the "devastatingly handsome Nathaniel Pierce." I've read so many, SO many, mystery books that involve a love story but they don't make it look as if that is the main topic of the book. I usually LOVE first person perspectives but this was just no. Also, Lori barely spends anytime solving the actual mystery and more time obsessing over Nathaniel and Nathaniel explaining what happened to him. The thing is, it was barely a murder. Also, I don't think the author knows how teenagers talk, and think. "Something feels off-kilter." Since when do teenagers think "Oh you know, something seems off kilter!!" I had high hopes for this book. Don't waste your money on this, please.
The main character is my main problem. Lorelai bothered me. AS SOON AS SHE MET NATHANIEL she fell in love with him. Both the front and the back focus on her falling in love with him. "What if you fell in love with a ghost" IT ISN'T EVEN THE IDEA OF THE STORY. On the back it says the "devastatingly handsome Nathaniel Pierce." I've read so many, SO many, mystery books that involve a love story but they don't make it look as if that is the main topic of the book. I usually LOVE first person perspectives but this was just no. Also, Lori barely spends anytime solving the actual mystery and more time obsessing over Nathaniel and Nathaniel explaining what happened to him. The thing is, it was barely a murder. Also, I don't think the author knows how teenagers talk, and think. "Something feels off-kilter." Since when do teenagers think "Oh you know, something seems off kilter!!" I had high hopes for this book. Don't waste your money on this, please.
December 31, 2017
Though the plot of Rebel Spirits was quite intriguing (I can assure you that I've never read anything quite like this), I do have a few issues with the book.
Number One, the title. Rebel Spirits. But, in the American Civil War, the Confederate soldiers were called Rebels, and Nathaniel is a Union soldier..? It just doesn't make sense.
Number Two, the characters. All the characters in the book (I didn't mind Evan or Nathaniel, actually) were quite stale and I found it hard to connect with the main character-- Lori.
But despite the 2 problems I had with the book (I didn't particularily fancy the ending, either. I suppose I was just expecting a happy ending for Lori and Nathaniel), the plot was absolutely action-packed and I found it indescribably hard to put down.
Over all, I think this book deserves a solid 3.5 stars, and I would definitely recommend it to any of my fellow historical fiction and action-lovers.
Number One, the title. Rebel Spirits. But, in the American Civil War, the Confederate soldiers were called Rebels, and Nathaniel is a Union soldier..? It just doesn't make sense.
Number Two, the characters. All the characters in the book (I didn't mind Evan or Nathaniel, actually) were quite stale and I found it hard to connect with the main character-- Lori.
But despite the 2 problems I had with the book (I didn't particularily fancy the ending, either. I suppose I was just expecting a happy ending for Lori and Nathaniel), the plot was absolutely action-packed and I found it indescribably hard to put down.
Over all, I think this book deserves a solid 3.5 stars, and I would definitely recommend it to any of my fellow historical fiction and action-lovers.
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