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Araminta Spook #7
Skeleton Island
Araminta and her best friend Wanda are going on a school trip to Skeleton Island, a place rumored to be the site of a scary ghost shipwreck. And when the pair is stranded overnight, they discover that there might be more truth to the island's name than they would have preferred.
Now some terrifying pirate skeletons are on the loose, and they want to take the girls down to Davy Jones's locker with them! Will Araminta, Wanda, and an unexpected friend be able to thwart the ghostly crew, avoid a watery fate, and maybe find some lost treasure to boot?
Told with her trademark wit and a dash of scary fun, along with black and white illustrations throughout, Angie Sage's latest tale is perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and Jacqueline West.
Now some terrifying pirate skeletons are on the loose, and they want to take the girls down to Davy Jones's locker with them! Will Araminta, Wanda, and an unexpected friend be able to thwart the ghostly crew, avoid a watery fate, and maybe find some lost treasure to boot?
Told with her trademark wit and a dash of scary fun, along with black and white illustrations throughout, Angie Sage's latest tale is perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and Jacqueline West.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published June 18, 2015
8 people are currently reading
696 people want to read
About the author
Angie Sage
65 books3,279 followersAngie Sage (born 1952) is the author of the Septimus Heap series which includes Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste, Syren, Darke and Fyre. She also wrote the Todhunter Moon series, and the Magykal Papers, an additional book with extra information about Septimus' world. She is also the illustrator and/or writer of many children's books, and is the new writer of the Araminta Spookie series.
Angie Sage grew up in Thames Valley, London and Kent. Her father was a publisher. He would bring home blank books that she could fill with pictures and stories. Sage first studied medicine, but changed her mind and went to Art School in Leicester. There she studied Graphic Design and Illustration. She began illustrating books after college. Then she progressed to writing children stories, including toddler books and chapter books. Her first novel was Septimus Heap: Magyk. Angie Sage is married and has two daughters, Laurie and Lois.
Angie Sage grew up in Thames Valley, London and Kent. Her father was a publisher. He would bring home blank books that she could fill with pictures and stories. Sage first studied medicine, but changed her mind and went to Art School in Leicester. There she studied Graphic Design and Illustration. She began illustrating books after college. Then she progressed to writing children stories, including toddler books and chapter books. Her first novel was Septimus Heap: Magyk. Angie Sage is married and has two daughters, Laurie and Lois.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 22, 2020
I give 5 stars to this entire series and also the Septimus Heap series! I love all the books. They are fun and interesting and imaginative. I know I would've loved them as a kid too, but I'm still a big kid! :) These are such fun!
January 22, 2024
A pleasant, short, easy read, enlivened by occasional illustrations.
It was perhaps more frightening for me than the average child, I suspect, since at one point early on Araminta and Wanda were left in a position where they could easily have died (at the bottom of a pit in a cave on a deserted island, and no one except the two horrible children who tricked them and then pulled out the ladder know they're there). I pictured them lingering, desperate for help, only to succumb to dehydration a few days later. I didn't think it was likely, given "children's book," but I didn't like how casually they treated what seemed to me to be a life-and-death situation.
That aside, my other demerit point would be for its essential niceness. It's almost too nice, or too conventionally nice, given the ghost, vampires, etc., and I'd like for a bit more of the Addams Family or Edward Gorey (or even Lois Lowry) vibe here. It's like if the Bobbsey Twins wore more black, but that's about it. Where's the Spookiness?
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
It was perhaps more frightening for me than the average child, I suspect, since at one point early on Araminta and Wanda were left in a position where they could easily have died (at the bottom of a pit in a cave on a deserted island, and no one except the two horrible children who tricked them and then pulled out the ladder know they're there). I pictured them lingering, desperate for help, only to succumb to dehydration a few days later. I didn't think it was likely, given "children's book," but I didn't like how casually they treated what seemed to me to be a life-and-death situation.
That aside, my other demerit point would be for its essential niceness. It's almost too nice, or too conventionally nice, given the ghost, vampires, etc., and I'd like for a bit more of the Addams Family or Edward Gorey (or even Lois Lowry) vibe here. It's like if the Bobbsey Twins wore more black, but that's about it. Where's the Spookiness?
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
September 15, 2020
Eleanor says: I like this book a lot. It is probably one of my favorite Araminta books. It is my favorite because there were a lot of skeletons. Very creepy. Pirates and treasure and a deserted island.
Momma says: this is the last book in the series so far and even though I love Spookie House, I also really like Araminta and Wanda at a boarding school and I really hope there will be more books in the future.
Momma says: this is the last book in the series so far and even though I love Spookie House, I also really like Araminta and Wanda at a boarding school and I really hope there will be more books in the future.
September 30, 2018
I thought this was a nice Halloween story—it is better than the first one in the series that I read. I liked that it just focused on the two girls (the rest of the family is less appealing to me) being trapped on Skeleton Island and the skeleton pirates made me think of Garfield’s Halloween. There were some flaws but good overall for the kiddos.
November 21, 2019
Love this series, I wish there were more of them.
Want to read
October 13, 2016I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2016
Skeleton Island: An Araminta Spookie Adventure by Angie Sage is a children's chapter book. It is the seventh in the series and after finishing it, I will definitely be recommending this series for the library.
Araminta Spookie and her best friend Wanda are attending boarding school, Gargoyle Hall. They are still having problems with two other girls, Nosy Nora and Creepy Cora, but nothing they can't handle. When Miss Gargoyle announces that they are going on a fieldtrip to Skeleton Island Araminta is excited. She has been there before with Uncle Drac and she even has a baby bat in a bat box as her pet. Wanda is excited because she loves pirates and Araminta has shared the pirate story about the sunken ship the "Cutlass Kate", Captain Peg Leg and the pirate crew that sank off the island. Of course when they get to the island they end up paired with Nosy Nora and Creepy Cora. Araminta decides to scare them by taking them to the bat cave and disrupting the bats, but unfortunately, her plan backfires. When Araminta and Wanda find themselves marooned on the island as the Fat Seagull, the ferry, chugged back to school without them, the adventures begin. Meeting ghosts, skeletons, finding treasure and being taken captive all keep you wondering what is going to happen next.
This is a great story for reluctant readers as well as avid readers. It is a good chapter book for youngsters looking to move out of picture books. Araminta is a strong willed, and slightly odd, young lady with lots of stories and experiences to share. We learn more about Wanda in this story. She seems to be quiet and mild mannered, but get her upset or scared and she will stand up for herself and her friends. She can be a little whiny though, but then again, when you are in danger or bat guano, you might be whiny too. This book is illustrated by John Kelly with black and white artwork that adds to the story just enough to keep you entertained. The story has enough adventure to entertain reluctant readers that need high action books to hold their interest and for those that love a touch of the spooky or supernatural.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Araminta Spookie and her best friend Wanda are attending boarding school, Gargoyle Hall. They are still having problems with two other girls, Nosy Nora and Creepy Cora, but nothing they can't handle. When Miss Gargoyle announces that they are going on a fieldtrip to Skeleton Island Araminta is excited. She has been there before with Uncle Drac and she even has a baby bat in a bat box as her pet. Wanda is excited because she loves pirates and Araminta has shared the pirate story about the sunken ship the "Cutlass Kate", Captain Peg Leg and the pirate crew that sank off the island. Of course when they get to the island they end up paired with Nosy Nora and Creepy Cora. Araminta decides to scare them by taking them to the bat cave and disrupting the bats, but unfortunately, her plan backfires. When Araminta and Wanda find themselves marooned on the island as the Fat Seagull, the ferry, chugged back to school without them, the adventures begin. Meeting ghosts, skeletons, finding treasure and being taken captive all keep you wondering what is going to happen next.
This is a great story for reluctant readers as well as avid readers. It is a good chapter book for youngsters looking to move out of picture books. Araminta is a strong willed, and slightly odd, young lady with lots of stories and experiences to share. We learn more about Wanda in this story. She seems to be quiet and mild mannered, but get her upset or scared and she will stand up for herself and her friends. She can be a little whiny though, but then again, when you are in danger or bat guano, you might be whiny too. This book is illustrated by John Kelly with black and white artwork that adds to the story just enough to keep you entertained. The story has enough adventure to entertain reluctant readers that need high action books to hold their interest and for those that love a touch of the spooky or supernatural.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2016
{My thoughts} – Araminta and Wanda are still attending Gargoyle Hall and they are getting ready to go on a field trip to a place called Skeleton Island. Araminta is looking forward to this field trip because she has been there before with her Uncle Drac and he had given her a map that is suppose to lead her to a Pirate’s Treasure. She has only shared this information with Wanda but they both seem interested in meeting some pirate’s and having fun on their trip.
Once they get to the Island they are all paired off into groups of four and they end up with two other girls that neither Araminta or Wanda want to be paired with. However, when one of the two other girls asks to change groups they are told that isn’t a possibility and that it is the luck of the draw they they were placed with those two girls.
The trip goes smoothly for the most part, they are meant to find different rocks and different types of grass together for their assignment. However, Aramenta gets this idea in her head that she’d like to scare the two girls they are working with and well let’s just say the outcome isn’t what either of the girls would have expected.
If you’d like to know what happens you will need to read the book. I have come to love how these books have a bit of humor, paranormal and mystery all wrapped up into them. I also love how they can draw the reader in and are for the most part nice and fast reads that you can knock out in a couple of hours.
I do recommend these books for any child that enjoys mystery, paranormal and humor in their books. I am certain that they will enjoy these books as much as I have enjoyed reading them. I plan to give the entire series to date to my children as soon as I am through posting this review.
Once they get to the Island they are all paired off into groups of four and they end up with two other girls that neither Araminta or Wanda want to be paired with. However, when one of the two other girls asks to change groups they are told that isn’t a possibility and that it is the luck of the draw they they were placed with those two girls.
The trip goes smoothly for the most part, they are meant to find different rocks and different types of grass together for their assignment. However, Aramenta gets this idea in her head that she’d like to scare the two girls they are working with and well let’s just say the outcome isn’t what either of the girls would have expected.
If you’d like to know what happens you will need to read the book. I have come to love how these books have a bit of humor, paranormal and mystery all wrapped up into them. I also love how they can draw the reader in and are for the most part nice and fast reads that you can knock out in a couple of hours.
I do recommend these books for any child that enjoys mystery, paranormal and humor in their books. I am certain that they will enjoy these books as much as I have enjoyed reading them. I plan to give the entire series to date to my children as soon as I am through posting this review.
September 2, 2016
Skeleton Island is the seventh book in the Araminta Spookie series by Angie Sage. I have not read the entire series, I have only read book number one, My Haunted House, and book number six, Gargoyle Hall. I think newcomers could catch up quickly, but knowing some of the quirks of the characters beforehand does make the characters easier to understand.
Araminta and her best friend Wanda are going on a school trip to Skeleton Island, a place rumored to be the site of a scary ghost shipwreck. And when the pair is stranded overnight, they discover that there might be more truth to the island's name than they would have preferred. Now some terrifying pirate skeletons are on the loose, and they want to take the girls down to Davy Jones's locker with them! Will Araminta, Wanda, and an unexpected friend be able to thwart the ghostly crew, avoid a watery fate, and maybe find some lost treasure to boot?
Skeleton Island is as entertaining and interesting as the previous books that I have read from this series. Araminta and Wanda are two very different girls, and best friends both because of and despite those differences. The have to deal with the normal school age struggles like family, bullies, and school work, however there is always a bit of a twist to Araminta’s view of the world. When they are stranded on Skeleton Island after a school trip the stories they had told about pirates, measure, and ghost seem to come true- but of course there is much more to the story than even they knew. I like that things are never as simple as they seem, and that smarts and compassion are what save the day.
Skeleton Island is a fun story with plenty of adventure and some scary fun. I think that readers that enjoy some spooky fun with their adventure will enjoy the read.
Araminta and her best friend Wanda are going on a school trip to Skeleton Island, a place rumored to be the site of a scary ghost shipwreck. And when the pair is stranded overnight, they discover that there might be more truth to the island's name than they would have preferred. Now some terrifying pirate skeletons are on the loose, and they want to take the girls down to Davy Jones's locker with them! Will Araminta, Wanda, and an unexpected friend be able to thwart the ghostly crew, avoid a watery fate, and maybe find some lost treasure to boot?
Skeleton Island is as entertaining and interesting as the previous books that I have read from this series. Araminta and Wanda are two very different girls, and best friends both because of and despite those differences. The have to deal with the normal school age struggles like family, bullies, and school work, however there is always a bit of a twist to Araminta’s view of the world. When they are stranded on Skeleton Island after a school trip the stories they had told about pirates, measure, and ghost seem to come true- but of course there is much more to the story than even they knew. I like that things are never as simple as they seem, and that smarts and compassion are what save the day.
Skeleton Island is a fun story with plenty of adventure and some scary fun. I think that readers that enjoy some spooky fun with their adventure will enjoy the read.
August 3, 2016
I received a free ecopy of this book from Netgalley and Bloomsbury Kids I exchange for an honest review.
Araminta knows that pirates are bad business so she's reluctant to go on the fieldtrip to Skeleton Island but her best friend Wanda thinks it will be great fun. Araminta has been there once before with her Uncle Drac, who told her the story of skeleton pirates. When she and Wanda are left alone on the island overnight, they find that the story is true!
This was a fun little 'spooky' read.
I hadn't realized that this is the 7th book in the series until after I started it but it really didn't matter as it reads perfectly fine without having read the other books. I do own the first book and will read it soon. Hopefully I can get my hands on the rest of the series as well. I think this series would be a nice addition to my daughter's shelves for when she is a little older.
I have not read either of the two authors mentioned in the synopsis above so I cannot make that comparison but I do think this series would be enjoyed by fans of the television shows, Ruby Gloom and Monster High.
Araminta knows that pirates are bad business so she's reluctant to go on the fieldtrip to Skeleton Island but her best friend Wanda thinks it will be great fun. Araminta has been there once before with her Uncle Drac, who told her the story of skeleton pirates. When she and Wanda are left alone on the island overnight, they find that the story is true!
This was a fun little 'spooky' read.
I hadn't realized that this is the 7th book in the series until after I started it but it really didn't matter as it reads perfectly fine without having read the other books. I do own the first book and will read it soon. Hopefully I can get my hands on the rest of the series as well. I think this series would be a nice addition to my daughter's shelves for when she is a little older.
I have not read either of the two authors mentioned in the synopsis above so I cannot make that comparison but I do think this series would be enjoyed by fans of the television shows, Ruby Gloom and Monster High.
August 12, 2016
Really cute, just a tinny bit spooky. Araminta and Wanda have a big, scary adventure and make a new friend. The author is clever to capitalize on many kids' love for pirates. This shows that pirates were not fun and daring but actually cruel and scheming. If not for their new friend Billie the girls would have been literally sunk. There are so many elements that kids will love: being marooned, scary bats, fabulous treasure, an ancient curse, living skeletons, and more. It's a short, quick read with a few well done illustrations. Araminta and Wanda exhibit their usual spunk and intelligence, giving the book a real girl power vibe. Elementary age kids and older reluctant readers are the perfect audience for this charming tale.
books-i-have
June 30, 2016When Araminta and her best friend Wanda go on a school trip to Skeleton Island, they don't expect to get stranded there overnight. And they certainly don't expect the island to be haunted by ghostly skeletons of pirates! It certainly makes for a spooky sleepover. Luckily these ghoulish pirates just want someone to help them find their lost treasure, then they'll happily set sail on their ghost ship once more.
But someone else wants the treasure for themselves—can Araminta find what is lurking in the depths before it's too late?
January 26, 2016
I love Araminta Spook and her side-kick Wanda. Their adventure on Skeleton Island, their treasure hunt and Billie are all so entertaining to read about. Angie Sage is so smart. She makes her characters so natural and beguiling.
October 5, 2015
Vergeleken met het vorige deel vond ik het nogal tegenvallen, maar zaten genoeg leuke dingen in om het 3 sterren te geven.
Want to read
August 12, 2016I enjoyed the book.
July 13, 2016
The I really enjoy Angie Sage and her creativity. I fund her writing easy to read and engaging for children.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews