The Loch Ness Punster

43 Old Cemetery Road #7

by Kate Klise, M. Sarah Klise (Illustrator)

In the seventh and final installment of the popular 43 Old Cemetery Road series, twelve-year-old Seymour Hope has inherited a castle in Loch Ness, Scotland. It could be the perfect summer vacation spot for Seymour and his parents, Olive C. Spence and Ignatius B. Grumply. But Iggy wants nothing to do with the castle. Why? Because it was owned by his uncle Ian, a world-famous psychiatrist and the world’s worst punster. So Iggy stays home to write, and Seymour and Olive set off for Scotland—each with a secret.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Humor, Mystery, Fiction, Paranormal, Juvenile

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

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

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

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This last installment in the 43 Old Cemetery Road is triple the fun. In addition to the usual puns you get corny jokes and new vocabulary words. Are you a neophobe? Or a neophiliac? Iggy is definitely a neophobe, but his deceased Uncle Ian is hanging around as a ghost to change that. Even though your last name may be "Grumply," you don't have to actually be grumpy all the time. On the side, the Ghastly library is letting patrons check out pets this summer. You can just imagine how that goes. Olive and Seymour make a trip to Scotland and Edgar Allen Poe, the nearly 200-year-old tortoise is a stowaway. And there is so much more packed in this little book. You just have to read it for yourself.

[Tazendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Attention! Spoilers for the whole series within this review!*

Review for the whole series.

I'm sad that this is the last book, but I had a wonderful time being in the adventures of Ignatius (or Iggy for short), Olive, and Seymour. All the way through. They might have hard times, but they'll always be together.

I was starting to get into the series the moment that I turned the first page of the first book.

Positive: There couldn't have been a more perfect way to tell the stories than letters, newspapers, contracts, other papers, and sometimes even text messages! With graphic novels it would be all pictures, and with novels it would be all words! So, I like the balance!

I LOVE the story line, because it's so creative! I mean, I nice ghost who lives in a mansion with an abandoned boy and grumpy old man who have adventures together? Wow! That definitely deserves some credit!

Those are the two main things that I LOVED about this book! It's cool too though that the author phrases turned into names. For example:

page-turner --> Paige Turner

see more hope --> Seymour Hope

embalm --> M. Balm

I'll let you figure out the rest of the names though. :) There were some names that I couldn't get like:

Olive C. Spence

or

Ignatius B. Grumply

and plenty others. But the author is still very clever!

Negative: Like I mentioned above, there were some names that I couldn't get. Also, the reason why I rated Hollywood, Dead Ahead (5th book in the series) (feel free to think I am a bit weird after reading what follows): I thought it was a bit more boring. But, I still really liked it! It had the charm that the others in the series had!


Thank you for your wonderful writing Ms. Kate Klise. And thank you for the wonderful illustrations Ms. M. Sarah Klise. Without one or the other, this series would certainly be not complete. Thank you both SO MUCH for creating these treasures, and sharing them with the world. You are now considered some of my favorite authors/illustrators. I am looking forward to reading your other series'.

With all of that said, I give the whole series a hearty, spooky, and wonderful 5 STARS. :)

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book in this series, and I feel sad that it is over.

Especially since there are still events I would love to see happening (especially after what happens in this one), and I just don't want to see goodbye to Grumbly, to Seymour, to Olive. I just want it to continue a bit longer.

This book is all about Olive and Grumbly's past. It was quite fun that we finally found out why Grumbly is.... well... so grumbly. :P I am quite happy that this was finally added, as I did wonder why he was so grumbly all the time. In the end it was just a small event, but it caused so much grief to him.

We are also going to Scotland (the book is now split up between Scotland and Ghastly), and it is there that we see Olive's past, or well it is all about her travelling to Scotland when she was twelve.

We have letters, text messages, newspapers, and other things. I still love the format of the book, it is creative and it makes the book even more fun.

I have to say I didn't like the new characters (Teed and Macon). They were terrible, horrible, bleh.

I also didn't really like the tension between Olive and Grumbly. :(

The turtle (and the revelation) was a fun one!

All in all, a pretty good end to a series. That ending was just so cute and sweet!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll miss this clever series. This is the type of book I wish I could write!

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrated middle grade series told in epistolary style, using an exchange of letters with a few newspaper articles in the mix. This seventh, and final, title in the series leaves readers with the message to go after what they really want. While I appreciate learning the source of Iggy's unceasing grumpiness, the plot thread with his newly deceased uncle feels out of place and too grown-up for this series. On the other hand, the library's Borrow-a-Pet program and Nessie both add a lot of fun to this story. I'll miss the residents of 43 Old Cemetery Road (and 43 Old Castle Road), but I look forward to whatever the Klise sisters come up with next.

[Sarah Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book (like the others of this series), was a fun, light read.

The story is told through letters, newspaper articles and lovely drawings, which makes it different from other books.
The characters have clever names (like Shirley U. Jest or Macon Deels) and there are many small threads to the overall plot which weave neatly together at the end.

This is the last book in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series and I will miss these fun stories by the Klise sisters.

[Ladiibbug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children's book

A castle in Scotland, surrounded by water, with trees, a small boat with two people looking into the water, but not seeing the Loch Ness monster behind them ;-). Turns out there's a ghost in the story, so I was sold -- November's Creature Feature Challenge being Ghosts/Ghouls/Spirits in my G/R Book Cocoon forum.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that every book in this series made me laugh, cry, roll my eyes, AND smile. They're full of puns, out-of-the-box storytelling techniques, AND important truths. I'm sad that this book is the last in the series, but thank you Klise sisters for a fun ride!

[Bonnie Arriola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story told in letters, telegrams, book pages, a postcard, secret satellite spies.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my! I didn't realize that this was the last book in the series. The cover and the title made me grab it. I am going to start with book 1 and enjoy it from the start.
I love the way the book presents itself with drawings, text blurbs and different fonts to more easily keep track of the person speaking.
I really like the characters and can't wait to see how the story starts.

[Hapzydeco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 7 in this wonderful series. Do yourself a favor and read the entire series. This is not your ordinary storybook. In the preface, Roald Dahl gets it right. Enjoy this book for the `challenge' of figuring out the puns. Plus, Olive and Ian and Seymour have a specific font so it's really easy to tell which character is talking.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just ok. It didn’t have much going on but I wanted to know why Iggy was always so grumpy. It was a silly reason but these books are full of silly things and they were fun to read. If there had been any more I would’ve had to rake a break from them but they were different and intriguing.

[M.J. Prest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved reading this series with my kids — it will hold a special place in my heart for life. This is supposed to be the final installment, but I’m not sure that the ending adequately wrapped up their adventures (and what happened to their pets!?), so I’ll just have to hope there is a future for the Seymore-Grumply-Spence clan.

[madison 🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, que dire de plus ! Cette saga jeunesse est une pépite qui mélange jeu de mots, péripéties et petits soucis de la vie courante. J’avais découvert le premier tome lorsque j’étais au collège et ce fut un plaisir de me replonger dans cet univers quelques années plus tard!
S’il y a bien une série de livre que je conseillerais à offrir pour de jeunes lecteurs c’est celle-ci sans hésité.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*

Too "grown-up" for the age my grandkids are now. It is part of series. Lots of illustrations, pictures, letters, postcards. Donated to our library.

[Iris Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect finale to the series and best book yet! Grumply overcomes his grumplyness with the hep of his now-ghost uncle, wile Olive and Semoor vacation in a recently-inherited Scottish castle on loch ness.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this last installment of this series, which was a fun, quick series. However, it really bothered me that the authors had a tortoise swimming in the Loch Ness. Tortoise are land animals and could not live in a lake, they would drown. Other than that, a cute story.

[Tamra L. McDougall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story that my kids got into.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book and a fun series!!! I wish it wasn't over.....

[Susan]

I wish this series went on, it is really cute!! The sisters are good writers, they make reading fun.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 very sweet

[Isabel Jazmín · Rating 4 out of 5]

La última historia de esta familia los lleva fuera de su país y al pasado de Ignatius para comprenderlo mejor.

[LinkSkywalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book

[Kasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this wholesome little series with my absolute whole heart. ♥️

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of bad jokes and hilarious thrills! The tortoise steals the show.

[Linda Sweitzer]

The final installment of the "43 Old Cemetery Road" series, in which secrets been Seymour, his adoptive father Iggy, and adoptive mother Olive abound. A fun read for 43 fans and middle graders who especially love puns. (Beware, this book is laden with puns to make many readers groan!)

[Klaudia Janek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 7 in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series, however, I was able to read it as a stand alone book and it was enjoyable. The story starts in Spence Mansion, which is a 32 ½ room house in Ghastly, Illinois. Olive Spence built it in 1874 and lived there until she died in 1911. She still lives there as a ghost. Seymour Hope was an orphan who was taken in by Olive and Ignatius B. Grumply. Olive and Ignatius are authors. Ian Grumply is very old and wants to will his castle in Scotland to Ignatius. However, he ends up leaving it to Seymour who travels to Scotland to visit his castle. Macon Deals is a sneaky salesman/developer and he wants to exploit the Loch Ness monster and wants Seymour’s new castle to develop a waterslide. There is also a $10,000 tortoise who plays a rather large part in this story.

This story will be funny and enjoyable for upper elementary and middle school readers. There are lots of puns, word play and the story is told through letters, texts, telegrams, phone messages, newspaper articles, pictures, and conversations with a ghost. It’s rather clever. There is a lot to look at within the pages. It has some Scottish history (which is why I picked it up) and the ghost story is not scary at all. Readers will help Seymour solve the mystery of the tortoise and Ignatius will solve the mystery of why he is so grumpy. It’s a fast paced read with lots of humor and silliness. This would be a great series to add to a school library collection. It would make a good display for global connections (in an IB school library), being a risk-taker, being principled (Seymour realizes lying is not a good idea). Readers will travel to Scotland. Learn new vocabulary like neophobe and neophiliac. I think it will engage both avid and reluctant readers alike.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's another mystery for the inhabitants of 43 Old Cemetery Road, writer Ignatius Grumply, ghost Olive C. Spence, and their adopted son Seymour Hope. This time the mystery springs from Ignatius, who hears that his pun-loving great uncle is near death and wants to see him. Ignatius refuses because of something in his childhood (and he loathes puns), so when his great uncle dies, his medieval castle on the shores of Loch Ness pass instead to Seymour. Seymour and Olive head off to Scotland (Ignatius refuses to go), accompanied by a 198 year old tortoise (it's a long story). Back home, the ghost of his great uncle tries to get Ignatius to come to terms with his childhood, while in Scotland Seymour is fighting off a determined attempt to buy the castle from him so it can be torn down to build "Loch Vegas." Will it all end well? Of course!

This series is still such fun, even if it's a bit predictable in that you know there will be terrible puns, tangled-up plots, and ruthless but dumb-as-a-post villains. Even if it's not particularly deep, you still care about the characters, and it's just fun to see what the writers will come up with next, and how they will tie everything together. And the last line made me laugh out loud.

[Sarah Harvey]

Klise, K., & Klise, M. (2015). The Loch Ness punster. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Seymour Hope is off on an adventure to Loch Ness Scotland (home of Nessie the Lock Ness Monster) to claim a castle left to him by a long lost great uncle. With the help of his adopted Mom Olive (who happens to be a ghost) and Mr. Poe, a 198 year old giant tortoise, Seymour has a big decision to make, and a little trouble to get out of before he can come back. Back at home in Ghastly Illinois, Seymour's adoptive dad, Ignatius B. Grumply, has some trouble of his own he has to solve, and it may involve the help of a new ghost in town.

This would be a great book to introduce the older students to myths, legends, and creatures like: ghosts, the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, Chupacabra, etc. They could do research on one mythical creature/legend of their choosing, and write a short paper about their research. They would have to answer questions in their paper such as: What evidence can you find to prove or disprove their existence? What motive is there for the people to claim to have seen these creatures? Why is it important to people to believe in them? What was the most exciting information that you found? How is the research/information you found related to the story we read?

[Caitlynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First reads and loved it. I have never read a book of this style, it was a good story and fun to read. I was worried with it being 7 in a series I had never heard of but that was quickly resolved because the authors gives enough information at the beginning to start you on your way. The book begins with grumpy Ignacious receiving a letter that a relative is dying and he needs to come to Scotland, where he will inherit a castle. If he doesn't come it will go to the next in line. The castle goes to Seymour a child who is the next in line. The story has ghosts, a 10,000 dollar turtle, mystery, adventure and everything that will appeal to school age kids. I found it entertaining from the first page. The book is now in the hands of my 9 year olds granddaughter and she also loves it. I would also recommend it for ones who want to improve their reading because their are plenty of pictures, making the book not as long as it looks. It was a joy to read and I am now curious and eager to read the first six books.