Chasing the Phantom Ship

by Deborah Toogood

Matt Simmons has two weeks left of summer vacation before he starts grade six. He wants to enjoy that time with his best friends, Danny and Emma, but his younger cousin Adam is visiting and insists on tagging along.

Matt can’t see how anything cool will happen with Adam hanging around—until one night, when the two of them get stranded on a sandbar. Out of nowhere, a huge, glowing fire appears. Could it be the fabled phantom ship?

The boys can’t wait to tell Danny and Emma about their ghostly encounter, and the four friends are soon determined to unravel the mystery. They set out on a midnight boat trip to find the fiery ship a second time.

But how dangerous is the phantom ship, and who else might be lurking in the waters of the Northumberland Strait?

140 pages, Paperback

Published April 20, 2016

Reviews

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2018 Hackmatack award in the fiction category.
Matt is a typical small town kid in the Maritimes with a rich imagination who enjoys spending time with his two best friends Danny and Emma. The summer before grade 6 his younger cousin Adam comes for a visit. The two boys witness a strange apparition one night when they get stranded on a sandbar, and become obsessed with capturing photographic proof (with the help of Danny and Emma of course). They end up in a pretty dangerous situation, and Matt has to call upon all of his courage to save the day. A good story with interesting characters - I would have liked to hear more from Danny's grandfather and Mrs. Hatfield in particular. Recommended for readers in late elementary (grades 3 and up).

[Digitally Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alicia- Chasing The Phantom Ship By Deborah Toogood was a wonderful book.

Matt and Adam come across the "Phantom Ship" and can't wait until they can tell their friends, Danny and Emma all about it. They want to uncover this great mystery of the great fiery orange Phantom Ship, So the 4 of them sneak out and set out on a midnight boat trip, with snacks and life jackets in hopes to find this Phantom Ship.

I really enjoyed the book, it brought back fond memories of reading ghost stories. It really felt like Nova Scotia. The book was short and interesting and kept me reading till the end. I always wanted to know what they were gonna get into next. The plot line was good and I enjoyed the "waves" of things that came through throughout the story. I rate this book a 4 / 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Becky Skillin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Canadian author is the Mary Pope Osborne of the upper elementary age genre. A rollicking adventure on the high seas, I couldn’t put it down. Poachers, pirates, parents, and ghosts....what could possibly go wrong?

I can’t wait for the next one!

[Sharon]

Kids out on the high seas in the middle of the night with a phantom ship and poachers -- this book packs in the excitement and tension. Kids will like it. It's well-plotted but perhaps slightly slow in the beginning and end. Well written with four believable and enjoyable young characters and you can sometimes feel those waves sloshing against the boat. For those of us who've watched the tides come and go, that imagery was vivid. I won't give it a star rating as I know the author and normally stay away from rating books by friends, but recommended for the adventure story reader on your list.

[Jacqueline]

Read this one because it's one of books nominated for the 2017 Hackmatack award. I noticed a couple of grammar mistakes while reading it but I thought it was pretty good. A little on the scary side maybe for younger children but children that like a little scariness and some adventure would enjoy it.