The Proof That Ghosts Exist

The Ghosthunters #1

by Carol Matas, Perry Nodelman

216 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Cheryl Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun read for late elementary school/middle school age readers. It seems the Barnett family is cursed; every man in the family for the past several generations has died the day before his thirty-fifth birthday. Molly and Adam's dad Tim is about to turn thirty-five, and the kids are nervous about what will happen, as is their mother. So the family decides to escape to their lake cabin in order to keep Dad safe. But Mom is called back to work right at the last minute, so the kids go with their dad alone to the cabin. When they get there, the kids find a strange man in Molly's bedroom who looks exactly like their father except that he has long, red hair. The man keeps calling Adam Timmy, and even more mysteriously, when the man tries to leave from the desk where he is sitting, he disappears. As Molly, Adam, and the strange man go through the evidence, they discover that the red-headed man is actually their grandpa who died before they were born, the day before his thirty-fifth birthday. The three decide to work together to keep Dad from suffering the same fate as his father.

The book's cover makes it look like it's scarier than what it is. Kids will be attracted to it for the content--what kid doesn't like a good ghost story? But the book is no scarier than a Scooby-Doo episode, which means kids will be able to finish it. It's also a fun, interesting read, and kids (and adults) will enjoy it.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about these two kids, Molly and Adam who have to keep a close eye on their dad until after his 35th birthday while they are at their cottage in Oxford and their mom isn't around. The reason why they are suppose to look after their dad is because the Barnett men have a history of dropping dead just before their 35th birthday. And all doesn't go well after Molly and Adam's father slips and sprains his ankle and has a giant nurse from next door who doesn't seem so friendly taking care of him. And on top of all that Molly and Adam find a ghost of their grandfather in the house who tries to help them prevent another death.

For my connection i am doing text-to-self because i think i can relate a little bit to Adam. I think i can relate to Adam for two reasons. One of the reasons is because Adam has a very active imagination that usually gets him into trouble. And that's how i use to be when i was his age. Another way i can connect to Adam is because he hates and is scared of bugs just like i am.

I give this book five stars. The reason i give this book five stars is because it was an interesting book. And also every time i would finish a chapter it kept me wondering about what was going to happen next. The type of readers that would like this book would be people who like to read about ghost stories.

[Joenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm undecided about this book. I think it had a lot of potential, but the plot wasn't developed like it could have been. Molly and Adam's dad is turning 35, and they are dreading his birthday. It is a family curse that every man in their family dies the day before his 35th birthday. Their grandfather, great-grandfather, and everyone before that never made it to 35. To reduce the risk of death, they decided to take a family vacation to the lake but death seems to follow them. Not only does their dad hurt himself within the first hour, but their grandfather's ghost is lurking in Molly's bedroom.

Molly and Adam must figure out this curse, before their own dad dies.

Neat idea, and I'll probably read the sequel, just wish it was written a little differetnly. I feel there was no closure at the end (which is why there's a sequel), but I needed just a few more answers to be satisfied.

[Ms. Pierce]

Lucymary says: This book is about a family that is being haunted by a murderous ghost. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes spooky stories.

[Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a trailer for this book on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw0ow7...