What do you think?
Rate this book
Ghost Coast
Ocean City, Maryland, 1988. While most thirteen-year-old boys are spending the summer soaking up the sun and chasing cute girls up and down the Boardwalk, Reece Narrows is staying with his aunt in her bayside trailer while his mom wastes away in the hospital.As if the situation isn't bad enough, his antagonistic older cousin just loves making trouble for him. Laney hurls insults his way at every turn as well as refusing to take him along on her expeditions to find the Maiden in the Marsh, a local legend she’s determined to prove exists.But there's more. A newfound paranormal gift thrusts Reece into dire circumstances with a gaggle of eclectic ghosts haunting the coast. Through it all, he must keep his spirits up and find a way to save the decent souls that brand him their reluctant protector.Brian Clopper once again dips into 1980s nerd nostalgia like his previous novel, The Powers That Flee. This time, he puts a fresh spin on the supernatural genre.
222 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2017
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 14, 2017
If it wasn’t hard enough to know his mother was dying, adding being shipped off to spend the summer with his aunt was almost more than thirteen-year-old Reece could take. An entire summer of having his older cousin use him as her verbal punching bag was extreme torture.
No sir, summer was not shaping up to be very promising for Reece until he meets a young girl who introduces him to a world of ghosts and spirits and secrets only those “gifted” with certain abilities can see. Reece will find that with that gift comes responsibilities and that the souls of those who have not moved on are depending on his help to make their journey the best it can be.
Imagine a special place that calls to the spirits of the departed, a place where they will congregate and hope to finally be sent on to their eternal life, if they are ready. Brian Clopper’s GHOST COAST is that place and Reece will find a new world of wonder, danger and adventure as he also learns to accept that death is part of life.
Upbeat, colorful writing that fuels one’s imagination, moments that are filled with intrigue, emotional turmoil and youthful daring pepper each page as Brian Clopper brings this delightful fantasy to life. Reece is filled with the innocence of a thirteen-year-old from an era that wasn’t filled with electronic devices and it was okay to find adventure on a bike or exploring in the woods.
This fantastical coming of age story for a young boy is as heart-warming as it is entertaining. Mr. Clopper has handled a sensitive issue with such great care and creativity, I am not sure five stars are enough. If you are looking to entice a younger reader or a young-at-heart reader, GHOST COAST belongs on every library shelf, as well as at the top of that must read list!
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC edition from Brian Clopper!
Expected Publication Date: October 31, 2017
Genre: Middlegrade/YA Fantasy-Adventure
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
No sir, summer was not shaping up to be very promising for Reece until he meets a young girl who introduces him to a world of ghosts and spirits and secrets only those “gifted” with certain abilities can see. Reece will find that with that gift comes responsibilities and that the souls of those who have not moved on are depending on his help to make their journey the best it can be.
Imagine a special place that calls to the spirits of the departed, a place where they will congregate and hope to finally be sent on to their eternal life, if they are ready. Brian Clopper’s GHOST COAST is that place and Reece will find a new world of wonder, danger and adventure as he also learns to accept that death is part of life.
Upbeat, colorful writing that fuels one’s imagination, moments that are filled with intrigue, emotional turmoil and youthful daring pepper each page as Brian Clopper brings this delightful fantasy to life. Reece is filled with the innocence of a thirteen-year-old from an era that wasn’t filled with electronic devices and it was okay to find adventure on a bike or exploring in the woods.
This fantastical coming of age story for a young boy is as heart-warming as it is entertaining. Mr. Clopper has handled a sensitive issue with such great care and creativity, I am not sure five stars are enough. If you are looking to entice a younger reader or a young-at-heart reader, GHOST COAST belongs on every library shelf, as well as at the top of that must read list!
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC edition from Brian Clopper!
Expected Publication Date: October 31, 2017
Genre: Middlegrade/YA Fantasy-Adventure
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 16, 2019
Ghost Coast is a delightful, easy read with some deeper undercurrents. At first pass, the book comes off as a light-hearted YA (Young Adult) novel about a young man discovering his paranormal powers while solving a crime with the aid of family and friends. Yet there's plenty to leave you thinking, and even crying, by the end.
Our young protagonist, Reece, discovers that he has a special role: he is capable of not only seeing ghosts, but guiding them in their journey. Rushed into a situation in which a crime is being committed against these spirits, Reece must quickly learn to understand his power and the spirit world he's just met in order to save them. All while this is happening, Reece is struggling to build a relationship with his older teenage cousin, cope with his mother's terminal illness, and wonder about a father he never knew.
The author does a fabulous job of handling these difficult topics, balancing the desire for levity with the need for respect. Specific religion, such as 'heaven and hell,' is set aside for a 'good place and a bad place', and spirits are allowed to 'move on' to their final place when they are ready, allowing them the chance to address their actions from life at their own pace. This makes the spirit world not a place of punishment or entrapment, but a place of healing, one that respects all walks of life and treats each spirit as an individual. Even the living antagonists are painted in a light that sees them not simply as evil, but as people suffering from their own internalized problems.
Quite honestly, my only major complaint with the book was that I would have eagerly devoured the same story with twice the depth. It isn't that the author's writing is shallow, or that the plot is too short; but rather that the characters are all so well told and developed, I only want to spend a longer time with each of them.
If you enjoy YA, the paranormal, or even just want a quick but meaningful read, this book is for you.
A copy of the book was provided free by the author.
Our young protagonist, Reece, discovers that he has a special role: he is capable of not only seeing ghosts, but guiding them in their journey. Rushed into a situation in which a crime is being committed against these spirits, Reece must quickly learn to understand his power and the spirit world he's just met in order to save them. All while this is happening, Reece is struggling to build a relationship with his older teenage cousin, cope with his mother's terminal illness, and wonder about a father he never knew.
The author does a fabulous job of handling these difficult topics, balancing the desire for levity with the need for respect. Specific religion, such as 'heaven and hell,' is set aside for a 'good place and a bad place', and spirits are allowed to 'move on' to their final place when they are ready, allowing them the chance to address their actions from life at their own pace. This makes the spirit world not a place of punishment or entrapment, but a place of healing, one that respects all walks of life and treats each spirit as an individual. Even the living antagonists are painted in a light that sees them not simply as evil, but as people suffering from their own internalized problems.
Quite honestly, my only major complaint with the book was that I would have eagerly devoured the same story with twice the depth. It isn't that the author's writing is shallow, or that the plot is too short; but rather that the characters are all so well told and developed, I only want to spend a longer time with each of them.
If you enjoy YA, the paranormal, or even just want a quick but meaningful read, this book is for you.
A copy of the book was provided free by the author.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews