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The Phantom Tower
Twin brothers discover their new home is also a portal--for an hour a day--to a parallel dimension.
Twelve-year-old twins Colm and Mal might look identical, but they're different in just about every other way. The one thing they can agree on is that neither brother wants to move to Chicago for a fresh start with their mom two years after their dad's death.
The boys soon discover that their new apartment building, Brunhild Tower, is full of strange quirks: a mysterious Princess who warns them not to wander the building at midday, eerie sounds coming from the walls, and an elevator that's missing a button for the thirteenth floor. Then one afternoon, that button appears, catapulting the brothers and their inquisitive new neighbor, Tamika, into a parallel dimension and a twin building stuck in time, where the spirits of all the former residents of Brunhild Tower live on, trapped by an ancient curse. Now, Colm, Mal, and Tamika must race against time to solve the mystery of the phantom tower--or risk spending an eternity as ghosts themselves.
Twelve-year-old twins Colm and Mal might look identical, but they're different in just about every other way. The one thing they can agree on is that neither brother wants to move to Chicago for a fresh start with their mom two years after their dad's death.
The boys soon discover that their new apartment building, Brunhild Tower, is full of strange quirks: a mysterious Princess who warns them not to wander the building at midday, eerie sounds coming from the walls, and an elevator that's missing a button for the thirteenth floor. Then one afternoon, that button appears, catapulting the brothers and their inquisitive new neighbor, Tamika, into a parallel dimension and a twin building stuck in time, where the spirits of all the former residents of Brunhild Tower live on, trapped by an ancient curse. Now, Colm, Mal, and Tamika must race against time to solve the mystery of the phantom tower--or risk spending an eternity as ghosts themselves.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 21, 2018
26 people are currently reading
1220 people want to read
About the author
Keir Graff
21 books49 followersKeir Graff is the author of One Nation, Under God, My Fellow Americans, and, writing as Michael McCulloch, Cold Lessons. His short stories have appeared in a wide variety of publications. He lives in Chicago."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 12, 2018
Twins Colm and Mal move to Chicago with their newly widowed mother but it turns out their new apartment building is haunted by all the past residents--thanks to an 80 year old curse, once you move in, you can never leave, in life or death. I liked the plot a great deal. I think it's a fascinating idea, and I love how there is the second phantom tower that is only accessible for an hour a day, and the chaos that all of the ghost tenants having to share apartments brings. Also, Chicago. Win.
But I really didn't like the constant violence of the boys punching and hurting each other. The writing was stilted at times. Once, a chapter ended with a door locked in the Phantom Tower when they had minutes to escape, and then the next chapter was the next day with no mention of how they got past the locked door. The ending definitely had some bumpy patches, too, with things just kind of falling apart somewhere around the singing bit. I don't think I'd read anything else by the author.
But I really didn't like the constant violence of the boys punching and hurting each other. The writing was stilted at times. Once, a chapter ended with a door locked in the Phantom Tower when they had minutes to escape, and then the next chapter was the next day with no mention of how they got past the locked door. The ending definitely had some bumpy patches, too, with things just kind of falling apart somewhere around the singing bit. I don't think I'd read anything else by the author.
November 10, 2018
The twin boys in this story appear to hate each other and are CONSTANTLY violent with one another. Literally any time they are together, they're hitting each other as hard as they can. The mom barely does anything about it, either, and it turned my stomach.
The story itself is mildly more interesting, but there's a lot of strange characterization and I'm not personally much into ghost stories, nor was I satisfied with the internal world building. How would the ghost tower manipulate Mal's MineCraft version of the tower???
If you like reading about boys punching each other though, go for it.
The story itself is mildly more interesting, but there's a lot of strange characterization and I'm not personally much into ghost stories, nor was I satisfied with the internal world building. How would the ghost tower manipulate Mal's MineCraft version of the tower???
If you like reading about boys punching each other though, go for it.
November 11, 2018
3.5 stars!
This was a really entertaining read! I would have liked a bit more depth in the twins relationship but overall I enjoyed this.
This was a really entertaining read! I would have liked a bit more depth in the twins relationship but overall I enjoyed this.
August 24, 2018
What if?
Maybe at one point in your life while you were waiting for the elevator to reach your office, or reach the top floor for a stargazing session, you've found yourself wondering 'what if.' What if there was something more to those lit circular numbers? What if the doors opened to an unfamiliar world?
Take all these series of 'what ifs' and you have The Phantom Tower!
Keir Graff just grabs readers right from the first page and as the story progresses, you can't help but want to solve the mystery behind Brunhild Towers alongside Colm, Mal, and Tamika.
Narrative and Folklore
Colm has a very outgoing and adventurous personality which really calls to readers because Colm is very immersive and detailed with his environment. His observations are witty and well-timed, although his fascination with the 13th floor gets him in situations that you fear won't have a happy ending.
I enjoyed seeing how Graff combined folklore attributions along with contemporary narratives to create an original piece that explores the classic tale of parallel world by stepping through a door, or threshold, like the wardrobe into Narnia. While parallel worlds and disappearing elevator button enter the realm of the fantastic I enjoyed how the story was still primarily based on the real world because with every passing chapter readers are bound to think of their own world in a more colorful manner.
Terror and Number Thirteen
While The Phantom Tower is a light read mainly geared towards a middle grade audience, it held elements that readers can relate to Alice in Wonderland, The Phantom Tollbooth, and Coraline. It did have its fair share of 'what will happen next?' moments. Personally, I found the encounters with the thirteenth floor both fascinating and terrifying. As much as I wanted the characters to explore the parallel world, in the back of my mind I was just dreading that Colm, Mal, or Tamika would be stuck and unable to return.
Past, Present, and Future went into an elevator....
The Phantom Tower is altogether a clash of time that flows together through the power of portals and a great source of power (can't say who because that would be a major spoiler). It was great to see how the Graff attached the metaphor of alternate realities in an elevator. The nature of elevators are transportive and served as an excellent means for the twins, Colm and Mal, to face a challenge where they needed to establish order and security in another world in order for them to apply it to their own newfound reality.
Overall
These pages really flew by and for a moment I was convinced I entered a time rift. I enjoyed the ending, which included a very heartfelt moment, and overall had a great time reading through Graff's humorous dialogue and creative take on where an elevator can take you. I'd absolutely recommend if you’d like a read that would be perfect for a Tim Burton or Wes Anderson movie adaptation.
Maybe at one point in your life while you were waiting for the elevator to reach your office, or reach the top floor for a stargazing session, you've found yourself wondering 'what if.' What if there was something more to those lit circular numbers? What if the doors opened to an unfamiliar world?
Take all these series of 'what ifs' and you have The Phantom Tower!
Keir Graff just grabs readers right from the first page and as the story progresses, you can't help but want to solve the mystery behind Brunhild Towers alongside Colm, Mal, and Tamika.
Narrative and Folklore
Colm has a very outgoing and adventurous personality which really calls to readers because Colm is very immersive and detailed with his environment. His observations are witty and well-timed, although his fascination with the 13th floor gets him in situations that you fear won't have a happy ending.
I enjoyed seeing how Graff combined folklore attributions along with contemporary narratives to create an original piece that explores the classic tale of parallel world by stepping through a door, or threshold, like the wardrobe into Narnia. While parallel worlds and disappearing elevator button enter the realm of the fantastic I enjoyed how the story was still primarily based on the real world because with every passing chapter readers are bound to think of their own world in a more colorful manner.
Terror and Number Thirteen
While The Phantom Tower is a light read mainly geared towards a middle grade audience, it held elements that readers can relate to Alice in Wonderland, The Phantom Tollbooth, and Coraline. It did have its fair share of 'what will happen next?' moments. Personally, I found the encounters with the thirteenth floor both fascinating and terrifying. As much as I wanted the characters to explore the parallel world, in the back of my mind I was just dreading that Colm, Mal, or Tamika would be stuck and unable to return.
Past, Present, and Future went into an elevator....
The Phantom Tower is altogether a clash of time that flows together through the power of portals and a great source of power (can't say who because that would be a major spoiler). It was great to see how the Graff attached the metaphor of alternate realities in an elevator. The nature of elevators are transportive and served as an excellent means for the twins, Colm and Mal, to face a challenge where they needed to establish order and security in another world in order for them to apply it to their own newfound reality.
Overall
These pages really flew by and for a moment I was convinced I entered a time rift. I enjoyed the ending, which included a very heartfelt moment, and overall had a great time reading through Graff's humorous dialogue and creative take on where an elevator can take you. I'd absolutely recommend if you’d like a read that would be perfect for a Tim Burton or Wes Anderson movie adaptation.
February 18, 2019
3,5 sterren. Leuk verhaal over de tweeling Mal en Colm die met hun moeder verhuizen naar een erg oude flat. Als ineens op een dag liftknop nummer 13 verschijnt begint hun avontuur. Wonen in een oude flat is toch nog best leuk..
Vlot en met humor geschreven. Een kind zal van dit verhaal smullen, want een beetje fantasie en gekkigheid is altijd goed.
Vlot en met humor geschreven. Een kind zal van dit verhaal smullen, want een beetje fantasie en gekkigheid is altijd goed.
May 21, 2023
Loved it! Loved it! Will share with all the coming to mid grade kids in my life. Engaging plucky writing, a good mystery. Well integrated use of Minecraft. Twins - love it. Fun, smart girl sidekick. Set in Chicago which I'm starting to learn the ins and outs of since moving here.
Highly recommend
Highly recommend
July 22, 2024
Het gebeurt zeer zelden, maar dit boek heb ik niet helemaal uitgelezen. Ik vond het persoonlijk saai en heel moeizaam om te lezen.
March 19, 2019
2.5 stars. Meh. It was okay. I struggled with getting through the audiobook but I finally did it. The reader did really well with the different voices.
September 30, 2019
A good book, a little sad at some parts but overall good.
August 5, 2018
This was adorable and fun and just the happy go lucky Middle Grade I was looking for.
Graff created such an intriguing premise - we have two twins that move into a new apartment building that has a phantom tower living inside of it. I felt like it was super well done and well explained, and I loved diving into this phantom tower world. It was so intriguing to see all the little things that would pop up, and there were some great characters that would come into the story.
The characters were pretty good as well. I liked Colm, Mal, and Tamika who were our main characters. I feel like I never really see any good, realistic brother relationships in YA or MG, and this book showed it. They were messy with each other and liked to kick each other's buts, but there was some underlying love there that they would never say. It felt really true, and I could understand Colm's jealously about his brother as well. Colm, Mal, and Tamika were a great team, and I loved seeing their dynamic. Also, the way that Colm deals with his grief was moving and would teach kids a lot about how it's okay to be sad and hang onto parts of those we love.
I did feel like the grouping seemed a bit young, though? These kids were 12, but honestly, I felt like they seemed more about 10? They certainly didn't feel like they were about to be teenagers for me, and I felt like they need a bit more aging up or needed to in a younger age.
I thought the other characters were a bit interesting as well. The Phantom Tower guests were cool, and I did love The Princess. She was classic, kooky and quirky lady, and I loved reading and finding out more about her. I felt like I had a few issues with the villain at times. I felt like he got a little TOO cartoonish like cackling with evil laughter and shaking his fist at the world. After a while, his motivations came out and he was given a little more depth, but he was cartoon for a little while.
The pacing was okay. It would have its moment of a lot of "oh, gotta know what's going to happen" but also I could sit it down for a while and not pick it up for a few days.
Overall, this was a fun little MG book that brought an intriguing concept to life. I thought it brought a lot of fun and had a wonderful premise with some great characters. Its pacing and its villain were a little off at times, but I thought it did pick back up at the end. If you're looking for a dive deeper into MG, this book is definitely a very good stepping stone! 4 crowns and an Ariel rating!
Graff created such an intriguing premise - we have two twins that move into a new apartment building that has a phantom tower living inside of it. I felt like it was super well done and well explained, and I loved diving into this phantom tower world. It was so intriguing to see all the little things that would pop up, and there were some great characters that would come into the story.
The characters were pretty good as well. I liked Colm, Mal, and Tamika who were our main characters. I feel like I never really see any good, realistic brother relationships in YA or MG, and this book showed it. They were messy with each other and liked to kick each other's buts, but there was some underlying love there that they would never say. It felt really true, and I could understand Colm's jealously about his brother as well. Colm, Mal, and Tamika were a great team, and I loved seeing their dynamic. Also, the way that Colm deals with his grief was moving and would teach kids a lot about how it's okay to be sad and hang onto parts of those we love.
I did feel like the grouping seemed a bit young, though? These kids were 12, but honestly, I felt like they seemed more about 10? They certainly didn't feel like they were about to be teenagers for me, and I felt like they need a bit more aging up or needed to in a younger age.
I thought the other characters were a bit interesting as well. The Phantom Tower guests were cool, and I did love The Princess. She was classic, kooky and quirky lady, and I loved reading and finding out more about her. I felt like I had a few issues with the villain at times. I felt like he got a little TOO cartoonish like cackling with evil laughter and shaking his fist at the world. After a while, his motivations came out and he was given a little more depth, but he was cartoon for a little while.
The pacing was okay. It would have its moment of a lot of "oh, gotta know what's going to happen" but also I could sit it down for a while and not pick it up for a few days.
Overall, this was a fun little MG book that brought an intriguing concept to life. I thought it brought a lot of fun and had a wonderful premise with some great characters. Its pacing and its villain were a little off at times, but I thought it did pick back up at the end. If you're looking for a dive deeper into MG, this book is definitely a very good stepping stone! 4 crowns and an Ariel rating!
September 9, 2022
Twins Mal and Colm move cross country for their mom’s new job. New to Chicago, they are eager to explore their new apartment building and their new town. They miss their dad but don’t want to make things harder on their mom. Throughout the days while their mom is at work, they discover that their apartment building is not quite what it seems. They make new friends and learn about the history of the building while exploring the mysterious 13th floor that only exists for one hour a day. The boys and their new friends are thrown into a mystery that they can’t help but try to solve. A great mystery adventure story with some historical and fantasy elements thrown in.
May 2, 2020
Welcome to Brunhild Tower, “1930’s finest new residential building” in the heart of Chicago. Luxury living at its finest, but there is a catch: once you move in, you can never leave – even in death.
Twelve-year-old twins Colm and Mal (short for Malachy) McShane have packed up their lives – and their cat, Eric – to move from Dallas to Chicago with their mother after the tragic death of their father. Their mom’s new boss insists they move into Brunhild Tower. The rent is surprisingly cheap and the building is practically empty despite its lavish floorplans. To Colm and Mal, their new home is definitely different from what they are used to. This place has a maid’s quarters and butler’s pantry, not to mention the vintage furniture and other old junk left behind by past tenants. But then there is the question of the missing 13th floor.
Colm is still very attached to his father while Mal would prefer to bury himself in his Minecraft designs. When Mal decides to build a Minecraft replica of Brunhild Tower, the brothers set out to explore the building and uncover all sorts of secrets in the process. First, they meet Princess Veronica Margareta von Andeblat of the House of Hupburg. She warns the boys to stay home from 1:00-2:00 in the afternoon but does not explain why. She also does not seem to like their mom’s boss, Professor Parker. After their visit with the princess, Colm and Mal meet Tamika, the only other child resident in the building. The next day after more exploring, the boys discover a button in the elevator for the 13th floor! But how is that possible and is it real? They have to find out, so they take the short ride to this mysterious new floor. The elevator chime is different when the elevator stops and the doors open. The lobby is similar to the one on their floor but the décor is different. When Colm steps out to investigate, he hears the voices of a couple arguing. It sounds like one of the voices is coming closer; get out of there! What have the boys just stumbled upon? Who could those people be if the McShanes don’t have any neighbors? Colm suspects they have discovered a world populated with ghosts but Mal is too logical to believe that. (Professor Parker also knows about the 13th floor. According to the building’s sign-in log, he visits almost every day.)
Since Tamika has lived in the building for a while, the boys consult her expertise and they all become quick friends – but not before Mal has a chance to embarrass Colm in front of her. To get revenge on his brother, Colm takes Mal to the 13th floor one afternoon and pushes him out into the hallway. When the elevator doors open again, though, there is no Mal and the décor has changed. It’s after 2:00 and the 13th floor has vanished! Mal is trapped somewhere between this world and the next and Colm has no idea how to get him back. He can only hope that his brother is still there the next day at 1:00. Thus, the mystery of the 13th floor is revealed.
Mal survives the night and informs Colm and Tamika that this isn’t just a phantom floor in their building, it’s a phantom twin of the entire Brunhild Tower. It becomes their project for the last few days of summer to investigate this phantom tower and its inhabitants. But after only a few visits, they notice something is wrong in the tower; the whole place seems unstable. An old curse has trapped all of Brunhild Tower’s former residents in this afterlife and Professor Parker believes only a pair of twins can resolve the growing crisis of the tower. It is up to Colm, Mal, and Tamika to save the ghost residents while saving themselves at the same time.
There is heart stopping suspense in Colm, Mal, and Tamika’s every visit to the phantom tower because the clock is constantly ticking – if they do not make it out before 2:00, they risk being trapped for at least twenty-four hours if not longer. Told from Colm’s perspective, The Phantom Tower explores how children can process grief. Colm relies on a connection to his father throughout the book and is, therefore, more inclined to empathize with those trapped in the tower. As the story progresses, Colm comes to rely more on those around him like Mal and Tamika, and he realizes the past can exist in our hearts and we do not have to hold onto it with a tight grip at all times. Keir Graff fills the narrative with notes of humor, brotherly squabble, and old European intrigue in the form of the princess and the professor. He has delivered a very well-crafted and enjoyable read.
IL: LG BL: 4.6 AR Pts: 3.0 AR Quiz: RP
Twelve-year-old twins Colm and Mal (short for Malachy) McShane have packed up their lives – and their cat, Eric – to move from Dallas to Chicago with their mother after the tragic death of their father. Their mom’s new boss insists they move into Brunhild Tower. The rent is surprisingly cheap and the building is practically empty despite its lavish floorplans. To Colm and Mal, their new home is definitely different from what they are used to. This place has a maid’s quarters and butler’s pantry, not to mention the vintage furniture and other old junk left behind by past tenants. But then there is the question of the missing 13th floor.
Colm is still very attached to his father while Mal would prefer to bury himself in his Minecraft designs. When Mal decides to build a Minecraft replica of Brunhild Tower, the brothers set out to explore the building and uncover all sorts of secrets in the process. First, they meet Princess Veronica Margareta von Andeblat of the House of Hupburg. She warns the boys to stay home from 1:00-2:00 in the afternoon but does not explain why. She also does not seem to like their mom’s boss, Professor Parker. After their visit with the princess, Colm and Mal meet Tamika, the only other child resident in the building. The next day after more exploring, the boys discover a button in the elevator for the 13th floor! But how is that possible and is it real? They have to find out, so they take the short ride to this mysterious new floor. The elevator chime is different when the elevator stops and the doors open. The lobby is similar to the one on their floor but the décor is different. When Colm steps out to investigate, he hears the voices of a couple arguing. It sounds like one of the voices is coming closer; get out of there! What have the boys just stumbled upon? Who could those people be if the McShanes don’t have any neighbors? Colm suspects they have discovered a world populated with ghosts but Mal is too logical to believe that. (Professor Parker also knows about the 13th floor. According to the building’s sign-in log, he visits almost every day.)
Since Tamika has lived in the building for a while, the boys consult her expertise and they all become quick friends – but not before Mal has a chance to embarrass Colm in front of her. To get revenge on his brother, Colm takes Mal to the 13th floor one afternoon and pushes him out into the hallway. When the elevator doors open again, though, there is no Mal and the décor has changed. It’s after 2:00 and the 13th floor has vanished! Mal is trapped somewhere between this world and the next and Colm has no idea how to get him back. He can only hope that his brother is still there the next day at 1:00. Thus, the mystery of the 13th floor is revealed.
Mal survives the night and informs Colm and Tamika that this isn’t just a phantom floor in their building, it’s a phantom twin of the entire Brunhild Tower. It becomes their project for the last few days of summer to investigate this phantom tower and its inhabitants. But after only a few visits, they notice something is wrong in the tower; the whole place seems unstable. An old curse has trapped all of Brunhild Tower’s former residents in this afterlife and Professor Parker believes only a pair of twins can resolve the growing crisis of the tower. It is up to Colm, Mal, and Tamika to save the ghost residents while saving themselves at the same time.
There is heart stopping suspense in Colm, Mal, and Tamika’s every visit to the phantom tower because the clock is constantly ticking – if they do not make it out before 2:00, they risk being trapped for at least twenty-four hours if not longer. Told from Colm’s perspective, The Phantom Tower explores how children can process grief. Colm relies on a connection to his father throughout the book and is, therefore, more inclined to empathize with those trapped in the tower. As the story progresses, Colm comes to rely more on those around him like Mal and Tamika, and he realizes the past can exist in our hearts and we do not have to hold onto it with a tight grip at all times. Keir Graff fills the narrative with notes of humor, brotherly squabble, and old European intrigue in the form of the princess and the professor. He has delivered a very well-crafted and enjoyable read.
IL: LG BL: 4.6 AR Pts: 3.0 AR Quiz: RP
August 13, 2018
At first glance, this looks like a kiddo version of The Shining, but without the excessive deaths and messy endings...in truth, you wouldn't be THAT far off the mark with your assumption. We have a few of the necessary elements....a new family's arrival after a passing in the family, twins, peculiar residents and staff, a somewhat creepy tower to call home, leftover belongings from yesterday year...but what we don't have is the vindictive spirits heck-bent on adding to their ghostly community...at least, not in the vicious sense. It's more of a matter of circumstance and a series of ironically unfortunate events that all tally up to something unbelievable, something otherworldly, something you have to see to believe and even then you may still question! Yes, you're definitely in for a mind scramble when you set out with MALCOLM, aka Mal and Colm, and their new friend, Tamika, but the reach into the beyond is just the top of this proverbial iceberg.
You see, it's not just a story about life and death, love and loss, the before and after, but it's about how to let go while still carrying the memory of a person in your heart. It's about how in that letting go you allow yourself to move on, continue living, hard as it may seem, but in that living, you are still treasuring those times before, reflecting on the good, bad, and lessons learned, and helping to carry their influence into the future though they may no longer be present to do it themselves. It's also about friendship, families, being true to yourself, second chances...and why you should never go into creepy hotel elevators between one and two o'clock. There's so much hiding between the pages, it's a wonder it doesn't have its own phantom book to carry its secrets...
Recommended for Middle Grade Fiction fans of all ages for the adventure, the mystery, and the life lessons that can be hard learned.
**ARC received for review
You see, it's not just a story about life and death, love and loss, the before and after, but it's about how to let go while still carrying the memory of a person in your heart. It's about how in that letting go you allow yourself to move on, continue living, hard as it may seem, but in that living, you are still treasuring those times before, reflecting on the good, bad, and lessons learned, and helping to carry their influence into the future though they may no longer be present to do it themselves. It's also about friendship, families, being true to yourself, second chances...and why you should never go into creepy hotel elevators between one and two o'clock. There's so much hiding between the pages, it's a wonder it doesn't have its own phantom book to carry its secrets...
Recommended for Middle Grade Fiction fans of all ages for the adventure, the mystery, and the life lessons that can be hard learned.
**ARC received for review
September 10, 2018
My name is Colm, and my twin brother Mal and I recently moved onto the fourteenth floor of Brunhild Tower. My mom didn't understand why the rent was so cheap, but her new boss recommended the place. One day, I noticed an elevator button for the thirteenth floor that wasn't there before (the number is unlucky to some people). The button only appears during midday and leads to the Phantom Tower. Tamika joined us in exploring the place, but we've uncovered a disturbing mystery about this spectral world. We don't understand how the elevator and tower work, and we don't know why my mom's boss visits there. He tried to keep me from leaving, and he said he needs twins for his plans. I don't trust the guy, and we may need help from the princess on the seventeenth floor.
The first third of the book found the twins exploring the building and the surrounding area, and some clues were dropped. It wasn't real interesting. Things got a little more intriguing once Tamika and the princess joined the plot. The book turned into a ghost story, and magic was a possibility. The elevator became the portal between the towers. The introduction of the Phantom Tower was compelling, as it resulted from a brotherly prank that backfired. Colm was very distraught when his brother disappeared! The story behind the tower was unusual, and it needed its own resolution to solve the twins' problems. It included a bit of history, a bit of greed, and a bit of love. As often occurs in novels, the conflict was compounded because the kids needed to keep everything secret from their mother. Colm figured she wouldn't believe him anyhow, since he had a history of lying and making up stories. Overall, the book was quite entertaining and presented unique situations. Lovers of ghost stories and mysteries should really enjoy it.
The first third of the book found the twins exploring the building and the surrounding area, and some clues were dropped. It wasn't real interesting. Things got a little more intriguing once Tamika and the princess joined the plot. The book turned into a ghost story, and magic was a possibility. The elevator became the portal between the towers. The introduction of the Phantom Tower was compelling, as it resulted from a brotherly prank that backfired. Colm was very distraught when his brother disappeared! The story behind the tower was unusual, and it needed its own resolution to solve the twins' problems. It included a bit of history, a bit of greed, and a bit of love. As often occurs in novels, the conflict was compounded because the kids needed to keep everything secret from their mother. Colm figured she wouldn't believe him anyhow, since he had a history of lying and making up stories. Overall, the book was quite entertaining and presented unique situations. Lovers of ghost stories and mysteries should really enjoy it.
August 25, 2018
Originally posted at A to Z Book Reviews , which includes a guest post by the author!
Identical twins Colm and Mal are moving to Chicago for their mom’s new job. After the death of their father, moving will give them the new start they have been looking for. While it’s hard to tell Colm and Mal apart, they are totally different. Colm is more of a free spirit while Mal is more of a rule follower. The family moves into Brunhild Tower in the heart of Chicago. It’s an old building with huge apartments. It was just their luck their mom was able to find this place, and it was affordable too! While Colm and Mal are learning more about their new building, they come across a portal into a phantom tower that’s full of former residents who have died.
Colm, Mal, and their new friend Tamika find out that there is more to the phantom tower than meets the eye. First, the portal only stays open for an hour day. Second, time passes differently while in the phantom tower. While the three friends like to visit the phantom tower and return to their home, someone has other plans for them. The three friends are in a race to break an old curse before it’s too late. With a spellbinding plot and a fantastic cast, The Phantom Tower is a fabulous middle grade novel for those who love a little spook and adventure. I think young readers will love the main characters, the setting, and the page-turning plot. I would highly recommend this book to students who like a little adventure and intrigue when they read.
Identical twins Colm and Mal are moving to Chicago for their mom’s new job. After the death of their father, moving will give them the new start they have been looking for. While it’s hard to tell Colm and Mal apart, they are totally different. Colm is more of a free spirit while Mal is more of a rule follower. The family moves into Brunhild Tower in the heart of Chicago. It’s an old building with huge apartments. It was just their luck their mom was able to find this place, and it was affordable too! While Colm and Mal are learning more about their new building, they come across a portal into a phantom tower that’s full of former residents who have died.
Colm, Mal, and their new friend Tamika find out that there is more to the phantom tower than meets the eye. First, the portal only stays open for an hour day. Second, time passes differently while in the phantom tower. While the three friends like to visit the phantom tower and return to their home, someone has other plans for them. The three friends are in a race to break an old curse before it’s too late. With a spellbinding plot and a fantastic cast, The Phantom Tower is a fabulous middle grade novel for those who love a little spook and adventure. I think young readers will love the main characters, the setting, and the page-turning plot. I would highly recommend this book to students who like a little adventure and intrigue when they read.
February 2, 2019
Identical twins, a voracious-reader sidekick, a new friend who happens to have been dead for 85 years, a strange new home, a very old princess with an apartment full of cats, and a Professor who deals in magic who happens to be the twins’ mother’s boss. …and spells—and a spell that needs to be lifted.
While magical realism is not my favorite genre, I can see this novel appealing to many upper elementary readers, especially those who like fantasy and magic. Mal and Colm are 12-year-old identical twins—identical in looks, not intelligence. Mal is book-smart and a straight A student; Colm turns out to be “street” smart. Grieving from their father’s death, they move to Chicago where their mother will work for a very unusual professor who suggests that they rent in Brunhild Towers, apartments that seems too good for the price. Little do they know that there is a Phantom Tower that is accessible by a 13th floor and only at the thirteenth hour (1:00pm) and that the Professor needs identical twins for a spell. Trying to solve the problem of this Tower, they are helped by two other residents, Tamika and the Princess, and Teddy, a boy who has lived in the Phantom Tower since before he died.
There were a few loose ends, like the replica that Mal is building in Minecraft and the old furniture in their apartment, but all-in-all a fun read that may entice reluctant readers. I did value how, through this experience, the constantly competing and fighting twins, came to value each other’s strengths and the way in which close reading (by Tamika) actually saved the day.
Actually 3.5 stars
While magical realism is not my favorite genre, I can see this novel appealing to many upper elementary readers, especially those who like fantasy and magic. Mal and Colm are 12-year-old identical twins—identical in looks, not intelligence. Mal is book-smart and a straight A student; Colm turns out to be “street” smart. Grieving from their father’s death, they move to Chicago where their mother will work for a very unusual professor who suggests that they rent in Brunhild Towers, apartments that seems too good for the price. Little do they know that there is a Phantom Tower that is accessible by a 13th floor and only at the thirteenth hour (1:00pm) and that the Professor needs identical twins for a spell. Trying to solve the problem of this Tower, they are helped by two other residents, Tamika and the Princess, and Teddy, a boy who has lived in the Phantom Tower since before he died.
There were a few loose ends, like the replica that Mal is building in Minecraft and the old furniture in their apartment, but all-in-all a fun read that may entice reluctant readers. I did value how, through this experience, the constantly competing and fighting twins, came to value each other’s strengths and the way in which close reading (by Tamika) actually saved the day.
Actually 3.5 stars
August 22, 2018
Twin brothers discover their new home is also a portal--for an hour a day--to a parallel dimension in this rollicking middle-grade adventure, perfect for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society
Colm and Mal are twins so identical their own mom can't tell them apart, but they're different in just about every other way. Mal's a pragmatist while Colm's a dreamer, and they bicker and battle constantly. Neither brother is excited to be moving to Chicago for a fresh start with their mom just after their dad's death. But nothing cures homesickness like intrigue--and their new home, Brunhild Tower, has plenty of it: mysterious elderly neighbors who warn against wandering the building at midday, strange sounds in the walls, and an elevator missing a button for the thirteenth floor.
One day, that button appears--and when the doors open on the missing floor, the boys are greeted by the strangest puzzle yet: a twin building that is stuck in time and bustling with activity. All of Brunhild Tower's former residents live on in this phantom tower, where the rules of the real world don't apply. But when the brothers and their newfound friends discover they're all trapped by an ancient curse, they must band together to set everyone free before it's too late.
Colm and Mal are twins so identical their own mom can't tell them apart, but they're different in just about every other way. Mal's a pragmatist while Colm's a dreamer, and they bicker and battle constantly. Neither brother is excited to be moving to Chicago for a fresh start with their mom just after their dad's death. But nothing cures homesickness like intrigue--and their new home, Brunhild Tower, has plenty of it: mysterious elderly neighbors who warn against wandering the building at midday, strange sounds in the walls, and an elevator missing a button for the thirteenth floor.
One day, that button appears--and when the doors open on the missing floor, the boys are greeted by the strangest puzzle yet: a twin building that is stuck in time and bustling with activity. All of Brunhild Tower's former residents live on in this phantom tower, where the rules of the real world don't apply. But when the brothers and their newfound friends discover they're all trapped by an ancient curse, they must band together to set everyone free before it's too late.
February 22, 2021
This is a cute book that I chose as a read-aloud to my daughter. Both she and I enjoyed it (as far as I can tell, in her case). First and almost foremost, it is a love letter to the city of Chicago. The author lives in that city and his familiarity with the Lake Shore Drive area comes clearly through. I know Chicago a little, so I noticed this. I imagine someone who has been to Chicago a lot and/ or lives there would enjoy it even more.
The premise is interesting and mostly well executed. The characters feel realistic. The parents are suitably skeptical without feeling like they are stupid. And the side characters (especially "The Princess) are fun.
My biggest quibble with the book is I wish we could have spent more time within the Phantom Tower itself. The few chapters we do spend there show a rich cast of characters that I wish Graff would have developed more. Of course, to do so would have required either a longer book (already a decent sized middle-grade novel) or for it to be a series (and a stand-alone book in these days in such a rare treat). So perhaps my quibble has no answer.
This is a fun book. If you or your middle-grade youth like a book with only some fantasy elements in it, and with strong middle school aged characters, this book may be for you.
The premise is interesting and mostly well executed. The characters feel realistic. The parents are suitably skeptical without feeling like they are stupid. And the side characters (especially "The Princess) are fun.
My biggest quibble with the book is I wish we could have spent more time within the Phantom Tower itself. The few chapters we do spend there show a rich cast of characters that I wish Graff would have developed more. Of course, to do so would have required either a longer book (already a decent sized middle-grade novel) or for it to be a series (and a stand-alone book in these days in such a rare treat). So perhaps my quibble has no answer.
This is a fun book. If you or your middle-grade youth like a book with only some fantasy elements in it, and with strong middle school aged characters, this book may be for you.
July 2, 2022
Read with my 10 year old son. Here is his/our breakdown: Phantom Tower is a very interesting book because there are two dimensions; the world we are in and the phantom world. I like this book because there are a lot of different characters and characters that weren’t really in the story as doing anything major (i.e. Mal and Colm’s dad). Mal and Colm are the two main characters in the book because they have moved into Brunhild Tower after their dad died and their mom took a job from Professor Parker in the city of Chicago. Turns out, Professor Parker’s dad is connected to the Phantom Tower which the boys discover after meeting a strange old lady who tells them not to go into the elevator at 1:00. But if they do, they must leave before clock strikes 2:00. Being curious, the boys ignore her advice and find a mysterious phantom button that wasn’t there before leading them to a ghost floor of lost souls. They meet a new friend in their tower, they share their secret with her and together they pledge to lift the curse on Brunhild Tower and their success or failure hangs in the balance of time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2018
I received this from Edelweiss as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Twin Colm and Mal (Mal.Colm) and their mother are moving to an apartment in downtown Chicago. Their living space comes as a part of the position their mother has taken a a local college. Their new home is weird. It is old and creepy, with decrepit doorman and a multitude of vacant units. Their apartment comes fully furnished, leading the twins to ask questions about previous and current occupants. Since their mother has started work and the boys are off for summer, they use the daytime to explore the building and meet their strange neighbors. However, the strangest thing is that the number 13 appears as an elevator button for one hour every day. The boys must find out the mystery of their new home.
This was a cute mystery, complete with friendly/not-so-friendly ghosts, eccentric neighbors, and dastardly old men. This book was weird, but weird in a way that I can see young boys responding to. The scary bits of the story were tame, making it easier to give it to a young audience.
Twin Colm and Mal (Mal.Colm) and their mother are moving to an apartment in downtown Chicago. Their living space comes as a part of the position their mother has taken a a local college. Their new home is weird. It is old and creepy, with decrepit doorman and a multitude of vacant units. Their apartment comes fully furnished, leading the twins to ask questions about previous and current occupants. Since their mother has started work and the boys are off for summer, they use the daytime to explore the building and meet their strange neighbors. However, the strangest thing is that the number 13 appears as an elevator button for one hour every day. The boys must find out the mystery of their new home.
This was a cute mystery, complete with friendly/not-so-friendly ghosts, eccentric neighbors, and dastardly old men. This book was weird, but weird in a way that I can see young boys responding to. The scary bits of the story were tame, making it easier to give it to a young audience.
September 2, 2018
When the twins’ mother decides to take a job in Chicago, neither Colm nor Mal want to move. But it is time. Their new apartment is in Brunhild Tower, and it is quite an interesting place to explore. It is an older building, filled with unusual characters, but it is half-empty. What is even more mysterious is the button for the thirteenth floor, which appears only from 1:00- 2:00 each day. This mysterious thirteenth floor leads them to unexpected surprises and an old curse that had been placed on the building. Will the twins be able to break the curse in time?
This is a wonderful book, especially for children ages 9 to 13. It is well written and is sensitive to several childhood issues including the loss of a father and the fact that each child is unique. The character development is strong and effective, and the mystery is very engaging. This is a wonderful book about family and friendships.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is a wonderful book, especially for children ages 9 to 13. It is well written and is sensitive to several childhood issues including the loss of a father and the fact that each child is unique. The character development is strong and effective, and the mystery is very engaging. This is a wonderful book about family and friendships.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 21, 2018
This book held my attention enough to finish it but I don't think it is one I will keep forever and re-read over and over again.
It is the story of twin boys, Mal and Colm (I thought this was odd in itself) who move into a fancy apartment building when their mother changes jobs and takes them to Chicago. Having suffered a family tragedy, mom decides it is time for a change of scenery. Her new boss recommends the Brunhild Tower, which holds the secret of being haunted.
As the boys explore the building, they unravel the mystery of the missing floor 13 and discover a haunted second tower full of ghosts. Once you move into the building, you can never leave.
The story piqued my curiosity to find out what happens in the end. The story is well written and the characters are engaging. I just can't bring myself to give the book five stars when the thought of reading it again makes me feel kind of "meh."
It is the story of twin boys, Mal and Colm (I thought this was odd in itself) who move into a fancy apartment building when their mother changes jobs and takes them to Chicago. Having suffered a family tragedy, mom decides it is time for a change of scenery. Her new boss recommends the Brunhild Tower, which holds the secret of being haunted.
As the boys explore the building, they unravel the mystery of the missing floor 13 and discover a haunted second tower full of ghosts. Once you move into the building, you can never leave.
The story piqued my curiosity to find out what happens in the end. The story is well written and the characters are engaging. I just can't bring myself to give the book five stars when the thought of reading it again makes me feel kind of "meh."
March 25, 2021
Als je het begrip 'tijd' losmaakt van het hier en nu, ontstaat er altijd een sfeer van 'Wat als...' Kunnen we door tijdlagen heen mensen ontmoeten die in een andere tijd leven? Hoeveel tijdlagen zijn er dan? Wat is dan eigenlijk de echte tijd? Het boek De spooktoren maakt dat je over al deze vragen gaat nadenken. Malm en Colm zijn een eeneiige tweeling en lijken zoveel op elkaar dat zelfs hun eigen moeder moeite heeft om ze uit elkaar te houden. Ze komen op de 14e verdieping van de Spooktoren te wonen. Alleen in de lift ontbreekt het knopje met nr. 13.... dus eigenlijk wonen ze helemaal niet op de 14e verdieping. En blijkt de 13e verdieping tóch te bestaan.
Spannend verhaal, vooral als Mal vast komt te zitten in de spooktoren en Colm alles op alles moet zetten om hem te bevrijden en de wereld en zijn moeder ondertussen moet laten geloven dat hij nog steeds 'met z'n tweeën' is.
Voor 10 jaar en ouder
Spannend verhaal, vooral als Mal vast komt te zitten in de spooktoren en Colm alles op alles moet zetten om hem te bevrijden en de wereld en zijn moeder ondertussen moet laten geloven dat hij nog steeds 'met z'n tweeën' is.
Voor 10 jaar en ouder
August 18, 2018
Twin brothers move from Dallas to Chicago where their mom has gotten a new job. They move into an apartment in Brunhild Tower, which seems unique from the moment they arrive. The building is fancy, but old and their apartment is full of belongings that past tenants have left behind. As Colm and Mal explore the building, they find themselves on the top floor in the apartment of an eccentric princess, an old lady with a fondness for cats. She warns them not to wander and to stay inside their apartment between one and two if they want to be safe. When a button in the elevator for a thirteenth floor appears mysteriously, Colm and Mal discover that there is a phantom tower and the inhabitants are ghosts of people who have lived in Brunhild Tower. With their new friend, Tamika, they set out to solve the mystery of the towers.
Readers of this book are immersed in the world of Brunhild Tower, which is both enchanting and spooky. The setting, along with a bit of mystery, adventure, and suspense, make it a page-turner. Colm, Mal, and Tamika are all true-to-life characters. The sibling relationship between Colm and Mal, whose personalities are very different, was interesting and realistic. Other characters, such as the princess and the professor, were quirky enough to add intrigue to the story.
This is a captivating fantasy for readers who like to be transported to magical and mysterious worlds.
Readers of this book are immersed in the world of Brunhild Tower, which is both enchanting and spooky. The setting, along with a bit of mystery, adventure, and suspense, make it a page-turner. Colm, Mal, and Tamika are all true-to-life characters. The sibling relationship between Colm and Mal, whose personalities are very different, was interesting and realistic. Other characters, such as the princess and the professor, were quirky enough to add intrigue to the story.
This is a captivating fantasy for readers who like to be transported to magical and mysterious worlds.
March 11, 2019
The Phantom Tower is my intermediate Jfiction novel!
This story is about these two twin boys named Mal and Colm. Both of them are complete opposites and they both get into a lot of fights. Their mom decided they needed a change, so all of them are moving to Chicago to live in the Brunhild Apartments. Ever since the boys have been in living in the apartments strange things have been happening. One day, while the boys were on the elevator a floor 13 buttom appear and on this floor are a group of ghosts who have lived in these apartments in the past. However they can't stay there too long or else they will be trapped on the 13th floor forever.
I chose this book for my readers because kids like to read about old bulidings with legends and ghost in them. The reading level for this book is third grade to fifth grade.
This story is about these two twin boys named Mal and Colm. Both of them are complete opposites and they both get into a lot of fights. Their mom decided they needed a change, so all of them are moving to Chicago to live in the Brunhild Apartments. Ever since the boys have been in living in the apartments strange things have been happening. One day, while the boys were on the elevator a floor 13 buttom appear and on this floor are a group of ghosts who have lived in these apartments in the past. However they can't stay there too long or else they will be trapped on the 13th floor forever.
I chose this book for my readers because kids like to read about old bulidings with legends and ghost in them. The reading level for this book is third grade to fifth grade.
July 16, 2023
3.5 stars (rating shown may vary depending on site).
This was at a little free library and sounded interesting even though I'm a bit older than the intended reader.
At its core, this book is about how people we lose are with us as long as we remember them--and the ways in which we can do so. It's also a reminder not to obsess about it.
Mal and Colm miss their father--and their mother has taken a new job and moved them to Chicago. Their mother's boss also misses his father. And this is where the fantasy/magic aspect of the story comes in: via a curse meant to punish the building's owner that also trapped others, including the father. One hour every day, a portal opens to this phantom world
Join Mal, Colm, and their new friend Tamika as they unravel the history of their apartment building and of the curse while attempting to understand why it exists.
This was at a little free library and sounded interesting even though I'm a bit older than the intended reader.
At its core, this book is about how people we lose are with us as long as we remember them--and the ways in which we can do so. It's also a reminder not to obsess about it.
Mal and Colm miss their father--and their mother has taken a new job and moved them to Chicago. Their mother's boss also misses his father. And this is where the fantasy/magic aspect of the story comes in: via a curse meant to punish the building's owner that also trapped others, including the father. One hour every day, a portal opens to this phantom world
Join Mal, Colm, and their new friend Tamika as they unravel the history of their apartment building and of the curse while attempting to understand why it exists.
November 5, 2018
The Phantom Tower by Keir Graff, 266 pages. Putnam (Penguin), 2018. $17
Content: G
BUYING RECOMMENDATION: EL - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Colm and Mal, twins, have just moved with their mother to Chicago - a job offer she couldn’t resist and an apartment in a well-underpriced downtown building. As much as the twins detest each other, the mystery of their building is more intriguing. Why are there so few tenants? Why are most of the apartments furnished -- with really old junk? And why does the number 13 appear on the elevator buttons for only one hour a day?
A decent mystery with a spooky twist. This would be great in paperback.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Content: G
BUYING RECOMMENDATION: EL - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Colm and Mal, twins, have just moved with their mother to Chicago - a job offer she couldn’t resist and an apartment in a well-underpriced downtown building. As much as the twins detest each other, the mystery of their building is more intriguing. Why are there so few tenants? Why are most of the apartments furnished -- with really old junk? And why does the number 13 appear on the elevator buttons for only one hour a day?
A decent mystery with a spooky twist. This would be great in paperback.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
November 18, 2018
I read this, not listened to it. But I can't find the book version.
Anyway, I liked some of the historical aspect to the things. And the writing was good enough to keep me engaged most of the time.
But the pacing was completely off. Took about 1/3 of the book to get started at all.
**spoiler alert**
Close to zero clues on mysteries until a few just one chapter before a total infodump with way too many details to care about. Then kids can run around and instantly on almost zero information perform a magic spell on their first try with arbitrary ingredients and a foreign language, no sweat. Oh, and it doesn't matter if they steal things from a guy who's a bad guy and all.
And the bad guy, wow does he have psychological issues.
Anyway, I liked some of the historical aspect to the things. And the writing was good enough to keep me engaged most of the time.
But the pacing was completely off. Took about 1/3 of the book to get started at all.
**spoiler alert**
Close to zero clues on mysteries until a few just one chapter before a total infodump with way too many details to care about. Then kids can run around and instantly on almost zero information perform a magic spell on their first try with arbitrary ingredients and a foreign language, no sweat. Oh, and it doesn't matter if they steal things from a guy who's a bad guy and all.
And the bad guy, wow does he have psychological issues.
July 7, 2018
First of all, I’m grateful to Follett for sharing the ARC as a part of their summer book review program. The Phantom Tower is a fun, well-paced middle grade tale of twins, Mal and Colm, and their sidekick, Tamika, who discover something very strange about their 1920’s apartment building. Think Hardy Boys meets The Twilight Zone and you have a hint at the unusual plot twist. Definitely a book to recommend to fans of fantasy, adventure, AND mystery!
December 27, 2018
Hele recensie verschijnt op Fantasywereld en mijn eigen boekenblog booktastic.nl
De Spooktoren is een echte aanrader en met recht een van de leukste kinderboeken van 2018. Complimenten aan Esther Ottens voor haar prachtige vertaling. Voor ieder die van avontuur houdt, van mysterieus, ontdekkingen, niet-zo-enge-geesten, verlies, familie, vriendschappen, Roald Dahl en Neil Gaiman-achtige verhalen of simpelweg van Minecraft: dit boek moet je lezen.
De Spooktoren is een echte aanrader en met recht een van de leukste kinderboeken van 2018. Complimenten aan Esther Ottens voor haar prachtige vertaling. Voor ieder die van avontuur houdt, van mysterieus, ontdekkingen, niet-zo-enge-geesten, verlies, familie, vriendschappen, Roald Dahl en Neil Gaiman-achtige verhalen of simpelweg van Minecraft: dit boek moet je lezen.
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