Ghosts of Pheasant Hill: Book 7

by Baron Specter, Robin Boyden (Illustrations)

Jared and his mom are taking a shortcut through Woodland Cemetery at night when they encounter a disoriented girl. They drive her to her home on a desolate road out of town. When they arrive, they realize the girl has vanished. The house looks deserted, but a porch light turns on and an upstairs window creaks open. They ask about the girl, and an old woman's voice assures them everything is fine. After conducting some reseach, Jared learns about a drowning death in Woodland Cemetery many years before that could be the same girl reliving her death every night. Can Jared help the girl find a restful place if the ghosts of Pheasant Hill want nothing to do with the living? Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Calico is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.

112 pages, Library Binding

Published August 1, 2018

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

On their drive home, Jared and his mother see a very wet, mysterious young girl by the side of the road. Jared is positive that there is something more going on, especially when they arrive at the girl's home and no one answers the door. Instead, a woman calls down from the window that the girl is safe and well. He and his pre-teen ghost hunting crew soon discover that these are two ghosts who would prefer to be left alone.

This is a nice dependable ghost story but rather formulaic and familiar. It is a retelling of an oft told urban legend and varies very little from the traditional tale. The main characters are good, solid pre-teen investigators, but lack some individuality. The story has very little creep factor and so would be a great read for a child who wants a little ghosting without suspense or fear. It is an enjoyable book that does not provide much unique perspective.