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Stoneway
Haunted by a boy named Riley Grayson, twelve-year-old Bentley is suddenly confronted by three things he fears the most in Love, Bullying, and Ghosts. While on an eighth-grade camping trip at Lake Stoneway, Bentley struggles with his fears, trying to find ways to get the attention of Michelle Heartly while stopping his best friend from picking on a new boy named Simon.
204 pages, Paperback
Published June 7, 2018
6 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Francis
42 books136 followersBorn in Brisbane, Australia, Christopher was accepted at age 19 into Sheridan College’s Animation program before earning a degree in Sociology from McMaster University.
He then enjoyed a two-year adventure overseas working with children, before completing his Bachelor of Education degree at York University. He is now teaching junior and intermediate level students in Burlington, Ontario.
Through Christopher’s experience working with children, he found writing and illustrating to be one of his passions. Currently working on a middle grade series, he recently completed and illustrated the first three books. He has also created seven other children’s picture books and illustrated children’s novels for independent authors.
He then enjoyed a two-year adventure overseas working with children, before completing his Bachelor of Education degree at York University. He is now teaching junior and intermediate level students in Burlington, Ontario.
Through Christopher’s experience working with children, he found writing and illustrating to be one of his passions. Currently working on a middle grade series, he recently completed and illustrated the first three books. He has also created seven other children’s picture books and illustrated children’s novels for independent authors.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 21, 2018
A book with a fantastic message
The message expressed within this book was not a subtle one. This book focused on kids going to a camp for a school trip. Unfortunately, Simon is the target of terrible bullying. Witnessing all of this is Bentley, and he wants to say something but fears losing ground with his friends. Surrounding all of this is the fact that Bentley sees a ghost. And so does Simon. This weird shared moment between the two breaks through the barrier of bullying and secrets are uncovered. I loved the characterization in this book. The mystery surrounding the ghost story was lost on me just a little but but the message conveyed warmed my heart. It's a needed read during a day and age of easy bullying. The adults in the book we're pretty vacant and distant but it sort of made sense to me. Excellent book. I hope there are more with these characters.
The message expressed within this book was not a subtle one. This book focused on kids going to a camp for a school trip. Unfortunately, Simon is the target of terrible bullying. Witnessing all of this is Bentley, and he wants to say something but fears losing ground with his friends. Surrounding all of this is the fact that Bentley sees a ghost. And so does Simon. This weird shared moment between the two breaks through the barrier of bullying and secrets are uncovered. I loved the characterization in this book. The mystery surrounding the ghost story was lost on me just a little but but the message conveyed warmed my heart. It's a needed read during a day and age of easy bullying. The adults in the book we're pretty vacant and distant but it sort of made sense to me. Excellent book. I hope there are more with these characters.
September 21, 2018
This is a great YA story with a realistic, relevant message about bullying. The ghost mystery could of been a little more developed, or at least more prominent, it kind of dipped in and out of my interest as I read. The characters were believable and likeable (or not so likeable when necessary) and the situations were definitely things I experienced or saw others experience at that age. I don't think my fourth grade son is quite ready for this book, but I'll have him read it next year when he'll most likely get more out of it.
April 1, 2019
Set at a summer camp held during the school year, this coming-of-age novel follows twelve-year-old Bentley and explores what it’s really like for a boy to make difficult decisions, in life and love, and especially who to be friends with, in the face of peer pressure. The characters all read as true-to-life kids, although Brandon, the bully, might be considered unnecessarily cruel to fellow camper Simon, who he teases mercilessly (at one point Brandon dumps a trash can over Simon’s head). Even though most of characters are real in their actions, Simon and other characters are well defined in terms of their personalities, looks, and motivations, while narrator/protagonist Bentley remains flat and dull; there's not much depth to him and readers don't really get a clear sense of him as a unique individual in his appearance and actions. The mention of the ghost in the beginning of the novel is fascinating, but that plot element is dropped quickly to focus on Bentley’s relationships and problems instead. This book, which was written by a middle grade teacher has a unique authenticity to it.
September 19, 2024
Review of eBook
A school trip takes the eighth graders of Ravensdale Public School to Lake Stoneway for a week. Simon Partridge, a new student, finds himself friendless, shunned and bullied by the other students simply for being different. Bentley Longhorn and Brandon Westberry, best friends . . . and part of the in crowd . . . don’t feel compelled to make things any easier for Simon and, like most of the other students, find it easier to either ignore him or to pick on him.
Lake Stoneway has a disturbing history . . . a student, Riley Grayson . . . drowned in the lake. And now, there are rumors of his ghost appearing around the lake. But Brandon knows Riley’s appearances aren’t limited to Stoneway . . . he is certain he saw Riley Grayson on the football field at school.
Why does Riley keep appearing to the students? And what does Simon know about the mystery that surrounds his appearances?
=========
The target audience for this intriguing tale are young readers ages ten through fifteen [but its appeal is likely to extend beyond middle grades]. Anchored by a strong sense of place, this sort-of ghost story takes a close look at the teens’ behavior. [Yes, there is a ghost, but readers should not expect a conventional ghost story.] The true message of the story deals with peer pressure and bullying, two of the most difficult aspects of dealing with one’s peers.
Believable, well-drawn characters populate this tale of cruelty, kindness, and friendship. Peer pressure and bullying combine to become the central theme in the telling of this authentic tale; the message here is for everyone. As the mystery surrounding the ghost plays out, unexpected secrets are revealed and inexplicable behaviors are understood. Choices and actions play a strong role here; readers are certain to cheer for Bentley’s ultimate choices.
This unputdownable must-read book brings readers a vital message . . . don’t miss this one.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
A school trip takes the eighth graders of Ravensdale Public School to Lake Stoneway for a week. Simon Partridge, a new student, finds himself friendless, shunned and bullied by the other students simply for being different. Bentley Longhorn and Brandon Westberry, best friends . . . and part of the in crowd . . . don’t feel compelled to make things any easier for Simon and, like most of the other students, find it easier to either ignore him or to pick on him.
Lake Stoneway has a disturbing history . . . a student, Riley Grayson . . . drowned in the lake. And now, there are rumors of his ghost appearing around the lake. But Brandon knows Riley’s appearances aren’t limited to Stoneway . . . he is certain he saw Riley Grayson on the football field at school.
Why does Riley keep appearing to the students? And what does Simon know about the mystery that surrounds his appearances?
=========
The target audience for this intriguing tale are young readers ages ten through fifteen [but its appeal is likely to extend beyond middle grades]. Anchored by a strong sense of place, this sort-of ghost story takes a close look at the teens’ behavior. [Yes, there is a ghost, but readers should not expect a conventional ghost story.] The true message of the story deals with peer pressure and bullying, two of the most difficult aspects of dealing with one’s peers.
Believable, well-drawn characters populate this tale of cruelty, kindness, and friendship. Peer pressure and bullying combine to become the central theme in the telling of this authentic tale; the message here is for everyone. As the mystery surrounding the ghost plays out, unexpected secrets are revealed and inexplicable behaviors are understood. Choices and actions play a strong role here; readers are certain to cheer for Bentley’s ultimate choices.
This unputdownable must-read book brings readers a vital message . . . don’t miss this one.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
February 14, 2019
I won a kindle version of this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and I was excited to read it. The description of the book and the cover drew me in, and I knew I was about to read something that would resonate with me. For the most part, I enjoyed this book. It is a quick read and one can get through it easily enough.
I will admit that there was one part that kind of threw me off. I was reading through it very comfortably until a new character was introduced. This character's dialog threw me off a bit. I could read it and understood everything just fine, but I will admit that I had to slow down when I reached that character's dialog. I also noted several mistakes, but they were so minor that I just read past them without any struggles.
Now, I did have so many conflicting emotions about this story. Perhaps that is what the author was going for. If so, Francis did a magnificent job! He created characters that I absolutely hated, but that was their role. I could not stand them, so I praise the author for doing an excellent job in getting the reader to hate those characters. In addition, the conflicts, both internal and external, the narrator goes through are so raw and relatable! Overall, I enjoyed this read!
I will admit that there was one part that kind of threw me off. I was reading through it very comfortably until a new character was introduced. This character's dialog threw me off a bit. I could read it and understood everything just fine, but I will admit that I had to slow down when I reached that character's dialog. I also noted several mistakes, but they were so minor that I just read past them without any struggles.
Now, I did have so many conflicting emotions about this story. Perhaps that is what the author was going for. If so, Francis did a magnificent job! He created characters that I absolutely hated, but that was their role. I could not stand them, so I praise the author for doing an excellent job in getting the reader to hate those characters. In addition, the conflicts, both internal and external, the narrator goes through are so raw and relatable! Overall, I enjoyed this read!
June 22, 2022
Middle school is tough enough to navigate for Bentley, and the 8th-grade camping trip is no different as he tries to figure out his feelings for Michelle Heartly as well as stop his best friend from picking on a new boy named Simon Partridge. What Bentley doesn't need on top of all of that is the ghost of the boy who drowned at the lake last year, Riley Grayson. As Bentley struggles with seeing the ghost of Riley, he also faces his feelings over his mother's death.
This was a tough book to listen to because it deals with some heavy issues for middle-school kids. That being said, Christopher Francis does a wonderful job showing how Bentley and Simon both deal with their feelings as they struggle with the deaths of their loved ones, that it ended up being a great story, and it was definitely better than I expected. There is so much going on in this book that I think it would be a great book to read or listen to for any child who has experienced the death of a loved one in their life or for a child who has a friend who has gone experienced it.
In addition to death, this book touches on bullying, consent, popularity, and peer pressure.
For those who prefer audiobooks, the narrator of this book - Justin R. Berkey - does a wonderful job with the performance.
This was a tough book to listen to because it deals with some heavy issues for middle-school kids. That being said, Christopher Francis does a wonderful job showing how Bentley and Simon both deal with their feelings as they struggle with the deaths of their loved ones, that it ended up being a great story, and it was definitely better than I expected. There is so much going on in this book that I think it would be a great book to read or listen to for any child who has experienced the death of a loved one in their life or for a child who has a friend who has gone experienced it.
In addition to death, this book touches on bullying, consent, popularity, and peer pressure.
For those who prefer audiobooks, the narrator of this book - Justin R. Berkey - does a wonderful job with the performance.
September 27, 2021
This is a true coming-of-age novel that explores what it’s really like for a boy to make difficult decisions in the face of peer pressure. The protagonist faces Riley, several dilemmas. He fits into the main clique and wants to stay there. Riley’s best friend is bullying a new boy, Simone unmercifully. And he likes a new girl Michelle. Can he stop his best friend form picking on the new kid without getting kicked out of the clique. He also wonders if he will look foolish to the new girl. Haven’t we all faced this? Don’t we all wish he would do the right thing? Do any of us know what the right thing is? This is the second novel I have read by Christopher Francis and I find him to be a gifted and talented writer. He is able to protary the world as it is, and often describes the odd man out in the setting. This book had a great story line, building upon the characters introduced in the preceding novel. The author showed maturation in his writing from his debut novel and this one flowed wonderfully, keeping you engaged from the beginning. The foreshadowing gave way to some predictions along the way, however, the book was thrilling throughout.
June 30, 2022
For the first time reading a book by Christopher Francis, I found myself crying. This was probably one of my favorites of all of his books. Maybe it is because I am a teacher and see the effects of bullying at school. This last year was particularly hard on a couple of students. I tried really hard to be there for some of them. It is one thing to have a teacher in your corner and another to have true friends stand up for you. That is what this book is truly about. Yes there is a ghost in this story. He is there because his ties the bullied to the bully. He makes an appearance to get help. This is not a ghost story. I have read reviews about this book that thought the "ghost story" was lacking. Because a ghost appears it doesn't mean it is a scary ghost story.
The author did a great job of keeping the story flowing and letting us see how the characters changed over time. Does everyone change? No, just like in real life not everyone changes. I read this as an ebook. I have since purchased it for my classroom. That is how good I feel this book and its message is. Well don Mr. Francis, Well done!
The author did a great job of keeping the story flowing and letting us see how the characters changed over time. Does everyone change? No, just like in real life not everyone changes. I read this as an ebook. I have since purchased it for my classroom. That is how good I feel this book and its message is. Well don Mr. Francis, Well done!
October 9, 2024
❤️🏞🛶Excellent!
Twelve-year-old Bentley remembered the first time he saw a ghost.
That day, Coach Mackleby scolded Bentley and Brandon for missing class.
Later, Bentley saw a strange boy on the football field...
^^^^^^^^
Excellent and captivating story that takes the reader on a mysterious and moving adventure, with a touch of the paranormal.
A beautiful life lesson that leaves you dreaming, as often with all the novels of this talented author!
Absolutely worth discovering!!!
Twelve-year-old Bentley remembered the first time he saw a ghost.
That day, Coach Mackleby scolded Bentley and Brandon for missing class.
Later, Bentley saw a strange boy on the football field...
^^^^^^^^
Excellent and captivating story that takes the reader on a mysterious and moving adventure, with a touch of the paranormal.
A beautiful life lesson that leaves you dreaming, as often with all the novels of this talented author!
Absolutely worth discovering!!!
January 26, 2019
Such an incredible book about the problems some kids face in middle school. I would recommend this book to people of all ages. I was very impressed with the message the author was conveying in this book.
October 25, 2021
Can't get enough of the Author, Christopher Francis's books! Stoneway wove together, mystery, villain's (bullies) innocent puppy love and the ghost of a boy that only the protagonist can see and communicate with. (no spoilers!) I love a good ghost story, and this book is worth price of admission!
September 17, 2023
A beautifully written, haunting story of bullying, loss, heartache, friendship and love. It touched my heart strings and brought home how easily people can be made to suffer and struggle with self-confidence. A must read for all ages.
September 18, 2024
A rather novel way to promote anti-bullying. (Pun intended). Bullying is certainly something that a large percentage of children experience, often due to perceived shortcomings without foundation. I really enjoyed Christophers approach which makes a compelling read.
June 21, 2021
I did not care for this one. I had to force myself to finish it. Not a very exciting story, If there would have been more interaction with the ghost I may have liked it better.
April 22, 2025
Stoneway
Whispers of the Lake
Christopher Francis
Forgive me for thinking there’s no acceptable level of bullying. Any bullying has gone too far. Personally I have no tolerance for even the slightest level of gentle ribbing.
On my Android Tablet Kindle refuses to recognize the .mobi file. Nook treats the .e-pub file as if it is a series of images. Only the .pdf file works in Kindle but appears best in a PDF reader. I don’t use Adobe.
All files work better in a Windows OS environment. Though hyphenating words such as t-he seems odd.
Bentley, the narrator is a member of the “IN” crowd, but the bully is Brandon. Finally around Chapter 11 we get Bentley’s surname, Longhorn. I am reminded that my father’s middle name was Benton.
It strikes me that this campground temps fate by going Co-Ed. Most youth camps are either male or female.
One of the questions on a registration form for girls of this age is: has your daughter had her first menses; has she been prepared for it?
You have to believe in ghosts to see one, I don’t.
I’m writing this on St. Michael and All Angels Sunday. I don’t expect to see angels either. But in the Christian context it’s Gods Work, Our Hands. We experience God’s love through the caring of those around us. If you have done it unto the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me.
We learn here the importance of truly knowing that others care. The one person left out in the cold here is the Bully Brandon.
To quote Luther:
The Prince of Darkness Grim
We tremble not for him...
One little word shall fell him.
When others try to put you down it’s important to trust in your own self-worth.
Whispers of the Lake
Christopher Francis
Forgive me for thinking there’s no acceptable level of bullying. Any bullying has gone too far. Personally I have no tolerance for even the slightest level of gentle ribbing.
On my Android Tablet Kindle refuses to recognize the .mobi file. Nook treats the .e-pub file as if it is a series of images. Only the .pdf file works in Kindle but appears best in a PDF reader. I don’t use Adobe.
All files work better in a Windows OS environment. Though hyphenating words such as t-he seems odd.
Bentley, the narrator is a member of the “IN” crowd, but the bully is Brandon. Finally around Chapter 11 we get Bentley’s surname, Longhorn. I am reminded that my father’s middle name was Benton.
It strikes me that this campground temps fate by going Co-Ed. Most youth camps are either male or female.
One of the questions on a registration form for girls of this age is: has your daughter had her first menses; has she been prepared for it?
You have to believe in ghosts to see one, I don’t.
I’m writing this on St. Michael and All Angels Sunday. I don’t expect to see angels either. But in the Christian context it’s Gods Work, Our Hands. We experience God’s love through the caring of those around us. If you have done it unto the least of these my brethren you have done it unto me.
We learn here the importance of truly knowing that others care. The one person left out in the cold here is the Bully Brandon.
To quote Luther:
The Prince of Darkness Grim
We tremble not for him...
One little word shall fell him.
When others try to put you down it’s important to trust in your own self-worth.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews