Draw!

Ghost Detectors #5

by Dotti Enderle, Howard McWilliam (Illustrator)

Malcolm's dad thinks it's time Malcolm and his best friend Dandy get out of the basement lab and started doing the things that other 10-year-old boys enjoy. So, they are going camping--in October! The best part of camping at Lake Itchyburr is the Legend of Wild Willy Wallace. The Ghost Detectors are ready to face the smelly, ghostly outlaw--it's a good thing Malcolm brought the specter detector and ghost zapper along! Calico Chapter Books is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades 2-5.

79 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 2009

About the author

I'm the author of literally (get it) dozens of books for children.

Born in Killeen, Texas on a cold January day in 1954. My family moved around a lot, allowing me to, over the years, live on a farm, in an historic home and always near rivers or bayous. My playthings were hula-hoops, old typewriters and a wooden leg named Charlie. (Yep, you read that right.) If you want a true glimpse of my childhood dreams, read my novel, Man in the Moon. The character Janine allows you inside my young mixed-up mind.

I’ve lived most of my life in Houston and still live there today. You’ll find me here reading, writing and smiling.

Reviews

[Andrew J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dandy's dad and Malcolm's dad think their sons are spending too much time in Malcolm's family's basement, so they've decided that the two boys are joining them on a camping trip, which is actually more of a fishing trip for the two dads. Initially, Malcolm tries to come up with reasons why he and his best friend shouldn't go, but undeterred, his father keeps saying that the decision has been made. Even his mother chimes in and says the same. So, a bit reluctantly, Dandy and Malcolm go on the so-called "camping trip." Malcolm brings along their Ecto-Handheld-Automatic-Heat-Sensitive-Laser-Enhanced Spector Detector and the Ecto-Handheld-Automatic-Heat-Sensitive-Laser-Enhanced Ghost Zapper just in case.

As it so happens, the location they've selected actually has a ghost story: the legend of Willy Wallace. He was the head of a group of thieves who would wear bandanas in an attempt to disguise themselves from the people they robbed (presumably at gunpoint). This little ruse wasn't as clever as Wallace thought it was, and his face ended up on a wanted poster. The reward was only for him, so he tried to outsmart his gang by saying that since the reward was only for him that he should get everything they stole. Naturally, his gang was not supportive of this idea. Malcolm and Dandy immediately concoct a plan on how they can look for this Willy Wallace without the male parents being any the wiser.

This sequel is a good one. 3 stars.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are all pretty similar, with light humor, light suspense, and some ghosts included. As a read-aloud, they are kinda fun. I asked my son if he wanted to read the rest of the series himself, but he prefers me reading them aloud so I guess we'll continue.

[AMY · Rating 4 out of 5]

80 pages. Good story when the two boys go camping with their dads. Dandy's dad tells a ghost story about an outlaw who haunts the woods, named Wild Willy. The boys go looking for Willy and end up in a showdown. Good plot and boy/father characters. Recommended Gr. 3-5.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book for a 2nd grader. I'm in 3rd and it was too easy.