Amanda’s Reviews > Usborne Illustrated Ghost Stories > Status Update

Smoke and Mirrors

A boy wants to know more about a too real magic trick.

This is possibly the story that could be most upsetting to a kid. If a kid had lost a parent like the boy had, I think this one could be upsetting, because the message is that magic and ghosts are real and you can find and talk to them. I’m not sure that would be okay for all kids in this situation. Maybe I’m overthinking it.

The Emerald Ring

A blessed ring is stolen and a young girl must find it and clear her brother’s name.

The ghost in this one is a Saint, and it’s kind of weird to think of holy visitation as a ghost story. Again, the ghost is only helpful. She warns that bad things will happen if the ring is not found, but that’s all. While maybe “otherworldly” I don’t think this one can be called spooky.

The Lady in the Red Beret

A young man has a ghostly encounter and researches about the figure he saw.

Not much happens in this one. Dude gets on weird unscheduled train. Sees ghost. Gets off. Googles about ghost.

Again, the ghost is helpful, and the story is more mysterious than spooky as the character has no clue what’s going on.

The Spirit of Justice

A young girl sees a ghostly figure in her home and works to uncover the truth of how she died.

Again, the ghost isn’t really spooky, although the story is pretty sad. This one does have multiple past murders in it, although they are not described in any detail. And strangely, the victims are referred to as “unlucky.”

Mr Coombes

An odd little story about a new student at a boarding school where all of the staff are jerks except the ghost he meets in the library.

The creepy old school could have been a fun setting, but it’s barely explored, the ghost is a friendly one, and the story ends very abruptly. This one feels like it was maybe hurt by a page limit, and it’s one of the weaker stories.

The Haunted Hill

A spooky story set in Japan where a man walks home and ignores warnings of danger along the road.

First story not set in England and first genuinely spooky story!! I really like this one. The ghost in this story is mischievous and does actively menace the main character. No clear danger, but the ghost does rob him and leave him in a pretty bad way.

Probably the scariest one so far.

The Fishermen

Some fisherman get stranded in a storm, mirroring an old ghost story.

Another story where we tell a ghost story and then immediately encounter that ghost, and the second story to involve a lighthouse. The ghost is helpful, and a bit creepy but not really scary.

This story does weirdly suggest that all lighthouse have been shut down and that there are none in operation, which is not true.

Bring Out Your Dead

A sort of Scrooge story where ghosts attempt to force a greedy business man to change his ways. This one is a little spookier than the previous ones as the ghosts are actively pursuing the main character and imply that harm will come to him. Also the ghosts are plague victims so they are more creepy than previous ghosts who were not clearly dead. The wrap up is positive if a bit sudden.

The Lost Legion

Another mystery ghost story where a child sees ghost soldiers and has to help them find peace. Only spooky in that there are obvious ghosts wandering about, and a long dead skull, but again no danger for the main character.

The 4:15 Express

A ghost mystery story. A man shares a train with an impossible companion and an investigation follows. Not spooky, but does involve an offscreen murder.