Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Suspenseful, action-packed ghost story has mild scares.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Tony Gilbert's great-uncle Charlie seems kind of weird, but when he moves in with Tony and his parents, the boy comes to love the old man. Tony is heartbroken when Charlie dies, but his uncle's legacy allows Tony to move to San Francisco and attend the Penda School, the prestigious private institution where Charlie enrolled in his youth. Tony has trouble adjusting to the Penda School, especially when he sees what seems to be his uncle's ghost on the premises. To find some answers, Tony turns to the Weird History Club, led by a strange girl named Jessica. Is Penda haunted, and if so, what do the ghosts want with Tony and his friends?
Is It Any Good?
With a vivid San Francisco setting and a strong main character intent on solving a twisted mystery, this school-based ghost story will cast a spell on middle-grade readers. Author Avi knows how to devise a haunting plot with high suspense and unforeseeable surprises. As Tony tries to make sense of the supernatural aspects of the Penda School, some of his theorizing seems a bit repetitive, putting the brakes on the story from time to time. More engrossing are the well-choreographed action scenes, when the living must face off against the dead.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why it can be so difficult to move to a new school. What strategies can make such a transition easier? What can parents, teachers, and students do to make a newcomer feel more welcome?
What makes a good ghost story? What other ghost stories have you liked?
Tony is devastated when his Uncle Charlie dies. How do survivors cope with the loss of a loved one? Is there a right way to grieve? Do you have any favorite books about grief?
Book Details
- Author: Avi
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Middle School , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date: June 1, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 288
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (abridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
What to Read Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate