This is my first book by this author. I'm happy to say I think I will read more of his work.

This is full of adventure, history and a bit of mystery. The scenery and explorations of the Toronto Islands was an interesting plot point that makes the story work well.

The concepts in this are intriguing, and the adventure is fun at times.

The story does drag slightly in the middle, and I do have to say that this could have been shorter. Although this is marketed as a middle grade book, I don't think that description is accurate, since the main characters are 16. Gabriel's strange attachment to Rebecca is slightly odd, too.

I did really enjoy the indigenous representation in the story. It added more culture, another historical aspect and learning to the reading experience for me.

Reading this actually reminded me a tiny bit of the TV show Ghosts, with all the variations of ghosts of different time periods and locations throughout the story.

*Please note I won a copy of this book via Librarything Early Reviewers" ( )

Ooohhh -- what an exciting , creepy , and nail-biting adventure for the young folks in you life!! (10+ ? or at parents' discretion i suppose) There are lots of fans of this author's books, of that i am certain, as i am certain that a lot of youth will love this latest fantasy (as well as those young at heart)! I love that there are strong, engaging female characters! And that there are historical and geographical factors. I know this story will capture a lot of imaginations and make kids giggle in glee at the ghostly ghouls - it's a really fun read that made my heart race! Would be a great book to read allowed around Halloween! (i did get tired of the word 'clasp' though - started to make me cringe).

I wasn't overly impressed with this book, to be honest. It was weird how protective and jealous Gabe got of Rebecca, who is a ghost. The author eluded to Gabe wanting something more to happen with Rebecca... but again, she's a ghost of a girl who died 200 years ago. It was all just awkward. It was interesting to see the relationship between Gabe and his father though, that part of this story caught my attention and I wish more was done with it but I get why it didn't but it was a good closing tool. This could be a good book for a preteen who doesn't really read much into the plot of a story and just reads a book for the sake of reading a book to catch their attention. ( )

Love a good middle-grade read based in Canada! Kenneth Oppel is back with another winner, this time taking place in Toronto as a group of teens encounter restless spirits and have to race against the clock to stop a "wicked and wakeful" ghost that is rapidly gaining strength. The book touches on themes of friendship, courage, grief and determination, all while taking the reader through a fast-paced ghost-hunting adventure. I loved the references to Toronto history (Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, George Brown, Ward Island and Captain Ward himself!). ( )

Gabe doesn't believe in ghosts - until he accidentally awakens the ghost of 16-year-old Rebecca Strand while giving a ghost tour in an old lighthouse in Toronto. And Rebecca needs his help to destroy the evil ghost who murdered her and her father nearly 200 years earlier.

This is an exciting and fast-paced book that seems to be aimed at an older middle-grade / younger YA audience (or, you know, anyone who likes those kinds of books). One of the blurbs on the inside cover suggests that it "begs to be made into a movie" and I think I would agree. It contains strong visuals, many exciting and action-packed scenes, and great settings (an old lighthouse, the CN tower, underwater tunnels, a seance, and - my personal favourite - an unexpectedly dangerous library). The ghostly parts of the book are fairly spooky and creepy, though not too downright scary. There's a small amount of romance, but I liked that the focus of the book was on friendship, teamwork, and working together to solve a problem. I also liked that the author was able to shine a light on the injustices suffered by indigenous people in Canada and on Canadian history in general. The ending wraps things up neatly, while also leaving a pretty obvious possibility open for a sequel.
Overall a solidly written and highly entertaining book. ( )