After his dad goes missing and his mom is hired to restore an old building called the Rotham Manor, twelve-year-old Gus Greenburg and his mom move to a quaint, secluded island called Nameless. Gus was hoping for a new start on the island (despite throwing up on the boat ride there . . . twice), but a mysterious ghost has another idea. Throw in a mean kid who hides rats in the manor, two new friends, an eclectic island chef who's competing to be on a reality TV show, and Gus's power to talk to the dead . . . well, that's a lot of chaos for one kid!
Gus needs to find out the identity of the mysterious ghost – and fast – or else he might be doomed to the same lethal fate.
That is, if the island’s signature "Heavenly Hash" dish doesn't get to him first.
The Ghosts of Nameless Island is the first book in a new trilogy from bestselling author Carly Anne West. It's infused with Carly Anne West's signature wit and humor, and spooky enough for fans of Claribel Ortega's Ghost Squad, Scott Cawthon's Five Night's at Freddy's, and Carly's own Hello Neighbor series. This book also features black-and-white spot illustrations throughout.
Chills are guaranteed as eerie moments whisper secrets
while meeting small island atmosphere with three adventurous friends.
Gus is feeling a bit burdened by life. He’s seen
ghosts as long as he can remember, which hits extra hard thanks to his parents’
business of renovating old houses. His father was the only one who believed him
and tried to help, but he suddenly disappeared and took all of Gus’ collected
protection trinkets with him. To Gus’ dismay, his mother takes a renovation job
on an island, hoping to distract herself from the problems. Not only is the
island called Nameless Island (ominous) but her job concerns a very old house
with tons of secrets and built literally on the edge of a even older graveyard.
Disaster is guaranteed, but it comes worse than he ever could have expected.
Nameless Island, an abandoned manor, historical
secrets, and the mysterious disappearance of a father—the stage set for a good,
ghostly tale, but not only does this book deliver scary moments, it brings
adventure and fun, too. Gus is introduced with the weight of the world on his
shoulders, while riding a strange boat to the island with his mother stressing
out and him hugging a bucket close to his chest due to sea sickness. He’s
somewhat awkward in his own skin but has touching empathy for his mom’s situation.
It makes him easy to like and sympathize with…and this holds the entire way
through, especially since he does have just a touch of sarcastic/clever humor.
It’s hard not to feel for him as the author lays out the odd island and its
quirky inhabitants, and especially the manor (which is so perfectly done!).
It's a lovely mix of gruesome, chilling spooks and
spine-tingling moments with a touch of silly adventure reminding a little bit
of The Goonies. From questionable ghost hunting tech to scented soap
sales and food battle competitions, there are many twists and turns to clash
against the paranormal tension and darker moments. The friendships are golden,
the secrets are thick, there’s family goodness, and plenty of sneaking around. There’s
a very diverse cast, and plenty of hints of more secrets to uncover. So, boredom
doesn’t have a chance.
The horror moments do edge toward tense, which might
bother some sensitive readers but it’s nothing which goes past a middle grade
level. The relationship between Gus and his mother is oddly balanced and
bothered a little, but this might have something to do with the mystery behind
his father, which isn’t touched upon much during this first book. There are
more than a few sub-plots weaving everywhere, each with secrets and hidden
agendas, and almost none are tied up by the last page. The cliffhanger ending promises
a lot more to come, which also means readers will have to wait to continue the
adventure until the next book appears.
No comments:
Post a Comment