Ghost Books

This book is about so many different things it's very difficult to know where to begin. It's a remarkably easy book to read. Remarkable because it is such a difficult, even gruelling subject matter--the deterioration and death of a parent--but the book is so gorgeously lucid, so vivid, that it's very hard to stop reading.

Of course, it isn't just about the life and death of Charnas' father but about how little we know about one another, how horrible (though sometimes glorious) old age and death can be. This is a book about not knowing your father (a difficult relationship even for those of us whose fathers didn't leave us), about thwarted artistic aspirations, about the impossible choices old age brings, and the ways in which every human being has a story, a life, and some of the unexpected things most of us never find out.

I cannot reccommend this book more strongly. I have not been able to stop thinking about it. It's a book that really can change your life.

This is a story about real life. An artist father of a writer daughter. A father who walked away when she was eight. A father who in his last decade of life became dependant on his daughter, the stranger.

Don't expect saccharine, 'cause there ain't any. No sugar cookies and milk, this is molasses and tea: bitter, dark, and poignant. Revelations, yes, but not of the TV sitcom kind, which are easily provoked and resolved in half an hour. This is deep history, it's the sand in the backyard and the gnarled old olive tree.

It's a story told with exasperation and something like love. A story told brilliantly. Thought-provoking reading for those of us with parents heading into their last decade -- parents with whom we share a bad history.

Here's a woman who offers refuge to a man who is going blind, and who holds a menial job in a restaurant. She offers him a free home in the sunshine, and the chance to do art.

He arrives on her doorstep and proceeds to be exactly the same man he's always been: cantankerous, rude, and skeptical. He doesn't do any art -- not by choice, as it turns out. He doesn't have the emotional resources to make friends and have his own life. Heck, he doesn't even have the ability to make his own dinner.

It's a fascinating story, and Charnas is an amazing writer. We get an unvarnished portrait of this man, his daughter, and a series of glimmers into why he left her mother, and why he's such a crank. If another living situation would have been ideal, well that's too bad because they're caught in the vise-grip of American medical economics. He's here to stay, like it or not. Then when his health fails completely, maybe he's too sick to stay home, but maybe not sick enough for Medicare to pay for a bed in a nursing home. Do she and her husband bankrupt themselves to give him adequate care? Charnas' livelihood hangs in the balance, not to mention her sanity.

Who hasn't been there? And if we haven't been there, we will be soon. For those of us with difficult parents, it's enlightening to see how one woman's choices begin to unfold. She's no angel of the house -- her own discomfort comes through, and she combats it with exasperated humor.

MY FATHER'S GHOST left me with a lasting understanding of tradeoffs. Good parts, bad parts. What I could stand, and what I couldn't. I can't make the same choices she did -- unless, like Charnas, I have to. But the whatever happens, at least I'll go in girded.

This is a wonderful book, and hard to compare to any other. Sort of a biography (but of an unknown man, a failed artist, someone without any of the usual qualities calling for an official biography), sort of an autobiography/literary memoir (by the author of hard-hitting feminist science fiction, fantasy, children's books, etc.), a personal investigation into what happens to the old and helpless in America, a daughter's memoir of her difficult father... I'm not usually attracted to memoirs, but like Suzy Charnas' fiction so much that I gave it a chance -- and am so glad I did. It is every bit as gripping and absorbing as one of her novels, and, amazingly for a work that focuses so much on her father's declining years, it's not at all bleak -- there are some unexpected surprises along the way, and the lasting impression is an uplifting one. The book raises many important issues around family relationships and aging in America today; it's thought-provoking, and informative, whatever your age and whatever your relationship to your parents. (Well, perhaps the super-rich and the extra-young could give it a miss, but as for the rest of us, this book is important.) Undoubtedly, one of the best books I've read this year. In non-fiction, it goes right up there with Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickel and Dimed". Highly recommended.

When Suzy McKee Charnas was eight years-old her father, Robin McKee, left her, her mother and sister to dedicate his life to being an artist. He was spectacularly unsuccessful. Contact with his children was intermittent but never broken. Several years later realizing that Robin was living a meager existence in Manhatten and had problems caring for himself as he entered old age, Charnas invites him to live with her and her husband in New Mexico. Surprisingly he accepts.

Charnas writes eloquently and honestly of life with a father that in many ways was a stranger to her. Robin was taciturn, difficult and not prone to sentimentality, but there were moments when he and Suzy connected in ways she had never imagined possible.

The second section of this memoir covers the last 3 years of Robin's life. His health has declined to such a degree that Charnas must find a nursing home for him. After a long search she finds an affordable place with a caring staff. The transition for both father and daughter is difficult, but even here, in the unlikeliest of places, there is a ray of light and hope no one could have imagined. Truth really is stranger than fiction.

I have long been an admirer of Charnas's science fiction and fantasy work. Here her novelist's eye paints a mesmerizing portrait of herself, her father and other fascinating characters in her life. I sat down one afternoon to read a few chapters and found myself so absorbed in this true and complex story that I literally could not put it down. It is truly a remarkable work.

Patricia Altner, author of Vampire Readings

Suzy McKee Charnas always had a difficult relationship with her father Robin McKee who walked out when she was eight. Robin left behind 40 black bound journals containing mostly left-wing political ranting and long discussions on painters and paint, along with an occasional wisecrack. From her few childhood memories, thoughts gleaned from the journals, and the time from when Robin was 63 until his death at 81, Charnas constructs a haunting memoir. MY FATHER'S GHOST becomes a reflective, honest, and at times painful account of the journey from aging to dying.

Robin eked out a living in Greenwich Village maintaining sporadic contact with his children. He was a man of extraordinary intelligence who had lived in true Bohemian poverty. Indeed, Robin sacrificed all for his good taste and artistic talent even while his career was unsuccessful. Then one day during a phone call with Charnas, Robin indicates that he is going blind. His daughter encourages him to retire, moving him to Albuquerque, New Mexico to live in a nearby "in-law" cottage. It seemed like a golden opportunity to get her lost father back -- a second chance for a father-daughter relationship.

Charnas weathers the difficulties of living close to an aging parent with grace. She struggles with meals, housekeeping, and personal hygiene, and she worries over health issues and finances. During the first half of the book, her father coexists nearby, but the second half of the book confronts the inevitable deteriorating health and nursing homes. Throughout the memoir, Charnas recounts challenges, the pain, and the guilt of coping with an aging parent. Surprisingly, Robin finds his own second chances when he moves into a nursing home, lending the conclusion unexpected beauty and hope.

Having had my own difficult relationship with a father who absented himself early in life, I read Charnas with eagerness and sympathy as she confronts the inevitable challenges of piecing together a relationship built mostly of hope and a few bedraggled memories. The contradictions of Robin's personality can prove both incredibly aggravating and highly amusing. Charnas weaves together excerpts from her father's journals and their shared story with remarkable skill, resulting in an absorbing narrative that readers will find enthralling. MY FATHER'S GHOST comes very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 9) for Reader Views (3/07)

"The Mystery of the Crying Ghost" is a book about Chloe Wendleton. She is a young girl who is having difficulty adjusting to a different school. She just feels like she doesn't fit in at all. She has her two dependable pets to keep her company. Killian is her golden retriever and Isis is a Himalayan cat. Her family tells her that she is just hearing things when she says that she hears a child crying.

Is it all in her imagination? Isis and Killian seem to hear the same crying. Chloe goes up into the attic with her grandfather and discovers an old newspaper. It shows that the Van Hise children, Sarah Jane and Thomas, somehow disappeared from the house without a trace. She shares the information with two of her classmates. Will Reed tells Chloe that he had heard that the house she is living in is haunted. Will is what one would call a "brain" so he gets picked on a lot. He is defended by Maya Roubideaux and her karate skills. Will is suffering from a major crush on Chloe, but his knowledge is a key to solving the case. Just when Chloe, Will and Maya can't seem to put a hand on any clues, the animals lend a paw and make discoveries of their own.

"The Mystery of the Crying Ghost" will capture the attention of any sleuth who enjoys a good story, adorable animals and friends working together towards a goal. With more books like this one, Rita Hsu Syers could easily have created another "Nancy Drew." I'm happy that she is planning her next mystery and can't wait to read it!

This is one of the best children's mysteries out there. It is a true page turner and I can't wait until another from this author comes out!

The debut novel of author Rita Hsu Syers, Mystery of the Crying Ghost is a novel written for young adults ages 8-12, about a young fifth-grade girl named Chloe who has a hard time adjusting to her new home. Settling into a new school and making new friends is rough, her grandfather is terribly overworked, and strange noises come from her house at night - noises that no one else notices except her beloved dog and cat. When Chloe glimpses a child peering at her from the window of an empty room, she discovers that her house is haunted by spirits who suffered a terrible tragedy fifty years ago. Chloe seeks to uncover the mystery behind the tragedy, but she needs help; grown-ups don't believe her, so she turns to two classmates, a sharp-minded genius boy and a courageous girl who studies karate, ready and willing to discover her house's hidden secret. Highly recommended for public and middle school library shelves.

I thought thsi book was really fun and scary! I liked all the animals in it and Chloe, Maya, and Will remind me of me and my friends in school. I hope this author continues to write more books like this, because it was really good!

The Mystery of the Crying Ghost: (A Chloe Wendleton Mystery) is the first of many great stories to come. The second night I started reading it, I started back up at Chapter 5 and it kept me up until 3 am, because I had to finish it!
Although this book is written for children and young adults, I, being in my early twenties, found a lot of humor and interest in it, and found that it truly resembles a modern day Nancy Drew novel.
The best part about this book is that aside from the crying ghost, (and I don't want to give anything imporant away) the story draws upon historical facts and scientific ideas. It takes place in Bucks COunty, too! Which is the best setting for a mystery...

This book is terrific for your little ones. My 3 1/2 and 6 year old love this story. I enjoy reading it to them. Another good book by this Author is The Hungry Giant!!

I read this book to my 2nd grade, ESL students, and they love it! Choral reading is our favorite activity when we read and they just love repeating "Nickety-nackety noo-noo-noo". There's a lot of rhyming in the book which is another good way to make sure that the children are listening. I tend to pause before the last rhyming word to give them a chance to guess what it is.

This story is about an ogre who tries to force a "wee wishy woman" into living in his home and cooking for him and how she stays cool and calm, outsmarts him, and then escapes. The story is written in verse--about one four-line verse per page. My two year old loves this book, but I think an older child (four to eight years old) would enjoy it even more.

With every verse ending with "nicketty nacketty noo noo noo" this book has a lovely repetition that will find your child repeating these lines with you as you read the story together.
The combination of the funny story line and silly words and names such as "Gobbler Magoo" and "Wee wishy woman" make this book a real treat.

This is a wonderful story which twists in just the right way to allow children to really enjoy it. The illustrations are perfect. Gorgeously done, lovely colours. It is about an Ogre called 'gobbler magoo' who lives in a swamp where the wild weeds grew.

He captures a 'wee-washy woman' and takes her home to make him a good tasty stew.

She chops and she cuts and she throws it all in, all the time looking sweetly benign. The Ogre eats it up, quickly then more slowly, And then realises that the stew has been made with glue!

The wee washy woman packs up her pots and her pans, and her glue, and walks on - and you wouldn't want to eat any of her stew would you!!!!!!

At the end of every verse is the very irish refrain 'nickety nackety noo noo noo" which the chlidren love chanting.

It is wonderful book which can be frequently re-read. Immensely good fun and good humoured - Highly recommended!!!!

Great story. We love G.G. Garth! Read all four of G.G.'s books!

Great story. We love G.G. Garth! Read all four of G.G.'s books!

Great story. We love G.G. Garth! Read all four of G.G.'s books!

What a concept! Although poorly edited, we loved the concept, the detail, the inventive plot. Would love to see it on film. The special effects described in the story would be terrific on celluloid. Bravo! Has Hollywood read G. G. Garth's books?! Hurry up Hollywood.

What a concept! Although poorly edited, we loved the concept, the detail, the inventive plot. Would love to see it on film. The special effects described in the story would be terrific on celluloid. Bravo! Has Hollywood read G. G. Garth's books?! Hurry up Hollywood.

Have you ever picked up a booked and just not wanted to put it down again? With in the first two pages I was so curious that I would not even consider putting this book down, by page five I was lost in a story that gave me chills while making me smile. This book is full of action and adventure; as well as truth and justice. The author shows great talent within the pages of this book, talent that some even thought long forgotten.

Good vs. Evil wage war in a action packed page turner. I couldn't put the book down. If you enjoy Comic Books, Martial Arts Movies, or any of the action packed Hollywood blockbusters this novel is for you

I'm not usually an action book kind of girl, but I've got to say that Nightwalker was truly an exception to the rule. Gaynor's story is fast-paced and catches the reader's attention, holding it tight until the last page! The characters are enjoyable and the reader finds it easy to bond with them. The plotline is creative and contains a fine balance of dramatic and humorous moments. The description of the action is incredible, page-turning material. I am dying for the next book!

NightWalker engages the reader's imagination. It traps the reader in what becomes ritualistic and euphoric page turning, satisfying the need to discover the plight of the questing heroes and heroins. I anxiously await the next installment.

Incredible! This book is a must-read for every fan of comics, super-heroes, or even just cutting-edge fiction. The characters are well-defined and immediately bring you into their world. And what a world it is! Ancient wisdom, revenge, dark and light powers, super-abilities, good vs. evil... it's non-stop action from the first page. The author effortlessly blends old-world philosophy with modern attitudes and the future of the human race. Para-normal abilities among the `chosen few' create a power struggle on many levels, both past and present. For anyone who misses the days of brilliant graphic novels and anyone who just loves spectacular SciFi - NightWalkeR is one to remember and read over and over again! Well done!!

So great. I just want to know ONE thing. When will Hollywood make this book into a movie? My kids are dying to see it on the big screen. They love the story.

Such a great book. I just want to know ONE thing. When will Hollywood make this book into a movie? My kids are dying to see it on the big screen. They love the story, and so do I (a parent).

so funny and suspenseful and my kids learned about history, to boot

Educational and scary. Kids and adults in our family liked it.

I have read others of G. G. Garth's books, but this one is great. It keeps you on the edge of your seat with terror and excitement!

I thought this book was interesting. I can't wait to try and find a few of them.

This book can only bring delight to local history buffs, especially those in the Pennsylvania area. Susan Tassin has compiled a listing of 46 ghost towns (or near ghosts) from around the state, has given a little history of each site, and, best of all, has indicated what the present-day visitor will find at each place (there is something at all of them, from restored villages to foundation holes) and how to get to them. Towns are located by section of the state, and some are close enough to each other to make visiting more than one an easy single day adventure. I only have two small quibbles, and they involve directions: the directions to Dillow's Fort near Pittsburgh are missing just enough information (probably a typo) to make it nearly impossible to locate, and in the directions for Laquin, after turning right on SR 3005 one needs to turn LEFT (not right) onto Southside Rd. Modern day explorers in the Keystone State should find plenty of inspiration in this book. Hopefully Ms. Tassin is at work on a follow-up volume amassing another inventory of ghost towns to go along with this one.

I was excited to get this book since the author was on T.V. and was talking about her book. I read the book from cover to cover and was very informed about the state that I live in. Can't wait until the weather breaks to see some of these places. Touring my own state, what a deal and alot of the places she mentioned aren't far from me....I never knew there was places like this around me. I just love her book and the information is priceless. My husband is from Pa. and never knew there was so much to read and to see in Pa. We are planning our vacation to see alot of these places and learn and get more knowledge about Pa. Way to go Susan Hutchison Tassin.

I just got this book as a gift and really enjoyed it. I used to live in rural Pennsylvania and still learned a lot of history from this book.

It is extremely well researched and full of easy to read history about the various communities that went boom and bust in Pennsylvania over 100 years ago. It's well organized by geographic area and stuffed with hard data as well as personal history that really brings out a sense of place and time and people. I was expecting something a little dry and got the opposite.

This book will hopefully shortly be found in every museum and historic gift shop in Pennsylvania. Very well done!

I have read that Pennsylvania is home to more ghost towns then Colorado, but most have been completely destroyed and are hard to find. This is a very well researched book containing numerous facts and anecdotes about many of the better known, but long defunct, towns from PA's past.

The book is divided by region so that the reader can focus on a particular part of the state. The author also includes information on the current state of each town, the accessibility of each location, and driving directions for finding them. Further, there is a solid bibliography and list of useful websites for further research.

The one thing that would have made this book better for me is if it included photographs from some of the locations. That, however, is merely a personal desire and in no way detracts from the overall work.

A must have for history buffs, ghost hunters, and abandonment explorers.

i have always enjoyed lee falks hero the phantom. it is nice to see many writers views on this character. there are 17 short stories and i enjoyed every one of them. it is good to see even though lee falk is no longer with us,his hero is still kept alive. thank you.

The reason I bought this book is because I've long been a fan of the Phantom via its comic strip even since I could remember. I have to admit that I've been hooked to the Phantom as far as I know, and couldn't get enough of him! Oh, WOW!! I also hope to obtain more novels of the 'Ghost Who Walks'!!

An ok anthology this one. A limited resources type publisher, so it is a trade paperback sized book, but a cheapish one.

The story average here is 3.24, hampered by the fact that a couple of the entries are not up to professional writing standard. If they were, this would be close to your solid 3.5 book. As it is, I'll give it a bonus for the cover, and actually having a go at a superhero anthology, which is certainly worth something for fans of the Phantom.

The other thing is that some of the takes can see The Phantom as grim and humourless, and far more aggressively violent than the comic strip version - perhaps taking their cue from Moonstone comics work, which appears to be like that.

The best work here is at the end, barring Henderson, Murray and Oliveri.

Phantom Chronicles : 01 White Knight - Mike Bullock
Phantom Chronicles : 02 The Ghost Who Dies - Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith
Phantom Chronicles : 03 Debt Of Honor - C. J. Henderson
Phantom Chronicles : 04 The Fastest Animal - Ron Fortier
Phantom Chronicles : 05 Truth Or Consequences - Jim Alexander
Phantom Chronicles : 06 Stranger From Walker's Table - Will Murray
Phantom Chronicles : 07 The Servants Of Set - Michael Oliveri
Phantom Chronicles : 08 Here There Everywhere - Nancy Kilpatrick
Phantom Chronicles : 09 Bad Medicine - Mike Bullock and Ed Rhodes
Phantom Chronicles : 10 House Of Ghosts - David Bishop
Phantom Chronicles : 11 The Promise - Grant Suave
Phantom Chronicles : 12 Not That Kind Of Girl - Trina Robbins
Phantom Chronicles : 13 Lessons Learned - Richard Dean Starr
Phantom Chronicles : 14 Reflection Of the Ghost - Dan Wickline
Phantom Chronicles : 15 A Ghost Without Yesterday - Dan Michelinie
Phantom Chronicles : 16 The Hungry Swamp - Martin Powell
Phantom Chronicles : 17 The Ghosts Who Walk - Craig Shaw Gardner

Rescuing Diana and her driver, from Aid robbers.

3 out of 5


The only female Phantom's son is jealous and goes for the doppelganger act.

2.5 out of 5


In a big surprise, The Ghost Who Walks breaks a pirate leader out of jail.

3.5 out of 5


The Phantom comes across Diana and a young assistant who have been attacked by Aid robbers.

3 out of 5


The Phantom is involves in an anti-ratzi castle spy operation.

3 out of 5


The sixteenth Phantom has some land pirates to deal with in the Old West.

3.5 out of 5


Pirate and cultist, a hard task for The Ghost Who Walks, with many hostages to rescue.

3.5 out of 5


The only female Phantom comes out of retirement for Jack the Ripper.

3.5 out of 5


The Phantom has to stop an athletic poisoner.

2 out of 5


A girl will be pleased to see the big purple variety that walks.

3 out of 5


A slaver ship to deal with, for the Phantom.

3.5 out of 5


An actress looking for work ends up as a stand-in goddess in a nazi Xenium plot.

3.5 out of 5


Another impostor tries to kill the Phantom, this time a hitman with honour.

4 out of 5


A dodgy German is dealing in super ammo, but a tough woman helps out The Phantom.

3.5 out of 5


The Ghost Who Walks comes to New Orleans, to help an old friend who runs an animal shelter.

4 out of 5


A trap is laid at an old hotel for the Phantom, but he does have help.

3.5 out of 5





3.5 out of 5

As a dyed in the (purple) wool Phantom fan, any collection of NEW Phantom prose is welcome. The quality of the 17 stories easily matches the comic book series published by Moonstone.

With a forward by Valerie Falk, contributions from Phantom scholars Ed Rhoades (consultant/artist/author), Will Murray (Doc Savage/Shadow) and accomplished authors David Michelinie, Mike Bullock, , C J Henderson, Ron Fortier, and Craig Shaw Gardner, the variety is outstanding. Disney artist extraordinaire Ruben Procopio's art is a good addition to the tales.

It's hard to pick out a favorite, but many capture the spirit of the Phantom very succinctly.

Can't wait for the 2nd volume.

Tim Lasiuta
www.moonstonebooks.com

These stories are bringing The Phantom back to life and doing it very well. There is one story I found to be a long stretch, but I'm not reviewing stories, but a volume of stories. In this volume the Deep Woods call, The Ghost Who Walks remains undying, justice prevails over the darkness of the world, and even when The Phantom seems helpless, he is just about ready to make his next move. A must for any Phantom fan! Quoth the Raven...

Middle-school students Courtney, Ming and Orion break into the Carville, Massachusetts Public Library one late spring night. Inside the library's "granite walls, cast-iron grilles, and turreted roof that made it look like a fortress," the children huddle in the cavern-like basement. Under the beam of Orion's flashlight, they recite an incantation from THE COMPLEAT NECROMANCER, an aged book written by former Carville resident Professor Hezekiah T. Osgood, who is now deceased.

Hezekiah, his wife Clara and son Nichodemus spent many years on Ilhas dos Fantasmas --- also known as Prithvideep --- an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, south of the Equator. There, Hezekiah and his family learned about the arora --- spirits that haunted the islands.

THE COMPLEAT NECROMANCER is an ordinary-looking book, "old and heavy as a brick," which chronicles Hezekiah's investigation into the mysteries of the afterlife. According to the book, "three friends must gather in the darkness and conspire to raise the dead." After Courtney, Ming and Orion repeat the incantation, they believe nothing has happened. They scamper from the library, forgetting Orion's flashlight in their haste.

The next morning Alma Parker, the town's librarian, finds the flashlight and notices something else amiss --- and it's not just the books that are out of place. After Alma picks up a book that is also part of the Osgood collection, she sees the profile of a boy pressed between the pages. It is "a filmy, translucent layer...as if traced by air." The image moves and looks at her.

While reading in her bedroom, Courtney also discovers the image of someone moving between the pages of a book "like the pale outline of a fern that might have been pressed inside the book long ago."

Back in school, Ming and Orion are assigned to create a presentation for the Carville World's Fair social studies project. Their teacher, Mrs. Hokum, has a vendetta against Alma Parker and a long list of books she wants banned from the library. Ming and Orion select Ilhas dos Fantasmas as the country for their project. Mrs. Hokum reluctantly approves their selection, but she remains suspicious and continues her campaign to ban "negative" books from the library and remove Alma Parker as librarian.

Joining forces with Alma and her husband, Ted, the three youngsters attempt to rescue the trapped arora while trying to protect the library's books from Mrs. Hokum and her supporters.

THE PHANTOM ISLES is creative and visually appealing, with stories within stories and images of arora watermarked on its pages. Told from several points of view, including the spirits trapped within the pages of obscure texts, THE PHANTOM ISLES succeeds as an entertaining, informative and engaging novel.

--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt

A strange old book called The Complete Necromancer holds more than magical instruction - it holds actual ghosts and powerful passages that can bring up the dead - a proposition that intrigues friends Ming, Courtney and Orion. Their quest for knowledge brings the local library's books to life with spooky moving images - and unleashes a storm that could overtake the town. A wonderful, spellbinding story suitable for advanced elementary through middle school grade levels evolves.

I recently bought this book for my nephew who is eleven and an avid reader. He tells me that not only did he love this book but it has inspired him to become a writer in the future. He has shared it with his teacher and classmates at school and it seems that they have all enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading it now myself.

Three brave children, an amazing librarian and an island of ghosts inhabit THE PHANTOM ISLES. Stephen Alter has created a unique ghost story with a thrilling cast of fascinating characters. This delightful mix of magic, ghosts, haunted books and exotic islands is a winner! It would make a great read aloud for teachers and parents. And the suspenseful chapter endings will keep even the most reluctant readers flipping pages.

I look forward to reading more books by Stephen Alter.

Late one night Ming, Courtney, and Orion sneak into the town library to find a very curious book. The Compleat Necromancer contains a spell that can supposedly conjure the ghosts of the dead. The friends perform the spell and...nothing happens. Or so it seems.

The next day Alma, the librarian, notices books out of place. Stranger still is the face that looks out at her when she opens one of them. It seems to materialize on the page, and it appears to be looking right at her! And it's not the only face stuck in a book.

Slowly a mystery comes to the surface. It seems to center around a place called Ilhas dos Fantasmas, and a professor who went to live there for awhile a long time ago. If Ming, Courtney, Orion, and Alma can solve the mystery, they might be able to free the ghosts from their books. But, the clock is ticking, and the books might be in greater danger than any of them realize.

This is such a fun book, and such an original idea! I love that it tells the stories of the ghosts, as well as has their faces on the page. It makes the story so much more vivid. Plus it has a crazy teacher, who at first is almost funny then turns creepy. It's the fun kind of scary book that is a great story for anyone. It also seems like just the kind of book that parents could read to their kids.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

this book is a sequal as well, and it is a very good sequal. kept my interst and I believe it would keep any childs interest as well.

These are a great series. I have loved reading them with my kids. They use the imagination and keep you interested. Make sure you read book one first.

My book was nice. The Amazon staff and shipping were very horrible. I will not be purchasing from Amazon again. The book's cover was literally taped into the OUTSIDE of the box. The customer service was polite but forced me to return the ruined book. This involved me having to give the nasty book to someone for a gift and then replacing it, packaging the damaged book back up and going to the Post Office. This was a lot of gas and work. I deeply resent having to do all of this. Other people do not want a damaged book. Why not just throw it away? It was their mistake and I had to do the work. Bad service.

I truly enjoyed this book. My grand daughter is reading it now. The
series is terrific - hope there are more to come.

Angie Sage keeps the Septimus Heap series going strong with Physik - the third book after Magyk and Flyte. In Physik we have a complex web of plot elements (no spoilers in this review) that take the narrative deep into the history and architecture of the castle and deeper into a an increasingly sophisticated magical realm. There's more about the forms and uses of magyk in this title, and less focus on the weird creatures of this place. Nothing is lost. The central trope is magnetically compelling and there is action and danger and new fabulous characters. The Septimus Heap world keeps getting deeper and weirder with each new title in the series - yet the stories remain page turning romps that don't give kids nightmares. Sage treads the line between thrilling action and stuff that's too scary for kids with brilliant sensitivity. As an adult I don't get the feeling she's condescending - yet I have no qualms giving this to my second grader. He devours these Septimus books with gusto and is well ahead of me in the series.

If you read Magyk and Flyte you'll definitely be reading this on your way to Queste - so it's not vital that I tell you that Physik rocks. It's probably the best title in the series so far.

As for paperback versus hard cover - these are pretty thick chunky books (more than 500 brief quick reading pages) - the paperback adds some much needed lightness and flexibility and saves about 35% of the price. I was the 3rd person to read our particular paperback copy (after my son and wife). It was still in fine condition (no pages falling out or smudged ink). I have no problem recommending this dirt cheap edition.