Rules for Ghosting
by A.J. Paquette
Pub Date: 7/9/13
Pub: Bloomsbury & Walker
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
Twelve-year-old Dahlia has always lived at Silverton Manor-having spent fifty years as its resident ghost. When Oliver Day and his family show up as house-sitters the day Mrs. Tibbs, a Liberator sent by the Spectral Investigative Council, arrives to teach Dahlia the proper rules for ghosting, Dahlia can't wait to make new friends. But the unscrupulous ghost hunter, Rank Wiley, and the crooked town councilman, Jock Rutabartle, plan to rid Silverton Manor of its ghosts and sell it to the highest bidder. With her home and friendships at stake Dahlia may have to break the rules of ghosting as quickly as she learns them to solve the mystery of her death and save the manor. Equal parts charming and eerie, this ghostly caper hits all the right notes for the middle-grade audience.
I received an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review
A.J. Paquette's Rules for Ghosting is an utterly delightful and superbly entertaining middle-grade read! This ghoulicious gem of a book is full of spooky, charming fun and storytelling that simply sparkles and shines!
For
fifty years, 12 year old Dahlia has lived at Silverton Manor as its
resident ghost. Mrs. Tibbs, a Liberator from the very important and
rigid Spectral Investigation Council, shows up to teach Dahlia the
proper rules for ghosting and help her uncover the anchor that is
keeping her stuck at Silverton Manor. On the same day as Mrs. Tibbs
arrival, Oliver Day and his family of house-sitters move into the
manor. The Days' job is to ensure the manor gets a pretty makeover,
both for its physical appearance and its reputation, so that Jock
Rutabartle can sell it. But a nasty ghost hunter named Rank Wiley
gets in the way of both Dahlia and the Days. Dahlia must break some
ghosting rules to save herself and help Oliver save the beloved
manor.
I
loved everything about this book! The characters, the plot, the
writing- it's all just awesome. Rules for
Ghosting is
the perfect middle-grade blend of fun thrills, eerie whimsy, and
smart mystery. Paquette's storytelling has that special spark, the
kind that is fueled by a wonderfully imaginative and addicting story,
that I always look for in middle-grade books. With a pitch-perfect
voice, amusing humor, and clever plotting, Rules
for Ghosting is
truly captivating from beginning to end.
I'm
huge fan of ghost stories and ghost hunting, and Paquette has created
the perfect middle-grade ghost story that has a enough eerie
spookiness to keep readers enthralled, but is brimming with charm and
age-appropriate thrills. This book was seriously just SO MUCH fun to
read! It has so many fantastic elements, from an enchanting setting
(Silverton Manor) to a compelling mystery to awesome characters, this
book has it all. Silverton Manor, with its irresistible charm;
mysterious allure; and many rooms waiting to be explored, is like a
character in itself. Given the chance, I'd move into Silverton Manor
(and claim Poppy's room!). Paquette weaves a clever, unpredictable
mystery that kept me on my toes and was exciting to unravel with
Dahlia and Oliver.
The
characters in Rules for Ghosting shine!
I adore ghost-girl Dahlia; she's everything I look for in a
middle-grade heroine: smart, brave, capable, inquisitive, and
endearing. Oliver and his rambunctious younger siblings make for an
engaging and amusing bunch. Younger readers will love this group of
young characters and want to join their ghost-hunter busting team (I
know I do!). And Rank and Jock make for fun baddies.
MY
FINAL THOUGHTS: With spooks and kooks, thrills and chills, and
sparkle and shine, Rules for Ghosting is
an awesome middle-grade read that charmed me completely. I can't
recommend this book enough, especially for all the younger readers in
your life!
A.J. Paquette has been writing stories since early childhood. She and her sister would spend hours creating masterpieces of stapled paper and handwritten words, complete with pen-and-ink covers and boxed illustrations. The road to publication was long and winding, peppered with many small successes including: a variety of national magazine publications, being a 2005 PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award honoree, and receiving the 2008 SCBWI’s Susan Landers Glass Scholarship Award, for the book that would later become Nowhere Girl. Her first picture book, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies, was published in 2009. She now lives with her husband and two daughters in the Boston area, where she continues to write books for children and young adults. She is also an agent with the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.
MY RATING
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A.J. Paquette
A.J. Paquette has been writing stories since early childhood. She and her sister would spend hours creating masterpieces of stapled paper and handwritten words, complete with pen-and-ink covers and boxed illustrations. The road to publication was long and winding, peppered with many small successes including: a variety of national magazine publications, being a 2005 PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award honoree, and receiving the 2008 SCBWI’s Susan Landers Glass Scholarship Award, for the book that would later become Nowhere Girl. Her first picture book, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies, was published in 2009. She now lives with her husband and two daughters in the Boston area, where she continues to write books for children and young adults. She is also an agent with the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. 
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