Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1984485 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-14
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .73" h x 5.54" w x 8.24" l, .73 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 201 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6?When his father accepts a job as principal at Craven Hill School, Patrick isn't happy about the move. On his very first day in the new town, he meets Nairen, the girl next door; two local bullies; and the ghost of young Barney Dawe. By talking to the school librarian and by reading old newspapers at the local public library, Patrick and Nairen discover that Barney disappeared from the school library many years ago, was never found, and that the custodian was suspected of foul play. In this fast-paced story set in the 1950s, Patrick and Nairen investigate and eventual resolve the mystery surrounding Barney's tragic story. Even though the adults are far less developed than the children, the characters ring true. The dialogue moves the plot along and is well integrated into the story line. While readers will not necessarily have goose bumps, they will be drawn in by the clear, succinct writing and the anticipatory mood. The telling is solid and doesn't rely on buckets of blood or hacked bodies to entice readers. This is a logical choice for fans of E.W. Hildick and Donald Sobol.?Molly S. Kinney, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4^-6. Soon after an unwanted move to a new town, Patrick begins to see a ghostly figure that makes him question his senses. He first spots the spectral child in the castlelike school where his father will be principal in the fall. Patrick tries to push down his fear and live a normal life, making a friend, Nairen, and tangling with town bullies. But the ghost keeps reappearing and pleads for help. By doing some library research, Patrick learns of a child's disappearance and the sudden death of the suspected murderer, and he and Nairen become convinced that if they can't help the ghost, they may not survive themselves. The very large type makes this novel a good choice for children who are outgrowing Goosebumps books, and the 1958 setting is a change of pace from contemporary horror tales. The story is never gory, but there are some good scares, and the boy-girl team of Patrick and Nairen seems poised to confront more spirits at the end, leaving plenty of room for sequels. Susan Dove Lempke

From Kirkus Reviews
In 1958, Patrick is new in town, where his father is taking over the principalship of a school that looks ``like Dracula's castle.'' In the school library Patrick discovers the ghost of Barnaby (nicknamed Barney), the young son of a former principal, who mysteriously disappeared in 1920. With the help of new friend Nairen and town bully Marion, as well as some supernatural manipulation by Barnaby, Patrick finds out what happened to the ghost and settles his unquiet spirit. Barnaby's rather gruesome death and Patrick's testy relationship with his consistently obstructive father are jarringly serious elements in an otherwise lightly spooky chiller. The mystery, with a few standard red herrings and some obvious telegraphing, will appeal to fans of mild horror, and the ending hints at a sequel, if not a series. (Fiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.