Summary
Tom is afraid to go down to their cellar. Why? The green slime and chilly fingers that he encounters on a trip for more orange juice gave him such a fright he no longer wants to go down there. No one in his family believes his tale...except for his grandmother and her best friend, Hetty Hessop. In order to rid his cellar of this Averagely Spooky Ghost (or ASG), Tom will need Hetty's help to remove the Incredibly Revolting Ghost haunting the ASG.
Critical Analysis
While this book was originally written in Germany, it seems to transcend cultural boundaries very well. Kids across the world can relate to being scared of something or believing that certain rooms in their house are haunted. Aside from a few names that are not common in the States (such as Hetty and Igor), there was very little in terms of cultural markers in this book. The only thing that might be significant is that the ghost made different sounds and did different things (such as leaving a trail of slime) that differ slightly from the American perception of ghosts.
This book does not provide much insight into cultural differences. However, as a book, it's an enjoyable, slightly scary, triumphing tale that kids can relate to.
Review Excerpts
Publishers Weekly
The story is not really funny enough to appeal to kids who want humor, and not scary enough to raise goosebumps; the text tends to rely on exclamation points to inject excitement. Funke's half-tone illustrations add appeal for readers just getting the hang of chapter books but, overall, this is a somewhat pedestrian offering from the talented creator of Inkheart and The Thief Lord.
Children's Literature
As in all her work, Funke creates a believable magical world and engaging characters. Her illustrations are just as fun to look at as her work is to read.
School Library Journal
In spite of the IRG's penchant for removing his head at key moments, children won't be unduly frightened by this tale.
Connections
Look for other Ghosthunter books...they're a series!
Cornelia Funke also wrote the Inkheart books.
Fans can also check out Cornelia Funke's website: http://www.corneliafunke.de/en.html
No comments:
Post a Comment