The Seer of Shadows
by Avi
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 185)
Read in September, 2008
Horace is a young apprentice to a photographer, Mr. Middleditch. Mr. Newbery award winning author, Avi, writes a fabulous story of two young people in the 1870's trying to do the best they can under unusual circumstances. The time period, descriptions and dialog are well written and make this an excellent historical fiction novel for upper elementary and middle school students. Middleditch is not a very well-known photographer and therefore jumps at the chance of taking pictures of Mrs. Von Mach...more
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Read in June, 2008
It's nice to read a good old-fashioned ghost story once in a while, and this one fits the bill nicely. Fourteen-year-old Horace is an apprentice to a photographer who is trying to take advantage of a grieving woman by using a double-exposure to make it appear as though her dead daughter is a ghostly apparition in a photograph he takes of the woman. (Please don't make me diagram that sentence!) Trouble is, the photographer doesn't have the whole story: the girl wasn't really the woman's daughter ...more
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Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com
It's 1872 in New York and Horace Carpetine is working as a photography apprentice. Photographer Mr. Middleditch is a little down on his luck and in need of a large profit from a client. So when they are approached by Mrs. Von Macht, who is grieving the loss of her only child and wishes a portrait to place on her daughter's grave, Mr. Middleditch comes up with an idea to make money.
The pair will make a ghostly likeness ...more
It's 1872 in New York and Horace Carpetine is working as a photography apprentice. Photographer Mr. Middleditch is a little down on his luck and in need of a large profit from a client. So when they are approached by Mrs. Von Macht, who is grieving the loss of her only child and wishes a portrait to place on her daughter's grave, Mr. Middleditch comes up with an idea to make money.
The pair will make a ghostly likeness ...more
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Read in May, 2008
It's fine. It has enough of scariness, but not quite truly scary. The resolution seems a bit simplistic and the revenging spirit was not really calmed. The last chapter, serving as an epilogue, wraps things up too quickly and does not leave much to the imagination. I thought this story had the potential to be a series: with Horace using his incredible ability to help both the dead and the living. It turned out that he did not quite help anyone in this story and the epilogue shows that he wo...more
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Read in July, 2008
In 1872, Horace Carpetine is apprenticed to Mr. Middleditch, a society photographer. When wealthy society matron Mrs. Frederick Von Macht orders a photographic portrait, strange things begin to happen. Horace's first real photographs reveal a fightful likeness: it's the image of the Von Machts' dead daughter, Eleanora. With the help of Pegg, the Von Machts' black servant girl, Horace finds the truth about who Eleanora really was and how she actually died. Pegg and Horace soon realize that hi...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
Junior readers as well as Adults
I really enjoyed this book. It has suspense, mystery, intrigue and factual information. I love how a writer can take a fact about something, in this case photograph, and turn it into a suspensful story.
A young apprentice of a photographer learns not only about the tricks of the trade but also that he is a Seer. It is a ghost story in its entirety. Some parts were predictable but others threw you for a loop.
Again, it is an easy read and I had a hard time putting it down; so I finished it f...more
A young apprentice of a photographer learns not only about the tricks of the trade but also that he is a Seer. It is a ghost story in its entirety. Some parts were predictable but others threw you for a loop.
Again, it is an easy read and I had a hard time putting it down; so I finished it f...more
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Read in August, 2008
Bookjacket description:
the time is 1872. The place is New York City. Horace Carpetine has been raised to believe in science and rationality. So as apprentice to Enoch Middleditch, a society photographer, he thinks of his trade as a scientific art. But when wealthy society matron Mrs. Von Macht orders a photographic portrait, strange things begin to happen. Horace's first real photographs reveal a frightful likeness: it's the image of the Von Macht's dead daughter, Eleanora.
the time is 1872. The place is New York City. Horace Carpetine has been raised to believe in science and rationality. So as apprentice to Enoch Middleditch, a society photographer, he thinks of his trade as a scientific art. But when wealthy society matron Mrs. Von Macht orders a photographic portrait, strange things begin to happen. Horace's first real photographs reveal a frightful likeness: it's the image of the Von Macht's dead daughter, Eleanora.
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Read in April, 2008
Although this is not my favorite Avi book, it is engaging nonetheless. Set in the year 1872, Horance has been apprenticed to a photographer with questionable morals. When the photographer decides to trick a customer into believing that her dead daughter's ghost is hovering over her shoulder, Horance is quite worried about the results of the trick. But when Horance takes a picture of a real ghost, Horance will have to decide what he believes and what he needs to do.
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Read in July, 2008
I wanted more of the ghost. Or less of the ghost. I couldn't resolve the ease of the rational mind versus the irrational situation as well as the narrator did.
Slowly, a shadowy image begins to reveal itself. It's as if the shadow were coming from some mystic depth, emerging from another world, little by little, taking bodily shape and form until that shadow becomes . . . real. Just what one would expect--would want--from a ghost. (p. 69)
Slowly, a shadowy image begins to reveal itself. It's as if the shadow were coming from some mystic depth, emerging from another world, little by little, taking bodily shape and form until that shadow becomes . . . real. Just what one would expect--would want--from a ghost. (p. 69)
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
ghosts, photography, revenge, secrets
In 1872, a young photographer's apprentice unknowingly photographs a ghost who seems intent on returning to the world of the living for revenge.
I thought this was a great read! It was creepy enough for 5th and 6th graders to get a shiver down their spines, but I doubt it will cause nightmares. I'll be recommending this one!
I thought this was a great read! It was creepy enough for 5th and 6th graders to get a shiver down their spines, but I doubt it will cause nightmares. I'll be recommending this one!
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Read in July, 2008
I liked both the descriptions of late 19th century NYC and the premise of a young photographer who unwittingly evokes spirits through his images. Still, I wish Avi had given a little more depth and suspense to the ghost story underneath. His much earlier, Something Upstairs, somehow bottled the suspense a little tighter.
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I know it's Avi. I know he won a Newbery and all that.
But I found all the details to be less than believable.
Not the ghost story, but the historical details, especially the denoument, which (to say the least) is NOT believable for the time and the period. And as a result, the story just fell flat for me.
But I found all the details to be less than believable.
Not the ghost story, but the historical details, especially the denoument, which (to say the least) is NOT believable for the time and the period. And as a result, the story just fell flat for me.
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
grades 5-7 horror ghost story
Major creepy book for kids grades 5-7. Basically, a young photographer's apprentice has the ability to awaken restless spirits by bringing them to life like negatives exposed on film paper. But he doesn't know about his "gift" until he snaps his first portrait and a dangerous, vengeful spirit emerges...
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Read in May, 2008
I expected so much more out of this book. Way too much of a photography lesson, and it just left me "ehh" That and I hate it when an author tells in the here and now except randomly inserts comments so suddenly the story becomes a "retelling of events past" Stick to one or another. Don't mix.
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Meridee by:
a Provo City librarianrecommends it for: 5-8th grade mystery lovers
Another fun and entertaining book by Avi. The young photographer's apprentice is faced with the choice of following his conscience or following his master's orders. But life is not always black and white and Horace finds many interesting things in the gray areas of this mystery.
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In New York City in 1872, fourteen-year-old Horace, a photographer's apprentice, becomes entangled in a plot to create fraudulent spirit photographs, but when Horace accidentally frees the real ghost of a dead girl bent on revenge, his life takes a frightening turn.
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Read in July, 2008
It took a while for the suspense to build, but by the end, this book was thoroughly creepy! I would highly recommend this one to scary story fans who also have a bit of patience (it SO pays off in the end). Also a good pair with A Drowned Maiden's Hair.
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Horace, apprenticed to a photographer who manipulates photos to include a dead spirit, finds himself able to see and bring forth these spirits. A good mix of mystery, superstition, adventure - good for all those who seek a scaring ghost story
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Read in July, 2008
Fourteen year old Horace is apprenticed to a society photographer in 1872, who plans to deceive a patron with a ghostly photograph. Horace discovers his ability to see 'shadows' and that he has released the vengeful spirit of Eleanora.
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Read in September, 2008
A chillingly good ghost story for reading under the covers at night. Like most ghost stories, the point is not to have thoroughly developed characters: the ghost would be less interesting if we had a nuanced view of everyone.
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