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59th out of 65 books
—
34 voters
Graveyard Shift (Ministry of Pandemonium #1)
A spooky fantasy-adventure in which death is only the beginning!
When Ben Harvester meets the mysterious Mr. October in London's Highgate Cemetery, he has no idea what a strange and dramatic turn his life is about to take. But Ben soon discovers that Mr. October works for the Ministry of Pandemonium, a secret organization responsible for tracking down lost souls and guiding...more
When Ben Harvester meets the mysterious Mr. October in London's Highgate Cemetery, he has no idea what a strange and dramatic turn his life is about to take. But Ben soon discovers that Mr. October works for the Ministry of Pandemonium, a secret organization responsible for tracking down lost souls and guiding...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
July 1st 2012
by Scholastic Press
(first published January 1st 2011)
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By Chris Westwood. Grade B+
Set in London, Ministry Of Pandemonium is just the one of its kind of books that I have read and liked.
Ben Harvester can see what no one else can. . .
A cobbled alleyway – a place where it's always night –
hidden behind a crack in the wall.
Mr October, a man of many faces and secrets, knows Ben
has a unique gift. He sets out to recruit Ben to a top-secret,
highly classified Ministry department – to help in an eternal war
against an unspeakable enemy.
And so Ben begins to unde...more
Set in London, Ministry Of Pandemonium is just the one of its kind of books that I have read and liked.
Ben Harvester can see what no one else can. . .
A cobbled alleyway – a place where it's always night –
hidden behind a crack in the wall.
Mr October, a man of many faces and secrets, knows Ben
has a unique gift. He sets out to recruit Ben to a top-secret,
highly classified Ministry department – to help in an eternal war
against an unspeakable enemy.
And so Ben begins to unde...more
It's set in, actually I don't really know where it's set. I'd forgotten. I just know it's set in Britain. I think it's set in various places around London and such.
It's about a boy who's generally quiet and reserved with the need to help. He's a brilliant artist and really good with noticing details (when drawing), and has a gift.
But, I wanted this review to be short, because quite frankly, there's not much to say about this book.
I don't really know why I liked it. I'm in phase where what I want...more
It's about a boy who's generally quiet and reserved with the need to help. He's a brilliant artist and really good with noticing details (when drawing), and has a gift.
But, I wanted this review to be short, because quite frankly, there's not much to say about this book.
I don't really know why I liked it. I'm in phase where what I want...more
Ben Harvester is sketching in Highgate Cemetery when he sees an old man apparently in difficulty. Good-natured Ben naturally goes to help. But the feeble old man is much more than he seems. Before he knows what's happening Ben finds himself recruited into the Ministry of Pandemonium, an organisation that exists to help the dead pass on to their next stage and to keep them out of the clutches of demons on the hunt for lost souls.
The style is accessible, there's plenty of humour and there are some...more
The style is accessible, there's plenty of humour and there are some...more
Ben Harvester is an ordinary kid who gets picked on at school. He has a superb eye for drawing, and his habit of visiting graveyards leads to a meeting with the mysterious Mr. October, and the subsequent introduction to the world of helping the Dead move on to their afterlife (whatever that may be). To this end he joins the Ministry of Pandemonium, an act not taken lightly by the naightmarish folk who work for The Other Side.
I found the book to be a delightful, easy read, though at the beginning...more
I found the book to be a delightful, easy read, though at the beginning...more
Ben can see dead people. I guess that if you hang about in graveyards long enough this is bound to happen. It all starts the day he meets Mr October, a shapeshifting dude who works for the Ministry of Pandemonium, an establishment that helps the newly departed on their way before demons can sling their backsides down to Hell. Why Ben feels compelled to trust, let alone believe this old geezer, is beyond me. But hey, this isn't real life.
Generally speaking this story is well written, though I cou...more
Generally speaking this story is well written, though I cou...more
Apr 27, 2011
Jess - The Tales Compendium
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy-scifi-paranormal
Thirteen year old Ben used to be a solitary kid who hung out in cemeteries with his sketchbook. But after his chance meeting with Mr October, he now helps protect the souls of the departed with his new friends Becky - who senses people, Sukie - who is clairvoyant, and Lu - a contortionist, from the Deathheads and the Mawbreed's. For every good guy there is a bad guy and as they travel the streets of London, looking for the next departed soul, they must keep their wits about them. With demons cre...more
Sep 01, 2012
Charlotte Jones
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-books,
favorites
I think that the plot was intriguing when I read the synopsis and it did not disappoint. For a children's book, I found this compelling and found it difficult to put down. I found the monsters frightening enough to make me want to read on and see what happened.
The characters were my favourite part of this book. The protagonist was interesting and had enough back story to make him a well-rounded character that is impressive for a children's book character. Mr October was a highly mysterious char...more
The characters were my favourite part of this book. The protagonist was interesting and had enough back story to make him a well-rounded character that is impressive for a children's book character. Mr October was a highly mysterious char...more
Because of his unusual paranormal gift, Ben Harvester is recruited by Mr. October to work for the Ministry of Pandemonium. His job is to track down and assist lost souls and guide them to the afterlife.
I really liked the way this book was written. It was a smart and intriguing approach to paranormal fantasy. The ending was quite surprising. The Lords of Sundown were a bit overdone. Straight from a child's nightmare, their goal was believable in context, but their form seemed too cartoonish. And...more
I really liked the way this book was written. It was a smart and intriguing approach to paranormal fantasy. The ending was quite surprising. The Lords of Sundown were a bit overdone. Straight from a child's nightmare, their goal was believable in context, but their form seemed too cartoonish. And...more
My 4th grade son bought this book at the school book fair. He did not like it and stopped about page 50. So I picked it up to preview for my 5th grade class. The story premise is an interesting one and would probably appeal to middle school boys. Parts were a bit scary which is why I think my son did not want to continue reading it.
"When Ben Harvester meets the mysterious Mr. October in London's Highgate Cemetery, he has no idea what a strange and dramatic turn his life is about to take. But Ben...more
"When Ben Harvester meets the mysterious Mr. October in London's Highgate Cemetery, he has no idea what a strange and dramatic turn his life is about to take. But Ben...more
This book is really enjoyable. American readers would know this book as Graveyard Shift, it's the same book though. I love the way this is written. It's as if the visuals are written into the pages. The first paragraph of chapter 3 is a fantastic example!
Nothing moving. Everything still. The next few days were even hotter and the air felt like a clammy skin. On the bed in my room with the windows open I waited for a breeze that never came. It was like waiting for a miracle, a sign to point me to...more
Nothing moving. Everything still. The next few days were even hotter and the air felt like a clammy skin. On the bed in my room with the windows open I waited for a breeze that never came. It was like waiting for a miracle, a sign to point me to...more
The Good Stuff
•Delightfully dark and funny - written perfectly for boys/girls in middle school
•Intriguing characters - how can you not love Ben, Becky, Mr October and Lu
•Reminded me a little at times of the tv show Dead Like Me (Excellent show btw, go get yourself a copy of it
•Love the unusual and original storyline - very creative
•Honestly this might make an interesting series - not sure if there are plans for it, but it might be interesting
•Very wise commentary about life and death
•Mr October...more
Jul 13, 2012
Bookstorequeer
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Andrew
Shelves:
supernatural-misc,
young-adult
I loved this book! It really pulled me in and I almost found myself trying to read more slowly because I wanted it to last. The writing was great, very smooth and well-paced. The plot was original and the characters were genuine! I like how everything tied itself together and then proceeded to tangle itself into a knot of emotion and talent. It was... It was great.
My only one problem with the book (there might've been two but I'm blanking on the second) was that I found no mention of how old Ben...more
My only one problem with the book (there might've been two but I'm blanking on the second) was that I found no mention of how old Ben...more
Genuinely spooky, original and utterly strange—these words don’t begin to do this story justice. Featuring a rather reluctant hero thrust into a bizarre world that lives (so to speak) juxtaposed with this one, “Graveyard Shift” is that unlikeliest of horror tales. It is one in which the mundane twists with the supernatural, where the dead mingle freely with the living, even though the living are completely unaware of their existence. It is a place where death isn’t necessarily the end.
Enlivening...more
Enlivening...more
Now that was one awesome read!
I can't begin to describe how unique and wonderful this story is without giving spoilers. The story opens with our protagonist Ben Harvester, who meets the eccentric Mr. October in a cemetery. I loved the relationship between Ben and Mr. October because it was reminiscent of John Bellairs's Professor Childermass and Johnny Dixon, an old man and a young boy becoming friends. After Ben and Mr. October meet, they run into each other again, but this time things get a li...more
I can't begin to describe how unique and wonderful this story is without giving spoilers. The story opens with our protagonist Ben Harvester, who meets the eccentric Mr. October in a cemetery. I loved the relationship between Ben and Mr. October because it was reminiscent of John Bellairs's Professor Childermass and Johnny Dixon, an old man and a young boy becoming friends. After Ben and Mr. October meet, they run into each other again, but this time things get a li...more
The greatest compliment I can pay this book is that I had to continually remind myself that Ministry of Pandemonium was not, in fact, a Neil Gaiman novel. With similar dark and otherworldly themes, characters as vivid and endearing as any Mr Gaiman has produced and a clear style of writing that appears effortless, its impossible not to draw similarities. I enjoyed myself immensely while spending time in Chris Westwood's highly imaginative world and I'll certainly be recommending this as one of t...more
There were some ideas in this book that I like, particularly about Mr October's 'world'. Felt that the 'telling' about how people die was overwhelming. Not overwhelming as in too much explaining on one soul but instead there were too many souls described when they went around to collect. Fast paced, believable and slightly 'dark', this book is not a bad read.
Ben Harvester likes to hang out in cemeteries - where he meets the truly strange Mr. October. Eventually Ben finds out that Mr. October helps to escort ghosts to the other side - and that Ben can also see and help out these ghosts.
Overall this was a satisfying and scary read. It is truly difficult to find a good horror book for that kid who just-wants-to-be-scared. This kind of reminded me of how I felt when I read Coraline, with some genuinely off putting and unsettling imagery and characters,...more
Overall this was a satisfying and scary read. It is truly difficult to find a good horror book for that kid who just-wants-to-be-scared. This kind of reminded me of how I felt when I read Coraline, with some genuinely off putting and unsettling imagery and characters,...more
The Ministry of Pandemonium is original and I didn't mind it although it wasn't amazing and it probably wont stick with me. Ben Havester is a normal boy when until he meets Mr October which is the turning point. This is very intriguing as they embark on adventures together.
Jun 05, 2011
A Thousand Words Festival
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
dark-fantasy
This has a real Garth Nix feel to it, and lovers of Nix will be huge fans immediately. Although it is quite a light-hearted read, there is a dark undertone that pulls Ministry of Pandemonium away from being a junior fiction. A great new series for dark fantasy lovers.
for some reason I was rushing through this book. It was good - just the kind of book I like, but I could feel the pull of it being a children's book with some of the themes and motives behind things. But maybe i didnt connect with the book as I would have liked. Ive been rushing all my reading lately and I dont know why
Surprisingly good read. Dark in tone and very engaging. It has a hint of Neil Gaiman in the subject matter and feeling. This is a good thing. The subject of death is dealt with sensitivitity. The demon attacks are frightening, and no character feels safe.
A very good read.
A very good read.
Ben's life is in upheaval with a new flat, a new school, no money, and then a mysterious encounter with an elderly man in the cemetery. Little does he know that he has a special talent that will result in his recruitment into the Ministry of Pandemonium and that all of his courage will be required to face his new job. This spooky, action-filled chapter book is interesting and well-written enough to hold the reader captive and to wish for a sequel. Similarities to Harry Potter, Eva Ibbotson, and...more
I've read a huge number of fantasy and paranormal books for children and teens (I'm an author and reviewer of children's books)but these days I'm looking out for fresh and innovative themes. This book ticks all the standard boxes (well written, should appeal to young readers), but I've already come across the theme of a character discovering his or her destiny is to help people pass from life to death. However young readers who like a solitary, slightly alienated hero and relish the idea of a lo...more
I had to take this back to the library as my two renews were up and I hadn't finished this yet. It was an interesting premise but I found the main character to be a little bit boring and his mentor was just creepy. I like the idea of reapers or whatever ushering our souls to heaven but I don't really like thinking about death and all that so I found the book a bit uncomfortable
Fun.
Not as creepy as I expected, but still a good read. For older than the cover would imply.
May 18, 2013
Joseph McGee
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May 15, 2013
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Westwood, the son of a coal miner and a school teacher, decided on his writing career at age 11. Despite being Yorkshire born & bred, Westwood does live part of the time in East London. His first published writing was for the London music paper Record Mirror, where he worked as a staff reporter for three years.
His career mixes journalism and fiction.
More about Chris Westwood...
His career mixes journalism and fiction.
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Aug 15, 2012 02:12am