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The Fighting Spirit
“Would you like to adopt a ghost?
Young spirit, born 1887, seeks kind home to haunt. Gentleman by birth. Good company. Gets on well with other children. Jokes and shocks a speciality.
If interested, place outside your home three twigs, in the shape of an arrow, pointing to your front door...”
Ruby and Jayden get more than they bargained for, when they adopt the ghost of Edward Fitzberranger. He’s a boy from Victorian times, has left his haunted house without permission and is living in Ruby’s wardrobe.
When they find out he can time-travel, they find themselves in the Second World War, with bombs falling and a royal kidnapping plot. Simon Fitzberranger and his Anti-War Party offer a solution – but is he all he seems?
This is the first new Spirits novel for five years. It is both a reboot and a continuation of the original series, featuring the return of ghostly Edward and classic villains alongside some new characters.
Young spirit, born 1887, seeks kind home to haunt. Gentleman by birth. Good company. Gets on well with other children. Jokes and shocks a speciality.
If interested, place outside your home three twigs, in the shape of an arrow, pointing to your front door...”
Ruby and Jayden get more than they bargained for, when they adopt the ghost of Edward Fitzberranger. He’s a boy from Victorian times, has left his haunted house without permission and is living in Ruby’s wardrobe.
When they find out he can time-travel, they find themselves in the Second World War, with bombs falling and a royal kidnapping plot. Simon Fitzberranger and his Anti-War Party offer a solution – but is he all he seems?
This is the first new Spirits novel for five years. It is both a reboot and a continuation of the original series, featuring the return of ghostly Edward and classic villains alongside some new characters.
120 pages, Paperback
Published March 28, 2025
1 person want to read
About the author
Rob Keeley
23 books67 followersI'm an award-winning writer of novels, short stories and drama, particularly for children and a family audience.
I am the creator of the Spirits series of ghost novels and the fourth of these, "High Spirits" was published in October 2017 and was honoured with a win at the Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Awards. The first in the series, "Childish Spirits", was longlisted for the Bath Children's Novel Award and the WriteMentor Children's Novel Award, as well as being nominated for the People's Book Prize. The second in the series, "The Spirit of London" was highly commended for the Independent Author Book Award. I also had a collection of short stories for children ("The Dinner Club and Other Stories") longlisted for the International Rubery Book Award. My first picture book for younger children, "My Favourite People" was published in 2018. In 2019 the final Spirits novel "The Coming of the Spirits" was published and "Childish Spirits" was published as an eBook and an audiobook. In 2020 I was Children's Writer in Residence at the Stay at Home Literary Festival. My first standalone novel for the 8-12s, "The Treasure in the Tower" and my second picture book "Carrots Don't Grow On Trees!" were published in 2021.
My first novel for adults, a murder mystery called "Death At Friar's Inn", was published in March 2022. That year, I also had a short story for children 'Guess What?' shortlisted at the Searchlight Writing for Children Awards. It has now been published in my new collection in March 2023, "The Boy Who Disappeared and Other Stories". My latest novel for children "The Teacher Who Knew Too Much" is published in 2024. Also in 2024, the Spirits series celebrated its tenth anniversary with a new, special edition of "Childish Spirits". A brand-new Spirits novel "The Fighting Spirit" was published for Christmas 2024.
I have also written for BBC Radio and my one-act stage comedy "Mr Everyone" has been longlisted for the Kenneth Branagh and Alfred Bradley Awards.
I have a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing with Distinction from Lancaster University and in 2015 completed a course in Filmmaking from the National Film and Television School, with a course in Screenwriting following in 2016. In 2016-7 I was a judge for the IGGY and Litro Young Writers' Prize. I am a supporter of the Children's Media Foundation.
I hold author workshops in schools and other venues and one teacher described these as "inspirational"! In May 2024 my workshops were honoured with an award nomination for Fearless Freelancer at the Northern Cultural Education Awards.
For more information, please visit www.robkeeley.co.uk or follow me on X @RobKeeleyAuthor. I have free review copies of my books available, so please contact me if you would like to review! I am particularly keen to hear from BookTubers.
I am the creator of the Spirits series of ghost novels and the fourth of these, "High Spirits" was published in October 2017 and was honoured with a win at the Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Awards. The first in the series, "Childish Spirits", was longlisted for the Bath Children's Novel Award and the WriteMentor Children's Novel Award, as well as being nominated for the People's Book Prize. The second in the series, "The Spirit of London" was highly commended for the Independent Author Book Award. I also had a collection of short stories for children ("The Dinner Club and Other Stories") longlisted for the International Rubery Book Award. My first picture book for younger children, "My Favourite People" was published in 2018. In 2019 the final Spirits novel "The Coming of the Spirits" was published and "Childish Spirits" was published as an eBook and an audiobook. In 2020 I was Children's Writer in Residence at the Stay at Home Literary Festival. My first standalone novel for the 8-12s, "The Treasure in the Tower" and my second picture book "Carrots Don't Grow On Trees!" were published in 2021.
My first novel for adults, a murder mystery called "Death At Friar's Inn", was published in March 2022. That year, I also had a short story for children 'Guess What?' shortlisted at the Searchlight Writing for Children Awards. It has now been published in my new collection in March 2023, "The Boy Who Disappeared and Other Stories". My latest novel for children "The Teacher Who Knew Too Much" is published in 2024. Also in 2024, the Spirits series celebrated its tenth anniversary with a new, special edition of "Childish Spirits". A brand-new Spirits novel "The Fighting Spirit" was published for Christmas 2024.
I have also written for BBC Radio and my one-act stage comedy "Mr Everyone" has been longlisted for the Kenneth Branagh and Alfred Bradley Awards.
I have a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing with Distinction from Lancaster University and in 2015 completed a course in Filmmaking from the National Film and Television School, with a course in Screenwriting following in 2016. In 2016-7 I was a judge for the IGGY and Litro Young Writers' Prize. I am a supporter of the Children's Media Foundation.
I hold author workshops in schools and other venues and one teacher described these as "inspirational"! In May 2024 my workshops were honoured with an award nomination for Fearless Freelancer at the Northern Cultural Education Awards.
For more information, please visit www.robkeeley.co.uk or follow me on X @RobKeeleyAuthor. I have free review copies of my books available, so please contact me if you would like to review! I am particularly keen to hear from BookTubers.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 6, 2025
This was another fab book from Rob Keeley, and the first book in a new series!
As soon as I saw that Edward Fitzberranger, from the other Spirits series by Rob Keeley, featured in this story, I knew there was going to fun, and trouble! He’s a ghost from Victorian times, and he’s a real prankster!
Ruby and Jayden don’t know what they were letting themselves in for, when they respond to the advert mentioned in the above synopsis. Ruby really isn’t sure about Edward, but Jayden thinks he’s great, as he also likes to play practical jokes.
When Edward tells them he can time travel, they decide that they want to travel back to London in the Swinging Sixties, and so get dressed up to fit in. Unfortunately as this is Edward Fitzberranger they’re travelling with, they end up in 1940s London during a Nazi bombing raid. Obviously they don’t want to be there, but it’s not as easy as they thought it would be to get home!
While they wait for Edward to be able to get them home, they discover there’s a something very strange going on in London. Fortunately Edward has an idea what it could be, but not before everything starts to go wrong.
I really enjoyed getting to know Ruby and Jayden and being reacquainted with Edward. It was a fun story and I’m already looking forward to more adventures for Ruby, Jayden and Edward!
Definitely recommended if enjoy fun ghost stories for middle grade readers.
Thanks so much to Rob Keeley and Troubadour Publishing for my lovely paperback copy.
As soon as I saw that Edward Fitzberranger, from the other Spirits series by Rob Keeley, featured in this story, I knew there was going to fun, and trouble! He’s a ghost from Victorian times, and he’s a real prankster!
Ruby and Jayden don’t know what they were letting themselves in for, when they respond to the advert mentioned in the above synopsis. Ruby really isn’t sure about Edward, but Jayden thinks he’s great, as he also likes to play practical jokes.
When Edward tells them he can time travel, they decide that they want to travel back to London in the Swinging Sixties, and so get dressed up to fit in. Unfortunately as this is Edward Fitzberranger they’re travelling with, they end up in 1940s London during a Nazi bombing raid. Obviously they don’t want to be there, but it’s not as easy as they thought it would be to get home!
While they wait for Edward to be able to get them home, they discover there’s a something very strange going on in London. Fortunately Edward has an idea what it could be, but not before everything starts to go wrong.
I really enjoyed getting to know Ruby and Jayden and being reacquainted with Edward. It was a fun story and I’m already looking forward to more adventures for Ruby, Jayden and Edward!
Definitely recommended if enjoy fun ghost stories for middle grade readers.
Thanks so much to Rob Keeley and Troubadour Publishing for my lovely paperback copy.
February 13, 2025
This is a charming story that I enjoyed very much---all the way from the sweet, funny ad Ruby finds in the newspaper ("Would you like to adopt a ghost?") to the WWII adventure our characters get caught up in when they try to time travel to the 60s (don't ask).
The dialogue is adorable, such as when Jayden tells Ruby he made up her mind for her and set her up to adopt the ghost from the ad ("This poor ghost's looking for a home. He can be company for you, when I'm not here.") and Ruby's retort ("Jayden, I do not want to adopt a ghost! Even if he is a gentleman.")
When the ghost shows up, Ruby tells Jayden, "He came out of my wardrobe. He's written on my wall and filled our bathroom with flowers and I am furious with you! He's called Edward Fitzberranger and he's younger than we are and I can't look after a ghost!"
But Ruby and Jayden soon realize that having a ghost around will be more fun than they thought: he can time travel.
When a time traveling adventure goes wrong, they find themselves in WWII-era England under the threat of the Blitz---and unable to leave. Soon, it's up to the three of them to rescue Britain from not just the Nazis, but a much more sinister force---evil beings from the spirit world.
Once again, any story with Edward Fitzberranger in it is one I'm going to heartily enjoy. Edward is up to his usual tricks here (though he also manages to save the British monarchy, so maybe he's grown up a very little bit since his first adventures).
The ghostly hints in this story are also fun: dopplegangers---spirit beings who can assume the form of any person---are trying to sabotage the British monarchy, and there's a great moment near the end of the story where we get to see the spirits of the past kings and queens of England, who come to "life" at just the right moment. I enjoyed that too.
At the end of the day, this is a quick, fun read that will make you smile. While the action is a bit slow in the beginning, it's very charming all the way through, and I kept reading to find out what shenanigans Edward would pull and how Ruby and Jayden would deal with them.
Rob Keeley has done it again: concocting a delightful MG story with a touch of ghostliness and time travel, and I for one am glad.
The dialogue is adorable, such as when Jayden tells Ruby he made up her mind for her and set her up to adopt the ghost from the ad ("This poor ghost's looking for a home. He can be company for you, when I'm not here.") and Ruby's retort ("Jayden, I do not want to adopt a ghost! Even if he is a gentleman.")
When the ghost shows up, Ruby tells Jayden, "He came out of my wardrobe. He's written on my wall and filled our bathroom with flowers and I am furious with you! He's called Edward Fitzberranger and he's younger than we are and I can't look after a ghost!"
But Ruby and Jayden soon realize that having a ghost around will be more fun than they thought: he can time travel.
When a time traveling adventure goes wrong, they find themselves in WWII-era England under the threat of the Blitz---and unable to leave. Soon, it's up to the three of them to rescue Britain from not just the Nazis, but a much more sinister force---evil beings from the spirit world.
Once again, any story with Edward Fitzberranger in it is one I'm going to heartily enjoy. Edward is up to his usual tricks here (though he also manages to save the British monarchy, so maybe he's grown up a very little bit since his first adventures).
The ghostly hints in this story are also fun: dopplegangers---spirit beings who can assume the form of any person---are trying to sabotage the British monarchy, and there's a great moment near the end of the story where we get to see the spirits of the past kings and queens of England, who come to "life" at just the right moment. I enjoyed that too.
At the end of the day, this is a quick, fun read that will make you smile. While the action is a bit slow in the beginning, it's very charming all the way through, and I kept reading to find out what shenanigans Edward would pull and how Ruby and Jayden would deal with them.
Rob Keeley has done it again: concocting a delightful MG story with a touch of ghostliness and time travel, and I for one am glad.
January 14, 2025
4.5 stars
This first book is a new series featuring young Edward Fitzberranger the ghost from the Childish Spirits series that ran from 2014 to 2018. Edward is looking for a new home to live in now that Ellie and her family are no longer at the manor house he haunted.
Edward takes an advert out in the local paper which can only be seen by those who have the power to see ghosts. The advert is read by Ruby and her new annoying neighbour Jayden. Both are sceptical but Jayden decides to follow the instructions and leads Edward to Ruby’s house, which she is less than impressed about.
Edward has gained some new skills since the first series, he can now time travel and take others with him. The children decide they would like to see the 1960s but Edward gets pulled further into the past to wartime Britain and the 1940s when an anti-war party is trying to take control of the country and make peace with Germany.
Why have the trio been pulled into the 1940s and how can they stop the government being overthrown and thwart a royal kidnapping plot?
The Fighting Spirit took me back to the first series, and I was happy to be back in the spirit world with Edward. I wasn’t so sure of the new characters, Ruby and Jayden, as they came across as younger and more annoying than Ellie and her family did, but I hope they grow on me and mature over the new books to come.
The plot was adventurous and exciting. The ghostly activity was spot on without feeling too scary for young readers. The scenes from the 1940s came across as authentic and you could tell the author had done plenty of research.
This is a book that children can become fully invested in. It showcases good versus evil and the lengths some will go to to get their own way. It is also a story of hope and freedom and will teach youngsters what the war was about.
This first book is a new series featuring young Edward Fitzberranger the ghost from the Childish Spirits series that ran from 2014 to 2018. Edward is looking for a new home to live in now that Ellie and her family are no longer at the manor house he haunted.
Edward takes an advert out in the local paper which can only be seen by those who have the power to see ghosts. The advert is read by Ruby and her new annoying neighbour Jayden. Both are sceptical but Jayden decides to follow the instructions and leads Edward to Ruby’s house, which she is less than impressed about.
Edward has gained some new skills since the first series, he can now time travel and take others with him. The children decide they would like to see the 1960s but Edward gets pulled further into the past to wartime Britain and the 1940s when an anti-war party is trying to take control of the country and make peace with Germany.
Why have the trio been pulled into the 1940s and how can they stop the government being overthrown and thwart a royal kidnapping plot?
The Fighting Spirit took me back to the first series, and I was happy to be back in the spirit world with Edward. I wasn’t so sure of the new characters, Ruby and Jayden, as they came across as younger and more annoying than Ellie and her family did, but I hope they grow on me and mature over the new books to come.
The plot was adventurous and exciting. The ghostly activity was spot on without feeling too scary for young readers. The scenes from the 1940s came across as authentic and you could tell the author had done plenty of research.
This is a book that children can become fully invested in. It showcases good versus evil and the lengths some will go to to get their own way. It is also a story of hope and freedom and will teach youngsters what the war was about.
April 7, 2025
So good to be back in the Spirits series - although these are easily read as standalones! Edward is the ghostie looking for a new place to 'stay' so is advertising in the local paper for only the right people to see!
Ruby is finding life as an only child a little boring during the holidays, but gets a new friend when new people move in next door - Jayden is also up for a bit of fun so they are both intrigued when they see the advert in the paper and they follow the instructions - and soon find Edward moving in and the ghostie goings on and mischief begins!
I loved the time travelling aspect of this story! Ruby and Jayden are really up for adventure but soon find themselves in the wrong place at definitely the wrong time, and they are caught up in something much bigger than they were ever expecting. We're thrown into some political and royal drama that was a really clever way of ramping up the drama, and taking us back to some pivotal historic moments.
The story really combines the fun alongside the dramatic side of storytelling for children and there was a really touching ending too - that's made me itching already for future adventures! Highly recommended for readers of all ages looking for a well researched trip back in time - with a supernatural twist!
Ruby is finding life as an only child a little boring during the holidays, but gets a new friend when new people move in next door - Jayden is also up for a bit of fun so they are both intrigued when they see the advert in the paper and they follow the instructions - and soon find Edward moving in and the ghostie goings on and mischief begins!
I loved the time travelling aspect of this story! Ruby and Jayden are really up for adventure but soon find themselves in the wrong place at definitely the wrong time, and they are caught up in something much bigger than they were ever expecting. We're thrown into some political and royal drama that was a really clever way of ramping up the drama, and taking us back to some pivotal historic moments.
The story really combines the fun alongside the dramatic side of storytelling for children and there was a really touching ending too - that's made me itching already for future adventures! Highly recommended for readers of all ages looking for a well researched trip back in time - with a supernatural twist!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews