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Five Days of the Ghost
Book by Bell, William
196 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
10 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
William Bell
127 books54 followersWilliam Bell is an award-winning author of more than a dozen books for young adults.
Born in Toronto, Ontario in 1945, he has been a high school English teacher and department head, and an instructor at the Harbin University of Science and Technology, the Foreign Affairs College in Beijing, and the University of British Columbia.
Born in Toronto, Ontario in 1945, he has been a high school English teacher and department head, and an instructor at the Harbin University of Science and Technology, the Foreign Affairs College in Beijing, and the University of British Columbia.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 14, 2023
The most fascinating conversations derive from physical books, like where we got them. I seek ‘paranormal mystery’ in ‘standard mystery’ tone. Spirits are presented seriously, not malevolently. Overwhelming emotions and suspense come from adventurous discovery; nothing negative. We tend to fear what we do not understand, so this 1989 mystery led by junior high kids, generates pulse-pounding action.
“Five Days Of The Ghost” is exceptionally well plotted by beloved Orillia teacher and youth fiction legend, William Bell. Family dynamics and revelations build up slowly for readers to witness, the much more compelling way for us to absorb and connect with stories than dropping a load of information. Characterization is realistic too. Far from the Stratemeyer series of the 1930s, in which personalities were isolated as smart or nervous: Karen, John, and Noah are immeasurably layered. John can be annoyingly sure of himself, making it fun to see his scientific world view challenged and his heart vulnerable about a family member. It is touching that he could not do something that Karen had to do.
Karen is intelligent and introspective but does not want to be as daring as her Brothers. After asking Noah’s pastor Dad about spirits; she recognized a pious, close-minded opinion. That was an inspiring, astute, socially risky message for William to convey in 1989. The kids have met and had conversations with a spirit but a man denies it based on a book. This is a treat for ‘paranormal mystery’ fans, who seldom find solid, wondrous interaction! Apparently this island is real.
My friend’s husband spent time in Orillia as a kid and gave me this novel recently. It is too bad it is tattered but that is amusing. I will tell him I loved it: five star good! I am sorry that William ascended in 2016.
“Five Days Of The Ghost” is exceptionally well plotted by beloved Orillia teacher and youth fiction legend, William Bell. Family dynamics and revelations build up slowly for readers to witness, the much more compelling way for us to absorb and connect with stories than dropping a load of information. Characterization is realistic too. Far from the Stratemeyer series of the 1930s, in which personalities were isolated as smart or nervous: Karen, John, and Noah are immeasurably layered. John can be annoyingly sure of himself, making it fun to see his scientific world view challenged and his heart vulnerable about a family member. It is touching that he could not do something that Karen had to do.
Karen is intelligent and introspective but does not want to be as daring as her Brothers. After asking Noah’s pastor Dad about spirits; she recognized a pious, close-minded opinion. That was an inspiring, astute, socially risky message for William to convey in 1989. The kids have met and had conversations with a spirit but a man denies it based on a book. This is a treat for ‘paranormal mystery’ fans, who seldom find solid, wondrous interaction! Apparently this island is real.
My friend’s husband spent time in Orillia as a kid and gave me this novel recently. It is too bad it is tattered but that is amusing. I will tell him I loved it: five star good! I am sorry that William ascended in 2016.
May 16, 2022
John Stone wil op een klein eilandje midden in het meer waaraan ze wonen, een oud indianenkerkhof gaan zoeken. Hij overtuigt zijn zus Karen om mee te gaan.
Daar aangekomen zien ze een oude indiaan op een grafsteen zitten. Als hij weggaat laat hij een buideltje achter dat de kinderen meenemen.
Maar dan beginnen zich in hun huis vreemde verschijnselen voor te doen, wat hen doodsbang maakt.
En daar komt nog bij dat Karen nog steeds veel verdriet heeft na het tragische overlijden van haar tweelingbroertje Kenny door een tragisch ongeluk.
De kinderen besluiten Noah, een kennis van John die veel van geesten en bovennatuurlijke dingen weet, in te schakelen en hem om hulp te vragen.
Met zijn drieên gaan ze nog eens naar Chiefs' Island en slagen erin contact te maken met de geest van de Indiaan, Chief Copegog.
John en Noah gaan in de bibliotheek ook opzoekingen doen over het huis waarin ze wonen en ontdekken dat zich daar een gruwelijk incident heeft voorgedaan.
Zal Chief Copegog de kinderen kunnen helpen? Want hij is zelf een Geest die nog niet is kunnen overgaan....
Dit boek leest heel vlot en het verhaal is spannend en interessant. Ik heb het met plezier gelezen.
Daar aangekomen zien ze een oude indiaan op een grafsteen zitten. Als hij weggaat laat hij een buideltje achter dat de kinderen meenemen.
Maar dan beginnen zich in hun huis vreemde verschijnselen voor te doen, wat hen doodsbang maakt.
En daar komt nog bij dat Karen nog steeds veel verdriet heeft na het tragische overlijden van haar tweelingbroertje Kenny door een tragisch ongeluk.
De kinderen besluiten Noah, een kennis van John die veel van geesten en bovennatuurlijke dingen weet, in te schakelen en hem om hulp te vragen.
Met zijn drieên gaan ze nog eens naar Chiefs' Island en slagen erin contact te maken met de geest van de Indiaan, Chief Copegog.
John en Noah gaan in de bibliotheek ook opzoekingen doen over het huis waarin ze wonen en ontdekken dat zich daar een gruwelijk incident heeft voorgedaan.
Zal Chief Copegog de kinderen kunnen helpen? Want hij is zelf een Geest die nog niet is kunnen overgaan....
Dit boek leest heel vlot en het verhaal is spannend en interessant. Ik heb het met plezier gelezen.
February 27, 2015
I love this book. The story is based in my town and I've actually been to the real island. Really cool!
February 21, 2019
I read this book way back in Secondary school and it's held a spot in my heart ever sense.
Slight moments of suspense had be scared for the characters and it was absolutely wonderful.
Slight moments of suspense had be scared for the characters and it was absolutely wonderful.
April 2, 2020
Blast from the past! Read this when I was a kid!
April 20, 2024
Working in a bookstore definitely has its advantages. I often discover new and interesting books in unexpected ways.
I'd never heard of this novel, despite it being around forever, however working at the bookstore, I guess someone either brought it up to cash and decided not to buy it, or returned it, one of the two. Either way, that's how I found myself holding the novel, seeing that it belonged in the teen section, but of course, on the way, I read the back.
The book never made it back to the shelf. It will live out its days on my home bookshelves instead.
For a YA—and rather bloodless—horror novel, I found this one was quite enjoyable.
It's got a lot going for it, from solid writing, interesting characters, an interesting setting (that I know fairly well), and a heartwarming, if somewhat predictable plot.
What Bell does best is bring the reader back to those summers of our youth, before we necessarily had to have a summer job, so we had a solid three months to do whatever we wanted. He captures all of it, and he does it well.
This novel, to me very much reminded me of Tim McGregor's WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM in tone and feel and nostalgia.
Pleasantly surprised by this one.
I'd never heard of this novel, despite it being around forever, however working at the bookstore, I guess someone either brought it up to cash and decided not to buy it, or returned it, one of the two. Either way, that's how I found myself holding the novel, seeing that it belonged in the teen section, but of course, on the way, I read the back.
The book never made it back to the shelf. It will live out its days on my home bookshelves instead.
For a YA—and rather bloodless—horror novel, I found this one was quite enjoyable.
It's got a lot going for it, from solid writing, interesting characters, an interesting setting (that I know fairly well), and a heartwarming, if somewhat predictable plot.
What Bell does best is bring the reader back to those summers of our youth, before we necessarily had to have a summer job, so we had a solid three months to do whatever we wanted. He captures all of it, and he does it well.
This novel, to me very much reminded me of Tim McGregor's WASPS IN THE ICE CREAM in tone and feel and nostalgia.
Pleasantly surprised by this one.
February 8, 2023
This was one of my favourite books when I was a yout and I got it out from the library to reminisce, having forgotten most of the premise. Not disappointed - still an absolute gem. Very eerie, atmospheric and touching upon some mature topics, i.e. racism and the death of loved ones, for a book aimed at young teens!
January 29, 2022
It was such a good read, nakakabitin lang. It's a good book for teenagers.
June 16, 2016
Nostalgia's a funny thing. I read this book back in 2002/2003. I was twelve, in seventh grade, and we nearly didn't finish this book as a class because of some parental complaints.
Not that I blame them now (I definitely did at the time); this book is spooky. Heck it gave me the shivers up and down at work. And my workplace is the exact opposite of scary.
I loved this book as a preteen. I adored it so much I tracked it down (despite knowing only the barest details of the plot and nothing else) years later to reread it. I can't describe to you the feeling I had reading that second chapter. I remembered those words; I remembered Karen; and for a second I felt one of the biggest moments of deja vu I've ever experienced. I remembered being twelve and reading this. I remembered my body, my hands at the same time as I felt my own body and hands in real time. You wanna talk about truly spooky experiences? That was one.
Five Days of the Ghost isn't one of those must-read novels. Nor is it something I would recommend to all MGers (even if my review suggests differently). But it is a little gem, an important gem, to me. It was surprising to realize how much this book influenced me. The writing style; the characters; god, the twins; the historical conspiracy; the horror; the Canadianess. I honestly can't tell you where this book begins and I end. That's how tangled I am in this.
And that's a little hard to review properly. It's like HP or HDM. Nothing I can say about those series and this book will ever be perfectly biased or nostalgia-free. So much of me is in those words and so much of those words are in me. I'm not saying the authors wrote these book for me or anything.
Trust me, I am not that deluded.
But it's these books that I find myself in. And even if they are a little over the top, a bit too agend-y, and don't have a perfectly fulfilling ending , they're something I see parts of me in.
There, there, there.
And here.
June 9, 2012
Exploring a sacred Indian burial ground in the middle of the night isn't Karen's idea of a great start to the holidays. But she lets her brother talk her into it and that night they row across the lake to the forbidden island. What they find there plunges them into a world they never thought existed; a world where past and present blend and the spirits of the dead communicate with the living. With the help of John's school friend, Weird Noah, an expert on the supernatural, Karen and John try to unravel the mystery which suddenly invades their lives and fills their home with strange happenings. Fascinated and afraid, Karen is forced to confront the tragic events in her life that she has refused to face up to now.
This is a great read that starts off as an adventure tale as Karen and her brother, John, pay a visit to the local Indian burial ground. In doing so they not only discover that the grounds are still held sacred and hold a power of their own but that there is a lot more to their family home than first meets the eye. As they try and unravel the mystery Karen is forced to face up to her past and deal with emotions that she had left long buried.
This is a thoroughly intriguing story that keeps the reader captivated from the start as Bell hints at the truth that lies just out of the reader's grasp until the very last page. The characters are very well written with a good balance between childhood innocence and teenage maturity. The subject of loss is handled extremely well without shying away from it and doesn't overtake the story itself, which it could have so easily done. Overall a good read that many a teenager would enjoy.
This is a great read that starts off as an adventure tale as Karen and her brother, John, pay a visit to the local Indian burial ground. In doing so they not only discover that the grounds are still held sacred and hold a power of their own but that there is a lot more to their family home than first meets the eye. As they try and unravel the mystery Karen is forced to face up to her past and deal with emotions that she had left long buried.
This is a thoroughly intriguing story that keeps the reader captivated from the start as Bell hints at the truth that lies just out of the reader's grasp until the very last page. The characters are very well written with a good balance between childhood innocence and teenage maturity. The subject of loss is handled extremely well without shying away from it and doesn't overtake the story itself, which it could have so easily done. Overall a good read that many a teenager would enjoy.
May 16, 2015
Karen is going through tough times and paranormal things start to happen to her after visiting a graveyard on a forbidden island with her brother. The two siblings and a friend discover the history of their house and the horror that happened in it before. John and Noah gather information that is different from Karen's. In the end, they discover something that they never would have guessed in the beginning.
I picked this book up because I have never really read and finished a horror novel. It seemed interesting so I picked it up. I am so glad that I did! I was always afraid of horror but the horror in this book was tense and frighting but the protagonist was a scared girl who felt the same as I did.
I finished this book because I was really interested. The book was super tense and the problems were horrible but in the end, the tenseness released and it was an amazing ending to a horror novel. I am so glad that I read this book! I was afraid, yet I really wanted to find out what would happen next!!
I would recommend this book to Jood because she might like horror. I was terrified in the beginning but I look forward to the horror novels I will read in the future.
I picked this book up because I have never really read and finished a horror novel. It seemed interesting so I picked it up. I am so glad that I did! I was always afraid of horror but the horror in this book was tense and frighting but the protagonist was a scared girl who felt the same as I did.
I finished this book because I was really interested. The book was super tense and the problems were horrible but in the end, the tenseness released and it was an amazing ending to a horror novel. I am so glad that I read this book! I was afraid, yet I really wanted to find out what would happen next!!
I would recommend this book to Jood because she might like horror. I was terrified in the beginning but I look forward to the horror novels I will read in the future.
July 18, 2011
Overall not a bad ghost story with some fun characters (particularly Chief Copegog). It's been a while since I've read a novel written in the first person, and in this case I found there were a lot of irrelevant passages (telling us what each character is wearing in every scene, for instance). The book is set in a real location (Orillia, Ontario) and delves into some historical background so it's interesting from that aspect as well.
January 27, 2009
A spooky ghost story set in Orillia. There's a bit of local history and several scary (and not so scary)ghosts.
November 24, 2009
I read this book when i was in elementary school and it scared the hell out of me!! Perfect for a youngester who wants a good, scary thriller.
July 2, 2015
One of my favourite childhood stories. I still get ghostbumps just thinking about it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews