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Really Weird Removals.com
Mischievous fairies? Stranded mermaids? Smelly troll? Whatever your supernatural dilemma, call the Really Weird Removals company! Luca and Valentina's uncle Alistair is a paranormal investigator. When he realises the children can see the supernatural creatures that share our world, he invites them to join his team. With the help of Camilla, a friendly ghost, the Really Weird Removals team save a real-life stranded Nessie, help a selkie come ashore, and befriend werewolves. But this exciting new world is also packed with danger. When confronted by malicious kelpies and hungry vampires, can their wayward uncle keep the children safe?
- GenresFantasy
153 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2012
1 person is currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Daniela Sacerdoti
37 books381 followersDaniela Sacerdoti is a mother and a writer. Born in Naples, but brought up in a small village in the Italian Alps, she lives near Glasgow with her husband and sons. She steals time to write when everyone has gone to bed, or before they wake up. She’s a Primary teacher, but she chose to be at home with her children. She loves being with her boys, reading anything she can get her hands on and chatting with her girlfriends. But she also adores being on her own, free to daydream and make up stories.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 12, 2016
Odd to Say, But This Is A Very Kind Book
I know that this is a supernatural adventure/fantasy book with some exciting and suspenseful moments, but the thought that I keep coming back to is that this is also a very kind and almost gentle book.
We start by meeting the 12 year old hero Luca. He is thoughtful, observant, well-spoken, calm and friendly. He's not a goody-goody or a bore; he's just a very good-hearted and cheerfully alert sort. His younger sister Valentina is stubborn and a bit eccentric, but Luca is quick to admit that she's sort of a laugh, and a good friend. Dad's somewhat distant and distracted, and Mom is described in terms of affection and endearment. I don't remember when I last read a young middle grade fantasy/adventure book that opened with such a wholesome, appealing and interestingly happy family of characters.
MILD SPOILER. The book takes off when the children's Uncle Alistair shows up and we find out that the children have "The Sight"; that is, they, like Allistair, can see and communicate with ghosts. We discover the kids' ability when they see that Uncle Alistair is accompanied by a little girl ghost. Luca and his sister talk with this little girl, Camilla, and she tells them that she has been lonely for a century and would like them to treat her as a sister. A great friendship is thus formed. Again, this is the most mellow, pleasant, good-natured and cheerful start to a ghost story that I can imagine. The larger plot here is that Uncle Alistair runs a "pest control service" but while Uncle Alistair promises to "rid houses of ghostly pests", what he really does is help to save and properly relocate ghosts and other spooky things. So, even here we've got a kindly humanitarian angle added to the usual rambunctious ghostbusting.
Now, this may make the book sound sappy. It's not. There is action and gripping excitement and even menace. But there is no horror or graphic violence, and the whole is wrapped up in good intentions and well meaning. That means it can be funny, (sometimes very funny), and quirky and a bit spine tingling while still being a very attractive book for younger readers. I mean, how often do you get to read a "delightful" ghost story.
The book is well-crafted, with some nice turns of phrase and a bit of a leisurely pace that allows the author to set a nice scene. So, you get quality writing, suspense, engaging characters, some quirky fun, appealing banter, and creepy creatures. What a nice package. I have had a lot of luck with books from the Kelpies line, (Kelpies is a range of books published by Floris; each has a Scottish connection, with most books being set in Scotland), and this is another well chosen winner.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
I know that this is a supernatural adventure/fantasy book with some exciting and suspenseful moments, but the thought that I keep coming back to is that this is also a very kind and almost gentle book.
We start by meeting the 12 year old hero Luca. He is thoughtful, observant, well-spoken, calm and friendly. He's not a goody-goody or a bore; he's just a very good-hearted and cheerfully alert sort. His younger sister Valentina is stubborn and a bit eccentric, but Luca is quick to admit that she's sort of a laugh, and a good friend. Dad's somewhat distant and distracted, and Mom is described in terms of affection and endearment. I don't remember when I last read a young middle grade fantasy/adventure book that opened with such a wholesome, appealing and interestingly happy family of characters.
MILD SPOILER. The book takes off when the children's Uncle Alistair shows up and we find out that the children have "The Sight"; that is, they, like Allistair, can see and communicate with ghosts. We discover the kids' ability when they see that Uncle Alistair is accompanied by a little girl ghost. Luca and his sister talk with this little girl, Camilla, and she tells them that she has been lonely for a century and would like them to treat her as a sister. A great friendship is thus formed. Again, this is the most mellow, pleasant, good-natured and cheerful start to a ghost story that I can imagine. The larger plot here is that Uncle Alistair runs a "pest control service" but while Uncle Alistair promises to "rid houses of ghostly pests", what he really does is help to save and properly relocate ghosts and other spooky things. So, even here we've got a kindly humanitarian angle added to the usual rambunctious ghostbusting.
Now, this may make the book sound sappy. It's not. There is action and gripping excitement and even menace. But there is no horror or graphic violence, and the whole is wrapped up in good intentions and well meaning. That means it can be funny, (sometimes very funny), and quirky and a bit spine tingling while still being a very attractive book for younger readers. I mean, how often do you get to read a "delightful" ghost story.
The book is well-crafted, with some nice turns of phrase and a bit of a leisurely pace that allows the author to set a nice scene. So, you get quality writing, suspense, engaging characters, some quirky fun, appealing banter, and creepy creatures. What a nice package. I have had a lot of luck with books from the Kelpies line, (Kelpies is a range of books published by Floris; each has a Scottish connection, with most books being set in Scotland), and this is another well chosen winner.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
December 26, 2022
My class adored this novel and so did I! I will definitely be reading this again for future novel study!
Luca's character development throughout the book is really inspiring for children his age, fostering self-belief and a growth mindset.
This book also has massive potential with curricular links which makes this novel study a full and diverse topic.
We adored the selection of Myths and legends involved throughout the story and we discovered so much about Scottish mythical creatures. We loved creating our own Scottish Paranormal Database which sits in our classroom library. The kids are so proud of their mythical legends and so am I!
Luca's character development throughout the book is really inspiring for children his age, fostering self-belief and a growth mindset.
This book also has massive potential with curricular links which makes this novel study a full and diverse topic.
We adored the selection of Myths and legends involved throughout the story and we discovered so much about Scottish mythical creatures. We loved creating our own Scottish Paranormal Database which sits in our classroom library. The kids are so proud of their mythical legends and so am I!
December 13, 2022
This book was a really fun concept and I loved how intrinsic the setting was to the story. I think an episodic telling of the story would work better as theres a lot of rising and falling within the story. It felt more like a series of interlinked short stories than one cohesive story
January 23, 2013
This review was originally posted on www.serendipityreviews.co.uk
A year ago I had never heard of Daniela Sacerdoti, now fast forward to 2013 and she has become one of my favourite authors. She has published three very different books aimed at different age groups and I have loved all of them.
This is Daniela’s first children’s book which is aimed at the 9 to 12 age bracket. On first impressions I was convinced I had been transported to CBeebies’s Balamory. The island Eilean, where the story is set, sounds rather magical and just the type of place I would like to visit. Daniela is a very descriptive writer and has a wonderful knack of bringing every setting alive. The style of writing was very reminiscent of the childhood classics I grew up reading. Every chapter detailed with a hook on the end.
Luca and Valentine are brilliant characters; Valentina, a feisty younger sister with an unusual interest in dead sea creatures and Luca, the older brother, who is quieter and more thoughtful than his sister. These two lead a cast of quirky and original characters that will stay with me longer after finishing the book, all unusual but extremely believable. Uncle Alistair, loud and yet completely bonkers. Camilla, the friendly ghost of a young girl murdered centuries ago. All so well written and well thought out. My favourite character of all had to be Finley! I’m pretty sure you will love him too when you meet him.
The story is told over the period of a year through episodic events that occur surrounding the Really Weird Removals company which is the pest control answer for the supernatural world. We join them on their adventures to capture and remove unwanted unusual creatures. Each season brings new wonders to be discovered and removed. I thought that this book could easily be made into four smaller books that would suit younger children too, as each season is covered and adventures happen within each.
Each chapter begins with an entry from the Scottish Paranormal Database detailing a mysterious creature that had been discovered throughout history. I learnt about mythical creatures I had never ever heard of and I was left with a list of creatures to find out more about.
This next paragraph definitely has spoilers, so cover your eyes and scoot past if you haven’t read the book.
As the story progresses, Luca discovers that he is a sea whisperer; he can talk fluently with all the mythical sea creatures. Oh how I loved that idea! I want to be a sea whisperer too! I wish that talent really existed.
On the whole, I really enjoyed reading this book, it was a delightful read for the child hidden within. If you haven’t read a book by Daniela Sacerdoti, then you are sadly missing out.
A year ago I had never heard of Daniela Sacerdoti, now fast forward to 2013 and she has become one of my favourite authors. She has published three very different books aimed at different age groups and I have loved all of them.
This is Daniela’s first children’s book which is aimed at the 9 to 12 age bracket. On first impressions I was convinced I had been transported to CBeebies’s Balamory. The island Eilean, where the story is set, sounds rather magical and just the type of place I would like to visit. Daniela is a very descriptive writer and has a wonderful knack of bringing every setting alive. The style of writing was very reminiscent of the childhood classics I grew up reading. Every chapter detailed with a hook on the end.
Luca and Valentine are brilliant characters; Valentina, a feisty younger sister with an unusual interest in dead sea creatures and Luca, the older brother, who is quieter and more thoughtful than his sister. These two lead a cast of quirky and original characters that will stay with me longer after finishing the book, all unusual but extremely believable. Uncle Alistair, loud and yet completely bonkers. Camilla, the friendly ghost of a young girl murdered centuries ago. All so well written and well thought out. My favourite character of all had to be Finley! I’m pretty sure you will love him too when you meet him.
The story is told over the period of a year through episodic events that occur surrounding the Really Weird Removals company which is the pest control answer for the supernatural world. We join them on their adventures to capture and remove unwanted unusual creatures. Each season brings new wonders to be discovered and removed. I thought that this book could easily be made into four smaller books that would suit younger children too, as each season is covered and adventures happen within each.
Each chapter begins with an entry from the Scottish Paranormal Database detailing a mysterious creature that had been discovered throughout history. I learnt about mythical creatures I had never ever heard of and I was left with a list of creatures to find out more about.
This next paragraph definitely has spoilers, so cover your eyes and scoot past if you haven’t read the book.
As the story progresses, Luca discovers that he is a sea whisperer; he can talk fluently with all the mythical sea creatures. Oh how I loved that idea! I want to be a sea whisperer too! I wish that talent really existed.
On the whole, I really enjoyed reading this book, it was a delightful read for the child hidden within. If you haven’t read a book by Daniela Sacerdoti, then you are sadly missing out.
Read
November 9, 202410/10 (just as good as the first time I read it) -
Really Weird Removals.com is about Luca and Valentine who find out they have an uncle, and join him on rescue missions for supernatural creatures. This is the second time I've read this book, I first read it in P6 as the class novel, and it was just as good as the first time I read it, even though I knew what happened.
What I really liked about the story was the fact that there was the RWR but also why is Duncan (Luca's dad) so angry with his brother (Uncle Alastair)? It meant that you were meeting new creatures and discovering new things but also having that question in the back of your head. And it was so nice to hear about all the different creatures.
The main characters were Luca and Valentine, but I think that Uncle Alastair and Camilla (Uncle Alastair's nice ghost) are up there too. My favourite character was Valentine she was just so fun.
I loved this book, and always have. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone and hope you enjoy it to. I feel like you should read this book because it teaches you that the most extraordinary things can be hiding in plain sight. It also teaches you that family is one of the most important things on this planet. This book is worth reading because it is humorous but educational, enjoyable but interesting. I wish there was a sequel because I still have these unanswered questions. I think anyone can enjoy this book but probably a mainly younger audience.
Really Weird Removals.com is about Luca and Valentine who find out they have an uncle, and join him on rescue missions for supernatural creatures. This is the second time I've read this book, I first read it in P6 as the class novel, and it was just as good as the first time I read it, even though I knew what happened.
What I really liked about the story was the fact that there was the RWR but also why is Duncan (Luca's dad) so angry with his brother (Uncle Alastair)? It meant that you were meeting new creatures and discovering new things but also having that question in the back of your head. And it was so nice to hear about all the different creatures.
The main characters were Luca and Valentine, but I think that Uncle Alastair and Camilla (Uncle Alastair's nice ghost) are up there too. My favourite character was Valentine she was just so fun.
I loved this book, and always have. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone and hope you enjoy it to. I feel like you should read this book because it teaches you that the most extraordinary things can be hiding in plain sight. It also teaches you that family is one of the most important things on this planet. This book is worth reading because it is humorous but educational, enjoyable but interesting. I wish there was a sequel because I still have these unanswered questions. I think anyone can enjoy this book but probably a mainly younger audience.
September 18, 2014
Hott Synopsis:
Luca thought he knew everything about his family until the day when an uncle, Alistair, he didn’t know about shows up on the doorstep.
That’s the day when Luca’s world begins to change. The day that he starts believing in secrets, ghosts, kelpies, mermaids, and time travel.
That’s the day when Luca and his sister, Valentina, join their uncle’s pest removal business. The pest removal business that’s for the paranormal pests.
Will they be able to stay alive and fix the family problems brewing beneath the surface?
Hott Review:
This book was so much fun! I loved how the true point of the business was just helping people and their ‘pests’ live happily. It was a tremendous book about accepting others as they are and managed to toss in a great message to bullies and the bullied.
Though it’s best read by a middle-grader I think many younger minds will enjoy this as well – they just may need help with some of the words.
Overall – this is a must read!
More…
Author: Daniela Sacerdoti
Source: Floris Books via Netgalley
Grade: B+
Ages: 10-13
Setting: Scotland
Luca thought he knew everything about his family until the day when an uncle, Alistair, he didn’t know about shows up on the doorstep.
That’s the day when Luca’s world begins to change. The day that he starts believing in secrets, ghosts, kelpies, mermaids, and time travel.
That’s the day when Luca and his sister, Valentina, join their uncle’s pest removal business. The pest removal business that’s for the paranormal pests.
Will they be able to stay alive and fix the family problems brewing beneath the surface?
Hott Review:
This book was so much fun! I loved how the true point of the business was just helping people and their ‘pests’ live happily. It was a tremendous book about accepting others as they are and managed to toss in a great message to bullies and the bullied.
Though it’s best read by a middle-grader I think many younger minds will enjoy this as well – they just may need help with some of the words.
Overall – this is a must read!
More…
Author: Daniela Sacerdoti
Source: Floris Books via Netgalley
Grade: B+
Ages: 10-13
Setting: Scotland
October 28, 2012
Really Weird Removals.com by Daniela Sacerdoti tells the story of Luca and his sister Valentina who find out that they have the sight when their long lost uncle appears. This allows them to see mysterious and dangerous creatures such as faries ghosts and trolls. Because of this sight they get to help their uncle with his business of removing these irritating and nasty creatures who have infested people's homes.
This is a cute book that kids will like. It's the perfect read for kids who are new to full length chapter books with the kids going on many adventures throughout the book. The characters are well written and relateable and the creatures are different without being scary. Kids will love the book and find it easy to follow.
Appropriateness: There is no adult or questionable content in this book. The book deals with monsters without being creepy or scary. I would recommend this book to readers 9-11.
This is a cute book that kids will like. It's the perfect read for kids who are new to full length chapter books with the kids going on many adventures throughout the book. The characters are well written and relateable and the creatures are different without being scary. Kids will love the book and find it easy to follow.
Appropriateness: There is no adult or questionable content in this book. The book deals with monsters without being creepy or scary. I would recommend this book to readers 9-11.
January 5, 2013
Great fun, some lovely humour within a richly imaginative story that is beautifully told and contains a subtle, but important, message.
October 10, 2013
Great book, like all the other Kelpies.
January 24, 2015
A quirky and funny read that will appeal to many children, but particularly to boys.
January 3, 2016
Nicely rooted to place, covers a lot of ground with Scottish mythology. A little too episodic in structure for me, but a really original idea.
November 13, 2021
I think it is a good book but it is not so good for eight year olds because it takes a while. To get into the story at first
August 25, 2013
Super story suitable for upper KS2.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews