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Water Ghosts
"I see things other people don't see; I hear things other people don't hear." Fifteen-year-old James McCafferty is an unwilling sailor aboard a traditional Chinese Junk operated as adventure-therapy for troubled teens. Once at sea, James believes the ship is being taken over by the spirits of courtiers who fled the Imperial palace during the Ming Dynasty, more than 600 years earlier, and sailing to its doom. A psychological nautical adventure with strong historical and paranormal elements.
165 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Linda Collison
17 books71 followersLinda Collison is the award-winning author of novels, short stories and creative nonfiction.
She has enjoyed a composite career as a registered nurse, a professional skydiving instructor, a volunteer firefighter, parent, and freelance writer. After nursing school Linda studied history at Metropolitan State University. Together, with her husband Bob Russell, she has sailed thousands of miles aboard Topaz, their 36-foot sloop, whose home port is Hawaii. They also served three weeks as crew aboard Endeavour, a replica of Captain James Cook's 18th-century ship -- and it was during the crossing from Vancouver to Hawaii that the idea for Star-Crossed was born.
Published by Knopf, Star-Crossed was chosen by the New York Public Library to be among the Books for the Teen Age -- 2007 and inspired the Patricia MacPherson Nautical Adventure Series. Collison also writes coming-of-age fiction and short dystopian fantasy pulp fiction as L.S. Collison.
Linda loves to travel, by land or by sea. Fast cars and slow boats are her favorites.
She has enjoyed a composite career as a registered nurse, a professional skydiving instructor, a volunteer firefighter, parent, and freelance writer. After nursing school Linda studied history at Metropolitan State University. Together, with her husband Bob Russell, she has sailed thousands of miles aboard Topaz, their 36-foot sloop, whose home port is Hawaii. They also served three weeks as crew aboard Endeavour, a replica of Captain James Cook's 18th-century ship -- and it was during the crossing from Vancouver to Hawaii that the idea for Star-Crossed was born.
Published by Knopf, Star-Crossed was chosen by the New York Public Library to be among the Books for the Teen Age -- 2007 and inspired the Patricia MacPherson Nautical Adventure Series. Collison also writes coming-of-age fiction and short dystopian fantasy pulp fiction as L.S. Collison.
Linda loves to travel, by land or by sea. Fast cars and slow boats are her favorites.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 15, 2015
James McCafferty has issues. He watches his volatile mother’s aura change color as she and the unwelcome boyfriend du jour see James off in Honolulu, where he boards a floating teen boot camp called Good Fortune. Aboard this Chinese Junk replica ship, far out in the Pacific, James contends with his attraction to smart fellow camper Ming, his desire not to be despised by the cool older teens, and with the adults - who have their own agendas. To add to the weird and insular environment aboard ship, James hears the voices of the dead. When the adults begin to meet mysterious ends, James and his companions must face down the living and the dead to survive the voyage aboard Good Fortune.
Water Ghosts is a suspenseful multi-period thriller that will appeal to young adult and adult audiences. The paranormal elements, James’ perceptions and unique abilities, are introduced and handled gracefully throughout. James McCafferty is a sympathetic fifteen year old struggling, with the added burden of physic abilities, to find strength of character and direction in a chaotic, mysterious, and often hurtful world; epitomized in this story by the vast Pacific ocean. Author Collison has created an excellent part contemporary / part historical thriller with wide crossover appeal.
Water Ghosts is a suspenseful multi-period thriller that will appeal to young adult and adult audiences. The paranormal elements, James’ perceptions and unique abilities, are introduced and handled gracefully throughout. James McCafferty is a sympathetic fifteen year old struggling, with the added burden of physic abilities, to find strength of character and direction in a chaotic, mysterious, and often hurtful world; epitomized in this story by the vast Pacific ocean. Author Collison has created an excellent part contemporary / part historical thriller with wide crossover appeal.
July 14, 2015
A group of troubled teenagers sailing the summer away on a Chinese junk. What could go wrong?
Linda Collison proves her versatility again with this young adult novel about a troubled boy who sees and hears ghosts. Like her previous YA novel, Looking for Redfeather, this story moves smoothly forward with engaging characters that everyone can relate to, whether you are a young reader or an adult. I have enjoyed Linda's adult writing, but I find that her voice truly sings and soars when writing YA like Water Ghosts.
Linda Collison proves her versatility again with this young adult novel about a troubled boy who sees and hears ghosts. Like her previous YA novel, Looking for Redfeather, this story moves smoothly forward with engaging characters that everyone can relate to, whether you are a young reader or an adult. I have enjoyed Linda's adult writing, but I find that her voice truly sings and soars when writing YA like Water Ghosts.
October 29, 2017
Okay, wow... I really loved this book! A small group of troubled teens are forced (by their parents) to board an old Chinese vessel for an adventure/therapy experience. But the protagonist has the ability to hear the voices of ghosts that once sailed on this boat. Are the voices real or just in his head? Needless to say, there are some pretty terrifying happenings on board. I enjoyed every minute of it. I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator is very gifted and brought the story to life. I highly recommend the book!
July 27, 2015
Fifteen-year old James McCafferty sees things other people don’t see – like dead people. And he hears things other people don’t hear – like the voices of dead people. His mother simply cannot deal with him so she ships him off to a fishy summer camp for teen slackers aboard a salty old Chinese junk. In spite of its uplifting moniker “Good Fortune,” James senses an aura of doom from the get-go. His new shipmate Ming – the only bright aura on this ship of fools – aptly dubs it a “floating prison.” Even Captain Dan, the first mate Miles, and the camp counselor Marty strike him as slightly sinister. What begins as a character-building adventure voyage for seven sullen and resentful teens gradually descends into the macabre. On the open sea, the ghosts and voices of the drowned, the shui gui, multiply exponentially for James. One in particular Yu Chin taunts him mercilessly with his plan to rise from the dead and take over his body. Meanwhile James’ clairvoyance about the captain and crew is validated when their hidden agenda is revealed. But nothing prepares these seven shipmates for the panic and terror that await them after Marty and Miles disappear and Captain Dan kicks the bucket.
Collison intertwines nautical lessons and ancient Chinese history and mythology, encompassing readers with the sensation of being out-to-sea with these ill-fated souls. “Water Ghosts” is a spine-tingling paranormal thriller that reaches up from the deep and pulls you under.
Collison intertwines nautical lessons and ancient Chinese history and mythology, encompassing readers with the sensation of being out-to-sea with these ill-fated souls. “Water Ghosts” is a spine-tingling paranormal thriller that reaches up from the deep and pulls you under.
November 7, 2015
NOTE: I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FROM GOODREADS FIRST READS IN RETURN FOR A HONEST REVIEW
What an amazing story and I loved reading it the whole way through. When I flicked ahead and found that the chapter numbers started again I thought it was a misprint as I have never seen anything like this done before. But it was a great way for a story to be told. I loved the way the story ended, I loved the whole book so much that my mum is now going to read it.
Update: My mum enjoyed reading the book and I have now sent this book from Australia to a stranger in the USA to enjoy it for Christmas.
What an amazing story and I loved reading it the whole way through. When I flicked ahead and found that the chapter numbers started again I thought it was a misprint as I have never seen anything like this done before. But it was a great way for a story to be told. I loved the way the story ended, I loved the whole book so much that my mum is now going to read it.
Update: My mum enjoyed reading the book and I have now sent this book from Australia to a stranger in the USA to enjoy it for Christmas.
January 26, 2018
Water Ghosts is the story of James, a fifteen-year-old boy sent on a working holiday by his mother. His vacation is set aboard a ship, a Chinese Junk. The voyage is for wayward teens. However, he soon becomes convinced that the voyage is doomed and that there are ghosts aboard the Junk.
Jamie is a troubled boy and throughout the story the author keeps you guessing as to whether he has a mental illness or if he really is psychic.
The narration was good but I did speed it up a little. As for the storyline, I enjoyed getting to know all the characters
Jamie is a troubled boy and throughout the story the author keeps you guessing as to whether he has a mental illness or if he really is psychic.
The narration was good but I did speed it up a little. As for the storyline, I enjoyed getting to know all the characters
October 22, 2016
I enjoyed this book very much. As usual Linda Collison has a way of putting you right there with her characters. I'm not sure if I would every want to sail on a junk after reading this. Great book.
August 16, 2019
Adventure on the high seas.
I really enjoyed this Young Adult adventure, which takes place in a refurbished Chinese Junk, with its crew of troubled teens. Already the scene is set for a assortment of misfits and interesting interactions. What made this book different, was the main character, fifteen-year-old James McCafferty, who can see auras and hear the voices of the dead.
The youngsters who made up the crew of the Good Fortune were all sent on the vacation "trip of a lifetime" by parents who couldn't cope with them; or just wanted an easy summer. As soon as James set foot on the boat he felt the presence of spirits from the past and started to feel uneasy. However, there was a girl on the boat who he liked the look of, so he climbed on board with the rest.
The adult crew consisted of captain, second mate and a social worker to manage the teenagers. They are determined to get the youngsters actively involved and set up all sorts of training and rotas. The crew must all take part in turns on watch, including through the night. A lot of the traditional methods are followed; the night watches are timed by the burning down of incense sticks. However, when trouble strikes and the emergency systems fail, the old methods are all that's left.
This was well written and the audiobook was well read by Aaron Landon. It was well on the way to being a 5* read until we hit the part where the spirit of the eunuch from the Ming Dynasty, more than 600 years earlier, speaks. I'm afraid I found this part drawn out and overdramatised, I would have skimmed it if I'd been reading but that's not so easy with an audiobook.
That part aside, however, this was tastefully handled and full of atmosphere.
Recommended for teens and adults alike.
I really enjoyed this Young Adult adventure, which takes place in a refurbished Chinese Junk, with its crew of troubled teens. Already the scene is set for a assortment of misfits and interesting interactions. What made this book different, was the main character, fifteen-year-old James McCafferty, who can see auras and hear the voices of the dead.
The youngsters who made up the crew of the Good Fortune were all sent on the vacation "trip of a lifetime" by parents who couldn't cope with them; or just wanted an easy summer. As soon as James set foot on the boat he felt the presence of spirits from the past and started to feel uneasy. However, there was a girl on the boat who he liked the look of, so he climbed on board with the rest.
The adult crew consisted of captain, second mate and a social worker to manage the teenagers. They are determined to get the youngsters actively involved and set up all sorts of training and rotas. The crew must all take part in turns on watch, including through the night. A lot of the traditional methods are followed; the night watches are timed by the burning down of incense sticks. However, when trouble strikes and the emergency systems fail, the old methods are all that's left.
This was well written and the audiobook was well read by Aaron Landon. It was well on the way to being a 5* read until we hit the part where the spirit of the eunuch from the Ming Dynasty, more than 600 years earlier, speaks. I'm afraid I found this part drawn out and overdramatised, I would have skimmed it if I'd been reading but that's not so easy with an audiobook.
That part aside, however, this was tastefully handled and full of atmosphere.
Recommended for teens and adults alike.
November 30, 2017
When I came across an offer to listen to this audiobook for an honest review, I wasn't sure if I was interested or not. Thankfully, I went with it and was surprised what an interesting story it was. This was such a unique story and the author provided the perfect amount of detail to easily envision a picture in my head of what was taking place as well as to hold my attention throughout. The only issue (if you want to call it that?) was the ending. I wish the kids would have arrived back where they started with their parents waiting for them. Perhaps, have the police arrive and question them as well. I could definitely see a book 2 for this story.
While this was the first time I've heard this narrator, he did a great job doing the variety of characters/voices. He provided a nice speaking voice/flow for this story especially when the ghost was telling his life story. I'd listen to him again.
While this was the first time I've heard this narrator, he did a great job doing the variety of characters/voices. He provided a nice speaking voice/flow for this story especially when the ghost was telling his life story. I'd listen to him again.
July 22, 2017
I received this book from a goodreads giveaway.
I started out really enjoying this book, but for me, it just never found a solid plot line. Is James mentally ill? Are supernatural things really happening? Will the group find a way to work together? Some questions were answered, but others were left open to interpretation and I was hoping that the plot would eventually lead to more resolution than what ultimately came out of the story. Overall, the book was well written, but I guess it just never connected with me.
I started out really enjoying this book, but for me, it just never found a solid plot line. Is James mentally ill? Are supernatural things really happening? Will the group find a way to work together? Some questions were answered, but others were left open to interpretation and I was hoping that the plot would eventually lead to more resolution than what ultimately came out of the story. Overall, the book was well written, but I guess it just never connected with me.
October 19, 2022
Don't get the hype....
Well, I struggled to finish this...picked it up as it was touted a scary story.....not to me. Thank goodness it was short.....not sorry but can't say much else.
Well, I struggled to finish this...picked it up as it was touted a scary story.....not to me. Thank goodness it was short.....not sorry but can't say much else.
September 29, 2017
2.5 stars - review to come
August 3, 2021
Interesting learning the history of ancient China.
June 27, 2018
I am finding that I really enjoy Linda Collison's style of writing. Her stories are dramatic and engaging, her characters are always well-developed and interesting. Though I didn't enjoy this story as much as Collison's Looking for Redfeather, it is a captivating tale.
The author's descriptions are so well-written, it was easy to imagine everything that was happening in the story. It moves along at a good pace. I enjoyed the interactions between all of the very different characters.
Looking forward to reading more by this author. I listened to the audio version, and I thought the narrator, Aaron Landon, did a fantastic job with all the characters.
The author's descriptions are so well-written, it was easy to imagine everything that was happening in the story. It moves along at a good pace. I enjoyed the interactions between all of the very different characters.
Looking forward to reading more by this author. I listened to the audio version, and I thought the narrator, Aaron Landon, did a fantastic job with all the characters.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews