Cat in the Crypt

Animal Ark Hauntings #2

by Ben M. Baglio, Ann Baum (Illustrations)

A spooky spin-off of the best-selling Animal Ark series, this new Hauntings title will have animal-lovers shivering in fear and delight.

Mandy and her best firend James are used to dealing with animals in distress. But ghostly animals in distress are a different matter...

Mandy is haunted by dreams of a mysterious cat. Could it be because she is worried about Bathsheba, a tabby cat who has disappeared? Or does the strange, stone-colored cat of her dreams have something to tell her? Can the mystery cat help Mandy solve the mystery of Bathsheba's disappearance?

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Cats, Mystery, Ghosts, Chapter Books

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

About the author

Ben M. Baglio created the brief for two series of children's books - Dolphin Diaries and Animal Ark. Dolphin Diaries features a girl and her family from Florida, who travel around the world as marine biologists and study dolphins. Animal Ark features two children who work together to help animals and solve animal-related mysteries. The books were written by commissioned writers in the UK under Baglio's instruction using the pseudonym Lucy Daniels. Each ghostwriter is named with a 'Special Thanks' on the copyright page.

Using his real name he also wrote the book series The Pet Finders Club, featuring a group of three children who search for peoples lost pets.

Reviews

[readbeales]

Cozy

[Rena Sherwood]

This is a review of the American Scholastic edition. It was originally published in the UK by Hodder. The real author was Susan Bently, who wrote some other books in the Animal Ark Universe. The illustrations were done by Anne Baum, who I liked much better than the original artist, Shelagh McNichols.

I've read seven of the nine Animal Ark Hauntings books, and this was far and away the best one. Because the other Hauntings books were so bad (though Colt in the Cave had some good moments), I shudder at the thought of reading the final two books. Not because they're scary, but that they're so poorly written ... not to mention going against the grain of the Animal Ark series. Or even going against the grain of Animal Ark Pets, which had started three years previously.

This was what a good ghost story should be ... just slightly altered from reality. Just enough to make you wonder. And not only that, it had good supporting characters, such as Bathsheba the cat, and two Yorkies and their humans.

My memory might be wrong, but I think we briefly see the book not told from Mandy's point of view. With the exception of short story collections, and I think Kittens in the Kitchen, the book that started it all, this is the only time we don't see the world through Mandy's eyes.

[Karen GoatKeeper]

Mandy and James are trying to find Bathsheba, the Walton Church cat that disappeared when the Reverend died. In the meantime a new family is taking over the church. And a mysterious stone colored cat keeps appearing in the graveyard.
The Animal Ark series is definitely for younger readers although they are very factual in the veterinary information in them. This one is in the Hauntings set, but not very scary, more mysterious. Still, it is a fast, easy read lots of fun and a good distraction.

[Lianna Kendig]

(LL)
It was fine, but this series really didn’t need to go down the mystery/thriller road. The normal series had too many books, as they recycled storylines many times at the end, so there didn’t need to be a spin off of Animal Ark in my opinion. A basic supernatural storyline and not much more unfortunately.

[Ireland]

It was very interesting, and once i had started i just couldn't stop reading. I loved reading about the adventure and how it sort of drew you in and made me just imagine how they looked. Over all, it is an amazing and mysterious story that once you start you just can't stop!! ;)

[Tessie Dragon]

Jak já milovala Archu zvířat,Mandy a Jamese a spoustu zvířátek,co se tam objevila.Knížka je od 9 let,je to nádherný dětský příběh plný zvířátek,přátelství a důvěry.Jako malá jsem ji přímo ''žrala'' a přečetla jsem celou sérii. ;)

[Trina]

Good book for young readers

[Kari]

I vividly remember reading this book when I was 11, and enjoying it. Can’t really go wrong with cats and mysteries. I even remembered the cat’s name.

[Dharia Scarab]

My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.

http://spreadthewordnevada.org/

Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.

I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.

[Daria]

I LOVE this book! I've read it like 25 times or something. It's pretty close to my favorite book, and that's saying something.

[Nicole]

It was okay I wouldn't recomend it though.

[Jessie]

Mandy is haunted by dreams of a mysterious stone coloured cat.

[Kimberly]

The "Hauntings" series is great if you want to send a little shiver up your spine. I remember this one genuinely creeped me out.

[Meadow Frisbie]

Nothin' special. :(

[Sammy]

I was completely obsessed with this series of books when I was a child and my aim was to read every single book. They are a really good children's series.

[Twyla]

my favorite part was when bathsheba returned. the worst psrt was when the little boy accidentally swallowed mouse poison. my favorite character was mandy. there was no worst character

[Marine Captain Kimberly Landen]

I love cat stories. Was captivating though out the book. Have to read this book to find out who adopts this cat after the cat owner dies.