A Guide to the Other Side

Beyond Baylor #1

by Robert Imfeld

A boy and his ghostly twin sister work together to pass messages from the beyond in this funny paranormal debut.

There are a few things you should know about Baylor He’s thirteen-years-old, he has a twin sister, and he really does NOT like ghosts…which is problematic because he’s a medium and sees ghosts everywhere .

Oh, and his twin sister, Kristina? She’s a ghost too.

They’ve been working as a pair for years, expertly relaying messages from ghosts to their still-living loved ones. Baylor’s even managed to come up with an introductory phrase—one that he has to use far too often.

But when a strange ghost shows up close to Halloween, a grown man, covered in a sheet, with only his black leather shoes showing from the bottom, Baylor starts to wonder if something else has taken notice of him. And when his sister goes missing, somehow ghost-napped, he’s forced to figure out the truth about the Sheet Man and his sister’s disappearance, all without his usual ghostly ambassador.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Ghosts, Supernatural, Mystery, Fiction, Paranormal

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2016

Reviews

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

'A Guide to the Other Side' is the exciting first novel in a fun new middle grade paranormal series that will have readers begging for the next installment. The story follows main character Baylor - a 13-year-old boy who just happens to have the ability to talk to the dead, including his twin sister, Kristina. Baylor was born with this gift and has come to terms with his strange life - until a creepy ghost covered in a white sheet shows up in his bedroom one night, and his ghostly twin goes missing. Now that Baylor's navigating alone and in new circumstances, he must figure out what this ghost wants and how to get Kristina back - before it's too late.

I really like Baylor as the main character for the book and the series. He has a really odd life - especially because he can see and talk to ghosts, including his twin sister - and has taken on the task of relaying messages to loved ones. Aside from this strange ability, he's pretty realistic and down to earth. He goes through the same issues and problems as regular teens - parents, friends, school, popularity, fitting in, and so much more - it's surprisingly easy to identify with him early on in the book. The story is told from Baylor's point of view, which lets the reader form a deep connection with him throughout the novel. We get to know him on a very personal level because all of his private thoughts, emotions, hopes, fears, dreams, and so much more are exposed. His character becomes incredibly vulnerable and the reader can easily empathize with him because of this. I loved getting to know Baylor and his crazy life throughout the book, and I look forward to learning more about him in the upcoming installments.

The plot was thrilling and had some mystery elements, which I thought was a great addition to the paranormal themes. The author did a great job bringing Baylor, the other characters, and the story line itself to life in front of our eyes. There were a few smaller plot lines mixed in to the main plot, which I enjoyed and thought brought an added edge to the book. There's a bit of something for everyone in the story, and it will definitely appeal to fans of several genres and age groups. Definitely recommended for all types of readers - I'm excited to see where the author will take Baylor next!

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very fast paced. Our library has it cataloged as teen, but this is definitely middle grade.

Baylor Bosco can see ghosts, and his mission in life is to pass along healing messages to those who are grieving. He does this with the help of his twin sister, who just happens to be a ghost.

I love that his parents are involved with his gift and even though it makes them uncomfortable, they still support him. And it's a good think they do because when he starts being haunted by a violent ghost he needs all the help he can get. He needs to figure out why this ghost is haunting him before someone gets hurt.

[andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty standard middle grade that wasn't spooky, surprising, or as well-written as other books in the same genre. Ellen Oh did it better in Spirit Hunters. Plus, this book had a few unnecessary jabs at people that I can tell the author meant to be funny (i.e. poking fun at how fat a woman was or a priest acting annoyed that a woman was on the phone and saying, "women, eh?" because she apparently talked too much). I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHEN JAMES PATTERSON BLURBED IT.

[Stephanie (Gorelenore) Cover2CoverBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very imaginative book, the author does a wonderful job setting the tone for the book in the first 100 pages and keeps it up throughout. I really felt for the characters and what was happening and that is great in a middle grade read.

Baylor is a young boy with the ability to see ghosts and spirits, which is great because that way he can see his sister, who died at birth - a morbid beginning, but the book works out really well. Baylor and his sister Kristina have a really close bond. They talk all the time and I think that it is an adorable relationship. If they had both been alive I think that the relationship would not be so friendly.

The plot was very fun and kept my heart racing. Baylor and the creepy ghosts and Halloween night taking its place among the creepy and then Kristina starts to be away the plot picks up even more. As Baylor panics so does the reader.

I really enjoyed this read and think the series is going to be a fun one for all middle grade readers. If you enjoy a paranormal, young read than this is definitely for you.

[Phineas "The Observer" Mandl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. If you're new to reading or think you don't like it, this book is probably a good one to read. It's about a boy named Baylor Bosco who can communicate with people who have died (or, in other words, ghosts). He has a twin sister named Kristina, who's a ghost. Baylor's job is to communicate messages from dead people to living people, since ghosts can't do that themselves. But one day, a strange, evil ghost appears. Kristina, soon after, goes missing.
Of course, this book would be good to read around Halloween, since it's about ghosts and demons. It's a fun book, and it certainly has its funny moments. I like the overall story of the book, but I think the author could've made the main character more likable. For a big part of the book, he's kind of a jerk. That's kind of the lesson he has to learn, but even so, I don't like him as much as I would like to. I like the villain of the story, how dimensional he is, what Baylor has to do to stop him. This book seemed a little below my level of reading, but again, if you're new to reading, this book is great. If you're a person who thinks they don't like reading, you just haven't found the right book- and this book is most definitely the right book. There's a sequel to this book called Baylor's Guide to Dreadful Dreams, but I haven't read it. If you like this book, maybe you should try it out.
This book is also a page turner. A book can be terrific, but you won't be drawn towards it, you won't want to read more every second of your day. This book is not one of those books; you're always wondering what's going to happen, reading every second of free time you get, desperate to know everything. I quite enjoyed this book, although it wasn't the best book ever written. I hope you enjoy this book as well, should you choose to read it. I recommend that you read this book- it was quite fun.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though Baylor's twin sister, Kristina died before they were born, she now stays by his side as a ghost and helps him communicate with the dead. This isn't always convenient because the dead often want him to deliver messages to family members who are still alive. Baylor understands that this is the purpose of his gift, but it becomes cumbersome at times when so many want messages delivered all at once. It becomes even more of a problem when he is suddenly visited by a red-eyed, sheet-covered ghost who won't communicate with Baylor.

Baylor's Guide to the Other Side is a delightful story about a very unique family. The main characters are well-developed in this story, so we understand their points of view, especially Baylor and Kristina. The book is filled with funny as well as poignant moments. While Baylor's gift is seemingly unbelievable, his family still supports him and tries to figure out ways to help him. The messages he delivers to people seem like the kind of things people would want to know from loved ones who have passed on, making this a more believable story. Overall, Baylor's Guide to the Other Side is an insightful story filled with emotions and humor. 4 1/2 stars.

[Annalee Schnebele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baylor is a medium that can talk to spirits. His deceased twin sister is his help managing the otherside.
Things get weird when a strange spirit covered in a sheet shows up (and moves Baylor temporarily to a different dimension).

An interesting mysterious middle grader mystery. Recommended for 7th and 8th graders who want something a little spooky, fast-paced, and a mystery.

[Cait S · Rating 2 out of 5]

What 13 year old have you ever met that calls women "broads" and says things like "compel his exit" and "incontrovertibly"?

Oh, right. Literally none. I don't know seventy year olds who talk like that. How did that make it past an editor? This might have been a decent story if the MC didn't have such a god awful voice.

[Mieya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the book that I searching for all this time..I wish I can found something similar with this book..baylor a boy together with his the twin sister Kristen help with the dead...and save them...and encountered with dark spirit that need help...loved it one of the book that I will absolutely repeat to read it

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect this book to be super great, but it turned out to be a great book. The Guide to the Other Side was a great book that never had a dull moment, and had such a great concept and story. It had a storyline that wasn't like any book I've read before, and I am excited for the net one.

[Maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so so amazing 🥹 this book is EVERYTHING. i literally got so emotional after finishing it!! it also has a great plot twist and the ending was EVERYTHING. 🫶🏻 thank you so much Robert Imfeld for this MASTERPIECE.

[Llyr Heller-Humphreys · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/3

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of the paranormal will love this! Ghosts abound and poor Baylor (and his twin sister, who's a ghost, get to deal with them regularly! Middle grades, 4th-7th should appreciate this tale!

[Brianna DuMont · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It had humor, twists, and a great pace. Can't wait to get the second one!

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool story involving ghosts and a dead twin sister.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!

[Britt Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good middle-grade ghost story. Interesting and likeable characters. Will definitely read the sequel.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkably Cool and Decidedly Different

So, I figured this would be about a kid who communicates with ghosts, has an adventure, and yada yada. Boy, was I misguided. This is a deeply cool and well written book that is a middle grade coming of age tale, a deeply well imagined ghost/spirit/demon story, and an utterly charming view of sibling love and support.

Here's the setup. Our hero, Baylor, was a twin, but his sister, Kristina, was miscarried and never born. She moved on directly to the spirit world, and the two of them communicate with each other. At the outset of the book Baylor describes how, at an early age, he finally realized that only he could see his sister, and that his family thought he just had an imaginary friend. Now, Baylor's parents accept that he is in constant touch with Kristina, but that only he can communicate with her. On top of that, Baylor is constantly pestered by ghosts to deliver messages, with his sister helping from the other side. People know he has this gift and accept it, so his skill as a medium is taken for granted and everyone moves on from there. As a consequence we don't spend time trying to convince people about Baylor's gift, but rather have a straightforward, creative and sort of rueful deadpan description of being a medium. This sidesteps most of what occupies the usual books on this subject.

So, what happens in the book? MILD SPOILERS. Well, some evil spirit is after Baylor, and it upsets the balance he has in dealing with the other side. The spirit threatens his sister as well as Baylor, so we have a battle on both sides of the divide. This is where the action/adventure and scary stuff comes in.

But in addition to that we have a few other things going on. Baylor and Kristina have a close, affectionate, strong and loyal tie that crosses the life/death boundary. If you ever tire of griping sibling conflict, this generous, touching and realistic depiction of sibling love is a refreshing tonic.

And Kristina is a riot. She has an understandably "detached" view of Baylor's life and preoccupations and her running commentary, needling and throwaway lines add a lot of life to her otherwise being dead. She gets most of the best lines, and she's a pip.

On top of that, Baylor, our first person narrator, is a fairly popular kid with a wide circle of friends. They get involved in various parts of the story and Baylor's descriptions of these kids give us a wise and knowing commentary on middle graders and their lives. The book doesn't necessarily need this varied and engaging cast of characters but it certainly benefits from them.

On top of that, Baylor faces fears and challenges and grows up a lot during the course of the book. Since he is a spirit-talker this isn't exactly slice-of-life, but it's actually more touching and realistic than you might expect.

The upshot for me was that Baylor and Kristina were funny, authentic and engaging characters. The spirit-talking background was exceptionally well done. The action/adventure was fine and actually gripping toward the end. This was just a wonderfully entertaining find.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy 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.)

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Guide to the Other Side is the first book in the Beyond Baylor series by Robert Imfeld. It is currently scheduled for release on October 4 2016. There are a few things you should know about Baylor Bosco: He’s thirteen-years-old, he has a twin sister, and he really does NOT like ghosts…which is problematic because he’s a medium and sees ghosts everywhere. Oh, and his twin sister, Kristina? She’s a ghost too. They’ve been working as a pair for years, expertly relaying messages from ghosts to their still-living loved ones. Baylor’s even managed to come up with an introductory phrase—one that he has to use far too often. But when a strange ghost shows up close to Halloween, a grown man, covered in a sheet, with only his black leather shoes showing from the bottom, Baylor starts to wonder if something else has taken notice of him. And when his sister goes missing, somehow ghost-napped, he’s forced to figure out the truth about the Sheet Man and his sister’s disappearance, all without his usual ghostly ambassador.

A Guide to the Other Side is the story of a very special middle grade boy that has the ability to see and speak to ghosts. While dealing with the inopportune requests from the other side he still needs to get through school and family life without constantly freaking out other people with his abilities. The added complication of a ghostly twin acting as his companion, confidant, and protector make things more complicated. By the time readers join Baylor on his adventure he is well versed on blending in and feels fairly confident in his skills and place as messenger for the dead. However, things are about to get harder and Baylor needs to face his responsibilities and learn more all aspects of the world around him. I like that he has both scary moments, and some very emotional issues to face. While the mystery of the sheet man and the danger Baylor faces is a huge part of the story, I really love that his emotional growth and understanding- including empathy for his family and friends- is just as important to the story. This is not just a paranormal adventure full of mischief and mayhem, it is also a heartfelt coming of age story, I also enjoyed the fact that while the adults in Baylor’s life dogged upset with him for putting himself in harm’s way and breaking rules, they are also aware and intelligent characters rather than the bumbling adults that seem to frequent children’s fiction.

A Guide to the Other Side is a wonderful middle grade novel with plenty of heart, excitement, and wonder for readers. I am very glad I read it and can think of many I would recommend it to.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great series debut, filled with fun and supernatural action. The very premise of the book is intriguing and inventive - a boy who talks to ghosts with a spirit guide that happens to be his unborn twin sister.

The story introduces us to Baylor Bosco and shows us his life as he uses his gift to pass messages of healing from the Beyond. There's a lot hinted at there, the fact that there's more to this unique duo than meets the eye. This leaves us with many new mysteries to solve in future books.

The case itself involves a mysterious and malignant spirit wrecking havoc on Baylor's life. There's a genuine investigation and even a ghostnappping. The part that really makes this book stand out, though, is how it treats Baylor's regular life with his friends and family. Baylor's parents are present and very much involved in his life, worried about his ghost gift but also supportive of him. His friends are also fleshed out characters who try to help Baylor out even though they don't have any supernatural powers of their own. They also have their own problems and drama which is a nice, realistic addition as we see Baylor struggling to help out his friends even when his specialness is throwing his own life into disarray.

A fun read that I highly recommend for young readers. Can't wait to see what comes next for Baylor Bosco and his ghost sister, Kristina.

[birar rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book and can't wait to read the next book

[Carie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brand new book for us. One of my students read it and insisted I try it. How could I say no? The plot premise is interesting: a boy can see ghosts who constantly ask him to pass along messages to their live relatives. His "best friend" is his twin sister who died at birth. The characters are funny and clever, and the plot moves along at a crazy frenzied pace. Just not my genre I suppose.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baylor Bosco has a unique talent. He not only sees ghosts, but he can deliver their messages to loved ones still on Earth. His twin sister Kristina, who is also a ghost, acts as a go-between for Baylor and the other side, a sort of spirit-world gatekeeper. But when a mysterious ghost covered in a sheet appears to Baylor, neither twin knows what it means. They set out to solve the mystery while learning things about their unique abilities along the way.

A Guide to the Other Side by Robert Imfeld is a ghost story that’s inventive and just the right amount of creepy. In Baylor’s experience, most people who have passed on want to convey good messages to the loved ones they left behind, so they can find their own peace. The sheet man, as he calls the strange visitor, is different, and Baylor feels something menacing from him. It’s intriguing for readers to follow along as he and Kristina unravel the mystery.

This first novel gets the Beyond Baylor series off to a great start, and readers aged 9 to 12 are sure to read this and want more.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Mena · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baylor and his twin sister have a connection to the other-side. The two help ghosts pass along messages to their living loved ones. It helps that Baylor's twin, Kristina, is dead. She died while still in the womb, but she grows along with Baylor. The two have an unusual relationship with some nonbelievers, but their gift really does help many of the living. Baylor is visited by a ghost, who boots Kristina from Baylor's side. The twins work together to try and figure out who this scary spirit is and stop him.

This novel was fun and it totally seems to follow many of the psychic t.v. shows. I hope that there will be more in the future. The characters are fun and the plot is interesting.

[Carol Curley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful debut novel which is sure to appeal to middle grade students. Baylor and ghostly twin sister, Kristina, are likable characters who team up to solve the mystery of the man in the sheet. The premise of Kristina's existence is quite clever and the message relaying is sympathetic, cathartic and sometimes comical. Add to this mix, a ghost-napping, a strange talisman, some demons and middle school shenanigans and you have a solid read and the beginning of an exciting series. This is a great addition to school libraries. I received the ARC from the publisher.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baylor and his twin sister, Kristina, help spirits move on to the other side. Baylor relays messages from the dead to their living loved ones and Kristina communicate with the ghosts. Their partnership works perfectly...especially because Kristina is a ghost. Then one day a malevolent ghost begins to target Baylor. Baylor and Kristina must work to solve the mystery of the ghost to free his spirit and solve themselves.

This was a fun mystery filled with creepy foes. Good book for younger readers who like a spooky stories.

[Wensday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was not sure if I was going to like this book when I started reading it and wasn't even sure that I would finish it, but I'm glad I stuck with it as it turned out to be an enjoyable read. Not quite a full on mystery of who done it, but an intriguing story line all the same.

I received the advanced reader copy from Net Galley for my honest review.

[Jaclyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun!! The characters are lovable, & the writing is creative. I'm not typically a kids' book reader, but this story was interesting & detailed enough to keep me very interested. & it made me cry on multiple occasions & laugh aloud on multiple occasions. A perfect, sweet October read!