Hide-and-Spook

Ghostville Elementary #7

by Debbie Dadey, Debbie Dadey

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY.

Genres: Childrens

96 pages, Library Binding

First published December 1, 2004

About the author

Debbie Dadey is the author and co-author of 162 books for children, including the Mermaid Tales series from Simon and Schuster and the beloved Adventures of The Bailey School Kids from Scholastic. Ms. Dadey is a former teacher and librarian. Please like her at Facebook.com/debbiedadey.

Reviews

[Kaylyn Crump · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ghostville Elementary is about a girl named Cassidy who is not good at sports. She feels left out because both of her friends are really good at them. The Janitor brings in a creepy doll and Cassidy thinks it is haunted because it keeps moving back to her desk. There are also ghosts in her class, and apparently they are the ones moving the doll. One ghost, a girl, doesn’t know how to read or write and the doll was given to the class as a gift when that girl was alive. Back then, the teacher threw the doll out. So when the janitor gives the Cassidy, the ghost is scared because she thinks the teacher’s ghost in the olden days is in the doll and she thinks it is going to haunt her. In the end, Cassidy teachers the ghost how to read and write, and the ghost asks if she can keep the doll. When Cassidy looks at the doll in the ghost’s hands, she thinks she sees the doll blink at her.

I didn’t really like the book because it was creepy and nothing funny or happy happened. I felt like I was rolled into a rug and put into icy water.

Kaylyn (age 9).

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in an Elementary School and follows the students (past and present) as they are presented with the mysteries of learning, the internet, athletics, and a doll.
It is part of a book series, but works as a short stand-alone chapter book as well (under 100 pages including drawings and larger print).
The story was neat and had lessons as well as fun readability.
There were a few questions to come from such a short book, though (such as the book stating gingham print, but the images looking more polka dot, at least to me it did). Overall, seems like a good book especially for a younger reader who likes ghost mysteries. It may be hard to keep up with which character is which, though, because a lot of different names were mentioned. That may be great for some readers, especially ones who read the whole book series, but can be a bit confusing for those who only want a stand-alone book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title was a bit creepier than the others in the series, although it all turned out all right in the end. Perhaps that's just because the idea of haunted dolls gives me the creeps. I still highly recommend this series for children in grades 2-3.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites in this series so far. I love the perhaps not so subtle but well played morals in these books.

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy's review from 12/21/11 -


Julia and I found this at the library and since we've exhausted our library's collection of Scooby-Doo and SpongeBob we were trying to find another series we'd like. (As much as she loves The Magic School Bus and Treehouse books and a few others we haven't really ever read too many of those yet.)
But with this I think we've found it. Julia is always looking to be scared - just as long as it's not *too* scary. And this isn't. It's actually perfect. A perfect balance of spookiness is in here and my daughter is definitely younger, at almost 6 and 1/2 years, than this is geared toward. And it's still perfectly suitable.
And, I have to admit, I enjoyed it myself. We usually read a chapter or two before bed when we're reading a book like this and we save our picture book reading for the daytime most of the time. I was a little concerned that with the subject she may have a few bad dreams but that never came to pass.
A lot (all?) of the chapters end with a small bang which really keeps the kid wanting to read more and remembering what previously happened until it's time to pick the book back up.
All in all I'm impressed. This is #7 in the series according to GR and #4 in the series according to my library. And after looking inside for a list, I see GR is correct which doesn't surprise me because my library isn't on top of things all the time.
Anyhoo, we'll be getting the first 6 and reading them, hopefully in order, and then we'll see if there are any after #8, Ghostville Elementary #8: Ghosts Be Gone.
That reminds me, I don't think these *have* to be read in order. Obviously this is our first and it's #7 and we didn't feel like we missed anything and we still felt we knew the characters enough by the time the story really got going.
On a side note - this doesn't really jump out as the type of book to bring up meaningful conversations but it did. We discussed a number of things that happen in the book and how that relates to real children and adults. That's always a plus IMO.

[Jordan Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I found this book by pure coincidence at one of my school book fairs when I was in about the third or fourth grade. I read it the first time and was blown away by how awesome it was. I have read it probably four or five times and I plan to read it again. I forgot about this book until my parents pulled it out of the attic and gave it back to me. This book was hilarious, and yet had just enough serious for me to still be completely engrossed at the old age of 15.

[paige turner ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hide-and-Spook was a pretty good book. It was fun to read, not as predictable as I thought it would have been. I didn't want to stop reading it. It just was missing something, and I wish I could say what it was, but what do I know? It was still entertaining for the kids, they didn't seem to think anything was missing, I guess it's just me.

The kids liked this book quite a bit, hopefully I'll be able to find some more for them to read with me.

[Cora · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids really liked this one. Mildly disappointing ending but still good for first grade and good for character trait and setting lessons.