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Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold
Twelve-year-old Ollie Oxley is moving — again. His mom is starting another new job, this time at the Bingham Theater in Granite City, California. Moving all the time means Ollie has struggled in the making friends department, but he quickly connects with a boy named Teddy. To Ollie's surprise, though, his first friend in town is a little more... unique than those he's made in the past. Teddy is a ghost.
Befriending someone who lived during the famous California Gold Rush sure does make things interesting for Ollie. But when the school bully, Aubrey, targets Ollie, and it looks like the Bingham Theater might close, the stakes couldn't be higher. Can Teddy and Ollie work together to take down Aubrey, save his mom's job, and solve a mystery years in the making?
Befriending someone who lived during the famous California Gold Rush sure does make things interesting for Ollie. But when the school bully, Aubrey, targets Ollie, and it looks like the Bingham Theater might close, the stakes couldn't be higher. Can Teddy and Ollie work together to take down Aubrey, save his mom's job, and solve a mystery years in the making?
220 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2019
4 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Schmid
7 books34 followersLisa Schmid is an author and co-host of the podcast Writers With Wrinkles. When not scaring up ghostly adventures, she visits schools and libraries to discuss writing and books. She lives in Northern California with her husband, son, two dogs, and one very sneaky hamster.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
October 9, 2022
Ollie and his funky little family are on the move. Again. Places change; but, the nerve-racking, new-kid nuances do not. He understands the reason; he just loathes the result.
Mom makes the money to support the trio. She loves her job and is quite good at it, but traipsing across the continent for theater doesn’t exactly enthuse Ollie. The fact that each move sends his little sister over the moon with plans and possibilities is also not helpful.
At a blush, the females in the family seem to share joyful, overtly dramatic tendencies, while Ollie is a contrarian, in an almost-obligatory kind of way; defiantly declaring that he is basic. I respectfully disagree, as I find him to be a bit of a drama-king, just in a passive-aggressive-poor-poor-me kind of way. Which is not to say that Ollie is unlikable, only a bit cynical and churlish.
This time, he is told, would be different. Mom grew up in this small California town and the opportunity to revive the old theater feels like a dream come true. But, getting to the old gold-rush town, pulling up to the pink house does not induce a sunny disposition for Ollie. Nor did he feel hopeful after the first day of school. However, this odd-ball, Teddy, with his tales of buried treasures, seems interesting.
When rumors of money problems that may adversely impact the theater, thus the family’s income, reach Ollie’s ears, he is surprised by his own reaction. He wants to stay put. Forcing himself to overlook questionable quirks, Ollie teams up with Teddy, fixated on finding the gold that Teddy watched his father bury, so many years ago.
I enjoyed the unique friendship formed between Ollie and Teddy. Ms. Schmid subtly shows how a good friend can make you a better person as she simultaneously keeps the reader wholly engaged in the boys’ epic adventure.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks to North Star Editions for the Advance Review Copy.
Mom makes the money to support the trio. She loves her job and is quite good at it, but traipsing across the continent for theater doesn’t exactly enthuse Ollie. The fact that each move sends his little sister over the moon with plans and possibilities is also not helpful.
At a blush, the females in the family seem to share joyful, overtly dramatic tendencies, while Ollie is a contrarian, in an almost-obligatory kind of way; defiantly declaring that he is basic. I respectfully disagree, as I find him to be a bit of a drama-king, just in a passive-aggressive-poor-poor-me kind of way. Which is not to say that Ollie is unlikable, only a bit cynical and churlish.
This time, he is told, would be different. Mom grew up in this small California town and the opportunity to revive the old theater feels like a dream come true. But, getting to the old gold-rush town, pulling up to the pink house does not induce a sunny disposition for Ollie. Nor did he feel hopeful after the first day of school. However, this odd-ball, Teddy, with his tales of buried treasures, seems interesting.
When rumors of money problems that may adversely impact the theater, thus the family’s income, reach Ollie’s ears, he is surprised by his own reaction. He wants to stay put. Forcing himself to overlook questionable quirks, Ollie teams up with Teddy, fixated on finding the gold that Teddy watched his father bury, so many years ago.
I enjoyed the unique friendship formed between Ollie and Teddy. Ms. Schmid subtly shows how a good friend can make you a better person as she simultaneously keeps the reader wholly engaged in the boys’ epic adventure.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks to North Star Editions for the Advance Review Copy.
December 15, 2018
Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold by Lisa Schmid is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This is a delightful middle school book with great characters, dialogue, plot, and mystery! I enjoyed it and I am not a middle grade kid!
I think my 12 and 13 year old grand kids would love this book! Even kids younger than that but like I said, I would even like it! Suspense mixed with mystery and humor!
I think my 12 and 13 year old grand kids would love this book! Even kids younger than that but like I said, I would even like it! Suspense mixed with mystery and humor!
January 19, 2020
At first I was going to give this book 4.5 stars but know that I sit down to write my review I realise I don't have anything negative to say about it 😂
The biggest reason why I loved this book so much were the lovable characters. My favorite is without a single doubt Teddy, just the cutest and most adorable little boy I've read about, most of the time I just wanted to hug him even though I knew it wouldn't have been posible since he's a ghost lol. Then we have our other main character, Ollie who in my opinion was spoiled and a bit impolite a lot of times and I couldn't love him throughout the story like I did with Teddy but he had his nice times. Lastly, there's Ollie's little sister, DeeDee who was even cuter and funnier than Teddy but unfortunately we didn't get to see much of her.
Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is a super quick to read, it literaly only took me a day to finish it and the fact that it's so catching only makes it go by even quicker. One thing that surprised me was to discover how eerie this book was for the first few chapters, maybe it wasn't that scary but I decided to start this book in the middle of the night so maybe I was being paranoid 😂.
Moreover, the ending was phenomenal. It truly showed how enemies may not always be bad people and that we're all people struggling to do the best we can in each of our situations. I loved it wholeheartedly and I'll never get over it 💕
The biggest reason why I loved this book so much were the lovable characters. My favorite is without a single doubt Teddy, just the cutest and most adorable little boy I've read about, most of the time I just wanted to hug him even though I knew it wouldn't have been posible since he's a ghost lol. Then we have our other main character, Ollie who in my opinion was spoiled and a bit impolite a lot of times and I couldn't love him throughout the story like I did with Teddy but he had his nice times. Lastly, there's Ollie's little sister, DeeDee who was even cuter and funnier than Teddy but unfortunately we didn't get to see much of her.
Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is a super quick to read, it literaly only took me a day to finish it and the fact that it's so catching only makes it go by even quicker. One thing that surprised me was to discover how eerie this book was for the first few chapters, maybe it wasn't that scary but I decided to start this book in the middle of the night so maybe I was being paranoid 😂.
Moreover, the ending was phenomenal. It truly showed how enemies may not always be bad people and that we're all people struggling to do the best we can in each of our situations. I loved it wholeheartedly and I'll never get over it 💕
April 22, 2019
Another new town. A new school. No friends. It's all happening again. Ollie Oxley and his family have just moved to Granite City, CA. Ollie hopes this move will be better than the last...but it's doubtful. They live in a pink house. He manages to offend the local bully on the first day. And, his new best friend is a ghost. Poor Ollie.
I enjoy reading middle grade books. I read a lot of horror, mystery, thriller type stories...and sometimes I just need a palate cleanser. I always head to children's books to clear my head. This story is fun to read, and a great adventure story. Middle school is enough of an adventure for anyone (Glad I am wayyy past those years!)...add in a ghost, a mean bully, and hunting for treasure and you've got a great story!
I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author. I love the mix of humor and mystery in this book. It made for a nice afternoon of reading. The story is completely middle grade appropriate. Nothing too scary....just lots of middle school antics, humor and adventure!
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from North Star Editions via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I enjoy reading middle grade books. I read a lot of horror, mystery, thriller type stories...and sometimes I just need a palate cleanser. I always head to children's books to clear my head. This story is fun to read, and a great adventure story. Middle school is enough of an adventure for anyone (Glad I am wayyy past those years!)...add in a ghost, a mean bully, and hunting for treasure and you've got a great story!
I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author. I love the mix of humor and mystery in this book. It made for a nice afternoon of reading. The story is completely middle grade appropriate. Nothing too scary....just lots of middle school antics, humor and adventure!
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from North Star Editions via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
September 14, 2019
I would love to thank Lisa Schmid, North Star Editions and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Such a great middle-grade! It hooked me right from the start. The reason why I gave it 3 stars though is because at some point the characters went flat and cliche. But still, the story was amazing.
It follows a boy named Ollie and he just moved to a new home with his little sister and their mother. There Ollie meets a ghost, Teddy, and together they go on searching a treasure that was actually burried by Teddy's father years ago. I kind of anticipated the ending and I was right, but the story was still good and the characters were jokers and funny.
If you like detective/sleuth stories and also middle-grade books, go for this book! It came out in June so you can easily find it.
Happy Reading!
Such a great middle-grade! It hooked me right from the start. The reason why I gave it 3 stars though is because at some point the characters went flat and cliche. But still, the story was amazing.
It follows a boy named Ollie and he just moved to a new home with his little sister and their mother. There Ollie meets a ghost, Teddy, and together they go on searching a treasure that was actually burried by Teddy's father years ago. I kind of anticipated the ending and I was right, but the story was still good and the characters were jokers and funny.
If you like detective/sleuth stories and also middle-grade books, go for this book! It came out in June so you can easily find it.
Happy Reading!
May 9, 2019
Author Lisa Schmid has penned an enjoyable, if predictable, middle-grade novel with Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold, the first of what’s clearly meant to be a series.
The titular Ollie Oxley once again finds himself as the new kid when his peripatetic mother relocates to Granite City, Calif. It won’t be spoiler to say that he encounters a ghost, an eternally 12- or 13-year boy named Teddy who died in the mid-19th century when Granite City was a Gold Rush town. Nor will it come as a surprise that Teddy’s father left a stash of gold somewhere, and that the spectral Teddy helps Ollie find the missing treasure, overcome a girl bully named Aubrey Kelly and save Ollie’s mom’s workplace, The Bingham Theatre, from foreclosure. Still, there’s plenty of humor and middle-school situations to appeal to the youngsters, although adults will probably check out some time in Chapter 7 when they see the end coming.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, North Star Editions and Jolly Fish in exchange for an honest review.
The titular Ollie Oxley once again finds himself as the new kid when his peripatetic mother relocates to Granite City, Calif. It won’t be spoiler to say that he encounters a ghost, an eternally 12- or 13-year boy named Teddy who died in the mid-19th century when Granite City was a Gold Rush town. Nor will it come as a surprise that Teddy’s father left a stash of gold somewhere, and that the spectral Teddy helps Ollie find the missing treasure, overcome a girl bully named Aubrey Kelly and save Ollie’s mom’s workplace, The Bingham Theatre, from foreclosure. Still, there’s plenty of humor and middle-school situations to appeal to the youngsters, although adults will probably check out some time in Chapter 7 when they see the end coming.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, North Star Editions and Jolly Fish in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2019
I received a copy of this book from NetGallery as I was intrigued by the title and wanted to read a book for the younger generation as I'm training to be a teacher. I was very impressed by the writing and the creativeness of the story. I don't read many middle grade books but after enjoying this I'll be reading them in the future. Surprisingly I was really engaged with the story and when I put it down I wanted to carry on reading what happened next.
The story starts with a family moving into a new house and starting again. Ollie begins to see a boy named Teddy and doesn't realise he's a ghost until other children think he's talking to himself. They become very good friends and end up going through a number of challenges to get to the end goal the gold to save the bing and theatre. The writing is really good and the story just flows and flows. I didn't even see any clues to where the treasure could be buried so that was a pleasant surprise.
The age range for the book is 8 years and older, this would be a great read for children as it covers ghosts, family, friendship, bullies and adventure. This would be an excellent starting point to go over these themes and see what it means to the children.
Overall I would recommend this book to children and adults who are looking for a fast paced story but also has the humour side to it aswell!
The story starts with a family moving into a new house and starting again. Ollie begins to see a boy named Teddy and doesn't realise he's a ghost until other children think he's talking to himself. They become very good friends and end up going through a number of challenges to get to the end goal the gold to save the bing and theatre. The writing is really good and the story just flows and flows. I didn't even see any clues to where the treasure could be buried so that was a pleasant surprise.
The age range for the book is 8 years and older, this would be a great read for children as it covers ghosts, family, friendship, bullies and adventure. This would be an excellent starting point to go over these themes and see what it means to the children.
Overall I would recommend this book to children and adults who are looking for a fast paced story but also has the humour side to it aswell!
January 4, 2019
This is the perfect middle grade fun ghost story! Ollie’s story is one that I know kids will really enjoy figuring out what happens. I had so much fun reading this story. I can see myself using it in the classroom as how to grow an imaginative story!
December 27, 2018
This was a ghost story, but not a scary story. Teddy is a friendly ghost, but of his new friends, since Ollie has to move a lot, only he can see the ghost, which makes it look as though he is talking to himself.
The reason he has to move a lot is his mother is in the theatre, and this town, her old home town, is hopefully the last stop.
But of course, to have a story there has to be something that is about to go wrong, and in this case, the theatre is about to close because the mortgage can't be paid.
So Oliie and Teddy start hunting for the treasure that Teddy's father buried before he died.
This was an ok mystery. The problem in I guessed the solution too far in advance, and so had to read the rest of the book about bullies, and mystics, and stuff, to get to the ending to see if I was right.
But, for a middle-grade reader, the clues might not be so obvious, and they would probably enjoy the s search for the missing gold.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
The reason he has to move a lot is his mother is in the theatre, and this town, her old home town, is hopefully the last stop.
But of course, to have a story there has to be something that is about to go wrong, and in this case, the theatre is about to close because the mortgage can't be paid.
So Oliie and Teddy start hunting for the treasure that Teddy's father buried before he died.
This was an ok mystery. The problem in I guessed the solution too far in advance, and so had to read the rest of the book about bullies, and mystics, and stuff, to get to the ending to see if I was right.
But, for a middle-grade reader, the clues might not be so obvious, and they would probably enjoy the s search for the missing gold.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
August 12, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think that this book will be enjoyable for every age. It's a great fantasy story with the nice amount of mystery. I wish that I was able to read it in my Dutch classroom. The story was everything I've hoped for and I'm secretly hoping for a series!
A longer review can be found at Bite Into Books
If you're not scared to read a Children's book and enjoy a bit of mystery and fantasy you will enjoy this book. The writing style is so easy to get through, for fast readers it would be a book that you could read in one setting. I'm just very happy that I was able to get to know Ollie Oxley and Lisa Schmid and I'm a fan already!
I think that this book will be enjoyable for every age. It's a great fantasy story with the nice amount of mystery. I wish that I was able to read it in my Dutch classroom. The story was everything I've hoped for and I'm secretly hoping for a series!
A longer review can be found at Bite Into Books
If you're not scared to read a Children's book and enjoy a bit of mystery and fantasy you will enjoy this book. The writing style is so easy to get through, for fast readers it would be a book that you could read in one setting. I'm just very happy that I was able to get to know Ollie Oxley and Lisa Schmid and I'm a fan already!
January 5, 2019
This book was a delight from start to finish. The story follows new-kid Ollie as he starts middle school, takes on the town bully, worries about his mom’s theater being closed (which would spell yet another move), and also makes friends with A GHOST!!!
The interactions between Ollie and the (very friendly) ghost, Teddy, are quick witted and hilarious, not scary, but the suspense of the theater’s impending closure and the school bully keep the tension high throughout the story. Together, Ollie and Teddy work to both put the bully in her place and solve a mystery from the California Gold Rush era hoping to save the theater.
OLLIE OXLEY AND THE GHOST is a perfect ghost story for readers who prefer tales that are more history/mystery than scary. The quick pace of both the dialogue and plot will keep middle grade readers engaged and turning pages. As a former 5th and 6th grade teacher, I highly recommend this book.
The interactions between Ollie and the (very friendly) ghost, Teddy, are quick witted and hilarious, not scary, but the suspense of the theater’s impending closure and the school bully keep the tension high throughout the story. Together, Ollie and Teddy work to both put the bully in her place and solve a mystery from the California Gold Rush era hoping to save the theater.
OLLIE OXLEY AND THE GHOST is a perfect ghost story for readers who prefer tales that are more history/mystery than scary. The quick pace of both the dialogue and plot will keep middle grade readers engaged and turning pages. As a former 5th and 6th grade teacher, I highly recommend this book.
January 6, 2019
***Thank you to NetGalley and Jolly Fish Press/ North Star Editions for providing me with an advanced ARC of Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.***
Ollie Oxley and The Ghost is a delightful read. Lisa Schmid delivers an original story, with likable characters that surprise you and keep you laughing until the last page.
Highly recommend!
Ollie Oxley and The Ghost is a delightful read. Lisa Schmid delivers an original story, with likable characters that surprise you and keep you laughing until the last page.
Highly recommend!
September 21, 2018
I love this fun, funny book! I've read early versions and it always makes me happy. Creative, heartfelt, and full of humor.
February 1, 2022
I absolutely LOVED this! What an amazing taking down a bully, treasure hunting ghost story! Ollie Oxley is moving — again. His mom is starting another new job, this time at the Bingham Theater in Granite City, California. Moving all the time means Ollie has struggled in the making friends department, but he quickly connects with a boy named Teddy. To Ollie's surprise, though, his first friend in town is a little more... unique than those he's made in the past. Teddy is a ghost. Befriending someone who lived during the famous California Gold Rush sure does make things interesting for Ollie. But when the school bully, Aubrey, targets Ollie, & it looks like the Bingham Theater might close, the stakes couldn't be higher. This had a combination of so many amazing things. So many layers to this. You have the real life relatable issues for one. Ollie has to deal with bullying. He also is in another new town, house, & school. They constantly move, & he is tired of nowhere feeling like home, or getting to have friends. His dad left them, & they don’t see him. Then you have the ghost element. I so loved how this was done! Teddy is such a fascinating character/ghost, & I LOVED the friendship he & Ollie develop. Tied into that comes the treasure hunt! So so SOOOO good! Great humor in here as well. Between Teddy’s humor, & even Ollie’s sister DeeDee’s humor-I laughed quite a bit lol. Perfectly paced & great story building. WONDERFUL character growth with Ollie as well. Such a great adventure with so much heart. Amazing writing & characters..loved! Even the bully is written so well! I couldn’t stand her, & yet at times the author gave you a glimpse of why she was the way she was..& you felt sorry for her..until the next time she was awful lol The best! Haha The twist at the end, & the ending in general was SUPERB! The way the title has 2 parts, I though maybe there could be more to come, but I couldn’t find anything about more. Would love more if that happened though! Highly recommend! BEAUTIFUL cover by George Doutsiopoulos too!💜
December 19, 2018
Ollie Oxley was such a fun middle grade book! Twelve year old Ollie Oxley is tired of constantly moving from one town to the next. His latest home is in an old pink house in Granite City. As if a pink house isn’t bad enough, Ollie soon realizes his home is haunted by a boy named Teddy. Ollie has his fair share of problems in his new town but he definitely doesn’t want to move again.
This story has hidden treasure, bullies, a race for class president and the time is running out on all of it. Can Ollie save the day? Ollie was a very likable boy and I was cheering for him!
Thank you to North Star Edition, Flux and NetGalley for this advanced copy! I loved it! My opinions are my own.
www.colecampfireblog.com
LanaLCole@yahoo.com
This story has hidden treasure, bullies, a race for class president and the time is running out on all of it. Can Ollie save the day? Ollie was a very likable boy and I was cheering for him!
Thank you to North Star Edition, Flux and NetGalley for this advanced copy! I loved it! My opinions are my own.
www.colecampfireblog.com
LanaLCole@yahoo.com
October 18, 2019
What a delightful book! I loved Ollie’s adventure, and Lisa finds a way to make us care about all of the characters in the book, even those we find more difficult. Great portrayal of all of the kids and so funny! A real winner!
June 14, 2019
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Oh my, a lovely ghost story with tons of friendship and fun has appeared! I already was curious about this book and then I finally had the chance to read it when I spotted it on Netgalley.
It took me a bit before I had the chance to read it, but here I am. And I enjoyed it oh so much. With the exception of Aubrey. I didn't like that girl at all. Bleh.
Meet Ollie, he is the new kid in the town and hopes that this time they settle down for once. His family keeps on moving with each new gig that his mom has. She takes care of theatres, and in this one she is in charge of getting a theatre out of the ground and up again to a profitable business. The town was just so tiny and fun to read about.
Ollie's new friend? Teddy? Well, he is a ghost. Yep. Ollie doesn't know this from the start and I had quite a laugh at how he found out and how apparently he was too oblivious to everything to see that his friend was dead. Oh hey, my best friend is only visible by me. Oh hey, he can teleport into trees. Totally normal behaviour, right?
Teddy was at times a tad too much, but still I liked him, and I also felt sorry that he didn't have any clue who he was any more. Other than his name and some details on his past, he didn't have any other recollection. He seemed to have a pretty nice life though, he tells Ollie that he at times pops into cinemas to watch new movies. That is one big benefit of being a ghost I guess.
Ollie learns of a treasure thanks to Teddy and he is very eager to get started but it isn't until something happens that he fully goes for it. Helped by Teddy and also the psychic lady on the other side of the road. They try to figure out all the clues and see if they can find the gold, before it is too late. I already had a small suspicion to where the treasure may be, but I was hoping it wouldn't be that as it seemed a bit too obvious to be true.
I wasn't a fan of Aubrey and I frankly couldn't give a damn about her boohoo home situation. Am I supposed to feel sorry for a bully? No. I have been bullied for years to the point of wanting to quit life, and so I really don't have any feelings for people who bully. Just because your life at home sucks doesn't mean you have to throw it out on other people. Sorry if I sound harsh, but I hope people understand why I can't feel any sympathy for people who ruin other people's lives.
Next to treasure hunting Ollie is also trying out for student president and I loved that he went for it so much. That he tried all sorts of things and, unlike Aubrey, tried to win fair and square.
There is lots of adventure and fun treasure hunting and I had plenty of fun reading it. Finding out more about the town, about who owns the treasure (which was a surprise to me but does explain a few things), seeing the theatre and I wanted to try out some of those candies that Cook is selling. It seems they are quite delicious. I would recommend this fun book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Oh my, a lovely ghost story with tons of friendship and fun has appeared! I already was curious about this book and then I finally had the chance to read it when I spotted it on Netgalley.
It took me a bit before I had the chance to read it, but here I am. And I enjoyed it oh so much. With the exception of Aubrey. I didn't like that girl at all. Bleh.
Meet Ollie, he is the new kid in the town and hopes that this time they settle down for once. His family keeps on moving with each new gig that his mom has. She takes care of theatres, and in this one she is in charge of getting a theatre out of the ground and up again to a profitable business. The town was just so tiny and fun to read about.
Ollie's new friend? Teddy? Well, he is a ghost. Yep. Ollie doesn't know this from the start and I had quite a laugh at how he found out and how apparently he was too oblivious to everything to see that his friend was dead. Oh hey, my best friend is only visible by me. Oh hey, he can teleport into trees. Totally normal behaviour, right?
Teddy was at times a tad too much, but still I liked him, and I also felt sorry that he didn't have any clue who he was any more. Other than his name and some details on his past, he didn't have any other recollection. He seemed to have a pretty nice life though, he tells Ollie that he at times pops into cinemas to watch new movies. That is one big benefit of being a ghost I guess.
Ollie learns of a treasure thanks to Teddy and he is very eager to get started but it isn't until something happens that he fully goes for it. Helped by Teddy and also the psychic lady on the other side of the road. They try to figure out all the clues and see if they can find the gold, before it is too late. I already had a small suspicion to where the treasure may be, but I was hoping it wouldn't be that as it seemed a bit too obvious to be true.
I wasn't a fan of Aubrey and I frankly couldn't give a damn about her boohoo home situation. Am I supposed to feel sorry for a bully? No. I have been bullied for years to the point of wanting to quit life, and so I really don't have any feelings for people who bully. Just because your life at home sucks doesn't mean you have to throw it out on other people. Sorry if I sound harsh, but I hope people understand why I can't feel any sympathy for people who ruin other people's lives.
Next to treasure hunting Ollie is also trying out for student president and I loved that he went for it so much. That he tried all sorts of things and, unlike Aubrey, tried to win fair and square.
There is lots of adventure and fun treasure hunting and I had plenty of fun reading it. Finding out more about the town, about who owns the treasure (which was a surprise to me but does explain a few things), seeing the theatre and I wanted to try out some of those candies that Cook is selling. It seems they are quite delicious. I would recommend this fun book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 29, 2020
Wonderful MG story!
December 8, 2021
Fantastic Middle Grade novel! The story is captivating and the dialogue is hilarious! Kids will tear through this book and want so much more from Ollie and his cast of characters.
January 17, 2019
Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is a fun, Spooky mystery, filled with humor and heart! Oh, and did I mention a treasure-hunting ghost? Great setting and I loved piecing together the clues along with Ollie. I've moved many times, so I felt for Ollie and remember the same experiences. Ollie and Teddy for the win!
September 20, 2018
I read an early version of this and LOVED it - funny, warm and wonderful. Perfect for middle grade readers looking for fast paced mystery with lots of humor.
January 16, 2019
Ollie is tired of moving. Nothing has been the same since his father left them. They've been moving often enough that he doesn't have a chance to make any friends. Now they're moving back to his mother's hometown where his mom takes on the job of reviving the old theater. Just as he begins to settle in, he learns that they may have to move again if his mom's boss can't bring the mortgage current. As if that's not enough, he becomes the target of the school bully. Luckily he has the help of his new friend, Teddy to figure things out. Only one catch -Teddy is a ghost!
This was a really cute, enjoyable read. Even though it was fun and light-hearted, it had some important lessons, too. Ollie discovers that it's not as hard to make friends as he expects when he does the right thing and stands up to the bully. He learns that there may be more to a bully than just being mean, he makes Teddy do the right thing for an old friend, and of course, he looks for a hidden treasure!
I would definitely read more about Ollie (and his wacky sister, DeeDee)!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really cute, enjoyable read. Even though it was fun and light-hearted, it had some important lessons, too. Ollie discovers that it's not as hard to make friends as he expects when he does the right thing and stands up to the bully. He learns that there may be more to a bully than just being mean, he makes Teddy do the right thing for an old friend, and of course, he looks for a hidden treasure!
I would definitely read more about Ollie (and his wacky sister, DeeDee)!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2020
I just finished this sweet story by a sweet new author. Disclaimer: my family has known the Schmid family for many years now, with my son growing up with the one and only Ollie.
After my son, a middle grade reader, read this book, he told me, "It is as funny as Diary of a Wimpy Kid!" That should be review enough, coming from a ten year old.
My review is that the characters in this debut novel are well-developed and relatable. The humor is just right for the target audience. And living in real-life "Granite City", it was fun to envision the inspiration for the setting, as well as some of the inspirations for the characters.
This book is worth its weight in gold.
After my son, a middle grade reader, read this book, he told me, "It is as funny as Diary of a Wimpy Kid!" That should be review enough, coming from a ten year old.
My review is that the characters in this debut novel are well-developed and relatable. The humor is just right for the target audience. And living in real-life "Granite City", it was fun to envision the inspiration for the setting, as well as some of the inspirations for the characters.
This book is worth its weight in gold.
January 9, 2019
Such a fun read. It kept me turning pages, invested in Ollie's life and adventures. Add a spicy little sister, a lovable ghost, and a few surprises and you end up with this fun filled books kids will love!
April 13, 2020
12-year-old Ollie Oxley and his younger sister, DeeDee, are moving again. Ever since their dad left there’s been a lot of moving. Each place turns out to be about the same- Ollie doesn’t make any friends and he gets in a bit of trouble. He also knows he’s not at any school long enough that it will make a difference. But now their mom has a new job, a permanent job, at a theater in Granite City, CA. When they get to their new home Ollie is less than happy about the color of it, and inside seems a little spooky. Then, for the first time ever Ollie connects right away with a boy named, Teddy. Maybe this town will be okay. Unfortunately, it isn’t long before Ollie has a run-in with the school bully, Aubrey. Finding out that Teddy is a ghost only makes Ollie more nervous that he’s going to be targeted. He doesn’t want to be the weird kid who talks to a ghost, but he also likes Teddy’s company and sense of humor. Being friends with a ghost who lived during the California Gold Rush does have some perks, like the possibility of a buried treasure that could change the course of Ollie’s life. If only Teddy knew where the treasure was, but he can’t even remember where he lived in the town when he was alive. Is there really a buried treasure? Will Ollie and Teddy be able to find it if it exists? Is there any way to get Aubrey to stop bothering him? Pick up this fast paced book to find out!
After I set up a Skype visit between Lisa Schmid and my 5th grade students for World Read Aloud Day I knew I needed to checkout her debut book from my school library. I was hooked! I loved during the Skype when she talked about the writing process and the fact that she lives in a town where the Gold Rush began. Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold looks like a spooky book, but it's a story filled with a lot of humor. Ollie and DeeDee have a typical sibling relationship. They fight, but they get along too. I loved that Ollie made a friend, but I also worried that kids wouldn’t be kind if they thought he was talking to himself or a ghost. Teddy likes to crack jokes, so I think he is a great friend for Ollie, plus he helps push Ollie out of his comfort zone. I was really intrigued by the buried treasure. I know I am always up for a mystery and searching for buried gold sounds like a lot of fun to me. I got to discover the clues with Ollie and Teddy, and it was exciting trying to piece together the puzzle. I would recommend this book to anyone ages eight and up who likes to laugh and enjoys a good mystery. Now I am hoping there will be more adventures for Ollie and Teddy in the future! I bet their town has a lot more to discover!
After I set up a Skype visit between Lisa Schmid and my 5th grade students for World Read Aloud Day I knew I needed to checkout her debut book from my school library. I was hooked! I loved during the Skype when she talked about the writing process and the fact that she lives in a town where the Gold Rush began. Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold looks like a spooky book, but it's a story filled with a lot of humor. Ollie and DeeDee have a typical sibling relationship. They fight, but they get along too. I loved that Ollie made a friend, but I also worried that kids wouldn’t be kind if they thought he was talking to himself or a ghost. Teddy likes to crack jokes, so I think he is a great friend for Ollie, plus he helps push Ollie out of his comfort zone. I was really intrigued by the buried treasure. I know I am always up for a mystery and searching for buried gold sounds like a lot of fun to me. I got to discover the clues with Ollie and Teddy, and it was exciting trying to piece together the puzzle. I would recommend this book to anyone ages eight and up who likes to laugh and enjoys a good mystery. Now I am hoping there will be more adventures for Ollie and Teddy in the future! I bet their town has a lot more to discover!
June 23, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search of Lost Gold by Lisa Schmid. I’ve voluntarily read and reviewed this copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is a story about Ollie, a twelve year old boy who has to move a lot because of his mom’s job. When Ollie and his family arrive in Granite City, Ollie finds a new friend, Teddy. Strangely it turns out that Teddy is a ghost. When Ollie fears he has to move again because his mom might lose her job, he and Teddy try to find a lost treasure to make sure he and his family don’t have to move again.
This was such a fun, light and heartwarming story. Ollie is tired of moving all the time but when he meets Teddy his whole life changes. Which results in hilarious banter between Ollie and his ghost friend Teddy. Which I enjoyed immensely.
The writing is fast-paced and leaves little clues. The story gets your attention from the moment Ollie sees Teddy and they embark on this adventure together.
I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a story about ghosts, adventure and friendship.
Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is a story about Ollie, a twelve year old boy who has to move a lot because of his mom’s job. When Ollie and his family arrive in Granite City, Ollie finds a new friend, Teddy. Strangely it turns out that Teddy is a ghost. When Ollie fears he has to move again because his mom might lose her job, he and Teddy try to find a lost treasure to make sure he and his family don’t have to move again.
This was such a fun, light and heartwarming story. Ollie is tired of moving all the time but when he meets Teddy his whole life changes. Which results in hilarious banter between Ollie and his ghost friend Teddy. Which I enjoyed immensely.
The writing is fast-paced and leaves little clues. The story gets your attention from the moment Ollie sees Teddy and they embark on this adventure together.
I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a story about ghosts, adventure and friendship.
July 25, 2019
What I Liked
This is a spooky book, but it's manageably spooky for the age group. The descriptions of the places really jump off the page; you can see the crumbling Bing theater and the bubblegum pink house as plain as day. The details of the setting remind me of when I was a kid and my brother would drive us around in the Sierra Nevadas through these little mining mountain towns. In hindsight, it would have been fun to see if they were haunted!
What I Would Have Liked to See
Nothing. Great little book that had everything it needed!
My Favorite!
Teddy! He's such an adorable, sassy little ghost. It's nice to have a friendly, funny ghost in a book. Now instead of being afraid of a ghost in the house, my kids can't wait to befriend their Teddy!
TL;DR
12yo Ollie teams up with a spunky yet forgetful ghost to find some lost gold so his family can stay in their home, but he winds up finding much more than he bargained for.
This is a spooky book, but it's manageably spooky for the age group. The descriptions of the places really jump off the page; you can see the crumbling Bing theater and the bubblegum pink house as plain as day. The details of the setting remind me of when I was a kid and my brother would drive us around in the Sierra Nevadas through these little mining mountain towns. In hindsight, it would have been fun to see if they were haunted!
What I Would Have Liked to See
Nothing. Great little book that had everything it needed!
My Favorite!
Teddy! He's such an adorable, sassy little ghost. It's nice to have a friendly, funny ghost in a book. Now instead of being afraid of a ghost in the house, my kids can't wait to befriend their Teddy!
TL;DR
12yo Ollie teams up with a spunky yet forgetful ghost to find some lost gold so his family can stay in their home, but he winds up finding much more than he bargained for.
April 7, 2019
@KidLitExchange #partner
Thank you to the @KidLitExchange network and the publisher for the advance copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold is a delightful and fun middle grades mystery ghost story. Ollie is 12-years-old and has just moved to another new town, which also happens to be his mom's old hometown. His mom just got a job at the Bing (the local theater), but her new job is quickly threatened when the owner of the building is given only 5 days to make his loan payment. At school, Ollie is dealing with a bully and he ends up running against her for class president. Through this all, he only has one person to turn to...his best friend, Teddy. The only problem is Teddy is a ghost. Teddy has no real memory of who he is, but he does know that his father found gold and buried it so bandits wouldn't find it. Ollie and Teddy go on an adventure to locate the lost gold and save the Bing.
I really enjoyed this story. It's got the perfect balance of mystery, adventure, and even a little history. I also like that it's a not so spooky ghost story (Teddy is definitely more of the Casper the friendly ghost type). It also sends some great messages about friendship and standing up to bullies. The book is quick paced and captivating. Because of this, I was able to read the book in a single day. I think this is a book that middle school students would really enjoy. I also think it would be a great book for striving readers who are looking for something interesting and engaging.
Thank you to the @KidLitExchange network and the publisher for the advance copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold is a delightful and fun middle grades mystery ghost story. Ollie is 12-years-old and has just moved to another new town, which also happens to be his mom's old hometown. His mom just got a job at the Bing (the local theater), but her new job is quickly threatened when the owner of the building is given only 5 days to make his loan payment. At school, Ollie is dealing with a bully and he ends up running against her for class president. Through this all, he only has one person to turn to...his best friend, Teddy. The only problem is Teddy is a ghost. Teddy has no real memory of who he is, but he does know that his father found gold and buried it so bandits wouldn't find it. Ollie and Teddy go on an adventure to locate the lost gold and save the Bing.
I really enjoyed this story. It's got the perfect balance of mystery, adventure, and even a little history. I also like that it's a not so spooky ghost story (Teddy is definitely more of the Casper the friendly ghost type). It also sends some great messages about friendship and standing up to bullies. The book is quick paced and captivating. Because of this, I was able to read the book in a single day. I think this is a book that middle school students would really enjoy. I also think it would be a great book for striving readers who are looking for something interesting and engaging.
March 8, 2019
Every time Ollie Oxley's mom gets a new production to direct, he and his sister are uprooted to another house and school. So, he isn't too eager to settle in and get comfortable in Granite City. Ollie knows they've been chasing paychecks ever since his dad asked for a divorce and disappeared from the family. Ollie's used to teachers being suspicious of newcomers, and he's mastered the social strata of middle school. Plus, this is a temporary arrangement, right? Before he knows it, Ollie has gone and provoked the Granite City school (and town) bully, Aubrey.
But Aubrey isn't the thing that surprises Ollie about the historic 49er town they've moved to ~ it's the ghost that's begun following him around. That's definitely new.
As it turns out, this ghost is a helpful one, and he wants to find and share his deceased father's hidden gold with Ollie. If only he can remember where his dad hid it...
Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is the story of a boy tired of not being at least a little in control of his life. Ollie is entertaining and endearing. I recommend Ollie Oxley and the Ghost to kids looking for an adventure!
But Aubrey isn't the thing that surprises Ollie about the historic 49er town they've moved to ~ it's the ghost that's begun following him around. That's definitely new.
As it turns out, this ghost is a helpful one, and he wants to find and share his deceased father's hidden gold with Ollie. If only he can remember where his dad hid it...
Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is the story of a boy tired of not being at least a little in control of his life. Ollie is entertaining and endearing. I recommend Ollie Oxley and the Ghost to kids looking for an adventure!
April 27, 2019
@kidlitexchange #partner Thank you to the #kidlitexchange network, @jollyfishpress and author @lisalschmid for the review copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
OLLIE OXLEY AND THE GHOST: THE SEARCH FOR LOST GOLD by Lisa Schmid
Ollie and his family are constantly moving. When they move back to his mom’s hometown of Granite City, California, Ollie doesn’t expect to stay long. He has a hard time making friends, so he’s surprised when he meets someone new right away... Teddy, who happens to be a ghost!
Having a ghost for a best friend doesn’t help Ollie much. He immediately becomes the target of the school bully, the obnoxious Aubrey Kelly. To make things worse, his mom’s new job is in peril and they may already have to move again!
With Teddy’s help, can Ollie defeat the bully and find a stash of gold to save his mom’s new job? 💰
I recommend this humorous, mysterious, and fast paced book for kids grade 4 and up. The surprise ending is sure to satisfy its’ readers! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Publication date: June 18, 2019! #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookrecommendations #middlegradebooks #ollieoxleyandtheghost
OLLIE OXLEY AND THE GHOST: THE SEARCH FOR LOST GOLD by Lisa Schmid
Ollie and his family are constantly moving. When they move back to his mom’s hometown of Granite City, California, Ollie doesn’t expect to stay long. He has a hard time making friends, so he’s surprised when he meets someone new right away... Teddy, who happens to be a ghost!
Having a ghost for a best friend doesn’t help Ollie much. He immediately becomes the target of the school bully, the obnoxious Aubrey Kelly. To make things worse, his mom’s new job is in peril and they may already have to move again!
With Teddy’s help, can Ollie defeat the bully and find a stash of gold to save his mom’s new job? 💰
I recommend this humorous, mysterious, and fast paced book for kids grade 4 and up. The surprise ending is sure to satisfy its’ readers! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Publication date: June 18, 2019! #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookrecommendations #middlegradebooks #ollieoxleyandtheghost
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