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Nina Tanleven #2
The Ghost Wore Gray
From the Publisher: "What A Hunk! Too Bad He's Dead..." Sixth-grader Nina Tanleven convinced her architect father to let her best friend Chris go with them to stay in the old inn he's restoring. On theafternoon they arrive, the girls find a faded Civil War photograph of a very handsome Confederate soldier. Nina and Cris are stunned when the ghost of the young soldier suddenly appears at the dinner table that night! They realize he's the ghost who they've heard haunts the inn. When he appears to them again--no one else can see him--Nina and Chris know that the ghost is trying to tell them something. But what? To find out, the girls begin investigating the old country inn. And soon they are swept up in a frightening mystery that began more than one hundred years ago--a mystery involving danger, greed, a hidden room... and a buried treasure!
Audio Cassette
First published July 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 11, 2023
If I could, I would give this book 10 stars. One of my favorite books from my childhood. I love the characters and the general story. I absolutely love that the underground railroad was included.
The first time I "read" this book was in middle school and I listened to the book-on-tape repeatedly about a hundred times. As an adult, I spent about five years hunting for the books because I knew the title had ghost and gray in the title but was convinced confederate, civil war or something like that was also in the title. Since I found it, I've gotten both the paper copy and the audio book versions. The dates read here only represent the dates I actually read the paper copy of the book. I've listened to the audio book about a dozen more times.
The first time I "read" this book was in middle school and I listened to the book-on-tape repeatedly about a hundred times. As an adult, I spent about five years hunting for the books because I knew the title had ghost and gray in the title but was convinced confederate, civil war or something like that was also in the title. Since I found it, I've gotten both the paper copy and the audio book versions. The dates read here only represent the dates I actually read the paper copy of the book. I've listened to the audio book about a dozen more times.
June 8, 2025
Eleven-year-old Nina “Nine” Tanleven and Chris Gurley reunite in this sequel to The Ghost in the Third Row when the besties head to the Catskill Mountains to a supposedly haunted inn dating to the 1830s. The pair see the ghost on their very first evening there, a Confederate officer. So why would this long-dead Southerner be haunting an inn in upstate New York? The answer will be very surprising.
Author Bruce Coville, as always, has penned a worthy follow-up to his classic The Ghost in the Third Row. This is a middle-grade book that’s definitely not for kids only! I’ve already bought the third book in this trilogy, The Ghost in the Big Brass Bed, which we’ll be listening to on Audible on the way home from vacation.
Author Bruce Coville, as always, has penned a worthy follow-up to his classic The Ghost in the Third Row. This is a middle-grade book that’s definitely not for kids only! I’ve already bought the third book in this trilogy, The Ghost in the Big Brass Bed, which we’ll be listening to on Audible on the way home from vacation.
August 12, 2018
Wow I cannot say enough good things about this series I am in tears from such a emotional and happy ending. I highly recommend this book no matter your age should give it a try.
July 7, 2017
Much better! The second instalment of Nina Tanleven works!
May 20, 2024
3.75 stars
These quick nostalgic trips back through childrood reads are extremely sobering to re-explore and re-examine in older adulthood. Of course there are going to be things you can see now that you couldn't see before; but there's also a jarringly parallel acknowledgment of just how dated things can get and are. And not with the things I thought.
The mystery arc itself was great. I really liked the pacing, and this was a clear, concise explanation that I could accept. The satisfaction of the a-ha moment was wonderfully mild and tepid.
What threw things off were the more preachier aspects of the book. Definitely think there could have been better ways to educate and inform on the Underground Railroad and all the peripheral historical context; but I also remember that this thing was written in the late 80s, and times were different then. There's always going to be some suspension of something with historical fiction, but for those targeting younger readers, I feel like there's a much more heightened sense of awareness with what's being conveyed and how now.
Best aspect is the gusto Nine and Chris exhibit - I don't see as much of this explorative spirit in real life and I am missing it. I don't see empassioned bursts of adventuring among the youth as much anymore. They stay home, isolated, to a digital world; and it creates a hole. There's a void, and this book captures what's missing quite vividly in such a surprisingly small but effective way.
These quick nostalgic trips back through childrood reads are extremely sobering to re-explore and re-examine in older adulthood. Of course there are going to be things you can see now that you couldn't see before; but there's also a jarringly parallel acknowledgment of just how dated things can get and are. And not with the things I thought.
The mystery arc itself was great. I really liked the pacing, and this was a clear, concise explanation that I could accept. The satisfaction of the a-ha moment was wonderfully mild and tepid.
What threw things off were the more preachier aspects of the book. Definitely think there could have been better ways to educate and inform on the Underground Railroad and all the peripheral historical context; but I also remember that this thing was written in the late 80s, and times were different then. There's always going to be some suspension of something with historical fiction, but for those targeting younger readers, I feel like there's a much more heightened sense of awareness with what's being conveyed and how now.
Best aspect is the gusto Nine and Chris exhibit - I don't see as much of this explorative spirit in real life and I am missing it. I don't see empassioned bursts of adventuring among the youth as much anymore. They stay home, isolated, to a digital world; and it creates a hole. There's a void, and this book captures what's missing quite vividly in such a surprisingly small but effective way.
January 11, 2025
I love this book! It is one of my childhood favorites and as I reread it tonight as that was a bingo prompt, I loved it just as much as I did when I was a kid. I still love the ghost/cold case storyline and this book probably started my love of it. I really like the characters, they are a lot of fun.
November 25, 2015
Nine and Chris go with Nine's father to an old inn he's renovating, and find the ghost of a Confederate soldier there needing help. Definitely some problematic elements, especially with Samson Carter and a pretty simplistic handling of Capt Gray's shifting views, but then there's Samson's death, which is such a realistic and chilling thing. So, balances. How these girls didn't need therapy after having guns pulled on them so often boggles the mind, but the humor, warmth and scariness were in pretty perfect balance.
September 25, 2022
This was my favorite book when I was in fourth grade. I got it from the library many times and searched for it in bookstores with no luck. Now I am a full grown woman, mother to a fourth grader of my own, and when I found it, I had to get the whole series for my kids. I couldn’t remember anything about it other than the hunky ghost and a humorous adventure, so I decided to reread it before handing it to my kiddos. Despite being written in ‘88, it held up well, and I enjoyed it enough to read it nearly in one sitting. It goes into the surface of civil war history without delving so deep as to be too disturbing/inappropriate for young readers. I think they’ll love it. So glad to have found this book again!
April 18, 2020
I don't usually read ghost stories, but this one was unusual, plus it was a Civil War ghost so why not!
Don't judge the book by it's paperback cover, it was as interesting to read in the twenties as it would have been to read in my childhood; Nina is a humorous and clever narrator in the second book of her and her best friend's ghost sightings. The mystery, intriguing, the villain rather grim and terrifying- The ending, very heartfelt. There was a strand of sadness through the whole story, carefully woven through the plot that gave me the same feeling that comes from standing at a battlefield museum, reading other men's life stories.
Don't judge the book by it's paperback cover, it was as interesting to read in the twenties as it would have been to read in my childhood; Nina is a humorous and clever narrator in the second book of her and her best friend's ghost sightings. The mystery, intriguing, the villain rather grim and terrifying- The ending, very heartfelt. There was a strand of sadness through the whole story, carefully woven through the plot that gave me the same feeling that comes from standing at a battlefield museum, reading other men's life stories.
August 27, 2023
Very satisfying ghost story with a unique ending. The writing is smooth and, at times, lyrical, helping to set the mood and conjure the scene and action:
“The dining room had doors that opened onto the broad porch which wrapped around the inn. We went out there and settled into a couple of wooden chairs. It was a warm night. The near full moon made everything look as if it had been brushed with silver, and the sounds of the stream gurgling to itself as it rolled along the far edge of the lawn was soothing. I could smell the water, and just a hint of the fresh paint from the chairs…”
“The dining room had doors that opened onto the broad porch which wrapped around the inn. We went out there and settled into a couple of wooden chairs. It was a warm night. The near full moon made everything look as if it had been brushed with silver, and the sounds of the stream gurgling to itself as it rolled along the far edge of the lawn was soothing. I could smell the water, and just a hint of the fresh paint from the chairs…”
October 16, 2017
Bruce Coville’s THE GHOST WORE GRAY Underground RR “some people think what’s right is more important than what’s profitable” “I have rarely met a man as fine as Samson Carter.”
“May God rest my soul . . .”
Protective — then “All the anger and ferocity . . . was gone.” Carter singing “Swing low . . .”
“I made a resolution: I will, I will, I WILL learn to keep my mouth shut.” (good advice at times)
“May God rest my soul . . .”
Protective — then “All the anger and ferocity . . . was gone.” Carter singing “Swing low . . .”
“I made a resolution: I will, I will, I WILL learn to keep my mouth shut.” (good advice at times)
September 8, 2019
cute...
November 15, 2019
I was not expecting that ending but I think it worked.
March 21, 2020
Love it. I'm a civil war fan.
October 30, 2020
Read to Jo. A little intense, but a pretty darned good story.
February 21, 2021
Will always love this book.
November 7, 2021
I liked this book. Historically inaccurate, as the underground railroad was still functional in 1863, but a decent read all the same.
January 29, 2022
My favorite line from this book was “he’s a hunk, too bad he’s dead”
October 30, 2022
3.5! Definitely not perfect as white perspectives are very centered but Bruce Coville really said 🗣️ R E P A R A T I O N S lmao
March 12, 2023
My students were absolutely HOOKED on this book, despite the fact that it was written before their teacher was born. 🤣
March 23, 2024
One of my favorite ghost stories. It is suspenseful, fun, and yet holds that tinge os sadness from events long ago and people who feel like they could walk off the pages!
October 20, 2024
I forgot how much I loved this book. I am truly enjoying reading a childhood favorite with my daughter.
November 3, 2025
A cute middle-schooler read for Halloween.
Read
September 20, 2020This random MG read kept popping into my head, so rereading on a whim. And on ebook, but I'll be darned if I wasn't using the cover image of my youth.
August 15, 2014
The Ghost Wore Gray is a book I remembered reading as a boy, and decided to pick it up again all these years later. Written by Central New York State native, and popular childrens' author, Bruce Coville, the story is the second in a trilogy.
I didn't actually know this, of course, when I first read it. But then again, I didn't remember much of anything correctly about it. I remembered parts of it, but it was much shorter than I remembered it being as a kid. Then again, as that age, a roughly 150 page middle-grade novel was a huge undertaking. I liked the quick read and enjoyed the story. It was as fun as I remember it being, but I had forgotten enough where it seemed to be a new story to me, which was neat.
The story is about two friends, Nina Tanleven and her friend Chris. The two girls spend part of their summer with Nina's father, Henry, who is an architect restoring an old hotel in New York State. The young girls from Syracuse, NY, are excited to find something to do to alleviate their boredom. They had had an exciting adventure solving a mystery with a real ghost at the local theater, and were afraid of a boring summer vacation.
Well, Nina and Chris soon find adventure, that's for sure. They are confronted by the ghost of a Confederate Officer who seeks their help solving his problems that tie his spirit to earth. How to help him, and finding out just why a Confederate was in Upstate New York, are the questions the girls seek to answer. But in their quest to help this ghost, will they endanger their own lives?
I really enjoyed this story for a few reasons. First of all, it's kinda cool having a story based in my own hometown. I think that Upstate New York, despite our problems (and we have problems like everywhere else), is one of the most beautiful and lovely places in the country to live. I like to see this awesome place in a fictional setting.
The other great part about the book was that the story was written for kids, but didn't dumb things down. I am not trashing those books that make things simpler for kids, like the classic Boxcar Children series (at least the original 19 by the original author, which are the only ones worth reading) does. But I think that the author has to choose to either write simply for a younger audience, or write a serious story within the proper bounds of the intended audience if it is older. In other words, the author ought not patronize his audience as too many younger reader books do.
I only wish the confrontation in the end chapters was longer, and not so simple. It was exciting and a fitting end to the story, but too quick. Some might accuse of being a deus ex machina, but it wasn't and made sense in the framework of the tale.
A fun romp through a childhood book by the great author, Bruce Coville.
Highly Recommended.
I didn't actually know this, of course, when I first read it. But then again, I didn't remember much of anything correctly about it. I remembered parts of it, but it was much shorter than I remembered it being as a kid. Then again, as that age, a roughly 150 page middle-grade novel was a huge undertaking. I liked the quick read and enjoyed the story. It was as fun as I remember it being, but I had forgotten enough where it seemed to be a new story to me, which was neat.
The story is about two friends, Nina Tanleven and her friend Chris. The two girls spend part of their summer with Nina's father, Henry, who is an architect restoring an old hotel in New York State. The young girls from Syracuse, NY, are excited to find something to do to alleviate their boredom. They had had an exciting adventure solving a mystery with a real ghost at the local theater, and were afraid of a boring summer vacation.
Well, Nina and Chris soon find adventure, that's for sure. They are confronted by the ghost of a Confederate Officer who seeks their help solving his problems that tie his spirit to earth. How to help him, and finding out just why a Confederate was in Upstate New York, are the questions the girls seek to answer. But in their quest to help this ghost, will they endanger their own lives?
I really enjoyed this story for a few reasons. First of all, it's kinda cool having a story based in my own hometown. I think that Upstate New York, despite our problems (and we have problems like everywhere else), is one of the most beautiful and lovely places in the country to live. I like to see this awesome place in a fictional setting.
The other great part about the book was that the story was written for kids, but didn't dumb things down. I am not trashing those books that make things simpler for kids, like the classic Boxcar Children series (at least the original 19 by the original author, which are the only ones worth reading) does. But I think that the author has to choose to either write simply for a younger audience, or write a serious story within the proper bounds of the intended audience if it is older. In other words, the author ought not patronize his audience as too many younger reader books do.
I only wish the confrontation in the end chapters was longer, and not so simple. It was exciting and a fitting end to the story, but too quick. Some might accuse of being a deus ex machina, but it wasn't and made sense in the framework of the tale.
A fun romp through a childhood book by the great author, Bruce Coville.
Highly Recommended.
November 3, 2020
I have finally gotten the chance to read this story. When I was about 11 years old, I was wandering around Waldenbooks when I found a book called The Ghost in the Big Brass Bed and chose it as my new must have read. The following week I saved my allowance and bought The Ghost in the Third Row. I loved the idea of kids my age helping ghosts, finding clues, being all around awesome. I used to put both books in my bag and carry them around everywhere, and I honestly mean everywhere, these books meant that much to me.
I always knew there was a story between those two books but I never had the chance to find it. It might be trivial, but I am happy to say that the copy of this book that I managed to find matches my old paperbacks that I have kept safe for the last twenty years. It makes elementary-school-aged me very giddy.
In terms of story, this one was what I expected it to be, heartbreaking and a little wistful when the story wraps up. For the fun of it, I am reading these in order, so it is nice to see the development of Nine and Chris's friendship the way I was supposed to experience it. I enjoyed the back and forth with Nine and her dad, and the support that Nine knew she had with Chris at her side. I do wish there were more mysteries to read in this series but these three books will always have a safe place on my bookshelves, no matter what.
I always knew there was a story between those two books but I never had the chance to find it. It might be trivial, but I am happy to say that the copy of this book that I managed to find matches my old paperbacks that I have kept safe for the last twenty years. It makes elementary-school-aged me very giddy.
In terms of story, this one was what I expected it to be, heartbreaking and a little wistful when the story wraps up. For the fun of it, I am reading these in order, so it is nice to see the development of Nine and Chris's friendship the way I was supposed to experience it. I enjoyed the back and forth with Nine and her dad, and the support that Nine knew she had with Chris at her side. I do wish there were more mysteries to read in this series but these three books will always have a safe place on my bookshelves, no matter what.
November 9, 2020
Of all the Nina Tanleven books, this is the one I personally like the least. Nina's father is restoring an old Inn over the summer, and she and her friend Chris are along for the journey. Upon their arrival they stumble across a photograph of a Confederate soldier, a soldier who has never left the Inn. He is a ghost, and has been haunting the Inn since the war. He is looking for something, and the girls become wrapped up in the quest.
Once the girls start investigating they become wrapped up in a mystery, filled with secrets hidden rooms and buried treasure. To help put this ghost to rest, the girls are going to have to undertake a perilous journey.
The plot has just enough twists and turns and ghostly elements in it to be interesting. Of the three, I just like the subject matter the least. Civil war ghosts and missing treasure dominate this story. Add in a derelict hotel and ghostly cemetery and overall you have an entertaining adventure.
Once the girls start investigating they become wrapped up in a mystery, filled with secrets hidden rooms and buried treasure. To help put this ghost to rest, the girls are going to have to undertake a perilous journey.
The plot has just enough twists and turns and ghostly elements in it to be interesting. Of the three, I just like the subject matter the least. Civil war ghosts and missing treasure dominate this story. Add in a derelict hotel and ghostly cemetery and overall you have an entertaining adventure.
June 21, 2008
In lieu of reviewing all the Bruce Coville books I read as a kid/young adult I'll write one here for one of my favorite books from fourth grade.
Bruce Coville doesn't talk down to kids. He knows what kids find funny but he also knows they're able to appreciate broader spectrums of humor. It is his ability to reach in his readers the things that make them essentially kids as well as to tap within them the things that will mature into adulthood, all the while weaving a great story around it, that make him such a great author for the younger set.
This book has all of that, and ghosts and the Civil War.
Bruce Coville doesn't talk down to kids. He knows what kids find funny but he also knows they're able to appreciate broader spectrums of humor. It is his ability to reach in his readers the things that make them essentially kids as well as to tap within them the things that will mature into adulthood, all the while weaving a great story around it, that make him such a great author for the younger set.
This book has all of that, and ghosts and the Civil War.
January 28, 2011
It is about two eleven year old girls named Nina and Chris going to a haunted hotel.Nina`s father is going there for his job to make it look better.Nina and Chris found a picture that was a man. Later theywent to a graveyard and found a man named Johnathan Gray. They were thinking that was the picture of the guy who was in the hotel.They saw a ghost that looked like the guy on the wall.They both like him and wanted to know why he was here.I loved this book how they wre going on an adventure to learn about Jonathan Gray.
January 17, 2011
Back when I was in fifth grade my teacher read us this book, and I was at the library that day getting the rest of them. I was not disappointed at all with this series!
I'll admit that ghost stories scare me but these didn't. They were right on the boarder of scary and not scary. And I loved that.
In this one I loved Chris and Nine solve this mystery. And I loved the whole Civil War twist. I love the Civil War; it's one of my favorite time periods to study. I was really glad that Porter didn't end up with the Quackadoodle treasure.
It's a great story and everyone should read it!
I'll admit that ghost stories scare me but these didn't. They were right on the boarder of scary and not scary. And I loved that.
In this one I loved Chris and Nine solve this mystery. And I loved the whole Civil War twist. I love the Civil War; it's one of my favorite time periods to study. I was really glad that Porter didn't end up with the Quackadoodle treasure.
It's a great story and everyone should read it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews