What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
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Captain Ghost
SOLVED: Children's/YA
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SOLVED. 80s Kids book about Ghost of Uncle Caleb the sea captain. [s]
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Jen
(last edited Mar 14, 2022 11:37AM)
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Mar 14, 2022 11:36AM
I read this book in the early to mid 1980s. It involved a kid investigating an old house and they had a great-uncle named Caleb who was a missing sea captain who might be haunting the house.
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Do you remember if the child was male or female?Approximate age?
I think the main character had a friend or friends helping them investigate and there was both a boy and girl in the story, but I can’t remember which was the main character. If I had to go with one, I’m going to say the main character was a girl. The kids were probably about 9. Definitely a kids’ story, not YA. I had this book and my parents threw it out and I’ve thought about it for years. Sorry I’ve got so little information :-(
No worries! We've found books with much less, lol.Would you describe this as more of a mystery novel or a ghost story? Was anybody living in the old house, or was it abandoned?
More of a mystery novel. The house was supposed to be haunted but no ghosts ever appeared. I think it was an old man living in the house.
Wow! I think that might be it! I remember the crotchety old neighbor! To confirm for sure I'm going to have to find a copy and check for Uncle Caleb in it. That's one thing I remember because at the time I read it, I had never heard that name before and I wasn't even sure how it was pronounced. Then years later it became a very popular name and all I could think about what that book. So interesting that this was actually published in 1959, not in the 70s or 80s as I thought. I am about 90% sure this is it. You are truly amazing! Once I locate a copy and get it I'll post an update. Many, many thanks!
Well, maybe I won't be getting it anytime soon because it's out of print and will probably cost at least $67. But I'm going to keep my eye out for a better deal and I will consider this solved. Thanks again, wonderful book detectives!
That's great, Jen! I hope this is your book. You may want to consider checking with your local library. Even if they don't have a copy, they may be able to order one for you through interlibrary loan for free or for cost of shipping. :-)
That's a great idea, Angela. The library didn't even occur to me because I assumed it was so old it wouldn't still be at a library. But I am going to check!
Jen wrote: "That's a great idea, Angela. The library didn't even occur to me because I assumed it was so old it wouldn't still be at a library. But I am going to check!"Even if it's not at your own library, it could be available through an interlibrary loan.
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Yay, glad it's solved! I came across that one in my search, but I thought it was a little too far off to be your book, lol.
Yeah, I am surprised the book is that old! I was thinking it was published in the late 70s/early 80s since I read it somewhere in the early to mid 80s. But maybe it had belonged to an older relative and that's how I ended up with it. Like I said, I'm 90% sure this is it because it sounds like it from the description so now I just have to see if I can get it through an interlibrary loan to check for Uncle Caleb in there :-) Thanks again!
I have an update :-) I was able to get "Captain Ghost" through an interlibrary loan (yay!) and I read it. It is definitely the book I was thinking about but it didn't have an Uncle Caleb in it so I realize now that I must have mixed up two stories in my head - one about Uncle Caleb the sea captain and another about a sea captain called Captain Ghost. So I'm going to have to think more about what else I can remember about the story. But I wanted to tell you that I would never have found "Captain Ghost" without your help and reading it again 30+ years later was just as enjoyable as the first time. It's such a great story about the power of imagination and reading it again I can see why it stuck with me all these years.
Awesome!And if you remember more about the Uncle Caleb book, please post. We might be able to track it down for you. :)
