October 1, 2014
Gr 5-8-Skeptics and believers alike will enjoy this ghoulish and informative exploration of ghosts and the paranormal. Halls is no stranger to the genre, and her newest tome is similar in scope. She chronicles ghostly phenomena throughout American history, starting with a selection of historical ghost stories from different cities across the country. She provides details on exactly what a ghost is, ghost-hunting best practices, notable haunted locales, and ghostly communication hoaxes. Chapters contain an introduction and quickly launch into well-researched anecdotes or notable stories related to the topic at hand. Color images and quirky photo effects offer riveting and somewhat creepy imagery throughout. This engaging work will appeal to those looking for deeper information on ghosts and the paranormal and could also be used for school assignments. Extensive back matter will satisfy many requests from classroom teachers. Overall, a solid addition to collections that serve ghost enthusiasts and paranormal interested students.-Amy M. Laughlin, Darien Library, CT
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 1, 2014
An unexpected voice caught on a baby monitor. The strange face of someone who wasn't seen captured in a photo. An object that moves by itself. Could these be evidence of ghosts? Halls here turns her attention to the world of the paranormal. This brief effort examines five aspects of the ghostly world, offering an explanation of ghosts of different types; descriptions of some haunted places; information about a few famous ghost hunters, along with tools of the trade and techniques; a history of some hoaxes that at first appeared to be unexplainable hauntings; and a few people's descriptions of their own paranormal experiences, including those of children's authors Bruce Coville and Vivian Vande Velde. Large, generally satisfyingly creepy color photos accompany the high-interest text. Although this effort includes descriptions of photos of a couple of houses that were purported to include ghostly images, frustratingly, they are not included. The information is presented with an attitude of mild skepticism; Halls isn't seeking converts. At the conclusion, techniques for faking two types of ghostly photos are appended. A bibliography and a list of suggested further reading, along with websites of numerous haunted places to visit, may inspire further research. The paranormal is a popular topic, and this slender volume will likely be an easy sell. (Nonfiction. 10-16)
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September 1, 2014
Grades 6-10 This engaging selection takes a nonsensational, rational look at aspects of the paranormal: ghosts, haunted locales, ghost hunters, and supernatural hoaxes. Incorporating personal accounts from both believers and skeptics, the author presents balanced coverage, exposing obvious frauds and deceptions alongside occurrences that defy rational explanation. The graphically intense layout features sidebars, inserts, and photos, and reluctant readers will appreciate both the eye-catching images and the manageable text, organized into brief chapters. Events are documented through detailed source notes, and additional resources include a glossary, a bibliography, further reading suggestions, and lists of siteshaunted houses, hotels, cemeteries, ships, and battle sitesfor further research. Young readers might be particularly interested in a feature that provides directions on how to create fake ghost photos. The spooky cover, storylike narrative style, and subject matter are sure attention-getters, and the accessible format will appeal to researchers and browsers alike. This will be a welcome addition for school and public collections, especially where series such as Rosen's Haunted: Ghosts and the Paranormal have been popular.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)