This book is perfect for readers out there who want to enjoy the spooks and specters of the haunting season without the scare. Cornelia Funke, writer of the wonderful Inkheart series, has written a number of other books I have enjoyed but Ghost Knight has the perfect feel for Frighteningly Good Reads.
Eleven-year-old Jon Whitcroft never expected to enjoy boarding school. Then again, he never expected to be confronted by a pack of vengeful ghosts, either. And then he meets Ella, a quirky new friend with a taste for adventure…
Together, Jon and Ella must work to uncover the secrets of a centuries-old murder while being haunted by terrifying spirits, their bloodless faces set on revenge. So when Jon summons the ghost of the late knight Longspee for his protection, there’s just one question: Can Longspee truly be trusted? Goodreads.
I’ll admit, In the beginning I didn’t care for Jon at all. His Dad died when he was four and he fears that his mother and little sisters have become too attached to the man she is dating, “The Beard.” Instead of talking about it with his Mother he has taken the petulant stance that only a pre-teen has the energy to maintain. His assumes his Mother sending him to boarding school is his punishment and that The Beard is only vying to get rid of him. This sullen attitude is slapped right out of him when he starts seeing ghosts at his new school. Ella, the beautiful Ella, not only believes him but she can see ghosts too. With a new friend to confide in Jon begins to discover what all children must: talking about your fears is how you overcome them. But will talking be enough with the Knight? Or is it all a trap? How can we tell who to trust?
The level of scary of this book falls far below Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with a smattering of Knightly violence that adds to the action. The characters, their friendship, and their collective adventures are a beautiful foil for the individual development of Jon himself. By the end of the book, my grudging acceptance of the little twerp had grown to genuine admiration.
If you want a lighter fare or need a recommendation for a younger reader this is a perfect book to curl up with during the month of October!
Tell me, please!
What is your favorite fun ghost story?
I read this book as a child and I have re-read it several times since then. It is my go-to recommendation for middle grade spooky reads. The reasons are simple. A nameless boy and his nameless Gramamama fight evil with two simple skills: communication and observation. Just the ability to look around and see what’s happening and talk to an adult about your concerns. In addition, even though the child’s parents are killed (can’t kids go on adventures with their parents?) the Grandmama actually listens to her grandson. It may seem silly but think about it, how many children’s books have you read where the underlying theme is, “parents just don’t understand”? Around the world there are children who talk to and are listened to by adults in their lives. But, somehow, in fiction our under-age protagonists are usually saddled with parents who don’t believe them in addition to their bigger problem. I love this book for the simple fact that it showcases an adult and a child working together.
This may not be a stock “scary book” but I will confess: being trapped on a spaceship or a submarine is a nightmare situation for me. Add any kind of threat and I am at panic level of terror. Usually I pass right by all books set it such a situation but The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff came so highly recommended by everyone that I gathered my courage to read it.
Dot Journal is the ideal starting point for people who, like me, love the pen and paper method but do not have the time, energy, or inclination to spend an hour a day copying and recopying to-do lists and calendar items. Dot Journaling also gives clear instructions on how to set-up the journal, something I still couldn’t figure out even after watching the 
