Ghost Messages

by Jacqueline Guest

In pursuit of stolen treasure in 1865 Ireland, thirteen-year-old Ailish winds up trapped on the Great Eastern as it sails The largest ship ever built, the Great Eastern's mission is to lay the fi rst undersea telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean. On the journey, Ailish gets help from a young boy, Davy, who seems to live belowdecks. She makes friends with an Irish sailor and tries to track down the hiding place of her father's treasure. The crew must battle the seas and the mishaps of their cable-laying mission, some of which would appear to be sabotage. Through many adventures, Davy is her constant companion. But why won't he ever come topside? Can Ailish use her wits, her determination and her friendships to survive the trip, let alone save the day?

Genres: Canada, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Ghosts, Historical

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

More and more books these days are combining genres. You have historical fiction with science fiction or fantasy (Leviathan by Scott Westerfield), humor and mystery (The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin), or animal and realistic (Young Fredle by Cynthia Voigt). It's fun to see the many different ways that authors are finding of telling stories. On the other hand, it makes it harder to teach genres because there is so much crossover in the books being published. I guess what it comes down to is helping the students learn to step out of their reading comfort zone and try something new once in a while. I try to do this myself and I have discovered some new favorites (more about this is coming posts). So, when I came across Ghost Messages, I was intrigued.

"Thirteen-year-old Ailish, a feisty Irish fortune teller, is about to become part of history. She becomes trapped on the mighty Great Eastern just as the ship sets off on its voyage to lay the very first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable. Escape is impossible!

Ailish must pretend to be a boy to keep from being pitched into the ocean by the superstitious sailors, while dodging a dangerous ruffian who has stolen her golden treasure. She frequently gets help from a pale young boy named Davy, who seems to know everything about the Great Eastern, but won't ever come up on deck.

Will Ailish's wits, her determination, and her friendships help her to survive the trip, find her treasure and solve the mystery of her young companion?" (Blurb)

That blurb from the book caught my interest. The book was clearly historical fiction, but there seemed to a hint of the supernatural as well. As a rule, I don't really like ghost stories, but the historical aspects sounded intriguing and the event (laying of the first trans-Atlantic cable) was not one I had read about before, so I picked it up and read it.

There is indeed a supernatural aspect to this story, but interestingly it is the conflict between Ailish and the ruffian that takes center stage and moves the plot along. At the same time, the author does a fabulous job of recreating the setting of the ship at sea and the process of laying the cable. It was interesting to follow the development of Ailish's interest in the ship and the cable. At first, she only cares about getting her treasure back, but as she observes the work and befriends one of the workers, she comes to care very much about history-making event of which she is inadvertently a part.

In some historical fiction books, the history can overwhelm the story, and I was afraid that might happen here, but it doesn't. In fact, the book moves along at a good clip, as Ailish with the help of a shipmate and her new mysterious friend Davy tries to find a way to foil the ruffian's plans. I liked the fact that Ailish doesn't just use her supernatural gifts but also her brain to defeat her enemy. I love books where the heroine doesn't sit around waiting to be rescued, and Ailish fits the description to a tee. I also loved the fact that the title of the book has more than one meaning in the story, I thought that was clever. Highly recommended for those who enjoy great historical fiction with a large dash of adventure, and a small dash of the supernatural.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant read really good😎 I loved allish O Conner and her adventures on the great Eastern 🚢ship that cable wire causes a lot of problems

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book but the setting was hard to picture as it lacked some detail. The book wasn't very descriptive and it was hard to picture most of the characters. I think what made up for this was how put together the plot was.

[CanadianReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the 1860s, Ailish O'Connor, a young Irish girl, goes aboard a telegraph-cable placing ship (which is laying cable from Ireland to Newfoundland), The Great Eastern, to reclaim a valuable horse statue stolen from her father by one of the men who works aboard the ship. There, Ailish, who is said to have the second sight (which has kept her and her father from abject poverty) is assisted by the ghost of a bash boy, Davy Jones. In spite of her supernatural powers, however, Ailish isn't able to figure out that the boy isn't actually living, and has to be told at the end of the book. Ailish also makes friends with a fellow Irishman, Paddy Whelan, who is traveling to Newfoundland to start over with family already living there. Ailish's enemy, Rufus Dalton, is also Paddy's enemy. Dalton makes frequent claims that Paddy is a Fenian who is trying to sabotage the laying of the cable, so that he, Dalton, can access the 80 pounds that Paddy is bringing to his family. The novel tells of Ailish's adventures aboard the huge ship trying to regain her father's stolen property and clear Paddy of Dalton's malicious charges. Oddly, the power she has doesn't assist her in the least. The details about the laying of telegraph lines are somewhat confusing, and without drawings of any sort, I think it would be hard for the target age group of 9-12 to picture how the mechanisms work. The story had some promise but the details don't add up. Characterization is weak and inconsistent (a heavy drinking rather stupid father has given up drink by the end of the book, for example), and, overall, the novel is uninteresting and plodding. Ailish neither speaks nor acts like an early teenaged girl. Not recommended.

[Rebecca Mckenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal storytelling at its YA best! I just finished reading this delightful novel yesterday morning before taking my daughter out of school for the day to drive into Toronto to meet Jacqueline Guest! She was there to discuss her new novel, The Comic Book War. It was unlike any other author talk I've been to, and most educational about Canada's role at home during the war - any qualms I may have had (there actually were none whatsoever!) about my daughter missing a day of school were easily put to rest, as she evidently learned so much more listening to Guest! Both Ghost Messages and The Comic Book War are historical fiction, and we were gobsmacked at how much research and dedication went into the story relayed in these books. I really can't wait to read The Comic Book War now...but I digress...

The heart of Ghost Messages tells the story of the laying of the first transatlantic cable and the difficulties in doing so, intertwined with the very bold and brash character of Ailish O'Connor bent on pursuing justice for the theft of her father's golden statue hidden aboard the ship. The story takes place during the 1860's not long after the devastation of the potato famine of Ireland and Ailish and her new friend, Patty Whelan dream of a better life in Canada. Ailish, however, as she tries to avoid suspicion, must disguise herself as a boy, much like Shakespeare's Viola in Twelfth Night.

Bravo Jacqueline!

Oh, and don't forget to use the morse code at the back of the book to decode the messages at the beginning of each title. I didn't know you were supposed to do that until she mentioned it yesterday! Now I'll have to go back and do that!!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one on a whim because it promised a ghost story on the high seas. The book did include this, but the ghost story was honestly a very minor aspect of the story. Ailish, our main character, may have psychic powers and there may be a ghost on board, but do not expect a highly paranormal tale. Ghost Messages is more or less a straight historical novel about the Great Eastern laying the first transatlantic undersea telegraph cable.

If you're looking for a heavily factual book about telegraph cables and 19th century ships, then by all means read this book. If you're looking for a nice little ghost story, I might go find something else to read. The author obviously did a ton of research, but unfortunately it makes for a fairly boring book. I can't see many kids (the target audience) going crazy for this one. Luckily, it's pretty short, so if you do decide to start Ghost Messages, it'll be over quickly.

I didn't completely hate this one, but I wouldn't recommend it to many. There are enough facts in here for this to be a very educational middle grade historical fiction novel, but the paranormal aspect may or may not hinder that purpose. It also just may not hold the attention of kids long enough. As an aside, there actually is an adult historical fiction novel on this same subject called Signal & Noise. I haven't read it, but I wonder if the author of Ghost Messages did.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this is a YA book, it was very well written, and had a very interesting based-in-fact story which wrapped around the fictional plot.

This is a story I knew nothing about - the laying of the first trans-atlantic communication cable from Ireland to Newfoundland - but it was a very exciting event, and fraught with challenges and risks for those who did it. It was an exciting, engaging piece of history to learn about.

I really liked the main character of Ailish, and Irish girl with second sight who ends up accidentally stowed away on the Great Eastern just as it begins its historic voyage to Canada. Ailish was a spunky, clever and determined young girl, and I enjoyed following along as she had her adventure.

This would be a great book for girls anywhere from 10 to probably 13 or 14 who enjoy adventure stories featuring girls, and who enjoy history. I'm way older than 14, but I still enjoyed this very much.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this as a reviewer for a university book review board and it took me a very long time to get through this short novel. The story has moments of excitement, but it never quite gets off the ground. The author has done extensive research in to the history of the first attempt to lay the a telegraph cable from Ireland to Canada. The ship's details are very intricate from discussing the double hull, to detailing how wide the cable is, the different ways that the ship could propel itself across the ocean, etc. So much detail, in fact, that to someone who is looking for an adventurous story of a stowaway on a ship (the fictionalized "story" portion of this novel), this is a bit of a disappointment. This could be an interesting read for older children who are interested in ships and sailing, but I think it could lose a lot of readers due to the slow nature of the plot.

[elisia conrardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost Messages

Ghost Messages

This not only a great story but also brings a bit of history alive. I think this book should be recommended reading for preteens on up. It reminds even old, I mean, more mature people of a not too long ago past. (no I am not old enough to have lived before the telephone,) it also gives younger people the opportunity to know what it was like before cell phones and other devices were around.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read about a girl's adventure on a ship that is laying the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable between Ireland and Canada in 1865.
Thirteen year-old Ailish becomes trapped on the ship, the Great Eastern, just as the ship sets off to Newfoundland.
She must pretend to be a boy as she searches the ship for her father's stolen golden treasure. She is helped by Davy, ghost.

[Shawn Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

An impeccably researched, fast paced story that introduces young readers to history of the laying of the Trans-Atlantic cable with on-board adventures of a young Irish girl trying to reclaim her family fortune, which has been stolen by one of the officers of the ship. Easy to read, natural dialogue, a thorough glossary, and an interesting tale. Recommended for 10 and up.

[Paige · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay so this book wasn't that great..... When I read the back of the book it sounded really interesting the whole thing about finding out who Davy Jones was, and even the title "Ghost Messages" appealed to me. But no do not read this book I beg you it was so bad!!!! Literally all this book is the crew of the great eastern ship laying down this telegraphic cable but keeps failing

[Rachel Seigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting look into the history of early transatlantic communication. The main character Ailish is a spunky girl with a lot of ingenuity, and she was fun to read about. It isn't the best thing I've ever read, but it's fine, and kids who like historical fiction will enjoy this.

[Jacquie Sewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently heard about and became interested in the Great Eastern, a mammoth ship built in the 1850s that revolutionized shipping and was later used to lay the trans-atlantic cable. Ghost messages is a fictional story set on the Great Eastern. It was a quick, enjoyable read.

[Cil]

Age 9-12 (amazon) good for Printz selection

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool historical background detailing the laying of the transatlantic cable between Ireland and Newfoundland in 1865. I loved the morse code messages at the beginning of every chapter.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read regarding the transatlantic cable under the sea..

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read! Lots of mystery and plenty of real history, like how the World Wide Web really began! Read it - and learn Morse Code, handy if you want to send a secret message.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story - did not know the details of this incident, Interesting read.

[Smarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. It was such a great ending. I love the book. Nice way to talk about history.

[Yusef Fesuy · Rating 1 out of 5]

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