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Haunt #2

Dead Wrong

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A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 23, 2014

61 people want to read

About the author

Curtis Jobling

25 books331 followers
Curtis Jobling is an author and illustrator based in the UK. Working in publishing and animation he is possibly most (in)famously known as the designer of the BAFTA winning "Bob The Builder", as well as creator of CBeebies "Raa Raa the Noisy Lion" and CBBC's "Frankenstein’s Cat". Early work in animation included model and puppet painting on Wallace & Gromit’s "A Close Shave" and Tim Burton’s "Mars Attacks!" He’s also the creator/director/producer of Nickelodeon’s "Curious Cow" interstitials, a series of animated shorts featuring the varied and hilarious deaths of a bewildered bovine.

As a published author and illustrator of children’s books, Curtis’s works include Dinosaurs After Dark (with Jonathan Emmett), Skeleton in the Closet (with Alice Schertle), My Daddy, Cheeky Monkey and perhaps his most notorious character Frankenstein’s Cat, now an animated series in its own right commissioned by the BBC and sold to broadcasters worldwide.

The Wereworld series of novels were first published by Penguin in the UK in January 2011, with "Rise of the Wolf", the first in the fantasy horror, shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize. Penguin/Viking first published the debut novel in September 2011.

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5 stars
16 (41%)
4 stars
19 (48%)
3 stars
3 (7%)
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1 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Pluto_reads.
174 reviews9 followers
November 18, 2023
really enjoyed this book.

An adventure of 2 best friends; one alive and one a ghost.

RTC.
Profile Image for Sophie.
1,626 reviews3 followers
March 4, 2015
Originally published at: http://solittletimeforbooks.blogspot....

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series so I was really rather pleased to find that Dead Wrong is even better than Dead Scared!

Curtis Jobling has a wonderfully chatty, warm tone that even though it’s been nearly eight months since I first met Will and Dougie, they feel instantly familiar again. But there were some dark goings on in Dead Wrong. Will and Dougie are having a few issues at the beginning of the book; there are few things that can cause friends to fight more than a girl, and your dead best friend eavesdropping on your dad and finding out that he has a massive secret... The tension and the slow repair of their friendship were realistic and genuine. It really is nice to read a YA novel that focuses so heavily on friendship – there aren’t enough of them out there.

Dougie isn’t Will’s only friend, though. There’s the Major: a ghostly American WWII soldier who hangs around the hospital. He’s a sassy dude. And so charming it’s no wonder that he had a sweetheart while he was stationed over here. The story of the Major and Ruby was a surprising element to the book; emotional and unexpected. I teared up! One of my favourite things about stories with ghosts in them is the history that comes along with it and I would honestly read a whole novel about Ruby and Major’s burgeoning romance in 1943.

Haunt: Dead Wrong is full of fun, friendship, humour and heart. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Bev.
980 reviews14 followers
June 20, 2019
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the last one - parts of the storyline seemed a little far fetched (and yes I am aware that the main character is a ghost!). Nonetheless it's a fun book and Will is a really likeable character. His friendship with Doggie feels genuine and I just love it. Unfortunately this book was a little predictable. It's still a good book but falls slightly short of the first one. If the series continues I will definitely give book 3 a go. 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for gem.
252 reviews14 followers
January 20, 2019
I read Haunt Dead Scared years ago and over the years I never forgot the story. I was worried this book wouldn't follow up the first one well but it was really well written with plot twists I didn't see coming. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Emma .
2,506 reviews388 followers
July 7, 2015
REVIEW BY MORGAN 8:8

Haunt: Dead Wrong is about two teenagers, Dougie and Will and how they adjust to life after Will’s death. You see Will’s dead however Dougie can still see him. The story shows the great bond between friends and how they develop relationships. Haunt: Dead Wrong is written from Will’s perspective as he talks about the ups and downs of his life after death.

Through the book there is no real outright ” main character “. As it shows how the two very alike characters, treat each other fairly and as equals. However, during the book I was never really able to identify with either of the two characters or the settings they were based in because they have very odd, quirky personalities.

The narrative shows how Will helps Dougie and his father rebuild their relationships. As well as this they help their ghostly friend who goes by the name of ” captain ” or ” the major ” pass on, by reuniting him and the love of his life.

There are many brilliant and heart stopping moments throughout the book, but my favourite was when they fixed things not just for themselves, but others, such as the Major. I found this one of the greater moments of the book because it was finally all going right for them and this would have made a nice ending to the novel, however, unfortunately this was not the end… In ‘ Haunt Dead Wrong’ it was hard to narrow it down to my favourite character , because I never really related with either of the main characters. However, if I was to chose one, it would have to be Dougie because of the way he dealt with situations and his odd, quirky personality.

One thing I disliked about Haunt: Dead Wrong was I found it quite predictable and unrealistic. I would say it is similar to The Famous Five by Enid Blyton, as the main characters always seem to find trouble and an adventure; also it shows the bond between friends. Both Haunt: Dead Wrong and The Famous Five give me, the reader, very similar emotions such as happiness and moments were you tear up.

Overall, I would rate this book a 3/5 , as it was very predictable and I would have liked to see Will and Lucy’s relationship develop. I believe this book is aimed at a younger teenage audience. Although the morale of this novel and the things I have taken from reading it aid the enjoyment. Above all else you should enjoy your opportunities, love those around you and take chances within in a blink of an eye because you never know when it will all end and you may never get that second chance again.
Profile Image for Sophie.
111 reviews
February 9, 2017
Having previously read Haunt as a free proof from Net Galley, I couldn't wait to read the next book in the series (I hope it'll be a series and not just a sequel) when we bought it in for our school Library.

I wasn't disappointed. It felt like being reunited with old friends as I began to read about the next stages in Will and Dougie's adventures. A believable friendship on the page and their quarrels or make ups never seem contrived or over done.

I was pleasantly surprised that the story explored the truth behind Will's death. I think because he (in the previous book) hadn't been interested in what had happened, it didn't even enter my head that this would be something the book would explore. It was gripping, especially the climax, and provided some great developments for characters both main and peripheral.

To see the sinister and truly terrifying Lamplighter back filled me with glee. I felt as if Haunt gave us the tiniest of tasters with his character and was left hungry for more. Dead Wrong certainly gives us more - we learn a little bit more about what he does and why he is different to the other ghosts Will and Dougie have previously encountered. But I want more! The Lamplighter wasn't in the book anywhere near as much as I would like. I think I actually exclaimed "Yes!" when he first appeared and actually entered into a conversation with the Will and Dougie and hoped that there would be much more to come in the novel. Unfortunately not. Please, Mr Jobling, give us a novel where he is the main plot device. Pretty please with sugar on top.

Aside from the Lamplighter, the boys relationship with Chip and his little side plot was lovely and a joy to read. A heartwarming story to balance out some of the truly dark issues that Will and Dougie have to face. It also provided some comic moments.

Another great read in the Haunt series. I can't wait for the next one!

Profile Image for Keith .
351 reviews7 followers
December 15, 2016
It's really hard to follow up a really good book and 'Dead Wrong' is proof of that. the first book to this series (I do hope there's more giving the author room to find his voice). But 'Dead Scared' was such a well written book and so different from the typical ghost, haunting genre that a follow up that was just as good? That was going to take a lot of effort. Unfortunately he came close, this was a good but sadly very predictable book. I enjoyed reading it and enough was left up in the air to allow for another sequel. We'll have to see if the author thinks we need more of this story line. I know I do.
All in all, this was good, not great but a sequel very much worth reading.
2 reviews
January 3, 2023
Just as good as the first book. A read that will really engage kids and adults alike. Recommend this for even the most reluctant of young readers!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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