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Aug 16, 2013
Kathryn
marked it as to-read
Okay, I confess: I'm a wimp when it comes to scary ghost stories and the like. I read about three chapters of this and had to stop. yes it's a book "for kids" but it was too spooky for me. Bummer because it's really well written and the premise is great. Maybe someday I will try again. But right now I've got a teething toddler so I really don't need any other reason not to sleep at night ;-p
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I say this with the deepest respect for Mr. Stroud's work and talents: This book reminded me of Scooby-Doo. Like the best possible Scooby-Doo! No, better than the best possibly Scooby-Doo (while still being pretty Scooby-Doo-ish).
Look, this book seriously gave me nightmares. Not as a I was reading it, but a few weeks after finishing it I had this terrifying nightmare about a room filled with blood and I woke up and thought, "Screaming staircases!" So clearly I don't mean to say that this book i ...more
Look, this book seriously gave me nightmares. Not as a I was reading it, but a few weeks after finishing it I had this terrifying nightmare about a room filled with blood and I woke up and thought, "Screaming staircases!" So clearly I don't mean to say that this book i ...more
So I love the Bartimaeus books with all my heart and soul. This first book of the Lockwood and Co series shares some similarities: fast pace, lots of action, set in an alternate London, humor etc. The best part of the Bartimaeus books is the relationship between Bartimaeus and Nathaniel, though, and there's no real equivalent here, so that was kind of disappointing. It's ghosts instead of djinn and their ilk, and kids and teens hunt them when they become nuisances, adults being unable to see the
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In an alternate universe, the UK has been beset on all sides by "The Problem" of paranormal activity. It turns out only children have the gift to see or hear the problems around us and thus they are trained as "agents" with adult supervisors in vanquishing all types of ghost-like behavior. Lucy ends up joining the Lockwood & Co. agency, and all heck breaks loose. Literally.
Usually I don't' like to be scared. Ever. I just went to the haunted forest this month and decided I never want to go again! ...more
Usually I don't' like to be scared. Ever. I just went to the haunted forest this month and decided I never want to go again! ...more
This is one of the best kids' books I have read/listened to in a long time. And I don't even like ghost stories! Perfect pacing, characterization, adventure and just the right amount of spookiness. Deliciously narrated by Miranda Raison with the original British-isms.
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I love this book, it's so refreshing and different from other middle grade fantasies lately. As usual, Jonathan Stroud can create a whole new London world based on his imagination. If he played with magic and wizards in his famous Bartimaeus series, now he delved into ghost stories. The characters are great (I fell in love with Lockwood a little bit!), the puzzling mystery is cool (although a bit predictable), the setting is so convincing, and the idea of children ghostbusters is so hilarious. O
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Recommended Ages: grades 5-9
A sinister Problem has occurred in London: all nature of ghosts, haunts, spirits, and specters are appearing throughout the city, and they aren't exactly friendly. Only young people have the psychic abilities required to see-and eradicate-these supernatural foes. Many different Psychic Detection Agencies have cropped up to handle the dangerous work, and they are in fierce competition for business.
In The Screaming Staircase, the plucky and talented Lucy Carlyle teams ...more
A sinister Problem has occurred in London: all nature of ghosts, haunts, spirits, and specters are appearing throughout the city, and they aren't exactly friendly. Only young people have the psychic abilities required to see-and eradicate-these supernatural foes. Many different Psychic Detection Agencies have cropped up to handle the dangerous work, and they are in fierce competition for business.
In The Screaming Staircase, the plucky and talented Lucy Carlyle teams ...more
I'm still not sure if this is middle grade or YA, but it's good, good, good. Not for the faint of heart, it's a spooky ghost story with great characters working in England's smallest psychic investigation office. This almost has the same feeling as Libba Bray's The Diviners, but for a younger audience.
I'm looking forward to learning more about Lucy, George and Lockwood, and I hope book #2 is equally exciting. ...more
I'm looking forward to learning more about Lucy, George and Lockwood, and I hope book #2 is equally exciting. ...more
Jonathan Stroud is back to his old tricks with entertaining, resourceful characters with a magical theme, and the beginning of a new series, Lockwood & Co. England is dealing with an unusual amount of ghosts, referred to as "The Problem", and the most skilled agents are youthful (teens or younger), since the abilities to sense these spirits fade as one grows older. Lucy moves to London, equipped with the sense of Hearing and sensing circumstances from objects and spirits, and joins the very smal
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Page-turning story about children who can detect paranormal creatures and eliminate ghosts in an alternate-reality England. The characters are funny, which helps make the book not too scary for a middle-grade reader.
Sherlock Holmes meets Ghostbusters. Very fun!
Oct 16, 2017
Kristy
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
thriller,
young-adult,
juv,
all-hallows-read,
england,
scary,
ghosts,
gorgeous-prose,
harry-potter-read-a-like
My ideal ghost story: elegant, spooky, English. I can't wait to read the others!
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Suspenseful and clever from start to finish, this is a terrific (and terrifically creepy) book that kids will devour and adults will adore. It's witty, wonderful, and just scary enough to make you leave the lights on. I can't wait to read more of this series!
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A clever spin on your usual ghost story - kind of Ghostbusters meet Sherlock Holmes. The characters are fun and you find yourself pulling for them. Pretty intense though... I'd recommend them for an older crowd (9th grade+)
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I had a little trouble getting in to this. I was expecting more humor.
The characters didn't grab me, but the mystery finally did. ...more
The characters didn't grab me, but the mystery finally did. ...more
ARC from NetGalley
Jan 07, 2013
Monica Edinger
added it
Aug 12, 2013
Lola
marked it as to-read
Dec 01, 2016
Nefret
marked it as to-read
Nov 10, 2017
J.j.
marked it as to-read
