Two Bloggers One Book ~ Scritch Scratch

 

I love Lindsay Currie as might be able to tell since the last book I posted about on here was her newest one. On my Youtube channel I am hosting a Hallowtween readathon where you read all kinds of spooky kids books. I picked this book for the group read and so Barb and I read this one too. It's reread for me and my favorite, go check out what Barb thought at Booker T's Farm.

A ghost story about a malevolent spirit, an unlucky girl, and a haunting mystery that will tie the two together.

Claire has absolutely no interest in the paranormal. She’s a scientist, which is why she can’t think of anything worse than having to help out her dad on one of his ghost-themed Chicago bus tours. She thinks she’s made it through when she sees a boy with a sad face and dark eyes at the back of the bus. There’s something off about his presence, especially because when she checks at the end of the tour…he’s gone.

Claire tries to brush it off, she must be imagining things, letting her dad’s ghost stories get the best of her. But then the scratching starts. Voices whisper to her in the dark. The number 396 appears everywhere she turns. And the boy with the dark eyes starts following her.

Claire is being haunted. The boy from the bus wants something...and Claire needs to find out what before it’s too late.

This is my favorite book by Lindsay Currie, though It Found Us is a very close second. 

Claire is a science minded girl and doesn't believe in ghost and is embarrassed by the fact that her father runs a ghost tour bus. When her father needs help on a tour night because one of his workers is sick, she ends up having to help him. 

She had never really thought much about the places that are supposed to be haunted or the sad history behind them until she goes on this tour. Then she sees a young boy on the bus and things get strange as he doesn't act like everyone else and she gets spooked. 

Then some strange noises start happening at home and the next morning there is water in her dresser drawer. Claire is spooked. Especially when more frightening things start to happen. She would like to talk to her best friend, but she has a new friend and Claire is feeling left out. She automatically doesn't like the new friend without giving her a real chance because she feels like she is being replaced. So she tells her brother about what is going on and he decides to help her.

Soon though the ghost follows her to school where she is confronted by her friend for the way she has been acting and her friend gets a little taste of the ghost and wants to help Claire as well, along with the new friend. 

They try and figure out who the boy is and what he wants with Claire and if you like a good ghost story that gives you some sad but interesting history then you will enjoy this book. 

I really liked Claire and the relationship with her brother and how things workout with her friend. 

This is a great book for this time of year!

5 stars

Review of It Found Us by Lindsay Currie

 

Twelve-year-old Hazel Woods has always had an unusual knack for sleuthing. Some may call it snooping, but all she really wants is to solve mysteries around town. So, when she not-so-accidentally overhears her brother Den planning to sneak into the cemetery at night for an epic game of hide-and-seek, she decides to secretly tag along. This seems like the perfect opportunity to investigate the claims that the cemetery is haunted.

But the moment the game ends, Hazel realizes something is very, very wrong. From her hiding spot in the bushes, she overhears that her brother’s best friend, Everett, is missing. Everyone else was found by the seeker but there’s no sign of Everett anywhere. It’s as if he just . . . vanished

Hazel and Den are determined to find Everett before it’s too late. But as they begin to unravel the terrifying clues that started appearing since that night in the graveyard–eerie whispers that sound like someone counting, the intermittent smell of smoke, and the cold, lost presence that follows them everywhere, she’s not sure what they are dealing with. But Everett needs more than search parties and scent-tracking dogs to find him, especially if his disappearance is tied to the history of the cemetery, and the lost, century-old spirits that might still be trapped there.

I am a huge fan of Lindsay Currie so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one! I was saving it for spooky season but I really wanted to dive in earlier. 

Hazel loves being what she thinks is a detective but what others might call a snoop and when she listens in on her brothers phone call with his friend and learns he is going to sneak out she follows. 

They end up at the graveyard where Den and his friends are going to play hide and seek except something happens while they are there a freak storm, some eerie yowling, a scream and Den's friend Everett is gone. 

Hazel and Den don't want to leave looking for Everett up to the adults so they decide to do some investigating, even though they are told to stay home. They sneak back to the graveyard were another spooky storm happens and they see a very spooky looking kid with no eyes and it's mouth sewn shut, they hightail it home but the ghost will not be deterred and follows them home. 

Now things are getting really scary and Hazel's friend Maggie gets in on things and they start trying to figure out who the ghost is and what he wants and why it took Everett. 

This was a great ghost story with lots of spooky elements. I love how the author uses a tragic part of history and weaves a ghostly tale around it so that I learned about a part of history that I didn't know about. I was so curious about the elephants in the graveyard and love that the authors tells you about things at the end in the authors note. I even found a non-fiction book about what happened in that town and I am curious to give it a try. 

I think my only negative thing about this book is the cover. I just think it's to spooky for a middle grade book. It will creep out most adults! Other than that it's another great book by the author! Still not my favorite but probably my second favorite. :) 

5 stars

Week in Review #55

The Week in Review is where I combine Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post and It's Monday! What are you reading?  If you have never joined in on these meme's you can check them out by clicking on the meme and it will take you to the host blog.

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a great week. My week wasn't bad but not really anything to report on that I can think of. I am not a fan of the weather right now as it's cold! We had a night time low of 37 the other day and that is just unacceptable in October, to cold. I want my summer back! :) I am so not ready for cold weather. :(

Have a great week and happy reading!

What you might have missed on my blog

Waiting on Wednesday - Hatchet Girls

Fourth Quarter Anticipated Reads

Happy Release Day! Spy School Goes North

Books I have added

 Netgalley Audio

• Midnight is the Darkest House - Was given the audiobook for this right when it was coming out, so hoping to make room for it soon. Thanks Tantor Audio!

Books read last week

These were all audiobooks

• Scariest. Book. Ever. - First in a new Goosebump series called House of Shivers. It was fun and I think R.L. Stine has upped his creep factor a bit.
• Murder at the Merton Library - The lastest book in one of my favorite historical mystery series and I enjoyed it a lot.
• Flock Horror - Book three of Dread Woods and this one had vampire birds! It was fun.
• Battle Ground - I finally ripped my heart out and read this one. I hate when they kill of a beloved character. This is book 17 in the Dresden Files and the author needs to get busy with the next one! It's been three years!
• The Dark Lord Clementine - A cute story about a young girl whose father is the dark lord and he has been cursed and she has to take over but doesn't like it much.
• Scritch Scratch - This was a reread of a favorite book. Was just as good the second time.
• Camp Sylvania - Fun vampire story set at a wellness camp with some plump characters.
• The Great Ghost Hoax - Second book in the Great Pet Heist series and so cute!!
• Very Important Corpse - Book three in the Ishmael Jones series and it's been a while since I read one but didn't take long to get back into it. It's an interesting blend of urban fantasy and mystery.

Currently reading

• IT - I didn't work on this much but I am at 60% and so I think I still can get it done this month.
• All Hallows - I am around 56% into the audiobook, it's okay but kind of slow going.
• There's No Way I'd Die First - I didn't work much on this one but did just get the audiobook so I will be working on it this week.
• I Know What You Did Last Summer - I was curious how different it was from the movie. :) Just started it so around 20%.
• If Found Us - This is my print book and I am 75 pages into it and enjoying it.

What might be up next

 I have so many middle grade spookies out on my Libby so hopefully some of them. :)

How was your week? What did you get?

Waiting on Wednesday ~ Hatchet Girls

Waiting on Wednesday has been around for a while and I know that it was taken over by Wishful Endings and called Can't wait Wednesday so will link to her.

For fans of Kara Thomas and Courtney Summers comes a supernatural horror that reminds us family can be our saving grace--or our biggest curse. Set one-hundred years after the Borden murders, this propulsive thriller imagines what a similar trial might look like today.

When the parents of the richest family in Fall River are found murdered by axe, the town is quick to blame newcomer Vik. It doesn’t help that he was caught standing over the bodies with blood on his hands and can’t remember anything about the night in question.

But Vik’s sister, Tessa, knows that Vik would never be capable of such a gruesome crime. Haunted by the mistakes she made that led her family to Fall River in the first place, she sets out to prove her brother’s innocence.

Her search for answers will lead her into a sprawling, supposedly cursed forest, as well as the childhood home of Lizzie Borden—the original axe murderess of Fall River.

I am curious about this one. I don't know the author but I like the sounds of it and anything Lizzie Borden gets my attention...lol. This one comes out October 10th from Delacorte Press.

4th Quarter Anticipated Reads

 

I haven't done one of these in a while so thought I would. Most of these are from series I am currently reading or authors I have read before except for three of them. 

• Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs - The 11th book in the Spy School series. I just finished this one and it was a lot of fun. It's the only one on this list I have finished. :) 
• Trapped by Skye Melki-Wegner - This is the second book in the Deadland series. Just think The Land Before Times...lol. They are young talking dinosaurs in exile who must try and save their kingdoms. 
• Hollowthorn by Kalyn Josephson - The second book in the Ravenfall series. Think Halloweentown meets supernaturals as there is a magical B&B that is at the crossroads of the human world and the other world. 
• Liar Society by Alyson Gerber - This is an author I don't know but it says it's a One of Us is Lying for middle grade, though I haven't read that book I get the idea and I am curious.
• The Quest for Danger by Stuart Gibbs - It's the fourth book in the Once Upon a Tim series. It's a silly adventure book and I like it. Can't wait to see what Tim and everyone gets up too.
• To Many Interesting Things are Happening to Ethan Fairmont by Nick Brooks - The worlds longest title! I liked the first book so I am curious to see how Ethan handles things getting interesting. :) 
• They Stalk the Night by Brian Moreland - Not read this author but this one just looks interesting, Has some buzz words like winter storm and ravenous beast...lol. 
• The Night House by Jo Nesbo - Not read this author but I was drawn to the cover. It hasn't got the best of reviews it looks like but I am still curious about it. 
• Stalking Around the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Frost - The fourth book in the Christmas Tree Farm series. If you like whimsical Christmas type reads then you will like this cozy mystery series. :) Each book is set at Christmas.
• Some of Us are Looking - Second book in the County Kerry series. I enjoyed the first one. It's set in Ireland, and involves a veterinarian who gets wrapped up in mysteries.
• The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallet - This is 1.5 in the Appeal series. I honestly didn't know there was going to be a second one. I liked The Appeal as it was a different type of mystery, so I am curious about this one. 
• Mister Lullaby by J. H. Markert - I read The Nightmare Man by this author and liked it and so I am hoping I will enjoy this one too. I have been real hit or miss with horror lately. In this one you don't want to be in a coma! Seems a guy hearing the voice of Mister Lullaby says kill the coma patients! 
• Murder Wears a Hidden Face by Rosmary Simpson - This is the 8th book in the Gilded Age series. I haven't read book 7 yet but I still can't wait for this one. :) 
• I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died by Amanda Flower - The second book in the Emily Dickinson series. The titles in this series crack me up, but I guess they are titles of E. Dickinson's poems so she was one strange gal. Anyway it's a mystery where Dickinson's maid does the sleuthing with little help from Emily. 

Happy Release Day! Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs

I really love the Spy School series and wanted to give the 11th book a mention as it came out today. 

Spy School Goes North is set in Alaska where after the events of the previous books a small group of the kids have been sent there to keep honing their skills. Things get interrupted when an old nemesis of Erica's grandfather shows up. They must do what they can to thwart his plans. 

If you or your kids love action-filled, humorous books with a great friendship group then you need to try the Spy School series! You currently have 11 great books to read!  

Week in Review #54

The Week in Review is where I combine Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post and It's Monday! What are you reading?  If you have never joined in on these meme's you can check them out by clicking on the meme and it will take you to the host blog.

So hard to believe it's the first day of October.

The weather here has been pretty nice, still a little warm but I don't mind. I am not looking forward to colder weather. I am also not liking the shorter nights. I hate it when it gets dark early. :(

Not really anything of interest happened last week.

Have a great week and happy reading!

What you might have missed on my blog

Waiting on Wednesday - I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died

Books I have added

• The September House - I have a strange relationship with Berkley, half the time it doesn't approve books and then it goes and gives me a book after it has came out! Anyway I want to read this one so I am happy. :)

Books read last week

• Spy School Goes North - The 11th book in the Spy School series and they are in Alaska where adventurous shenanigans happen. This is a fun series. (Print)
• Extinction - I am so sad that this is the last book in this series! This is book four and it was very good. It's my favorite Middle Grade horror series, very spooky for a kids book. :) If you like Stranger Things and the X-files you might enjoy this. (Ebook)
• Quest Kids and the Dark Prophecy of Doug - The second book in the Quest Kids series and it's a bit of a silly series but fun. It's heavily illustrated with parts of it in sort of a graphic novel style so quick and fun. (Print)
• Making the Team - This is the second book in the Case File 13 series and it was fun. Sort of a Dr. Frankenstein type mad scientist. (Audiobook)
• Mrs. Jeffries Dust For Clues - This is book two in the Mrs. Jeffries series and it was fun. I think I am going to really like this cozy series. I really like Mrs. Jeffries as she helps her boss who is the detective without letting him know that she is helping lol. (Audiobook)
• Slashing Through the Snow - This is a reread for me as I was doing a readalong with some friends to lead up to the newest one that comes out this month. My friend Tiffany will be the victim in the newest one and we are celebrating...lol. She always wanted to be the victim in a cozy so the author was like sure I can do that...lol.. :) (Audiobook)

Currently reading

• IT - I made it to 56% which is page 659 of 1138 so not bad for the month. I feel confident that I can get it finished this month.
• All Hallows - It's spooky season time! The horror group I am in are doing two books for October. I had to get a head start so I am 44% into the audiobook for this one. So far it's not bad but a lot of character POVs and I am hoping it picks up soon. :)
• There's No Way I'd Die First - This is the horror groups other book and I started a little on it but not real far. It's YA and I think maybe a slasher with a knock off IT clown. The MC I think hires him for her party and he takes his job seriously...lol. I am only 5% in so I haven't gotten far enough to really know a lot yet. (Ebook)
• Murder at the Merton Library - This wasn't on my TBR for October but I got the audio from Libby and I really wanted to read it as I love this series so just when ahead with it...lol. I am 30% into it and enjoying it.
• Scariest. Book. Ever. - Haven't actually started but should be starting today. (Ebook)

What might be up next

For October I host a middle grade horror readathon called Hallowtween on my youtube channel so you will see lots of middle grade books. :)

How was your week? What did you get?