Dying to Meet You (43 Old Cemetery Road)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's narrative style, done through letters between the characters, was unique and engaging. The pictures were cute. I can't wait till the sequel comes out! Check this book out! You'll love it! ( )

Really amusing, and not in a bad way. These books by the Klises are more brain fluff for me, but they're done so well that I don't feel very guilty. Dying to read the next one. ( )

This little book is delightfully fun, is full of clever wordplay, and can probably best be described as an epistolary-ghost story-graphic novel. Ignatius B. Grumply, the disagreeable old writer of children's ghost stories is suffering from a 20-year case of writer's block, and in desperation, rents a crumbling old 32 1/2 room mansion in Ghastly, Illinois for the summer to write the 13th book in the series, for which he has already received and spent his advance. Much to his intense displeasure, the house is already occupied by an 11 year-old (living) boy named Seymour Hope, and Olive C. Spence, a 190 year old ghost, who when alive was a failed author. Olive loves and cares for Seymour, and the two of them conspire to "manage" Mr. Grumply, and save Olive's beloved home from demolition. A very quick, fun read, and a terrific start to a series that would be great for reluctant readers ages 8 or so and up.

Curriculum: great introduction to the epistolary style. Mentor text for letter writing format.

Klise, K. & Klise, M. (2010). Dying to meet you. Boston: Sandpiper.

I liked this book because it was different. It was told in letters from one of the characters to another - whether it was the writer who moved into the haunted house, the boy who lived there, the ghost who haunted it, or the attorney who handled the writer's affairs. It is a cute story of a grumpy old man, a neglected child, and a lonely ghost who all learn to love each other and live happily ever after. It is a quick, fun read, easily recommended to reluctant readers for its humor and short "chapters." ( )

43 old Cemetery Road is a series of chapter books that has a great and quirkey cast which I love. “Im dying to meet you” is the first book of this series and is a book that is basically a collection of letters between the main characters instead of actual book dialogue. The main idea of the story is a writer moves into a Victorian mansion that is haunted. He rents this mansion from a couple that leaves their son there as a part of the rental. He writes about the ghosts that haunt the house. I like the creative language that the book uses. ( )