Kenneth Oppel

Love a good middle-grade read based in Canada! Kenneth Oppel is back with another winner, this time taking place in Toronto as a group of teens encounter restless spirits and have to race against the clock to stop a "wicked and wakeful" ghost that is rapidly gaining strength. The book touches on themes of friendship, courage, grief and determination, all while taking the reader through a fast-paced ghost-hunting adventure. I loved the references to Toronto history (Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, George Brown, Ward Island and Captain Ward himself!).… (more)

Gabe doesn't believe in ghosts - until he accidentally awakens the ghost of 16-year-old Rebecca Strand while giving a ghost tour in an old lighthouse in Toronto. And Rebecca needs his help to destroy the evil ghost who murdered her and her father nearly 200 years earlier.

This is an exciting and fast-paced book that seems to be aimed at an older middle-grade / younger YA audience (or, you know, anyone who likes those kinds of books). One of the blurbs on the inside cover suggests that it "begs to be made into a movie" and I think I would agree. It contains strong visuals, many exciting and action-packed scenes, and great settings (an old lighthouse, the CN tower, underwater tunnels, a seance, and - my personal favourite - an unexpectedly dangerous library). The ghostly parts of the book are fairly spooky and creepy, though not too downright scary. There's a small amount of romance, but I liked that the focus of the book was on friendship, teamwork, and working together to solve a problem. I also liked that the author was able to shine a light on the injustices suffered by indigenous people in Canada and on Canadian history in general. The ending wraps things up neatly, while also leaving a pretty obvious possibility open for a sequel.
Overall a solidly written and highly entertaining book.… (more)

Thank you to LibraryThing, the author, and Tundra Books for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars

I actually won this book a few months ago but it had only just come in the other day. Needless to say, I read it all in one go. And I really enjoyed it!

I loved the historical attention to detail, I love a good Canadian story, loved the Indigenous rep, and just everything was so good. I really liked the characters and their relationships. There is also some genuinely terrifying imagery in this book. It definitely gives No-Face vibes which was NOT what I was expecting but ended up feeling really pleased by.

I feel like the lore of the world made sense. Everything was established and kept to its rules without too much divergence. I think the little mini romance between Gabe and Rebecca was cute but a little forced. Though I really wish we had seen more with Yuri and Callie. Regardless, the main group was made up of a pretty good cast. I wish we maybe went a little deeper with some of them but this is also a book for younger audiences so I get it.

It was a very fun and engaging book. I really liked the premise and it taking place in Toronto was really cool.… (more)