Book Review- "A Scream Full of Ghosts" by Jane Nighshade.

I had a great time reading Jane Nightshade's new collection of ghost stories titled "A Scream Full of Ghosts."

Many of the stories are set in California's Gold country and feature several colorful old west characters, but my favorite of the anthology takes place in modern day San Francisco.

"Red Onion" is the bittersweet tale of a young man's love for a struggling single mom that extends beyond the grave.

A Scrhttps://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/515XSz7E82L._SX311_BO1,204,203,200_.jpgeam Full of Ghosts: Nightshade, Jane: 9781943201891: Amazon.com: Books

Book Review- "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson

"Fever 1793" is an exceptional novel about an actual Yellow Fever epidemic that  occurred in 1793 Philadelphia.

Young Mattie Cook and her family run a Coffeehouse in late  eighteenth century Philadelphia when the epidemic strikes. When Mattie's mother is infected with the disease, Mattie is sent to the countryside with her grandfather.

Eventually Mattie herself becomes infected and she goes through a terrible ordeal trying to survive not only her own illness but also the near breakdown of  authority in the city.

Filled with historical detail and memorable, realistic characters, Fever 1793, transports the reader back to a time that young people today would barely recognize.

Book Review- "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

"The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson is a fascinating history of late 19th century Chicago as told through the lives of two very different men.

Architect Daniel Burnham was the mastermind behind the highly successful 1893 Worlds Fair while Herman Webster Mudgett AKA H. H. Holmes was one of the worst serial killers in U.S. History.

At the same time as Mr. Burnham was constructing architectural wonders, Mr. Holmes was buiding his monstrous "Castle" in the Chicago suburb of Englewood.  Holmes designed the building to enable him to commit mass murder and dispose of the bodies.

The Devil in the White City is a well-written exploration of the light and very dark forces that have created modern America.

Book Review- "The House Next Door" by Anne Rivers Siddons

"The House Next Door" by Anne Rivers Siddons is a genuinely scary novel of a new house that destroys its' occupants.

Everyone loves the new neighborhood house designed and constructed by a talented young architect, but then tragedy begins to strike everyone that lives in the house.

The first victims are a young couple whose lives are ruined by the house, but they are not the last.

Ms. Siddons is a terrific writer who carefully develops characters and builds suspense. "The House Next Door" is an entertaining  read even for those like myself who do not especially like  the horror genre.

Book Review- "All Over But The Shoutin'" by Rick Bragg

"All Over but the Shoutin' "  is the story of journalist Rick Bragg's  southern family roots. Rick Bragg was born in northeastern Alabama in 1959. His father was a violent drunk who eventually abandoned the family leaving his mother Margaret to raise three young boys alone.

Margaret Bragg worked hard at several different jobs including picking cotton to provide for her children. All Over but the Shoutin' is a loving tribute to a generation of ordinary but heroic people and a way of life that is almost gone.

Book Review- "The Castaway" by Arthur Roth.

The Castaway by Arthur Roth is an exciting but sometimes very grim novel of a young shipwreck survivor in the early  19th century.

After a family dispute, Daniel Ross signs up as a sailor on a ship that hunts seals ( a once common practice). After Daniel's ship hits an ice berg and sinks several of the survivors drift for weeks in a life boat slowly dying from hunger and thirst.

Eventually, only Daniel and another sailor remain alive. The two drift hopelessly until they spot a tiny island. Only Daniel survives as the lifeboat crashes on the shore of the island.

Daniel discovers that the island is mostly barren, although he is able to obtain a food source from seals that visit the island. Daniel uses his ingenuity to survive on the island for five long years until a ship rescues him.

I very much enjoyed reading "The Castaway"  but because of several graphic descriptions of killing animals and at least one murder the book may not be appropriate for young children.

Book Review- "Gone" by Michael Grant

Since the success of "The Giver"   and   "The Hunger Games" dystopian novels for young people are all the rage.

I am currently reading "Gone" by Michael Grant. One day in the fictional community of Perdido Beach, California. Everyone 15 years and older just disappears and a  wall of energy surrounds the community. Nothing can get in and nothing can get out. 

  In addition, strange mutations begin taking place in humans and animals.

The remaining population of children doesn't quite know what to do until "Caine" a  very mature and ruthless young man from a nearby private  school takes over ." Sam" the conflicted good guy eventually realizes that he has no choice but to fight Caine for control of The FAYZ ( Fallout Alley Youth Zone) which is what all the survivors call their new community.

I have enjoyed reading "Gone" although I find it hard to believe that 14 year olds  with no adults present could form a type of government within a week.

Book Review- "The Ghost of Dibble Hollow" by May Nickerson Wallace

After his mother inherits the family homestead. "Pug" Dibble Allen and the rest of the family decide to spend the summer at the old house.

 Pug soon learns of a feud between a neighbor and his family and encounters a ghost who is trying to end the feud. With the ghost's help, Pug works hard to unravel the mystery of missing money that started the trouble to begin with.

 I am not a big fan of mysteries, but I enjoyed this book. The characters are likable (even the ghost) and it is fun trying to follow the steps that lead to solving the mystery.

Book Review- "Losers" Inc." by Claudia Mills

Twelve year old underachievers Ethan and Julius form their own club called "Losers Inc."but everything changes when beautiful student teacher Grace Gunderson arrives at their school.

Suddenly, Ethan will do anything to impress Ms. Gunderson including reading the very long "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens, befriending poetry loving Lizzie Archer, and entering the school science fair. Losers inc. is a thoughtful and gentle book with plenty of positive messages for the reader.

Book Review- "The Strangest of Strange" by Phyllis Raybin Emert

I have always loved reading stories of strange and unusual events. "The Strangest of  Strange" by Phyllis Raybin Emert is a good collection of stories about lost treasure, ESP (extra sensory perception) ghosts and other odd happenings.