This book can be read very quickly due to the fast pace and
having less than one hundred pages. Max and his parents are ghost hunters
although they’ve never actually trapped one before. The descriptions of their
equipment including a Spirit Containment Bag and Ghost Drinker Ray Gun sound
like homemade knock-offs from a “Ghostbusters” movie. The family travels to a
haunted house with hundreds of ghosts happily residing within its walls. Max
meets a young girl named Millie who knows all the ins and outs of the building
and introduces him to the cast of ghosts ranging from a sheriff to a barber, to
a scientist. They’re excited with the prospect of eluding more ghost hunters as
the chase is like a game to them. However, an old lady changes their viewpoints
and Max learns one of his ancestors started the problem generations earlier.
The most entertaining feature of the book is the humor. It
has adolescent humor with Gunther the farting ghost and a chanting, acrobatic
cheerleader named Ashley. Millie and Max share playful banter throughout the story
as they take turns being the leader and the eventual hero. Millie thinks she
knows more and she kids Max about having a crush on her. The ghosts enjoy celebrations
and a festive feast is highlighted by a wrestling match atop the huge dining
table that turns into a food fight. Max thinks teachers are the worst people in
the world and he makes various comments to express those feelings. The quick-moving
plot and light-hearted dialogue should appeal to most young readers.
What didn’t work as well:
The main problem with very short books is the lack of detail
and character development. Readers will get to know Max on a surface level but
all of the other characters are even less defined. On the flip side, the lack
of description results in a story that can easily be read in one sitting.
The Final Verdict:
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