Book Review #12 - The Seer of Shadows by Avi

The Seer of Shadows

Written by Avi

Published by HarperCollins Children's Books

Copyright 2008

202 pages

"I stood there in great distress.  My head fairly seethed. ... The next moment my mind went to the words on the cemetery gate:  The Dead Shall Be Reborn. ... Tears ran down my face as I had to accept the extraordinary fact:  I, Horace Carpetine, had somehow brought Eleanora Von Macht back into the living world."

Publisher's Summary:  In New York City in 1872, fourteen-year-old Horace, a photographer's apprentice, becomes entangled in a plot to create fraudulent spirit photographs, but when Horace accidentally frees the real ghost of a dead girl bent on revenge, his life takes a frightening turn.

Mary Elizabeth's Musings:  One-third ghost story, one-third historical fiction, and one-third history of still photography, The Seer of Shadows is truly mesmerizing and page-turning.  Avi's amazing ability to capture a specific time and place in history is remarkable, as evidenced throughout this novel.  The reader will find him or herself as entangled in this story as the daring protagonist, Horace Carpetine, as he (Horace) races against time to stop a girl's spirit from inducing terrible destruction upon her family.  Get ready to read this novel from start-to-finish in one sitting!

This book is recommended for ages 9 - 12 years.

More page-turners and spine-tinglers I recommend by Avi:

Clues #2 and #3 for Mystery Friend Friday :: Always Trust Magic and Bite-size Lessons ::

**For the comments section:  What are your favorite ghost stories? **

weheartit.com