Selected as an
honor book for the Washington Irving Children's Book Choice Award for
Older Readers, by the Westchester County (NY) Public Library
Association, May 1998.
Selected as one of
the Favorite Books of the Year by the Young Critics Club of the New
Canaan (CT) Library, 1997
Selected as one of
the Favorite Books for Grades 4 & 5 by the Palm Beach (FL) County
Library System
School
Library Journal: "Lively
and filled with humor.... Deem does a marvelous job of creating and
sustaining believable and unique voices for the characters.... Children
will relish this book for the ghost stories, which all fit smoothly into
the narrative."
Booklist:
"The inclusion of some Christina Rossetti
poetry and the generally humorous tone are added bonuses for a title
that will be a popular choice for ghost story fans."
Notes
from the Windowsill:
"Artfully
relating supernatural activities to the feeling of a family in the midst
of loss and change, this clever book combines genuine emotional
resonance with the appeal of a good yarn. Readers looking for a few
light chills may be both surprised and pleased."
Bulletin
for the Center of Children's Books:
"Deem
ultimately offers not only several good ghost stories...but also a
subtle treatment of the human desire for ghosts.... The result is a
quirky, often touching, and entertaining read suitable for ghost fans
jaded by their usual haunts."
VOYA:
"This novel deals with
three themes...coping with the death of a loved one, moving to a new
home, and developing new friendships. What sets Deem's novel apart from
others with similar themes and makes it so enjoyable and difficult to
put down is its unusual mix of genres: detective/paranormal/humor."
The
Horn Book: "Twins
Christina and Danny move with their father to California after their
mother is killed in an accident. There they believe they are being
haunted. With the help of a psychic and a university professor, they
discover more about themselves and their family. The story is both
humorous and poignant. Christina peppers her narration with 'true' ghost
stories that are fun and revealing."
The Very Real Ghost
Book of Christina Rose. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1996. Dell
paperback edition, 1998.
