Ghost Canoe [Hardcover]

Will Hobbs (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

After a sailing ship breaks up on the rocks off Washington's storm-tossed Cape Flattery, Nathan McAllister, the fourteen-year-old son of the lighthouse keeper, refuses to believe the authorities, who say there were no survivors. Unexplained footprints on a desolate beach, a theft at the trading post, and glimpses of a wild "hairy man" convince Nathan that someone is hiding in the remote sea caves along the coast. With his new friend, Lighthouse George, a fisherman from the famed Makah whaling tribe, Nathan paddles the fierce waters of the Pacific--fishing, hunting seals, searching for clues. Alone in the forest, Nathan discovers a ghostly canoe and a skeleton that may unlock the mystery of ancient treasure, betrayal . . .and murder.

2000-2001 Georgia's Picture Storybook Award & Georgia's Children's Book Award Masterlist

01-02 Land of Enchantment Book Award Masterlist (Gr. 6-9)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this intense adaptation of Hobbs's suspenseful novel set in 1874 Washington state, 14-year-old Nathan MacAllister uncovers a chilling murder-mystery involving a greedy sailor and members of a local Native American tribe. As the son of a lighthouse keeper, Nathan is accustomed to the storm-ravaged desolate life on Cape Flattery. He has adopted the ways of the Makah Indians as well, learning to fish and hunt under the tutelage of a family friend (and Makah) Lighthouse George. But when a clipper ship sinks just off the cape, Nathan wonders if it's true that there were no survivors. After all, who could be spying on the Makah tribe and making strange footprints on the beach? The answers to these and other questions become all too clear when the mysterious "hairy man" John Kane arrives in the village, eager to find and peddle Makah artifactsAthe same artifacts Nathan has already discovered in a "ghost canoe," a sacred form of Makah burial. Gaines proves a versatile performer, gamely taking on roles of all ages, backgrounds and genders. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9. With characteristic skill, Hobbs blends together a number of elements to create an exciting adventure set in 1874 on Washington's rugged Olympic peninsula. Nathan, 14, tries to unravel the mystery of a shipwreck and the captain's murder. With Lighthouse George, a Makah fisherman, the boy paddles canoes on delivery runs to the damp, inhospitable island of Tatoosh, where his father is the lighthouse keeper, and on hunting expeditions for whales and seals. Curious about footprints found on a desolate beach near the shipwreck where all were supposedly lost, the boy explores the peninsula and encounters a shadowy figure brandishing a knife in a dark cave, a nervous local trader burying a small metal box, and a burial "ghost" canoe mounted high among tree branches facing the sea. When the boy's father receives a letter referring to a lost treasure map and the likelihood of foul play in the shipwreck, Nathan begins to piece together the truth. In a climactic scene, he is threatened by the murderer, and Lighthouse George and an eccentric village outcast come to Nathan's rescue. A gallery of good, evil, eccentric, and misunderstood characters teaches him the meaning of friendship and enriches his appreciation of another culture. Dramatic, vivid descriptions of the Pacific landscape and Makah lifestyle and customs create a rich backdrop for Nathan's adventures and discoveries. A winning tale that artfully combines history, nature, and suspense.?Gerry Larson, Durham Magnet Center, Durham, NC
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688141935
• ISBN-13: 978-0688141936
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,171,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

WILL HOBBS is the author of eighteen exciting outdoor adventure novels for upper elementary, middle school and young adult readers, as well as two picture book stories. Seven of his novels have been named Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association, and Ghost Canoe, Will's first mystery, won the Edgar Allan Poe national award for Best Young Adult Mystery. The ALA's list of the "100 Best Young Adult Books of the 20th Century" includes two of Will's titles: Far North and Downriver.

A graduate of Stanford University and a former reading and language arts teacher, Will lives with his wife, Jean, in Durango, Colorado. Visit Will's website at www.willhobbsauthor.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From a parent's point of view, Will Hobbs has another hit, November 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ghost Canoe (Hardcover)

First off, this review will be somewhat biased as Mr. Hobbs was a teacher of mine three years in a row. If the love of reading is a fire, Mr Hobbs is the spark. He kindled the desire to read in countless children during his years as a teacher, partly because he knew us so well, and that is what makes him such a terrific author in his current work- he knows what will get kids to read and keep them reading. My children both read his books, and I read most everything that they read, just to stay in touch with what they are doing. I actually enjoy reading Mr. Hobbs' books as much as they do, the characters are real, the experiences are fresh, and the stories are enough to make me dream of my own youth. I recently moved to the Seattle area, and have explored the area in which Ghost Canoe is set. Mr. Hobbs has done a marvelous job of capturing the mood and mystery of this beautiful corner of our world. His portrayl of the Macaw tribe is true to life (as it was) and helps shed some light on the recent events in their tribe. That alone makes this book a great read for just about any preteen.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like to read to your children, you'll love this book., October 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Ghost Canoe (Hardcover)

A chapter a night, that's all it takes. With the punch of London's "White Fang" or Gary Paulsen's "Winterdance", Hobbs' "Ghost Canoe" has captured the imaginations of my seven and nine year-old children. The historical and cultural lessons are a bonus for the kids (and me) in this fast-paced action adventure. Indians, war canoes, whales, robbers, shipwrecks, lighthouses and more, it's all stuff kids and their Dad's will love. Having grown up in the Northwest and being familiar with many of the locations, this book was especially fun for me.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ghost Canoe, January 2, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Ghost Canoe (Hardcover)

Ghost Canoe is an awesome adventure and mystery rolled in to one story. The unique setting and the suspense of the story keep you very anxious to read on. You will never want to put it down! I liked the way the author included the Makah Indian Tribe in it. I also enjoyed the way Lighthouse George talked in the Makah Indian language. "Hyas clutus, Tenas Mac, it is very bad." That was my favorite quote in the book because that is what made Nathan want to go into the woods to look for clues. Also that made Nathan find the canoe in the woods, which was my favorite part. When you want a good book to read, check out Ghost Canoe by Will Hobbs!