The Great Ghost Rescue [Paperback]

Eva Ibbotson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Humphrey is a small ghost with a big problem. His family has lost their home, and they're off to find a new haunting ground. But soon Humphrey and his parents discover that ghosts all over the country are being turned out as dank castles are converted to cheerful tourist hotels. Humphrey knows something must be done to help the homeless ghosts. And with the help of a sympathetic schoolboy named Rick, maybe he can do something to aid all the ghosts of England after all. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of Dial-A-Ghost will eagerly welcome the new flock of floating phantoms in The Great Ghost Rescue, Eva Ibbotson's wry companion novel, illus. by Kevin Hawkes. The ghosts' housing shortage continues, and human hero Rick wants the British government to do something about it. But even after the ghosts are settled, they're greeted by some unwelcome visitors: the exorcists (could there be another sequel in the works?). Ages 8-14.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-7-Cast out when their spooky castle gets modernized into a holiday camp, Humphrey and his ghost family search for a new home. They meet a friendly schoolboy named Rick who decides they should start a "ghost sanctuary," since human expansion has ruined so many ghoulish spots in England. When the sanctuary turns out to be a trap meant to exorcise all of the ghosts, Rick and Humphrey must save the day. Ibbotson's sense of humor is in fine form, especially in her detailed descriptions of the various ghostly characters. Headless Aunt Hortensia and Humphrey's brother, George the Screaming Skull, are just two of the repulsive, yet endearing figures. There's a bizarre warmth of feeling between humans and ghosts, as when Rick agrees to let a sickly young vampire bat suck a bit of his blood in a gross, but weirdly tender scene. The humans are mostly exaggerated caricatures, which works fine for most of them, including the evil exorcist, who neatly ends up as a ghost in need of sanctuary himself. However, Rick and his human friends who help are less engaging than other Ibbotson protagonists. Plot contrivances that keep the story moving, including a convenient local witch coven and a surprisingly understanding Prime Minister, fit with the lighthearted tone, but also prevent the story from becoming truly involving. The book still has considerable appeal, though, because of the deliciously consistent macabre humor and the entertaining ensemble of ghosts.
Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (April 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142500879
• ISBN-13: 978-0142500873
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,826,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The great ghost rescue, July 23, 2003

By 

...Loggie... "Loggie-log-log-log" (I live on the earth, in the western hemisphere, in North America, in the country of the United States of America, in Illinois in the town of Champaign) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Ghost Rescue (Hardcover)

The Great Ghost Rescue is a very good book. The main character is Humphrey the Horrible. Humphrey is a ghost. Humphrey is a bit of a disappointment to his mother and father. He doesn't moan or wail, his ectoplasm is pinkish, and he can't even disappear properly. Humphrey's mother is a hag, and Humphrey's father is a Scottish ghost with a sword sticking out of his chest. Humphrey's brother is a screaming scull, and his sister constantly moans because she can't reach her bowl of water to clean off her bloodstains. Yes, Humphrey's parents are worried about him.

One day Aunt Hortensia came to live with the family. She has been forced out of the place she was haunting, and decided to come live in the old castle that Humphrey's family haunts. She brought with her stories of lots of ghosts being forced out of their old haunts or of being forced to haunt places like butcher shops (oh horror!). The family was staunch in their belief that whatever happened out in the rest of the world, they would be safe here.

However the unthinkable happened. Developers came to their castle and started to turn it into an amusement place. The family leaves, seeking a new place. They spend the night in a boardinghouse. At the boardinghouse they meet a boy named Rick. Rick is already mad at the injustices people are doing to animals, and is shocked to see that ghosts share the threat of extinction. He wants to help the ghosts and decides that they need to create a Ghost Sanctuary.

This is the story of Rick going to the Prime Minister and asking for a ghost sanctuary. It is also, more importantly, about how Humphrey realizes that he doesn't have to be Horrible, he is fine the way he is.

The story is written in that creative style that always characterizes Ibbotson's work. It is a wonderful book and I really enjoyed it.

Loggie-log-log-log

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny and Creepy, October 23, 2002

By 

T Beasley (KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Ghost Rescue (Hardcover)

Being close to halloween I chose this book to read for enjoyment as well as a way to fulfill an assignment for a class I am taking. The book jacket told of a young English boy's journey as he tries to help some creepy and strange spirits find a new home after being evicted from their castle where they have spent the last 500 years. Along the way other ghosts, vampire bats and spooks help the young man on his way to Parliament to plead with the government to help the homeless spirits. The unusual array of characters really adds to the story.
I think the story has enough humor and "grossness" to keep young readers entertained. Humphrey the Horrible and his ghost family are an interesting bunch. His father, the Gliding Kilt, his mother,the Hag, his sister, Weeping Winifred, and his brother George, the Screaming Skull together make up the leaders of a band of residence challenged ghouls.
Besides being entertaining the story also has some serious yet subtle messages in it. Most of the ghosts are being misplaced because their old homes and haunts are being destroyed by progress. Old castles are being turned into hotels, haunted houses are being torn down to make subdivisions, and old barns are even being turned into bowling alleys. "Hard to haunt with all those bright lights and bowling balls making all that rachet!" says one ghost. This one underlying plot may make readers think about and form opinions about how progress affects our world.
I would recommend this book for young readers. While not being very scary at all it is entertaining and there may even be a few lessons to be learned.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost "Great", May 6, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Great Ghost Rescue (Paperback)

What if ghosts not only were among us, but required gross, run-down castles, abbeys and ruins to live in? And what if renovations and pollution made them sick? This goofy tale of a cute ghost, a conscientious schoolboy, and a bunch of freaky spooks is an amusing light read, even with its preachy passages.

Humphrey the Horrible is a ghost -- a cute, light, pinkish ghost, son of a Hag and a legless Scottish ghost. He and his family live in a ruined castle... but all that changes when headless Aunt Hortensia arrives, having been forced out of her old home. Soon all the ghosts are homeless, and looking for a ghastly new place to dwell. They end up spending the night at a boy's dormitory, and enlisting the help of one of the boys there, Rick.

A plan is formed: Rick can go ask the Prime Minister to help find a "ghost sanctuary." When they arrive in London (with a water spirit, family of vampire bats and mad monk they picked up), Rick manages to argue the ghosts' case, and get them a hideous old castle. But their new home may be even more dangerous than the old one -- and could destroy all the spooks of England.

Don't expect anything too deep from Eva Ibbotson, and you'll be satisfied. Few people can actually write light fantasy, and her flair for the grotesque (the Shuk, a one-eyed disfigured dog, or playing games with Aunt Hortensia's head) adds to the goofiness of it all.

Ibbotson's writing is quirky and full of entertaining puns and poignant moments. Not to mention that over-the-top British style, with an almost conversational feel and plenty of icky moments. The book sags about halfway through, with some rather preachy stretches about vegetarianism and pollution. But when the exorcists show up and the witches are enlisted, things kick back into high gear.

Humphrey is reminiscent of the white witch from "Which Witch?" -- he's supposed to be grotesque, but ends up being cuddly. Rick comes across as a much more solid character, especially when he saves the life of a baby vampire bat. And the other ghosts are a motley bunch, with their own unique complaints and quirks (Humphrey's brother utters bloodcurdling shrieks).

"The Great Ghost Rescue" is a fun light fantasy, dripping with humor and ectoplasm. An entertaining if somewhat brief read, for the ghost-lovers out there.