Customer Reviews

The Night Tourist

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a terrific ghost story for the advanced young reader. This adult enjoyed it, too, though he's easily frightened and found some parts a little scary. The Night Tourist is also a page turner, with brains and action. Marsh will have you flying over and under New York City. (And if there are any Latin-studying nerds out there, please take note: this is a book you can't miss).

The Night Tourist is a must-read for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, their teachers, librarians, reading specialists, and anyone who enjoys excellent young adult fiction.
It is the adventure of Jack Perdu, a smart ninth grader who lives with his father on the campus of Yale University. Due to a near-fatal auto accident, his father sends him to Manhattan, a place he hasn't been since his mother's death eight years earlier, to see an unusual doctor.
Later, in Grand Central Station, Jack meets Euri, a peculiar girl who takes him on a search for his mother through New York's ghostly underworld beneath the subway system, a metaphor for the Greek underworld. Much magical action also takes place in the night sky above the modern-day landscape of Manhattan.
The Night Tourist is an intelligently crafted work of fiction. Marsh writes with a deep understanding of adolescents. The author is masterful in her development of a bonding friendship between Jack and Euri. At times, the reader will smile or even laugh out loud at the touches of humor and word play. Unexpected plot twists and suspenseful action keep the reader intrigued right up to the last page. A sequel is a must.

This Orpheus-inspired YA urban fantasy set in the New York City Underworld is distinguished by witty writing, an abundance of suspense and fun, and the occasional dead poet. By turns funny and poignant, it deals gracefully and honestly with issues of death (and life) without ever condescending to the reader. You will be transported into the world of these vividly drawn characters and settings; New Yorkers will enjoy an extra laugh or two, and those who've never been will be captivated by a clever and loving insider's look devoid of the standard NYC cliches.

This deft take on the Orpheus myth is both funny and sad, the best kind of novel. Katherine Marsh's sly wit shines through Jack's heroic quest to the New York Underworld, a Greek-style afterlife inhabited by the ghosts of every person who ever died in the City--from Dylan Thomas to Jack's own mother. His guide? A Eurydice in prep school uniform and armed with a serious attitude. The resolution--or lack thereof--of Jack's quest begs for a sequel.

Katherine Marsh has written a gem! The Night Tourist is filled with action, thoughful musings, touching moments, and intriguing tidbits about New York City and Greek mythology. At times it reminded me of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwiler-- a childhood favorite that still conjurs up a feeling of amusement and delight for me. I have no doubt that The Night Tourist will do the same for kids today.

Jack Perdu, is a Classics prodigy who lives with his father on the Yale university campus. Jack keeps to himself. One winter day after a near fatal accident, Jack's life is changed forever.

His father sends him to see a myterious doctor in New York City, a place Jack hasn't been to since his mother's death. At Grand Station Terminal he meets Euri, a girl who offers to show him the train station's hidden places. Eight flights down he stumbles across the 61st floor, which he finds is home to New York's ghostly underworld. Jack wonders if he can find his mother again. But secrets are revealed which include what really happened to his mother and the truth of Euri's past.

Katherine Marsh does a great job combining mythology with a mysterious underworld. Her take on the Orpheus is unique too. I was glued from the first page. I'd recommend this book to those who like a good ghostly read without the usual cliches.

My English professor assigned this book for my class which is centered on Childhood in Urban Space. She told us it was a kid's book written for people 13 and older, but as I read the book I felt that the avergage teen would not understand the literary allusions to such works as Dante's Inferno and the Orpheus myth. If teens were to read this book on their own they will be thoroughly confused. Unless they understand Greek mythology and have a background in Medieval Literature they will not be able to fully appreciate this amazing novel.

Jack is a 14-year-old Classics prodigy, who takes a trip to the underworld beneath NYC and meets dead-girl Euri (as in Eurydice) while trying to find his mother who had "died" 8 years earlier. The search leads him to poets Dylan Thomas and Allen Guinsberg and a viewing of a play written posthumously by Tennessee Williams. It was a thouroughly engaging novel, and is recommended for anyone who is willing to spend the time to research the literary allusions.

I like and admire the Percy Jackson books, and I think that Rick Riordan has a very young-reader-friendly writing style. But, while the books are very enjoyable, they don't demand much more of the reader than that he follow the story.
The Night Tourist is the next step. It is a modern retelling of the Orpheus story, with both subtle parallels and more explicit references to help guide the young reader. The hero, Jack, is a more fully realized character than you usually find in fantasy. The modern embellishments to the plot are predictable, but still satisfying. There is broad humor, but also some sly witty references that I think add another layer of reading satisfaction. So,the book entertains, educates, challenges and satisfies. And it's reasonably priced. What's not to like?

The Night Tourist is a great book and one that I recommend 8th graders should read. This book is an adventure that takes place in New York city. Jack Perdu is the main character. He is a ninth grader and lives with his dad on the campus of Yale university. Jack was in a car accident and his dad sends him to Manhattan to see a unusual doctor. Jack had not been to Manhattan since his mother did 8 years ago. In Manhattan, Jack meets a girl named Euri, who takes him on a journey to find his mother in the underworld underneath the subway station. In the book there is a weird sky that is magical above the underworld, that gives Jack clues to help him find his mother that he misses so dearly.
The Night tourist is a great fiction book. The author also makes the book kid friendly and makes it easier to read for kids. Marsh(the author) makes the book good because there is a great use of bonding and friendship between Jack and Euri. Since this was such a great book, there should be another book that is a sequel to it or anoher book that extends The Night Tourist.

the night tourist is a very misterious book... it tells Jacks story well... it makes people want to read the seaquel cuz of the of the night tourist... we never got to know what ever happened to Jack and Euri... what happened remains a mystery until you read The Twilight Prisoner... So READ!!!