Customer Reviews

The Great Ghost Rescue (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

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

 

 

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

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.

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.

This is the first book of Ibbotson's that I've read and I enjoyed it. It makes you laugh, makes you think, and makes you care. I think it's a great book for children mainly because it makes them think while having fun. There's enough 'gross'ness to say 'ughhhh!' and laugh, giggle and shows how we can DO something about the world around us if we really cared and tried to contribute positively to it.

It's a well-written book.

Eva Ibbostons "The great ghost rescue"is a great book.Its filled with gruesome ghosts and humor that only makes the book better. It has strong details and great characters.It is a book that is hard to put down.Eva Ibbotsons great humor and strong characters last through the entire story.Wich leads me to believe that Eva Ibbostons"The great ghost rescue" deserves 5 stars.

This book is one of the last Ibbotson's I read, but i loved it just the same. Parts of it may not be as wonderful as Which Witch? or Not Just A Witch, but it is a great book I would highly recommend it for relaxing fantasy literature. I also find it better in different ways than the other books. The characters seem more

I don't have many regrets in my life but I do regret that I never wrote Eva Ibbotson a fan letter. Her children's books are so imaginative and thrilling. This was the first book of hers I ever read and a sentimental favourite. Her writing style is so warm and intimate and so engaging. I am now reading more of her work and am discovering that she is a prolific writer of top quality books very suitable for younger readers and most enjoyable for a reader of any age.

I like Ibbotson's light touch. The tales are not frantic; the characters are loopy yet endearing; the plots are perfectly serviceable. There is no pressure to "love,love,love!!" the book. But gentle humor is still humor, and there are very sharp albeit subtle and subversive jabs hidden in Ibbotson's wry observations.

So, your young reader can just enjoy the characters and the action, or can get a little more from the understated quality writing. Either way, this book is a clear step above a lot of the current franchised ghost and fantasy works.

Ibbotson has such a way with words. Not only in her ability to select words that sound fantastic, but the images she's able to conjure are truly vivid and fantastic!

"The Great Ghost Rescue" deals with a young boy, Rick, who must try to get the Prime Minister to create a Ghost Sanctuary as a place for all the haunts to go to as their homes/habitats keep dwindling. Obviously, this is loads of fun as we meet all sorts of Ghoulish beings and their stories. But added to this are themes of prejudice, environmentalism, etc. Sometimes I did feel that these messages were a tad 'heavy handed' but overall I didn't mind as the story and characters were so enjoyable. Also, sometimes I found Ibbotson's explanations were contradictory, and it's really only these two things that kept me from giving this book five stars (something I very much wanted to do!).

As sweet and charming as this tale is, it's not without some slightly icky descriptions (which are thankfully told in a very lighthearted way). Also, the book could also raise some concerns among young readers who will find themselves questioning non-vegetarian diets, environmentalism, etc. All good questions, but know that the issues are raised.

All in all this is a fun and fast read and I'm already delving into other Ibbotson works! :) Highly recommended!

this book was not what i thought it would be,i didn't care for it.delivered in good condition.