Book Review of Ghosts of Winter
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The Children’s Book Review
Ghosts of Winter
Written by Amy Gorder
Illustrated by Isaac Peterson
Ages: 9-14 | 238 Pages
Publisher: Emerald Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-1954779983
What to Expect: Ghosts, goldrush era, mystery, friendship, and problem-solving.
Exciting sequel to Ghosts of Autumn, Ghosts of Winter offers readers another fast- paced and compelling dive into the spooky history and mysteries of a small town with deep roots in the California Gold Rush era.
The ramshackle old Elk Grove Hotel has been newly restored as a museum, preserving the town’s history for everyone to enjoy. However, an eerie dream is Houdi’s first clue that his school trip to the new museum might awaken ghosts in a very literal way.
Only minutes into the trip, ghostly lights lead Houdi to an old gold pocket watch, which he tucks into his pocket—it triggers the terrifying ghost from his dream to appear, threatening to hunt him down and take the watch back. Can Houdi discover the secret history of the watch—and why the friendly Elk Grove House ghosts wanted him to find it before this new, unfriendly spirit takes its revenge on him? The answer is shrouded in mystery, waiting to be unveiled!
Once again, the story takes readers on a romp through history, alternating chapters between the Gold Rush era and the present day, inviting readers to think about how history shapes our lives today. As with the first book in the series, genuine characters and events from the past ground the adventure in real history and bring the past to life, making the characters and their experiences relatable to the readers. Houdi, Amelia, and their friends are inquisitive, curious, and clever, and their passion for history and justice is compelling.
Ghosts of Winter is not just a riveting ghost story but also an informative exploration of small-town American history. This makes it a great read for middle-grade history lovers and ghost fans, as well as parents and educators looking for books that combine entertainment with learning.
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About the Author
Amy Gorder loves to share her fondness for spooky stories intertwined with California Gold Rush history. She was born and raised in the Central Valley of California, where ghosts of 1849 loom large. She lives in Elk Grove, California, along with her husband, Chris, and together they have four children and ten grandchildren. As a mother, grandmother, and former elementary school teacher, she has learned that nothing grabs a child’s attention faster than a spooky ghost adventure. And if history is learned along the way, all the better. Ghosts of Autumn is her first children’s book and the first in the series Gold Rush Ghosts.
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