The last thing that Tom Tomsky wanted was a ghost in his house. For this nine-year-old klutz, life was already a mess; finding a spook in the cellar seemed like the final straw. Fortunately, Tom has family connections to world-renowned ghost hunter Hetty Camomile. With Hetty's help, Tom turns the tide on this untimely spirit intrusion.
Publishers Weekly
Funke reaches out to newly independent readers with this first-in-a-series installment about beleaguered nine-year-old Tom, who bests his nasty older sister, Lola, by honing his ghosthunting skills. Sent to the cellar for orange juice, Tom, a 'fraidy cat, encounters an ASG, (Averagely Spooky Ghost), who nearly scares him out of his skin. No one in his family believes him except his sympathetic grandmother who "listened to him without constantly frowning unlike his parents." Grandma also has a friend, Hetty Hyssop, who specializes in spectral exorcisms. Turns out that the ASG is being bullied himself, cast out of his familiar haunt by the IRG of the title. Tom and Hetty conspire to put things right and give Lola her due, too. The story is not really funny enough to appeal to kids who want humor, and not scary enough to raise goosebumps; the text tends to rely on exclamation points to inject excitement. Funke's half-tone illustrations add appeal for readers just getting the hang of chapter books but, overall, this is a somewhat pedestrian offering from the talented creator of Inkheart and The Thief Lord. Ages 7-10. (Aug.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal
Gr 2-4-Something wicked is in the cellar, and it's up to nine-year-old Tom to eradicate it in Cornelia Funke's light-hearted thriller (Chicken House, pap. 2006). Cellar dweller Hugo turns out to be an ASG (Averagely Spooky Ghost), blown out of his villa and into Tom's cellar by an IRG (Incredibly Revolting Ghost). Hugo and Tom join forces with ghost hunter Heady Hyssop to expel the IRG from Hugo's villa. Along the way they meet the cookie-baking Mr. Lovely, who provides the solution to a provoking problem. The trio's exploits are related through John Beach's warm narration. He's a master of Hugo's wobbly whooooing and the IRG's harrumphing vibrato. In spite of the IRG's penchant for removing his head at key moments, children won't be unduly frightened by this tale.-Erin B. Allen, Rowan Public Library, Salisbury, NC Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
FEB/MAR 07 - AudioFile
How to get rid of a ghost? That’s Tom’s problem, if he wants to survive his trips to the dark, gloomy cellar AND his smirking sister, Lola. The former question he answers with the help of ghost hunter extraordinaire Hetty Hissup—the latter he resolves with the help of his new friend, Hugo, an ASG (averagely spooky ghost). John Beach’s reading is somewhat tongue in cheek, with exaggerated yet fun voices for timid Hugo, no-nonsense Hetty, and the mean, gravelly voiced IRG (incredibly revolting ghost). Beach builds the suspense in every chapter, and his whines, moans, and howls will delight children who like to be scared, but not too scared. W.L.S. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine
