Charis Cotter once again delivers spooky vibes for the discerning young reader. Some other books by this author are a bit stronger/spookier, but this one has twins, which as we all know are pretty suspicious

Done Just Right.

There isn't much that's new or novel in this book. Ghosts, a curse, family secrets, spunky girl cousins with distinct but complementary personalities. The test, of course, is what you do with those basic ingredients. Happily, as in her earlier book, "The Swallow", Cotter does a remarkable job of combining these ingredients into a very tasty and satisfying treat.

Front and center, the choice of Newfoundland as the setting for the tale is inspired. Moody, rainy and windswept, subject to raging storms and violent ocean waves, the landscape gives any English moor, heath, or seascape a healthy run for its money as a place of magic, wonder, and dread. And Cotter just doesn't set the scene and then abandon it. Newfoundland is practically a character throughout the book.

Girl friendship is the anchor for the characters here, as it was in "The Swallow". Cotter has an amazing knack for connecting different sorts of girls into friendships and partnerships that feel deep and authentic. Here the hook is that the two girls are cousins who have never before met. They are almost physically identical, but have a city mouse/country mouse difference in personalities, attitudes, and experiences. The result is a number of buddy-comedy, buddy-adventure, buddy-detective scenes of charm and vitality. It's a bonus to end up with two feisty and appealing heroines for the price of one.

The supporting characters are all settled types - rustics, farm handyman, lovable great aunt, suspicious villagers, and so on. But most have sufficiently unique or memorable personalities that they add more than just background or the means to facilitate info dumps. Since the girls don't know much of anything about anything when the tale begins, these supporting characters have to tell them stories in order to move the plot along. So at least at the outset you get multiple different narrative styles, and almost different points of view, and that and a load of foreshadowing give the story an unbalanced, unpredictable and slightly ominous feel.

MILD SPOILER. The "thing" that powers the action in this book isn't one of the usual physical things like a key or a charm or some other macguffin. The "thing" is a family curse that goes back many generations and is powered by human emotions, especially anger, hatred, and the thirst for revenge. You can't get rid of that with a cute spell or a wand, and the way all of the characters struggle with this curse, throughout the book and right up to the end, is elegantly set out and gives the book more weight than you would have in just a magicky ghost story.

If I have one quibble it is that the multi-generational family history that provides the framework for the curse, and the unavoidable "family secrets", and ghostly doings, is more complex and convoluted than really seemed necessary. As a consequence the characters had to keep reminding each other of who was who and how they all fit together. (At one point Aunt Doll suggested to cousin Ruth that she should get a pad and pencil and outline the family history, and that was an excellent suggestion.)

Anyway, putting that minor complaint aside, after starting with the girls, once you add the curse, the ghosts, the fairy stories, and the general air of mystic menace, this adds up to a ripping and moody adventure.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

The beautiful cover draws you in, but the spooky story keeps the pages turning! This story has a cool classic ghost story feel to it.

The Ghost Road follows the tale of Ruth. Her mother has passed away since she was very young so she has little to no memory of her. Ruth lives in Toronto but during the summer, when her father decides to travel overseas to study flowers with his new wife, she's sent to Newfoundland and Labrador to meet an aunt and cousin she knows nothing about. There's mystery surrounding Ruth's mother. Although Ruth's mother grew up in NFL, she hardly mentions it to Ruth. Ruth knew nothing about the province on the east coast of Canada. She didn't know any of the folklore, her identical looking cousin, Ruby, knows so much about and she doesn't know anything about the family history. Apparently, Ruby's mother was a twin sister of Ruth's sister. What was strange was that they both happened to die at the same time and same day.I found this book to be so entertaining. The chapters were short so it kept me intrigued and wanting to sit through and binge ten chapters at a time. And Cotter did an amazing job at leaving each chapter on a hook that made you want to read more. As more chapters went on, more secrets and clues were revealed that allowed readers to piece together an idea of what was going on.

Canadian writer Charis Cotter starts out The Ghost Road with a strong description of the Maritimes of Canada. She describes a lovely setting that includes the natural area, cute lighthouses, cottage-type housing and the coastal shore. One of the best mood setting lines in the book is:
"You’re walking on a fairy path, my love, and just because you don’t believe in them, doesn’t mean they won’t come after you."
We start to get a sense of the magic that might lie just beyond or within the Canadian land. Unfortunately the first few chapters are easily the best part of the book.

Boring Mystery
I hate to say it but this was just a boring book. I know it's written for middle aged kids and all; but that doesn't mean that things have to happen so slow or be obvious. I had the book pegged for what was likely to happen very early on. I was about 85% correct. There's just no fun in a book that sets up a mystery but doesn't really churn that mystery throughout. I want to feel the mystery, have theories, experience the characters theories, etc. Instead in The Ghost Road I just knew how it would eventually end up.

Childish Writing
Again I come back to the idea that middle aged kids do not need to have their books written as though they are stupid. I like middle aged books that are easy to read with some larger words thrown in that the kids can learn. While I was a voracious reader as a child (as I am as an adult) and at age 12 was into Lord of the Rings and The Eye of the World; I still think the average 12 year old reader can be given more credit. My 15-year-old nephew complained to me for years about how boring the books were in the middle-grade genre. He's a good reader but not more advanced per say than the average kid.
I also had a moment while reading Cotter's Canadian story that I had written pieces of this book when I was a pre-teen. I had an idea about a hill that held magic and secrets. Mine wasn't in the Maritimes but in my home area that includes foothills, prairies and the Rocky Mountains. The general premise was very similar to that of The Ghost Road. This is telling to me. If this book isn't smarter than 13-year-old me then it could definitely be improved!

Overall
While our lead girl characters are fairly well developed and there are some interesting moments in The Ghost Road; overall it's just too dull. A bit more magic is needed to really bring the story alive and off the page. The biggest improvements that need to be made are to make the mystery more complex; and to really add some juicy information into the book. Were Cotter to make the historical mystery more interesting and add some complexity to the writing and characters; then I think she could really have something here. As it is I'm probably being generous at 3 stars. However I did finish reading and didn't hate it; just found it very lack luster.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

A family curse, hidden passages, whispers from nowhere, you will find them all here. Cotter sets
the perfect atmosphere for a ghost story. It is easy to get lost in this one. There are many twists and turns. This is perfect for middle grade ghost lovers. The cover is Beautiful!!

I wish I could go back in time and give my 10 year old self this book- kid me would've loved it! The descriptions of Newfoundland make me want to visit, the local legends and customs are charming, and all the secrets and spooky goings-on were fun and appealing to me now, they definitely would've appealed to me as a child. The author does a wonderful job keeping the tension going at a steady pace. My only complaint is there were several things left up in the air at the end- I would've liked to have heard the girls' fathers side of the story, especially Ruth's father's story. I also would've liked to find out more about Eldred's past and what happened to him. Overall, though, a very good spooky story for readers about 9/10 and up, including adults!

I loved everything about this book! Ghosts, friendship, helping others! This book was just really amazing! Thank you netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was an enjoyable ghost story! I love the fairy stories I've read about in Newfoundland and thought this one might be entertaining as it too takes place there! I wasn't disappointed. It's a good solid story of a ghost trying to take care of unfinished business with the help of two young girls Ruth and Ruby. I think 5th grade up would enjoy this tale. It's really quite a good story! Even teens may enjoy it.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for giving me the chance to read The Ghost Road in exchange for an honest review.**

I just love Charis Cotter's storytelling. Whenever I read her books I am so happy that I am living here in Newfoundland and immediately want to find out where these ghost stories took place. Her stories are so atmospheric and just pull me in every time. Her descriptions of Newfoundland landscape are impeccable. Even though her books are geared to middle graders, I think any ages can read them. I personally love them. (My younger daughter and I have previously read The Swallow and The Painting. I will be picking up a copy of this one for her when it comes out.)

The Ghost Road is a story about ghosts, a family curse, buried secrets -- and two girls who have to figure it all out. The answers lie somewhere along the Ghost Road . . . if they can only find it. I won't bother to include the whole synopsis of the book. You can read that under the description. The whole story; you'll just have to read it to find out.

Super cute ghostly adventure. This book was well written, and I loved the main characters and how they reacted towards each other. I was really happy how the author wrote the story.

This was an amazing ghost story. The story has so many plot twists and exciting moments, it will keep any reader engaged. The characters in the book are brought to life by Charis Cotter, even the ones gone long ago. I suggest this for anyone that enjoys a great mystery and g

This is the perfect ghost story for youngsters who are beginning to broaden their literary experiences to include the darker side of the human condition. The ghosts in this story are presented to Ruth, the young protagonist, as benevolent and helpful apparitions who want to help Ruth overcome a family curse and lay a Dar past to rest.

The story is compelling with a smooth narrative from Ruth's point of view. The author gently reminds the reader that children are both stronger, smarter and braver than most adults admit it realize.

THE GHOST ROAD tells the tale with engaging text and beautiful illustrations of two girls desperately trying to uncover a secret that has haunted their family for generations. Atmospheric and highly suspenseful. 5/5

Thank you to the author, Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TheGhostRoad #NetGalley

Why do ghosts haunt? Because they have unfinished business. Because there is something that keeps them on earth until they have completed their mission.

Ruth has gone to Newfoundland for the Summer to visit her cousin Ruby, who she discovers looks very much like her. It is almost as though they are twins. But that is not the weirdest thing. Because although Ruth doesn't believe in ghosts and visions and having the Sight, she starts experiencing the moment she gets to her Aunt Dolly's house, starting with a ghost that comes to visit her the first night.

With Ruby's help, the two girls learn what the ghost is trying to tell them, despite the fact that Ruth keeps saying she doesn't believe in ghosts or curses or any of this stuff.

An interesting take on a middle grade ghost story. Both Ruth and Ruby seem like very real children, set in the 1980s Newfoundland. Good descriptions of the landscape, and the flowers.

#TheGhostRoad #NetGalley

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.