Another new town. A new school. No friends. It's all happening again. Ollie Oxley and his family have just moved to Granite City, CA. Ollie hopes this move will be better than the last...but it's doubtful. They live in a pink house. He manages to offend the local bully on the first day. And, his new best friend is a ghost. Poor Ollie.

I enjoy reading middle grade books. I read a lot of horror, mystery, thriller type stories...and sometimes I just need a palate cleanser. I always head to children's books to clear my head. This story is fun to read, and a great adventure story. Middle school is enough of an adventure for anyone (Glad I am wayyy past those years!)...add in a ghost, a mean bully, and hunting for treasure and you've got a great story!

I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author. I love the mix of humor and mystery in this book. It made for a nice afternoon of reading. The story is completely middle grade appropriate. Nothing too scary....just lots of middle school antics, humor and adventure!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from North Star Editions via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Ollie Oxley and The Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold by Lisa Schmid is a fun, light-hearted story about a peculiar friendship between a young boy and a ghost and their quest for lost gold.

What I love about reading middle grade books is how easy you can grasp the story while giving you a feel-good adventure. This book definitely has it. The book cover art was too adorable, and the premise sounded promising. That's why I was glad that I was able to access this title on NetGalley.

This is a ghost story, but I can assure you this isn't scary at all. It follows the twelve-year-old Ollie Oxley. Due to his mother's line of work, they had to move a lot. Making friends had always been hard for Ollie. However, when Ollie moved to his mother's hometown, he finally got a friend. There was one tiny bit of a problem. Teddy was a ghost. Learning that the theater where Ollie's mother worked might close, Ollie and Teddy came up with one solution to save it -- look for the lost gold Teddy's father buried in the past. As if searching for it wasn't hard enough, they also had to deal with a school bully. Would they be able to find the gold before the time ran out?

Plotwise, this novel is full of interesting characters, humor, and mystery that will keep you engaged. The narrative is simply creative, the dialogues are funny, and the flow of the story is fast and smooth. Some hints about the gold's location and Teddy's origin are thrown that gives pleasant surprises toward the end. Children will truly enjoy this book.

Also, it covers themes that children might go through while growing up. It talks about friendship, family, adventures and bullying. It will help children open their minds and understand the importance and values of these topics.

The characters are fascinating and very likable. Teddy for sure is my favorite. He's funny, a little bit mischievous, but he values his friendship with Ollie. He helps him in every way that he can. The author did a good job depicting how children react and feel authentically in various situations.

Overall, Ollie Oxley and The Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold is a cute, delightful read with important lessons that children need to learn.

4/5 stars!

4★

Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is a contemporary, middle grade novel that is a thoroughly enjoyable light-hearted ghost story for children aged 8-11.

Everything changed for Ollie when his dad left. Now he has to move all the time, and he’s tired fo being the new kid. What he really wants is a new friend. He find that elusive friend in Teddy—except Teddy is a ghost!

Now things are finally looking up, but his Mom’s boss has money trouble that might make them have to move again, and the school bully has Ollie in his sights. It’s a good thing he’s got a friend to help, but how much can a ghost do to help?

This was a light-hearted, fun read full of wonderful life lessons. It may not be as hard to make friends as Ollie thinks. And it’s never too late to do the right thing.

I’ll be getting this story for my kids for sure.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a quick, enjoyable book. Ollie is a fun character and I loved going on this adventure with him and Teddy!

You had me at ghost and gold! The cover is super cute, I love Ollie and the ghost working together in search of something. This is something I would have devoured at 11 and did now, I still have such a love for ghost stories like these.

I adore this cover on so many levels. 12-yo Jenni (and adult Jenni) would certainly yank it from the shelves. I’m equally drawn to the premise of a kid befriending a ghost from a different era to solve a mystery from said era. The fact the mystery involves a missing cache from the gold rush is gravy. That time period has always intrigued me. And I knew as soon as Ollie and Teddy discovered a secret passageway that I was in for an adventure. I really enjoyed the boys’ hunt for Teddy’s Pa’s missing gold, culminating in a heartwarming and satisfying ending, though I wish we knew a bit more about Teddy’s existence between the 1850s and today. There are quite a few instances of name calling, “bullying the bully,” and a plot point where Ollie’s popularity is grown in a not-so-honest manner, so I think parents and educators should be prepared to have discussions and open-dialogue about these topics. I also think the adults fell short a few times, with how quickly Ollie’s mom accepted a suspension/didn’t support him and how the teachers/principals knowingly allowed bullying. But overall, the search for gold was a fun storyline that kiddos will surely enjoy.

Every time Ollie Oxley's mom gets a new production to direct, he and his sister are uprooted to another house and school. So, he isn't too eager to settle in and get comfortable in Granite City. Ollie knows they've been chasing paychecks ever since his dad asked for a divorce and disappeared from the family. Ollie's used to teachers being suspicious of newcomers, and he's mastered the social strata of middle school. Plus, this is a temporary arrangement, right? Before he knows it, Ollie has gone and provoked the Granite City school (and town) bully, Aubrey.
But Aubrey isn't the thing that surprises Ollie about the historic 49er town they've moved to ~ it's the ghost that's begun following him around. That's definitely new.
As it turns out, this ghost is a helpful one, and he wants to find and share his deceased father's hidden gold with Ollie. If only he can remember where his dad hid it...
Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is the story of a boy tired of not being at least a little in control of his life. Ollie is entertaining and endearing. I recommend Ollie Oxley and the Ghost to kids looking for an adventure!

Totally loved this book.

Ollie is used to moving a lot. When he moves with his mom and sister into a pink house in his mom's hometown, he is sure it's going to be a disaster. New school, new kids, and a ghost. Everything fits together nicely. I really loved Teddy (the ghost) and his interactions with Ollie.

I was provided an e arc from net galley and exchange for a Honest review all opinions are my own. I really enjoyed this. I thought Ollie was such a loveable character. Even though it was middle grade it kept me hooked.

Middle grade mystery readers have a new guy in town! Ollie Oxley is your typical 7th grader trying hard to fit in while managing to survive an uncertain home life. He's the universal "new kid" who moves around a lot due to his mother's search for stable work. He's a champ at knowing who to avoid in school, but not so great at making friends. He's a kid with a bright imagination who has faced some obstacles, but is resilient enough to land on his feet. He is, all in all, the quintessential middle grade hero!

Ollie is a likable character, as are the rest of the folks who round out his universe - his Mom, sister DeeDee, Miss Sally, Captain Cook, the school friends (even bully Aubrey who seems to be stuck in a toxic situation at home and may not be as bad as she seems!), and finally, the "ghost" Teddy. The plot here reminded me of one of my all-time favorite kids books, The Ghost of Dibble Hollow, which I read in 6th or 7th grade. Two boys, one real and one ghostly, team up to find a long-lost treasure. It's a simple story, with enough drama to hold the attention of both boys and girls.

I loved this! It was an easy read & would really engage middle grade boy readers in particular.

Ollie has a good heart and doesn’t want to keep moving. He wants to stay with his ghost friend Teddy but he wants the school bully & his nemesis Aubrey to leave him alone!

A great story, well-written & I’d be eager to read more about Ollie and his new life.

A full review will be posted on my blog on 3rd June but can be rescheduled if requested.

My name is Teddy, but that's all I remembered when I first appeared to Ollie. He moves a lot and is having a rough time since he's moved to Granite City with his mom and sister. I love helping him handle the school bully, although he's not as excited as he should be about challenging her for class president. His bigger problem is that he may need to move again, but I have the solution. His mom needs money to save the Bingham Theater, and my father buried his gold under a tree in our backyard. It would be helpful if I could remember where I lived, or even remember my last name. Ollie's trying to find clues about my identity and where I may have lived, but time is running out. The bully's mother is causing trouble again.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley. The book blended the mystery and tension of the conflict with Teddy's mischievousness and humor. A big, creative part of the problem was the fact that Teddy remembered almost nothing about his past. Ollie became an amateur detective, and random pictures and stories sparked new clues from Teddy's memories. Teddy's "appearance" created an embarrassment for Ollie, as others saw him talking to himself. The bully is a common problem in middle-grade novels, and the one in this book didn't do anything unexpected. It felt like the author was creating some sympathy for the character, but my feelings about her were still uncertain in the end. Ollie was a good guy and was the highlight of the story. He teased his younger sister, as many siblings do, but he had great compassion for his family. His big motivation throughout the plot was to save his family from moving again. The election race for class president was a nice twist to the events and offered Teddy more opportunities for mischief. Overall, this book was a cute introduction to a new series, and upper elementary readers should enjoy it.

I already post my review on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2678985086

I received a softcopy of 'Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold' from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*


I love middle grade stories, and I love ghost stories, especially in positive vibe. So, this book is a gem for me ♥️

A boy tired for always moving, with a mum and a sister, move to his mum's childhood city. As always: new school, bullying, and... a ghost.

I love the ending. And, I usually love standalone books than series, but in this case, I would love to have other sequel. Just make it as 'a-book-for-a-case' and I'll read all ♥️

Thanks for this ARC, and apologize for my English, as I'm not native in English

I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really cute book! I like Ollie and his relationships with his family. Teddy was an absolute hoot!

There's really good stuff here involving peer pressure and bullying.

This is a great book for young readers, and I hope it will be the first in a series. Ollie is tired of having to move to new towns with his mother and sister every time his mother gets a new job. His father has recently left, but there is not much information on what the circumstances surrounding his departure were - I hope there is more on this as the series continues. To make matters worse Ollie is forced to move into a pink house and the first child he meets is a ghost!

Teddy and Ollie's friendship is amusing and Ollie constantly getting caught talking to himself adds to the humor. I also enjoyed the bickering between Ollie and his sister DeDe - they may argue all the time, but at the end of the day they do care about one another.

I was a little disappointed with the adults in the this book - Ollie's entire school seems completely oblivious to how Aubrey treats other children and his mother doesn't have his back when he needs her support.

Aubrey is a little too awful to completely believe as a character, but she teaches two of the best lessons in the book: 1) sometimes there is more to a child who bullies others than meets the eye and 2) just because someone is awful to you doesn't mean you need to sink to their level.

"Ollie Oxley and the Ghost" was a simply told, engaging and non-threatening ghost story with family at its centre aimed at kids 8-10. A family move frequently because of mum's job and end up at a house with a history and a mystery. Good clean fun for your kids. It's not going to scare anyone, but it will make them smile.

Ollie is tired of moving. Nothing has been the same since his father left them. They've been moving often enough that he doesn't have a chance to make any friends. Now they're moving back to his mother's hometown where his mom takes on the job of reviving the old theater. Just as he begins to settle in, he learns that they may have to move again if his mom's boss can't bring the mortgage current. As if that's not enough, he becomes the target of the school bully. Luckily he has the help of his new friend, Teddy to figure things out. Only one catch -Teddy is a ghost!

This was a really cute, enjoyable read. Even though it was fun and light-hearted, it had some important lessons, too. Ollie discovers that it's not as hard to make friends as he expects when he does the right thing and stands up to the bully. He learns that there may be more to a bully than just being mean, he makes Teddy do the right thing for an old friend, and of course, he looks for a hidden treasure!

I would definitely read more about Ollie (and his wacky sister, DeeDee)!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, atmosphere, and characters. I would recommend the book to friends and family for their reading pleasure.

A big thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions/Flux for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is a children's book, mystery and or fantasy. It is a cute story. I loved the mystery part. It has bullying in it. Ollie gets bullied by red head Aubrey. The part that upset me the most was that the mom (Jenny) never asked for Ollie's side, and certainly didn't stand up for him! When just assumed he did it!! Wow just wow way to blow it mom. This would have been a 4 but I rate it a 3.5.