Reviews for The Ghost of Fossil Glen

by Cynthia DeFelice

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Gr. 4^-6. A tense opening scene draws children right into this beautifully crafted thriller: Allie Nichols hangs by a thread on the side of a steep cliff in Fossil Glen. Readers have nothing to worry about, though, because Allie is guided safely down by a reassuring voice belonging to the ghost of a young girl who died in the glen four years earlier. It seems Allie has been chosen to avenge the girl's murder, which was made to look like an accident by a greedy real-estate developer, the boyfriend of the girl's mother. As she did in her historical novel The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker (1996), DeFelice does a splendid job of unfolding the complicated plot, dispensing information in just the right amounts, and making connections. Very little time is given to characters and events that don't advance the story, resulting in an expertly paced, dynamic page-turner that never gives readers the chance to become distracted or lose interest. It's another fine title from a fine author. --Lauren Peterson


Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Fiction: I In this tightly packed, swiftly moving mystery, sixth-grader Allie Nichols encounters the ghost of Lucy Stiles and becomes involved with Lucy's unsolved death, eventually finding proof that Lucy was murdered. The plot evolves logically, the villain hovers appropriately in the wings until his dramatic entrance, and everything is wrapped up neatly, but not predictably. Horn Rating: Superior, well above average. Reviewed by: esw (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 4-6-Stage actress Christina Moore aptly narrates Cynthia De Felice's fast-paced, tightly written story (FS&G, 1998). Her articulate reading gives voice to each character and encompasses a wide emotional range without affectation. De Felice's judicious use of teen jargon is evident in Moore's narration. The tone of the work is contemporary without being cloying. From 11-year-old Allie Nichols' precarious perch on the shale cliffs over Fossil Glen, where a reassuring voice guides her down to safety, to the final denouement with the villain on those same cliffs, De Felice spins a smooth, briskly paced murder mystery. Allie is reluctant to share her encounter with the strange voice with her family and friends, fearing that they will view it as more evidence of her over-active imagination. As her unusual experiences increase, with revealing dreams and supernatural events, she confides in her friend Dub. Only he sees her plight as warranting investigation. At his suggestion, they search the Internet using the key word "ghosts." Under "true ghost stories," they find information that validates the strange experiences Allie has been having. Further investigative work by Allie reveals a diary, a real estate scheme, and the eventual solution to the four-year-old disappearance of Lucy Stiles. With a sturdy case, clearly marked cassettes, good oral quality and a fine story, this audiobook is a good choice for school and public libraries.-Bonnie Bolton, Cleveland Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 4-6-An imaginative and adventurous sixth grader makes a connection with the ghost of the victim of an unsolved murder and puts her own life in jeopardy to find the killer. Strange events begin when a calm, unknown voice prevents Allie from panicking and falling from a dangerous cliff while fossil hunting. Then, an old journal mysteriously appears in her mailbox. Allie often feels a presence nearby and dreams of a girl falling from the cliff. She then discovers the grave marker of an 11-year-old girl who was missing and presumed dead in 1994. Because of her reputation for telling stories, Allie cannot convince anyone to believe her except her longtime friend and fellow fossil hunter, Dub. Driven to pursue the mystery, Allie finds an old diary that provides her with facts about the girl's death. Foolishly, she reveals what she knows and endangers her own life. Tension builds throughout the story. A contemporary murder and ghost make the threat immediate and the danger real. Allie is a compelling and well-drawn character. She is determined and unsure of herself, foolish, impetuous, and brave. The dynamics of adolescent relationships add depth to the story. Fans of ghost stories by Betty Ren Wright and Mary Downing Hahn will find this excellent book difficult to put down.-Marlene Gawron, Orange County Library, Orlando, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

While this novel's basic plot elements--a ghost out for revenge, a sinister real-estate deal, a child who knows about a murder, but no one believes her--have been worked over numerous times, DeFelice (see review, above) gives it unusual warmth, with vivid characterizations. Allie, 11, stuck on a cliff while fossil-hunting, hears a ghostly voice with life-saving instructions to help her down. A series of strange events and apparitions ensues, culminating in Allie's discovery of the diary of Lucy, a girl who was murdered by her stepfather-to-be for interfering in his shady business plans. No one except her friend Dub believes Allie, and her parents and some sneering friends worry that she can't always tell the difference between her imagination and reality. But one person knows that Allie isn't lying, and that's the killer. From an affectionate younger brother and geeky, loyal best friend, to a gifted and empathetic teacher, Allie is surrounded by strong secondary players; DeFelice, working in a more contemporary setting than some of her previous books, deftly combines the supernatural aspects of the piece with subplots about a class project and Karen, a scornful sixth grader who gets her comeuppance. Copyright ŠKirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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