Ghost Squad
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
A New York Times bestseller!
Coco meets Stranger Things with a hint of Ghostbusters in this action-packed supernatural fantasy.
For Lucely Luna, ghosts are more than just the family business.
Shortly before Halloween, Lucely and her best friend, Syd, cast a spell that accidentally awakens malicious spirits, wreaking havoc throughout St. Augustine. Together, they must join forces with Syd's witch grandmother, Babette, and her tubby tabby, Chunk, to fight the haunting head-on and reverse the curse to save the town and Lucely's firefly spirits before it's too late.
With the family dynamics of Coco and action-packed adventure of Ghostbusters, Claribel A. Ortega delivers both a thrillingly spooky and delightfully sweet debut novel.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When Dominican-American Lucely Luna, 12, learns that her single father might lose their house, her primary concern is for the myriad ghosts of her family, who inhabit the willow tree out back as fireflies, at least when they're not manifesting in human form. When her grandmother's spirit warns her of a coming darkness before falling dormant, Luna and her best friend, Syd Faires, seek to revive Mam . Borrowing a book of magic from Syd's grandmother, who owns an occult store, they cast a spell that unleashes malevolent forces upon the town of St. Augustine one that they must reverse to defeat the evil that seeks to destroy them all. With this delightfully spooky adventure, Ortega draws upon her Dominican heritage to craft a heartwarming story with a strong focus on family genetic and found. A peppering of pop culture references a nod to Ghostbusters, a clowder of cats named for Goonies characters add humor, but it's the personal touches, such as Lucely's opinionated, ever-present ancestors; her dedication to those she loves; and an emphasis on Latinx food, love, and folklore, that gives this debut its distinctive spirit. Ages 8 12.
Customer Reviews
Loved it!!
I got this book to read with my kid. We read a couple of chapters together for bed time. Kid fell asleep, I kept on reading and finished it in one night. Took us a week to finish it together. This was a really great fun book to read. If you’re looking for a book to read with your middle grader who enjoys spooky adventures, I would definitely recommend this one.
I have been to Dominican Republic a couple of times and love the culture, people and of course the cuisine.
The book is well written, especially the magical world is crafted skillfully. It really portrays the culture and folklore beautifully.
There’s lots of warmth and humor plus a spooktacularly creepy ghostly adventure. I love all the pop culture references especially the Goonies! The characters are well written and I felt like I was part of the squad. I really enjoyed all the characters - Lucely, Syd, Babette, Simon, Chunk the cat, Fireflies ghost- Mama Teresa, Tia Milagros, Prima Macarena, Manny - couldn’t pick a favorite. The friendship between Lucely and Syd is so sweet. Syd is totally my kinda friend- sassy, witty and loyal. Babette is such a witchy badass grandma. I want to be just like her when I grow up!! I really love the message of the story which to me is:
1) ones you love never really leave you ( firefly ghosts)
2) family is not only about blood, it’s also those who stand by you when everything goes to hell. (Syd & Lucely relationship)