Mind If I Read Your Mind? (Ghost Buddy)

Mind If I Read Your Mind? (Ghost Buddy) by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver (Scholastic UK)
PB RRP $9.99
ISBN 978-1-407132-29-7
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Billy Broccoli is back along with his ghostly buddy, Hoover Porterhouse the Third. This time the Hoove is pulling out all stops to help his friend win the speech day award by showing off Billy’s ‘special talent’ for mind reading.

Their awesome display has Billy becoming popular with the other students, especially Ruby. But by the time the finals come around, Billy is unsure about whether it is fair to win with a trick, over students with real talents. And in the meantime, his new found-friendship with Ricardo is not pleasing the Hoove at all.
The Ghost Buddy stories are funny. This one is just as entertaining as the first. Once again the Hoove tries to make Billy cool, and once again, Billy struggles with the ethics of his ghost buddy’s plans.

Underneath the humorous storyline and banter, the story explores more serious problems which often face young teens. The social issues of friendships, bullies, popularity and loyalties can seem insurmountable at that age, let alone the insecurities surrounding embarrassing families and interacting with the opposite sex. These are all touched on in a light, but not superficial, way.

Some readers may find the story very American in flavour, and there is a strong emphasis on baseball, but apart from not understanding the references to historic baseball players, I didn’t find this a bad thing. I look forward to the next instalment of Billy’s adventures with his ghost.

A great read for 10 years and up.

Ghost Buddy: Zero to Hero

 Zero to Hero (Ghost Buddy) by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver (Scholastic UK)
PB RRP $9.99
ISBN 978-1-407132-28-0
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

There are many changes in eleven year old Billy’s life. He has a new stepfather, a new stepsister, a new school, a new bully to avoid and a new house with a new bedroom (lavender and pink with rainbows and ponies) which comes complete with a new/old ghost. Hoover is a teenaged ghost who has hung around for ninety-nine years trying to improve his grades in Helping Others, Invisibility (requires focus) and Responsibility. If these grades do not improve, he will be permanently grounded. Not an attractive prospect for a ghost.

So Billy now has a personal ghost to help him navigate the tricky parts of an almost twelve year-old's life. But this teenaged ghost with a major attitude problem and big plans may make Billy’s life even harder.

The book has a fabulous opening paragraph which is intriguing and sets a fun mood: “Billy Broccoli wasn’t getting out of the car. He had warned them.” The way in which everyone else reacts to this mini-rebellion establishes personalities right from the first page. It is a character driven story, populated by fun people with wonderfully appropriate names.

How can you not love a boy named Billy Broccoli? And the ghost, Hoover Porterhouse the Third, or The Hoove for short, who is never serious, always looking for the fun in life, and dragging Billy along in his wake of ideas. Billy’s stepsister, Breeze, is a teenager who wafts through life doing things on a whim, such as becoming a vegetarian for a day. Even the bully is a well rounded character. Rod Brownstone is as solid, brilliant and unmoving as a brick wall, keeps Siamese fighting fish as pets and sleeps with his blankey.

This is a light, amusing story about fitting in, standing up for yourself and making friends, with just a tiny bit of revenge thrown in. The bold bright cover art by Tony Ross is instantly appealing. It is fun to read, easy for younger readers with enough humour and plot for older readers as well. It should appeal to both boys and girls between the ages of eight and fourteen.

Look out for the sequel Ghost Buddy: Mind if I Read Your Mind?