It’s time for Moorepark Middle School’s annual Speak Out Challenge, and Billy Broccoli thinks he’s got it made. With his best friend Hoover Porterhouse—the ghost with the most—by his side, Billy’s got the competition in the bag. Who wouldn’t vote for a demonstration on mind reading?
But when Billy lands a spot on the sixth-grade team, he starts spending more time with his new teammates than he does with Hoover. And the Hoove plays second fiddle to no one! If Billy’s not careful, his secret weapon might just vanish into thin air, leaving Billy to pick up the pieces of a demonstration-day disaster!”
“Ghost Buddy: Mind If I Read Your Mind?” by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver
Release Date: July 2, 2012
Suggested Readling Level: Ages 8 & up
Publisher: Scholastic, 176 pages
I asked my 10-year-old son to read this, even though it was below his reading level. I knew he would be able to breeze right through it and tell me if he thought it was good. Here’s what he had to say about the fun and easy read, which he says makes a great Halloween pick for second-to-fourth graders:
When I read the book I thought it was a pretty cool book. Basically this book is about Billy, who’s the main character. His school is having a speech and talent contest where they have to have a special talent, which they can describe in a speech and then perform. Billy doesn’t know what to do, so his ghost buddy Hoover helps him; he is 99 years old and used to live on the ranch where Billy’s neighborhood is… The ghost, “Hoov,” can’t leave the area where his ranch and all his land extends to, but he can go to school with Billy. The ghost has an idea where he can go into the stands and see what people are doing and help Billy; only Bill can see or hear him. So the ghost sneaks into people’s things so Billy can pretend to be a mind reader and that’s his talent.
I really liked the fact that Hoov the ghost was known for having an attitude. He’s trying to help Billy so he can eventually travel across America. Hoov needs to get a good evaluation from the “Higher Ups” (his ghost bosses), so he can travel as a ghost around the world and stuff. The only thing he needs to get an “A” in is helping others, and so I thought it was cool how the ghost was kind of going to school himself, being graded on how well he helps Billy. They were like friends but at times Billy would get to do things that his ghost only dreamed of… It was pretty funny there were certain parts that that made me laugh like they did silly things. Hoov can also do things like lift stuff up and move things around, and that led to funny moments like when a little girl saw them and everything is moving around but no one else notices.
This is a funny and easy-to-read book I think would make kids a year or two behind me laugh and get ready for Halloween, since it’s about a friendly ghost!
–EHC, age 10
Scholastic has generously offered to give away one copy of the first and second book in the series. To enter to win, just leave a comment about what middle-grade reader you’d like to surprise with a fun new paperback!
I think this would be a cute read aloud book. Its not very long, and I think it would appeal to my 8, 10 and 11 year old. Finding books that they all three can enjoy is challenging.
Love your blog.
It boggles my mind that I was about the same age as my nephew when Henry Winkler was “The Fonz” on one of my fave shows from my middle grade days (and it ended when I was in college, I know I am revealing my age range, but oh well). I love that Henry Winkler is now the author of middle grade books. His “Hank Zipzer” books are also enjoyable. Thanks for the great review!