What do You think about The Ghost Of Fossil Glen (1999)?
So glad I picked this up. :D I remembered it from middle school & when I saw it, I just had to take a stroll down memory lane. So glad I did. Some kids books, particularly ghost stories, and be pretty bland, but this one. "The ghost of fossil glen" was great. We get a wonderful main character, Alli, a little girl who loves fossils and has awhile imagination, who finds an old journal & has to solve the mystery of another little girl's death. Good spooky fun. Allow'so adventure is a delight & I love her, Lucy & her best friend dub. :) even the adults here are good, such as her parents & teacher. Love it whme the parents in the novel are actually involved. Most of the parents in ghost/paranormal novels are almost borderline neglectful because the never seem to be around, but not these. :) Hoover is darling to, if to perfect to be believed. More of a plot device than actual dog, but it'd shouldn't be a issue with the target audience. & it's not just a ghost story. We also get a small subplot of Allie dealing with changes in her friendships. Boo to those nasty mean girls! >:( bad friends! But anyway, the writing and story are both solid. "The ghost of fossil glen" would be an excellent addition to any child's library. :) perfect for fans of mysteries and horror stories.
—Lanie Sanders
Better than the Goosebumps books I've read in the distant past. The book opens with Allie caught on a shale cliff in the Glen after having climbed too high and gotten knocked off balance as she pocketed a fossil. A voice encourages her to let go a bit, and eventually she makes it safely down though plenty scratched up. The voice seems to belong to a ghost who later is revealed to be a girl named Lucy who died 4 years earlier but whose body was never recovered after a nasty fall into the same river and glen. The ghost story is NOT terrifying so is appropriate for younger readers who don't want to be scared. The mystery is very shallow, but it isn't about that. It's about Allie's reading Lucy's hidden journal, connecting with her through the journal, and setting things right. It's also about Allie figuring out who are really not her friends and who indeed are her friends. Not unusual for 6th grade -- in fact I had a few flash backs that made me say, "Hey parts of this novel are the real thing." The author gets what 11 years old is like and what sixth grade can be like, but does not overdramatize anything. For a kid's book, this isn't great, but it isn't poplit either. Can be read in three hours.
—Kirsten
An 11 year old girl named Allie has been experiencing strange happenings at school, home, and near Fossil Glen. She has come to the conclusion that she is being visited by a ghost her age named Lucy. Lucy gives signs and clues to what Allie must do, so Lucy can rest in peace. Allie also finds Lucy's diary and it tells how, when, and who murdered her. I loved this book and it had a great mystery. It had lots of parts that made you gasp or made you surprised. I would definitely recommend this book.
—Brianna Mathes
