Review: Ghost Hunt: Chilling Tales of the Unknown by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson with Cameron Dokey

“Is that who you were talking to?  Grandma Helen?”

“Uh-huh,” Miranda nodded.  “Mommy–“

“But you know you can’t do that, right?” her mother interrupted.  Her voice had a funny sound to it.  The scared sound.  “Miranda, sweetheart, you know Grandma Helen died three months ago.”

“I know,” Miranda said.  “But Mommy–“

“What, sweetheart?” her mother asked.

“She’s standing right behind you.”

(from Ghost Hunt, page 37 in the chapter sampler)

Ghost Hunt: Chilling Tales of the Unknown is for amateur ghost hunters between the ages of 8 and 12.  Written by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, co-founders of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (T.A.P.S.) and stars of the Syfy show Ghost Hunters, with help from Cameron Dokey, Ghost Hunt features stories from past investigations and a guide for kids itching to do some ghost hunting on their own.

The Girl (age 10) and I love Ghost Hunters, and when we learned Jason and Grant would be at the 2010 Book Expo America, you can be sure we got in line early.  In fact, The Girl was so eager, we were the first people in line.  Jason and Grant were very nice, and The Girl was ecstatic when Grant leaned over the table to give her a big hug.  (Wish I’d taken a picture!)  The only disappointment was that the copy we received was a chapter sampler and not the complete book.

Because The Girl has been busy with school work, I read the chapter sampler on my own.  It features two chapters, “Pennies from a Ghost,” about two brothers who believe a ghost has been leaving pennies on the floor of their bedroom in the shape of a flower, and “The Ghost of Grandma Helen,” about a little girl who sees and talks to her recently deceased grandmother.  The book is written in story form, with a little about the families and the paranormal activity they have been experiencing and then the investigation by T.A.P.S.  The scenes involving T.A.P.S. are written from the point of view of Lyssa, who handles calls, sets up and participates in the investigations, and does follow-up research.

I think younger readers will enjoy the easy writing style of Ghost Hunt, but readers shouldn’t pick up this book expecting it to be narrated by Jason and Grant.  At least in the two chapters that I read, Jason and Grant made appearances, but mostly through their interactions with Lyssa.  Kids will identify with Lyssa, who is new to the T.A.P.S. team and nervous about her first investigation.  Even though Lyssa is forced to face her fears, the stories aren’t scary, as they lack the rich description necessary to really set the scene.  The stories are mainly dialogue and Lyssa’s thoughts, and I found it hard to connect with the characters and feel involved in the cases.

However, “The Ghost Hunt Guide” at the end is where the book really shines.  Inside is all the information you need to undertake a paranormal investigation, with a focus on the necessary equipment — including some affordable alternatives to their high-tech gadgets — the initial interview, evidence collection and analysis, and how to research the history of a property.  There’s even a test case so kids can see how much they’ve learned.

Ghost Hunt is worth checking out if you have kids who enjoy Ghost Hunters or are interested in the paranormal.  I’ll probably see if my library has a copy of the complete book at some point, as I’m curious about the stories not included in the chapter sampler.  T.A.P.S. spends a lot of time (from what I’ve seen on the show) trying to debunk claims of the paranormal and find logical explanations for strange occurrences, and I’m curious if this is highlighted in any of the other stories.  Also, I don’t think it’s fair to base my opinion on a chapter sampler that’s less than 100 pages of a 300-page book.  If I do happen to read the entire book, I’ll post an update.

Disclosure: I received a copy of Ghost Hunt at Book Expo America 2010. I am an Amazon associate.

© 2010 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.

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