This is the last book in the Regarding The... series. The kids in Mr. N's class are back. This year though, Sam's filling in while Principal Walter Russ is on leave, so the erstwhile Florence Waters is the class's sub, via correspondence, of course! Big issues loom--mainly the standardized testing and spelling bee. Florence can't see a use for such things, but the kids don't want to repeat a grade! Plus, there's a teacher in a neighboring town that takes these things very, very seriously.
It was time to end this series. The kids are growing up (lots of awkward romance in this one) and the basic premise of everything and the characters had run their course.
It was a lovely addition to the series, though and fans will want to pick it up.
BUT! There's a new series! Same format, different characters and plot!
I. B. Grumply is a children's author who is a year behind on the latest installment of his next book.
Seymour Hope is a young boy abandoned by his parents.
Olive C. Spence is a ghost. When she was alive, she was an unsuccessful author of mysteries. She built the rambling house at 43 Cemetery Road and haunts it still.
Seymour and Olive are the best of friends, but when Mr. Grumply rents out the house, he is horrified to discover it's already occupied. All Grumply wants is to be left alone so he can finish this stupid book in peace. All his editors and lawyers want is a book so he can start paying off his massive debts. All Seymour wants is for Grumply to leave and to raise enough money to buy the house he loves so much. All Olive wants is for Seymour to have a family that is actually alive.
A great premise and lots of fun. This one is mostly letters, a few newspaper clippings and drawings by Seymour. It's a ghost story, but a friendly one and not at all scary. Like the Klises' previous works, it's very funny and sure to be a hit with lower middle grade readers.
2 comments:
Kate Klise is awesome! I love the Regarding series and I'm looking forward to the 43 Old Cemetary Road. She's a local author and she was talking about the new series at a writer's workshop she did for us last year, so I'm excited to read it.
I've only read two Klise books, Regarding the Fountain and Trial by Journal. I would have loved to have found books like this when I was a child. Reading letters, journals, articles satisfies my nosey side.
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