The Elevator Ghost - Hardcover

Huser, Glen

3.6

118 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1554984254 ISBN 13: 9781554984251

Publisher: Groundwood Books, 2014

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

When Carolina Giddle moves into the Blatchford Arms, no one knows what to make of her sequin-sprinkled sneakers and her trinket-crusted car. But the parents are happy there’s a new babysitter around, and Carolina seems to have an uncanny ability to calm the most rambunctious child with her ghostly stories. Armed with unusual snacks, candles to set the mood, and her trusty sidekick a tarantula named Chiquita Carolina entertains the children with some good old-fashioned storytelling and, at the end, a great Halloween party. Governor General’s Award winner Glen Huser brings his quirky sense of humor and horror to some time-honored motifs. Holy terror Angelo Bellini discovers that no one can throw a tantrum like a double-crossed pirate. Timid Hubert and Hetty Croop become inspired by the story of a boy who finds the perfect weapon for overcoming his fear of the dark. And Dwight and Dwayne Fergus, two would-be Freddy Kruegers, finally meet their match in Carolina's story of the footless skeleton. As for Carolina, it turns out she has a timeworn connection to the Blatchford Arms, and to the ghost who still haunts the building especially its old-fashioned elevator.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Glen Huser’s novels include Touch of the Clown (short-listed for the Mr. Christie’s Book Award), Stitches (winner of the Governor General’s Award), Skinnybones, and The Wrinkle Queen (nominated for the Governor General’s Award and the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award). A former teacher and librarian in Edmonton, he has taught writing for children at the University of British Columbia. He recently explored his passion for musical theater in Time for Flowers, Time for Snow, a picture-book retelling of the myth of Demeter and Persephone (with a CD featuring a 180-voice children’s chorus). He lives in Vancouver.

Blatchford was scary any night of the year, not just on Halloween. It was a very old part of town with crooked streets and bad lighting. Cats yowled and scrapped in the alleys, and teenagers with tattoos hung out under the bridges by the park.
In the middle of it all, a huge apartment building loomed like a castle, darkened with age. It poked up above all the buildings around it. And when there was a full moon, its two towers looked like they were nibbling at it.
Some said it was haunted...

*

Dwayne and Dwight didn’t notice the car creeping along the street beside them...
Inside the car, Carolina Giddle sighed and shook her head, so that the crystal globes dangling from her ears spun around. Sometimes, when things got out of kilter, spinning the crystals helped.
The truth was, she was lost. As she tried to look at a street map and steer, she wasn’t moving much faster than the boys ...
Carolina Giddle came to a full stop. She patted something about the size of a shoebox on the seat beside her. It was covered with a red bandana.
Are you awake, Chiquita?” Carolina whispered. Then she giggled. Saints preserve us, will you look at that. I’ve been holding the map upside down. Why, we just need to turn left at this next corner.”

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.