Ghostbusting in Harry Potter-ville

Full disclosure: I had to read this quickly in one sitting in a coffee shop because I was going to see the author and have her sign it a few hours later. I’d pre-ordered City of Ghosts, but given when it was actually shipped (the day after it was released), I didn’t receive it until Saturday, and the talk/signing was Sunday. Mission was accomplished though, so I guess no harm done.

I hadn’t realized this but City of Ghosts is actually V.E./Victoria Schwab’s first middle grade book. Somehow I’d had it in my head this was going to be another YA novel (she’s published about 4 of those).

This is my kind of ghost story, one that relies on suspense and spookiness, rather than gore or torment. Cassidy aka Cass is about 11 years old, and as the result of mostly dying in a drowning incident and being saved by Jacob, she can see ghosts in this world and cross the veil into the ghostly plane. Jacob, her now best friend, happens to be a ghost. The rules of friendship they have add a unique twist that makes the relationship all the more genuine, and they have the kinds of misunderstandings that friends do, but with the twist (again) that Jacob can read Cassidy’s mind.

Here’s the fun part: Cassidy’s parents are ghost hunters, and neither of them can actually see ghosts. They write books, and Mom is the story-teller/true believer, while Dad is the skeptic and scholar of history etc. The story really gets moving when Mom and Dad get a gig doing a television series in which they travel to the world’s most haunted cities, starting with Edinburgh, Scotland.

There are the usual travel shenanigans, like misunderstanding UK vocabulary (pants and chips equals underwear and fries) and making the pilgrimage to the Elephant House where the most Harry Potter thing about the place is the restroom, but Cassidy also meets someone like herself who knows about what people like them can do. Given that Edinburgh genuinely is haunted, Cassidy sees and feels all kinds of ghosts, but she especially notices the Raven in Red who is up to no good. The descriptions of the city are real, the twists Cassidy and Jacob go through in figuring out what’s going on (at least a bit) with both of their unusual existences while trying to stop the Raven in Red from {spoilers}, and the Ghost-Buster-esque vibe of the parents all combine to a really good, spooky story. I’m also glad that the local guide Findley doesn’t treat Cassidy like a tag along and actually has a part in the action, besides being the jovial Scottish comic relief.

The only complaint I have is that Grim, Cassidy’s cat, is on the cover of the book, but has very little to do with the actual story. It’s a great cover, but I was hoping the cat would have more to do then inspire vague musing about whether or not he could see Jacob, and being difficult to stuff into a carrier. Grim’s thankfully the only one who could have potential that doesn’t get developed here, but it does raise a few questions. Why even bring him along otherwise on a series of week-long international stops? Why not just board him or leave him home with a cat sitter? Travel with a cat is tricky enough, but flying around the world? There should be some kind of reason for that.

Installment 2 is currently in the works, and will take place Paris. Here’s to more spooky fun in France.