by Ash Van Otterloo (j Van Otterloo)
As a person who generally doesn’t love scary stories, I really enjoyed A Touch of Ruckus by Ash Van Otterloo. I picked up the book because the jacket promised that the main character, Tennessee Lancaster, had a hidden gift. She is able to “pry into folks’ memories with just a touch of their belongings.” Little did I know that I was in for a chilling ghost story. But by the time the book got creepy, I was hooked.
It’s Autumn. The leaves are falling and Halloween is around the corner. Seventh-grader Tennessee, or Tennie, visits her Grandmother Mimsy for a month while her parents are short on money. But her family won’t find financial help from Mimsy — she has her own money woes — lthough Mimsy’s new boyfriend seems stacked with cash.
As Tennie first arrives, she sees an ominous sight, a dirty doll discarded at the top of a tree. The mountains and woods seem to be hiding something menacing.
One bright spot in Tennie’s visit
is a new friend by the name of Fox. He has his own hidden gift: he can see
ghosts. Eventually the two enter the woods for ghost hunting. It’s then that
they discover that Tennie has another gift. When she touches items claimed by
the crows, she releases various ghosts who follow and frighten her. One
dangerous dark spirit also warns her of “ded forrst.”
In spite of the ghosts, I had to keep reading to find out what was happening in
the woods on Mimsy’s property. Why did the ghosts target Tennie? Were the new
people in Tennie’s life who they seem? Could they help her, or hurt her? I also
appreciated the underlying storyline about family members who regularly got
“the blues” and tried to keep away “the sadness.” Depression, counseling, and
medication is deftly woven into the story as something that often can affect
middle-schoolers and their families.
Ultimately Tennessee — the family peacemaker — has to ask herself, is it worth the ruckus she has experienced and the ruckus she will create in her family’s life by revealing secrets so she can keep bad things from happening? A Touch of Ruckus is a good book for students in fourth through six grade who are looking for something a little creepy to read.
(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Cattywampus also by Ash Van Otterloo.)
( publisher’s official A Touch of Ruckus web page ) | ( official Ash Van Otterloo web site )
Recommended
by Cindy K.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service
Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?
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