All the points awarded for being just absolutely crazy.

 

This is the last of the novels and anthologies Random House published for Mattel. To my knowledge no other full-length chapter book has been produced since. Subsequent books in the '70s, '80s and on have a shorter page count and are geared towards a younger audience. Is it because children cease playing with dolls at a younger age than they used to? It's too bad these stopped, because they were just starting to get REALLY interesting.

 

Barbie and her family are spending a winter holiday with friends in California. They have plans to fly home to Willows for Christmas eve, but Mr. Roberts had business things to do and nicely invited his family along. The Murchisons have two boys: 18-year-old, beefy, goatee'd Pete who loves science and 14-year-old Larry whose characterization is that he's a boy.

 

At a backyard barbeque, Skipper and Barbie are challenged by the brothers on their ability to survive in the wilderness and are jokingly invited on a camping trip in the desert. The girls call their bluff and set out to the Mojave desert with them the next morning.

 

There's car trouble on a back road, but fortunately a town is just in site on the horizon. The four make the journey and discover its a ghost town.

 

They are then shot at. A prospector out of central casting is mighty suspicious of these suburban kids and their undoubted lust for his gold. They are rescued by a mute Hispanic boy, who leads them to an idyllic pueblo 'castle' built by an older couple.

 

The older couple, the Bonesteels, welcome the children, but they have no telehone and it seems like their car is out of order, too! Coincidence? Barbie and Skipper are stuck and risk missing their flight home for Christmas, which devastates Skipper.

 

This book is very hard to find and over 50 years old, but is so bonkers I don't want to spoil it for anyone who might get their hands on it. Things get really weird, but somehow it all works out in the end with a little help from guns, a mule named Mirabel, a cigar store Indian, and dress-up. There's a real mystery here and moments of real danger for Barbie, Skipper and their friends.

 

 

Skipper wears 'Day at the Fair' #1911, which included a miniature Barbie doll! Barbie is in the classic early outfit 'Sweater Girl' #976, complete with accessories. The necklace is not Mattel, but was issued by Cleinman and Sons as part of a matching set of jewelry for Barbie and owner and advertised in Christmas catalogs in the early '60s.

 

Barbie Random House Novels

 

Previous: 'Barbie's Candy-Striped Summer'

A great continuation of the series.

I am so in love with these books. A nice quick read that is very entertaining.

I love how different Jack and Annie are, but how well they compliment each other. Annie is so impulsive and intuitive while Jack wants to plan and research before acting. They work so well together.

Definitely can't wait to continue this series. A perfect fit for young readers who want to learn while having an epic adventure.

 

One Ghost Too Many!: Ghost Town Detectiv... One Ghost Too Many! is the first entry in the Ghost Town Detective Agency series by Gavin M. Garza and Michael W. Garza. It's a simple, fun mystery series aimed at beginning chapter readers. The font is on the larger side, with plenty of room between the lines of text to make it easy to read. The illustrations in One Ghost Too Many! aren't my favorite, but they serve their purpose on the pages. The plot is easy to follow and one that young readers can definitely get into. Who didn't believe in ghosts when they were younger? Add creepy old houses and the gossip mill to it? Yep, spooky stuff is a definite possibility.

What is it about redheads and trouble-making? One has to wonder when that particular association was made. It's no surprise that in the trio that make up the Ghost Town Detective Agency, the one that gets them in over their heads is a spunky little redhead with a temper. The nice part is that she's also a girl. Rosie, Zack, and Chase are normal, inquisitive kids with good hearts. It's a perfect combination when confronted with a mystery like the on they face in One Ghost Too Many.

The dialogue is solid. The word choice is appropriate, with nothing overly challenging to understand. The plot in One Ghost Too Many! moves forward at a steady pace. (I read somewhere that in kids lit, every single sentence should move the story forward. And I think that's true here.) And at 86 pages, it's a story that could be stretched out over a couple of bedtimes, or read in one sitting on a rainy day.

One Ghost Too Many! is a good read, but it lacks that (rather undefinable) quality that makes me think I would pick up more in the series. My young reader had a similar opinion. She enjoyed the story but wasn't interested in reading any more from it. Still One Ghost Too Many! may be a great choice, especially for burgeoning young detectives. That, or little kids who are really really into ghost stories!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author for review consideration.
Read: Feb 6, 2017

Book 11: We're Dead in This Ghost Town
Star rating - ★★★★☆
POV – Loki
Would I read it again – Yes

** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **

This is the best story we've had in this series for quite a while. At least, it feels that way. If Inez hadn't existed at all or gotten any page time, this would have easily been a five star review. But she was there. She was her usual bitchy, miss-know-it-all, better-than-everyone-else, negative self and I hated her the entire time she was on page, as usual.

I've always loved Loki as a character and, like Holden, he never gets enough page time for my liking. The fact that this was Loki and Holden for 99.5% of the story (with Inez butting in with the others for that last .5%) made it a joy to read. This story returned the series back to its roots for a moment, back to where it all started and why – exploring the lives and deaths of each character, letting us get to know them better.

Reading about Loki's final day before he died was gut-wrenching as I'd always known it would be, because my theory about his death was right. But that didn't help me when it came to reading through how he felt and what he did that day, to deal with the bullies. What I'd have loved was to see the aftermath; to see his bullies punished beyond his little threat before his death, to see them face the consequences of what they'd done. Maybe then I'd feel that somehow he got the justice he deserved, even if it happened all too late.

The plot is a little reminiscent of another sci-fi story I've read, the Haven Prime series, so imagining and navigating the post-apocalyptic world with Loki and Holden was familiar somehow and a nice progression of their journey.

I'm still angry at the way that Inez – and now Gabe!? – have tried to pain Loki as some kind of reckless, dangerous villain who is going to do something so stupid that it will get them killed. The incident on the train aside (which actually wasn't wholly his fault) all he's ever done is defend, protect and look out for the entire group. I'm so glad Holden is on his side and offers the understanding and support he needs, because, quite honestly, I 100% agree with Loki that Inez is a bully.

She's pushy, arrogant and thinks that she knows best, despite having only been with them for half the time or less than that than they've all been a group. She just waltzed in and took over a spot that was never hers, without asking anyone how they felt. And the way people like Seyah and Teddy fawn over her is sickening. It's so easy to see what Loki meant when he talked about her being a bully and probably being popular, because it's a truth I've seen since the start. Inez is just a female version of Brody! She steps on people to show her fan-base that she's the most powerful and popular.

~

Favourite Quote

“Yes, Inez had helped save them from a gruesome death on the train – admittedly cleaning up the mess Loki had inadvertently made – but she was also a bully.” ← couldn't agree more with you, Loki.

The group has finally arrived in the city spotted some episodes earlier and are making their way down the completely deserted place. Despite several mentions on how dangerous it is, Holden and Loki decide to go and take a look at the Mall.

Finally something is happening that looks like it is going to add to the solution of what is going on. I do think that the characters were not adequately freaked out by their somewhat spooky new surroundings, but this was only a minor concern after what has passed already in this series.

Only four episodes to go, can't wait to get to the conclusion!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!