Fans of Skeleton Creek finally get their sequel: Ghost In The Machine

October 7, 7:26 AMReading ExaminerCheryl Vanatti

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Reading Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Insert photo caption or credit here

For fans of Skeleton Creek, clamoring for some answers, Ghost In The Machine will drop you right back into the world of Sarah and Ryan as they finish uncovering even more horrific clues at Skeleton Creek. Ryan is once again journaling away and Sarah’s caught in even greater danger trying to capture the mysteries at Skeleton Creek on film.

Ghost In The Machine follows the same multimedia format, but the plot seems a bit more intense than the last. This might be due to character investment, and for those who missed Skeleton Creek, you’ll definitely need to begin there, as Ghost In The Machine isn’t a stand-alone sequel. Sarah and Ryan are still trying to uncover the secrets of Skeleton Creek and readers are still dashing between the computer and the book to put together clues. The Skeleton Creek review mentions the importance of 21st Century literacies and they are just as well executed in the sequel.

The plotting is, once again, fast paced with little lag time, making it especially good for reluctant readers. All the little mystery twists are present and the secret literary allusions hidden within Sarah’s passwords are worth classroom investigation. The ending is frighteningly good, and although it offers a conclusive ending, there are still some scenarios that might send another Skeleton Creek story onto our shelves.

For children in the upper elementary and middle grades, Skeleton Creek & Ghost In The Machine are great additions to the mystery/horror genre.