Cover: The Haunting of Room 909 (Junior Paranormal Investigators, #1) by Michael James
The author sent me an ARC of this book (mobi format) in exchange for an honest review (a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team).
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars)
Plot
(by Goodreads)
Summer is usually a time of fun and games for most children, but Hanna and Ben Littleton are not your average eleven and twelve-year-old. Their father is Percy Littleton, a famous paranormal investigator, and this summer they are traveling to different locations to investigate unexplained phenomenons. Things are rather boring until they stop at Castleridge Hotel. The hotel is reportedly haunted by more than one ghostly presence and the manager has asked Percy for help.
Though warned by their father not to meddle in his investigation, the brother and sister are convinced they can prove their worth as true investigators. Their eagerness soon turns to terror when Hanna begins having visions about a certain former employee of the hotel, the elevator takes them to the ninth floor on its own, and ghosts interact with them. The building seems to have a mind of its own as Hanna and Ben are forced to figure out what really happened one hundred years ago at Castleridge Hotel, before the spirits trapped inside decide to make them permanent residents.
| Genre(s): | > Children’s Scary Stories > Children’s Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural Books > Children’s Spine-Chilling Horror |
| Series: | Junior Paranormal Investigators, #1 |
| Length: | 112 pages |
| Release date: | >>> 2019-06-07 <<< |
Teaser
…She blinked, but the strange effect continued. A brief but searing pain shot through her head, followed by a loud burst of static that drowned out all other noises. She closed her eyes until the pain stopped and the buzzing cleared. When she opened them again, her gaze fell on a spot on the sidewalk near the front doors of the hotel. Partially obscured by the lineup of cars, a young woman in a red maid’s uniform stood there, staring at Hanna intensely…
My Opinion
This book introduces you to Hanna and Ben Littleton, the children of a famous paranormal investigator; despite his wish, they are drawn into the investigation of a haunted hotel.
With “The Haunting of Room 909“, Michael James has created the first in a series of adventures with a quite unusual background and very likeable protagonists. It is a very intriguing read, inevitably drawing you in as the story proceeds. Michael James paints a clear picture of the main characters’ mindsets – making the readers acquainted with them – while the story evolves. I was drawn very close to Hanna and Sam. The main characters are complex and I took to them instantly; the others are of sufficient depth. The story is cleverly elaborated and has a great flow. I had a great time reading “The Haunting of Room 909”. Children who like the paranormal genre will love this book.
This is a book for you if you like middle-grade adventure, the paranormal, funny moments, and likeable characters.
Highly recommended.
In brief:
| Cover | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Writing | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Plot | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Characters | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Mood | Suspenseful |
| Pace | Steady |
| POV | Third person – past tense |
| Language |  (decent) |
| Violence | (none) |
| Sexual content | (none) |
About the author
Michael James is an author from the prairie province of Alberta, Canada. He is an avid golfer, cyclist, and astronomy enthusiast.
Junior Paranormal Investigators: The Haunting of Room 909 is Michael’s debut novel for middle-grade readers.
After absorbing all things paranormal while growing up, he knew he had to share his fascination with ghosts and other-worldly-creatures with the next generation of kids.
Do you have a great idea for a paranormal investigation? Send Michael the details at www.thejuniorparanormalinvestigators.com and he may include you as a character in their next adventure.
Connect with the author:
Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂
My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about “The Haunting of Room 909”? Or – if you did not yet read “The Haunting of Room 909” – are you now interested in reading it yourself?
I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂
My train of thoughts on... 
I like that blurb, sounds intriguing!
It is a fun and intriguing read, Jina. I consider this middle-grade paranormal story very entertaining.
Thanks again, Karen!
Great review if this ” haunted ” book. You really make it come alive and make it
tempting to read.
miriam
Thanks for your kind comment, Miriam. It is hard, not to give too much of a story away – which makes me appreciate the feedback even more.
I have this book. I didn’t like the cover much. But I like middle grade books. Lovely review 😍
I considered the cover through the eyes of some middle-graders I know, threw in my favourite colours (green and black) – this is how my cover rating came to be.
Thank you very much. 🙂
Thank you Karen.
My pleasure, Rosie.