Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost! (review)

Tom's fear of his cellar turns out to be justified when a hideous ghostly apparition suddenly appears there, threatening him. Nine-year-old Tom is surprised further when he meets with Hetty Hyssop, professional ghost-hunter, and learns that his ghost, frightening though it may be, is only an Averagely Spooky Ghost named Hugo, who was chased away from his usual haunting grounds by an Incredibly Revolting Ghost. Hugo desperately wants to go back home, but defeating an Incredibly Revolting Ghost is a dangerous task even for professionals; Hetty's knowledge, Hugo's determination, and Tom's daring will all be necessary to vanquish the malignant specter. Tom's domestic life, including his budding relationship with Hetty and his struggles with a bullying older sister, is realistically conveyed; these personal details make Tom's simultaneous bravado and insecurity believable. Funke's exaggerated black-and-white illustrations, particularly her nicely varied ghosts, effectively complement the text, and humorous additional materials, such as a four-page chart distinguishing the two aforementioned ghost types, are well integrated into the story. Unfortunately, the book relies overmuch on exclamation points and drawn-out "ghooostly" words to establish atmosphere; the result is a veneer rather than a depth of excitement and suspense in the story. In addition, there is an inconsistency in the treatment of ghosts (the Incredibly Revolting Ghost is characterized as an emotionless, otherworldly entity to be destroyed while Hugo gets a full backstory and sympathetic portrayal) that may confuse readers, leaving them uncertain about the direction of the forthcoming series. The mix of friendly and ominous ghosts, however, may please Eva Ibbotson fans who are searching for other mild scares.