The Ghosts of Gribblesea Pier (review)

The Bonhoffen family, who have happily run the combination of amusement park and circus that is Gribblesea Pier for years, find their livelihood threatened when villainous developer Lucien B. Crook and his crony the mayor seek to evict them and tear down the increasingly dilapidated pier. Then twelve-year-old Aurelie Bonhoffen learns a family secret: at their deaths, the Bonhoffens have the option of returning to life if they choose, albeit a life with some ghostly attributes, and her two favorite uncles did in fact make this choice after a car accident initially claimed their lives years ago. With the assistance of new friend Rufus (the mayor's son) Aurelie develops a plan to save the pier, but Crook grows increasingly more determined. Will the Bonhoffens prevail? With a little supernatural help, they just might. This Australian import, set in England, offers lovers of light supernatural fare a quickly paced, skillfully plotted yarn, and while the characterization isn't always deep, the charm and verve of Aurelie, Rufus, and (especially) Aurelie's uncles will easily smooth over any shortcomings. Like Rufus, tween readers will also easily relate to the bullying Aurelie takes at school for being different (hard to avoid in the line of work her family is in), while they will be bolstered by her resilience and by her pride in her unique skills and her eccentric but loving family. Young fans of Eva Ibbotson will take to this like a ghost to a haunted house.