Simon Grey and the March of a Hundred Ghosts

Simon Grey wants nothing more than a good night’s sleep, undisturbed by the many, many ghosts that seem to haunt every corner of London in 1600s. Being the seventh son, Simon has been blessed (cursed?) with the ability to see ghosts. He takes a position as cabinboy on a ship sailing for the Spice Islands and Japan. It doesn’t take long for Simon to discover the ship is as haunted as London. Hit by a strange wave near Japan, Simon has washed ashore, where he is helped by some mystical beings, only to be taken prisoner by an evil man intent upon stealing Simon’s “gift.” While imprisoned, Simon meets a young girl who is half English and also has the gift. They escape the prison but have a difficult and dangerous journey ahead.

Author Charles Kowalski has written a terrific adventure that is filled with strange and amazing creatures from Japanese folklore and mythology and is steeped in Japanese culture. The story is intense and compelling, the characters are fascinating and jump off the page, and the writing is superb. This will delight middle-graders, both boys and girls, who are lucky enough to find it.