Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for Ghost Messages by Jacqueline Guest - Available

Ghost Messages

by Jacqueline Guest
ebook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Read a sample Read a sample
1 of 1 copy available
Ailish O'Connor supports herself and her father with her fortunetelling skills. Their gypsy caravan travels from one place to another looking for the crowds in which to earn their living. In Ireland in 1865, the place to be is on the west coast, as people gather to launch the largest ship ever built, the Great Eastern. Its mission is to lay the first undersea telegraph cable right across the Atlantic Ocean, to Newfoundland. Ailish's father thinks he has their future secured with a solid-gold horse that has come into his possession, but when the figure is stolen, 13-year-old Ailish pursues the thief and winds up trapped on the Great Eastern as it sails! She pretends to be a cabin boy to avoid the harsh treatment of a stowaway. On the journey, she gets help from another young boy, Davy, who seems to live below decks. She also makes friends with an Irish sailor and tries to track down the hiding place of their precious horse. The crew must battle the seas and the mishaps of their cable-laying mission, some of which appear to be sabotage. Through many adventures, Davy is her constant companion. But why won't he ever come topside? Can Ailish use her wits, her determination and her friendships to survive the trip, let alone save the day? With her trademark storytelling skills, Jacqueline Guest has fashioned a nail-biter of an historical seafaring action adventure.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    August 1, 2013

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781550507010

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781550507010
      • File size: 17734 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • ATOS Level: 5.9
    • Lexile® Measure: 870
    • Interest Level: 4-8(MG)
    • Text Difficulty: 4-5

  • Reviews

    • Kirkus

      March 1, 2011

      After 13-year-old Irish seer Ailish O'Connor's father brings home a thuggish drinking acquaintance, Rufus Dalton, the evil man beats her "da" senseless and steals their only thing of value, a gold statuette. Ailish follows Dalton and inadvertently stows away on the Great Eastern, the largest ship of its day, just as it heads out on its 1865 voyage to lay the first transatlantic telegraph cable. She overhears Dalton blackmailing an Irish crewmember, Paddy Whelan, with a newspaper photograph of him at a Fenian freedom fighters' meeting. Ailish is befriended by a young riveter's helper, Davy Jones. Frequent heavy-handed clues to his true nature abound, but Ailish, in spite of her second sight, is surprisingly oblivious, as she dresses as a boy, tries to hide her presence from the crew, searches for her stolen treasure and attempts to protect Paddy. While Ailish's character is well-developed, the rest of the crew are stock characters; the good are very, very good, and the bad are terrifically evil. Details of the cable-laying effort provide a believable backdrop to Ailish's adventure, even if the predictable plot and characters undermine the effort. While Davy adds a never-scary paranormal twist, Ailish's multiple problems remain the primary focus of this only mildly exciting tale. (Paranormal historical fiction. 9-13)

      (COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:5.9
  • Lexile® Measure:870
  • Interest Level:4-8(MG)
  • Text Difficulty:4-5

Loading