Cover Image: Ghostcloud

Ghostcloud

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Member Reviews

Ghostcloud is a fascinating middle grade book about a dystopian London.
It's an intriguing take on ghosts, a dastardly villain profiting off the backs of others and children stepping up because there's no one else to do it.

The story starts with Luke and several hundred other children in a chain gang shovelling coal into a furnace. Before we've read a page, its clear that this world has fundamental differences. This kidnapped workforce work relentlessly to generate power to Battersea Power station for the benefit of London. Well some parts of it,

All the children yearn to go back home to a time where they weren't slaves - working long shifts and eating gruel. Their only way home is a golden ticket for good merit. Luke and his friend Ravi are working hard towards that goal.

Still looking out for others despite being curtailed for 2 years, Luke's act of kindness in helping Jess sets off a chain of events that spiral out of control. He ends up meeting ghosts, starting on a prison break aka adventure quest and finding out closely guarded secrets.

What is admirable about Ghostcloud is the world building, scene setting, in fact all of the writing is accessible, informative and naturally incorporated into the story. There is lots that is different to this world and Alma as the voice of knowledge is often updating Luke and us the reader on this. However, it is charmingly done, doesn't sound like exposition or an adult speaking as a child.

"Ghosts are souls that cling to this world. They bond to some matter and refuse to let go. In the stories, it’s houses– but why coop yourself up in a dusty old house? There are sea-ghosts, sand-ghosts, tree-ghosts and more. And if you bond with the water in a cloud . . . voila! You’re a ghostcloud" - Alma

Ghostcloud accurately describes peer relationships, we get the push and pull of divergent interests which test bonds.
"Luke sighed. This was the problem with people: they never said what they meant. He’d hoped dead ones might be less complicated– apparently not".

Luke has to make decisions that will affect not just him but others and it's hard going doing the right thing for the right reason.

"Seizing the day, it seemed, was more tiring than expected." - Luke


Home truths are shared because relationships are real and valued.
"Alma’s eyes burned. ‘We don’t live because it’s easy. We live because there’s something, or someone worth fighting for. Even if it’s just yourself."
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I loved this book for the characters, world and way it was written. This is all indicated by the number of notes and highlights taken. I am looking forward to spending more time in this version of London, roll on the next book


My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of the eArc.

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What a cute kind of dark ghost story. Didn't know it was a duology, but already can't wait to read the second one.

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My son really enjoyed this and read it only a few days. He said it was a gripping read and a real page turner.

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A great fantasy adventure with a twist of ghost story thrown in!
Children are being kidnapped from a futuristic London: a London with an energy crisis, suffering from severe smog, and recovering from a war which seems to have destroyed the south side of the river and cut the country off from Europe. Luke is one of the kidnapped children shovelling coal deep underground beneath the ruins of a power station. He’s hoping to earn his ticket out with his friend Ravi, but when new girl Jess arrives, Luke can’t stand by and watch her struggle and be punished by the evil Tabatha Margate. Whilst serving their joint punishment, Luke realises he can see things others can’t in the form of ghosts, in particular Alma. And so begins his quest to discover the truth about the kidnappings and what exactly the dastardly Tabatha is plotting.
I thought this was a super story, full of themes of friendship, family, courage and being different. The world building is wonderful and I could easily imagine the settings. I really liked the characters and thought they were a great mix of personalities, heroes and baddies. I can imagine lots of young readers wishing for their own cloud to ride on!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-arc in exchange for a review.

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I found this book, to be frankly OK. The plot was ok, the characters were ok, but I just didn't feel drawn to this like I have other similar books and so I don't think it is one I would recommend

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I DNFd this book almost halfway through. I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters or their situations and kept putting the book down. When I would force myself to try again (because after all, we do need more middle grade "scary" stories) I would shake my head and give up. Honestly, if I can't read it, my students are unlikely to be successful!

Thanks to NetGalley UK for an e-galley of this book.

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Great book, having worked in the borough of Battersea back in the day. I found this a thrilling book to read.
Somewhat reminded me of famous five and was an absolute addictive read. I really enjoyed this book

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I found Ghostcloud to be a fun, twisting, dark fantasy tale for younger readers, with some good characters and exciting plot points. I do think this is a fab read for any middle-grade fans, but there was something about some of the characters that also out me off. It was a rather odd feeling when reading it, something I couldn't quite put my finger on, but I see other readers have mentioned it too.

I thought the world-building was great, and you really get a feel for the factory, the lives of the children, the dystopian London outside, and some spooky vibes about the EU/France by the tunnel which I don't think was fully explained. I found some characters to be a bit stereotypical - Alma as the bossy smart girl in the glasses that Luke is supposed to listen to (but doesn't), the greasy simpering henchman, something odd about how they were derogatory about everyone in the EU. It just made reading a bit uncomfortable, I can't quite explain it.

The overall plot was fun though, and it looks like they've set things up for a second book, so I'd still be interested to see how it goes. I also liked the thoughts on life and death, family and friendships, and the cute cats :)

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An absolutely stunning tale for younger readers encompassing the magic of clouds. Who hasn't spent their youth imagining shapes in the clouds. This fantastic story adds meaning to those clouds: ghostclouds. The souls that attach themselves to the water particles and create their shape formation to travel the the skies. What an absolute dream. Yet, darker beings also stalk the clouds and a council places lawas to separate ghost clouds from the human world below. The story begins in an alternative London. Children are being kidnapped and sent to work in coal mines that power the city and are presided over by the wicked Tabatha. The main protagonist Luke is suffering a gruelling punishment in a sewer as he tried to protect new girl Jess, when he discovers a ghostcloud called Alma. Alma reveals a startling fact about Luke and they soon embark on an adventure that seeks to help Luke and the lost children freed from their slavery by Tabatha and back home with their loved ones. A stunningly beautiful story that is full of adventure and excitement. It had me gripped right from the first line. Such a binge-worthy book. #ghostcloud #Michaemann #netgalley

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I absolutely loved this book and have passed it on to my 11 year old twins who have also really enjoyed it. A dystopian, middle grade fantasy full of wonder, fun and spookiness.

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Ghostcloud is a dark, thrilling adventure set in a dystopian future London which absolutely gripped me from start to finish. It is a brilliantly engaging and exciting read for those of 9+ who don’t mind their reads a little more on the scary, supernatural side!

Twelve-year-old Luke has been working as a shoveller for two years at Battersea Power Station where he was taken after his kidnap two years before. He and his best friend Ravi live in the hope that they will be given a precious amber ticket which is their way to freedom. However, when a new girl, Jess, finds herself facing the wrath of the Power Station’s cruel owner, he shares the blame and finds himself sharing the punishment. Jess and Luke are taken to the dreaded East Wing where Luke makes a discovery that changes his life … he can see ghosts! After rescuing ghostcloud Alma, she shows him what he is capable of, and takes him on an adventure on a cloud above the city. He is half-human and half something else that allows him to travel with Alma.

This sense of freedom which Alma gives Luke makes even more determined to escape, but in his efforts to find freedom, he learns a terrible truth, the truth of why children are being kidnapped to work in the power station. Could the smog which is choking the city have anything to do with the Power Station? Will Luke be able to save the children, and find freedom and his family, before Tabatha’s appalling plans come to fruition?
I really enjoyed the richly imagined atmospheric, smog-filled future London with landmarks which are familiar, but ruined. I enjoyed following the trail of what had happened to cause this disaster and how this links to what is happening in the present.

This is a fantastically action-packed adventure with some unexpected twists and so much danger for the main characters that makes it a real page-turner.

Luke is an incredibly sympathetic character who is living in terrifying conditions as he faces the threat of almost constant danger, yet he is prepared to put himself at risk in order to help his friends, Jess and Ravi. These two give him hope and strength as together they face, Tabatha Margate. She is coldly cruel, sees the children as commodities, and is keeping terrifying secrets that threaten everyone. I really liked Luke’s friendship with the ghost Alma who shows him the city outside of the Power Station and opens his eyes to the possibility of a different route to escape.

This is a brilliantly exciting, action-packed adventure. with dark and scary moments, which children of 9+ will enjoy.

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I received an e-arc of Ghostcloud from Hachette Children's Group / Hodder Children's Books and Netgalley. Even though I have been gifted this book for review, all opinions are my own.

This is my review of Ghostcloud by Michael Mann

This book middle grade book is a dark fantasy tale, that is both breath-taking and heart breaking all at the same time. I don’t normally read darker middle grades but this was enjoyable to read. The heroes of the story were enjoyable characters and the villain was just downright wicked. This was a wonderful debut and I will be following the author in the future to see what he comes out with next. Looking forward to book 2
Highly recommend it if you enjoyed reading dystopian/alternative history with fantasy elements.

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This is a fantastic adventure set in an alternative and apocalyptic London that is incredibly well realised. I loved the characters, the villains are suitably horrible and Luke is just great. It's fast paced and gripping, but still manages to deal with important issues such as injustice and identity. The concepts were original and highly imaginative, the clouds were brilliant. I have already highlighted this to children and staff in libraries and will be looking out for the next book.

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A thrilling read with great imagination - my class loved this book! The concept of the story is clever and was a gripping read. The twists and turns kept us guessing to the very end and we can’t wait to read the sequel!

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Ghostcloud is a magical and adventurous middle-grade story about a group of pre-teens who have been kidnapped and forced to shovel coal in a gruelling underground power station. Luke, Ravi, and Jess form a fast friendship despite their differences - where Ravi is determined to keep his head down for the much-anticipated amber ticket, Jess and Luke want to find another way to escape. An encounter with Alma, a ghost who travels on clouds, reveals that Luke is a half-ghost who can use his powers to not only escape, but bring down the entire power station operation. But it's a dangerous mission with boss Tabatha hot on Luke's heels.. and she will do anything to stop him.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the word-building and scene-setting - I could practically feel the heat from the coal, picture the squashed, hard bunks in the dorm and taste the bland gruel. It was an adventure from start to finish that I felt fully immersed in. The characters were diverse and interesting - I particularly liked Luke as the MC who was kind, thoughtful, and selfless, risking his freedom to help his friends and others trapped in the power station. There were also some darker themes that gave the story a gritty edge - there was plenty of tension and combat (though perhaps a little too much for the intended audience).

My main dislikes were probably around the length and pace - it felt a bit too dragged out in parts and lost my attention. I also felt like the story-building was a little amateur with a lot of 'and then this happened' 'and then out of nowhere' type sentences that felt a bit too blatant.

Other than that, I enjoyed the story and thought there was plenty of imagination and excitement to keep the reader engaged and wondering what would happen next.

3.5 stars

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Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

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I was really excited to get to this it sounded so good and really interesting but after starting this and getting 60% in I've decided to dnf. It started great and I was enjoying it enough but then with the introduction to the ghost side of things my interest started to dip the more I read. Nothing I can really put my finger on because I did like the factory side of it. Sadly just not for me.

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I thought this book sounded brilliant and I was so pleased I was able to read a netgalley copy, but unfortunately I ended up DNFing it. The style didn't work for me, but I'm sure it would for many others. I'm so sad I couldn't get on with it.

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An original premise, great characters and an atmospheric setting, what more could a reader want? This hooked me and I think it will be a big hit amongst younger readers.

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This had a lot of potential but lost me I'm afraid, there was just something about it which didn't click for me. It was written okay so I think it was more me than the book.

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