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.

Thought my son might like this, but like me, he found the first couple of chapters abit odd. Not so much the theme - cleaning up a waste pipe spillage - infact he laughed at that, but then when they left to be ghosts he kind of lost interest. Camt say much more about the story.
Might be enough to grip others, just not him this time. Sorry.

Ghostcloud by Michael Mann is a middle grade adventure set in a futuristic London, one where children are forced to work in factories that are more reminiscent of the nineteenth century than the future. Luke and his friends are shoveling coal under a bombed Battersea Power Station, when he meets Alma, a ghost-girl and learns that he himself is a half-ghost. With the help of Alma, he finds out about the evil plans of overseer Tabatha, and that they may all be in far bigger danger than the mundane risks of hard labour. It’s fun, it’s fast-paced, and I really liked Alma especially. I did feel like the concept was really cool and quite unique, but the writing didn’t completely convince me, and I felt like the characters were a bit flat. It’s a solid story, not an exceptional one, and thus probably not one I’d go out of my way to shill to people. And I slightly hate myself for this, because the cover and the inside illustration/decoration is absolutely gorgeous and I am a very simple Fab, and I like pretty shinies!

An amazing adventure with great characters. It’s dark, gritty, but full of fun and adventure too. If you love dystopian London and a daring escape plan then Ghostcloud is for you. Luke is every inch the hero, unexpectedly thrown into the world of ghosts, magic and rebellion. It’s a sweeping children’s fantasy with themes of determination and heart all juxtaposed by a bone chilling villain. Thank you so much much to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to see what Michael Mann writes next.

I rather enjoyed this story. It was very gripping and hard to put down at times. Definitely one of the more original books i've read recently, though not entirely unpredictable.
Great book for kids around 10 i would say. It's got it's dark and creepy moments, but nothing too scary that it would freak them out. Just enough of a dark side that it would keep them intrigued but not too scared.
Seems like there could be a sequel from this, given how it ended, but it also feels like it could probably be a standalone book too.
overall, really enjoyable and worth a read!

I absolutely loved this book!. Nothing makes my heart happy more than settling down with a cute middlegrade book . It is well written, the world bulding is top notch and the characters are just.. *chef's kiss* I am looking forward to reading more from this author

A really enjoyable premise and interesting setting. Timeframe reminded me of a quite desolate Victorian landscape of smog and darkness. I thought it was really clever to have an alternate present time taking place after the world wars, exploring a different technology to ours today. Albeit powered by something very sinister as we come to learn.

I think this book did begin a little slow for me to get into the meat of the story and dragged out a little at the end. Personally I think I would have enjoyed it a little more if it was edited down a little more but I still enjoyed the over all story.

Reminiscent of The Promised Neverland with a Cruella type villain but with children being in place of puppies.
2.5 stars

Hugely imaginative with contemporary themes cleverly interwoven into an exciting children's fantasy adventure.

There is a dystopian theme, disappearing children and evil female antagonists, which may sound familiar but also exciting Ghostclouds, climate change references and an atmospheric power station location. The familiarity of the setting and issues gives the story authenticity and draws the reader into the fantasy world in an immersive way. It explores friendship and individualism versus society in a way that resonates. Intended for older children, it will also appeal to young adults and adults who enjoy good versus evil battles, thrilling adventures and striking sensory imagery.

I received a copy of this book from Hodder's Children Books.

Since his kidnap two years ago, Luke has been shovelling coal with hundreds of other kids underneath the bombed Battersea Power Station in London while the malevolent Tabatha Margate oversees. But Luke soon realises that he can see things that others can’t -ghosts like Alma. Can Alma help Luke and his friends escape? This unique ghost story paints a very bleak picture of the future of London if we don’t combat pollution and political unrest and I don’t think I’ve read another middle-grade book that tackles these issues in quite the same way. I loved seeing ghosts in a slightly different light and Luke is a very easy protagonist to champion. There is also a good amount of cat content and plenty of avenues for a sequel to journey down, so I’m looking forward to more strange, spooky adventures!

This is such a brilliant book and amazing debut!
It's sort of middle-grade action, alternate history and dystopia in one. Sounds weird but it really works, believe me.
It has a very interesting premise, it's action packed and a fast read.

Luke and Ravi shovel coal along the line of child workers in Battersea Power Station to power the post Brexit, post war, horribly polluted city above, kidnapped to work by Margate Industries with the only possibility of release the tickets handed out by the owner for working hard. However, a kind-hearted gesture by Luke results in punishment cleaning the sewage out of a chamber with newcomer Jess, who happens to have in-depth knowledge of plumbing systems, and a meeting with ghost Alma who changes what Luke thinks is possible. Luke’s fears for his family and the knowledge he gains from his night-flights with Alma set in motion an escape plan and a battle to save both the living and ghost populations from the sinister plans of Tabatha Margate.
Fast paced and thrilling, this is a thoroughly absorbing fantasy adventure set in a richly imagined future London where water levels have risen and a large proportion of the population lives on boats. The actions of resourceful protagonists and a ruthless, intelligent villain propel the plot, whilst occasional touches of humour are added by Tabatha’s often inept henchmen. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Ghostcloud is set in a London that is blighted by the after-effects of a war with Europe, high levels of pollution, and crippling poverty. It’s hard not to assume that this is the author making his own personal comment on Brexit and Britain today, and I imagine some children, especially those who might take an interest in current affairs, will find this scenario quite alarming enough on its own.

Ghostcloud is a classic battle of good versus evil, with moments of despair, high drama, joy, optimism and suspense. There’s also a thread about self-determination clashing with loyalty to your friends throughout Luke’s mission to escape his imprisonment. I especially loved the villain, Tabatha; she’s a classic malevolent genius in a style which made me conjure up similar female baddies from Roald Dahl and Hans Christian Andersen with more than a sprinkling of Cruella De Vil.

The mechanics of the ghostclouds are well thought through and make absolute sense in that suspension of disbelief way that all good fantasy novels push us into.

All in all, a very original story for children, and it’s great that it doesn’t rely on the, frankly, tired-feeling tropes of magical fantasy.

A fab little adventure set in a dystopian London landscape; a dark world hidden within Battersea Power Station, where kidnapped children are forced into hard labour in order to survive.

Luke and Ravi are friends. They long for the day they get their amber tickets and do not have to shovel coal dust into the hot furnaces, every single day.
They meet Jess, an optimist and a Plumber who can help them escape. Then, Luke saves a ghost called Alma who shows Luke what it means to be a ghostcloud.

They must defy odds of surviving in the power station and escape from the clutches of the cold-hearted Tabitha who wants to destroy any hope they may have of finding home again.
It isnt going to be an easy mission, but they have each other and hopefully, the Ghost Council will help.

I really liked the concept used here; a dystopian London where children are slaves who maintain the city’s power supply. There is a good amount of detail provided to give the reader a sense of what the inside of the power station is like, how oppressive and dirty it is and how all the characters work together inside.

I found Jess was particularly a strong character type and I also had a strong image of Alma and Tabitha. Luke is a likeable boy and i loved the whole ‘ghostcloud’ thing going on, especially the character of the clouds and how Luke could ‘feel’ things through water.

There is a real feel of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, about this book

Ghostcloud has a lovely premise to it, and it's quite a surprise for the reader to find the hero shovelling coal in the bottom of a dystopian Battersea Power Station at the start of the book. Dickensian with a futuristic note. And right from the start I was suspicious of the Golden Tickets awarded for the 'best' kids of the week. After twitching a few times at future London's ruins that would not have existed in the past, I settled into going with the flow of an alternative world.

As with many books I've read this year, I found it enjoyable, but easy to put down. I even left it for a while and came back to it: it's easy to pick up and the characters stay with you. That's very good, if even my overworked brain is remembering them! And like many of those others, when I got back to it a third time (before 50%), I couldn't put it down and read straight through to the exciting finish.

This is a really well imagined world, even if Tabitha Margate does tend towards the Cruella DeVille. Michael Mann brings forward some truly innovate ghosts and ghost mechanisms, some that even Neil Gaiman would be proud of, I'm sure.

All in all, Ghostcloud is a thoroughly enjoyable book, a worthy first publication from the author, and I look forward to seeing what Michael Mann comes up with in the future.

“‘Grow up?’ she said. ‘Why wait? Putting things off is a dangerous habit, and a boring one too.”

CW: Death of parent/Kidnapping

Honestly, I picked this up for the cover and I’m glad I did - I ended up really enjoying it! It was sweet and, whilst I can’t necessarily say it was happy because of the book’s content, it was certainly hopeful and positive.
Luke was a great main character. He was selfless and thoughtful and brave. I loved how he stayed positive and always tried to find the best in/for people.
I thought Alma and Jess were great side characters. They each brought out something in Luke and made the story more interesting and believable.
The ghosts were a really fun element. I loved how they allowed Luke to explore more of the world - to understand and appreciate it. I enjoyed how the author created rules for them to follow.
The mystery was really successful. It kept me reading and guessing and built up some tension at the end. I could not work out how it would be solved until it happened!

I would definitely read more of these characters’ adventures!

This is London, but not as we know it. 12 year old Luke spends his days shovelling coal in the half ruined Battersea Power Station. He dreams of getting back to his family, but the only way out is with a sacred Amber ticket. Just as Luke is nearing selection for a ticket he gets caught trying to help a new girl, Jess, and both are sent for punishment. With all hope of a ticket gone, Luke is shocked when he meets Alma and realises she is a ghost, but that quickly turns to excitement when he realises she might be able to help him escape.

I'm loving my middle grade fiction at the moment, there's some fantastic books that I'm discovering, and this one certainly fits the bill.

Being set in London, but not quite as we would know it, is great for me. I'm only vaguely familiar with London being a Northerner, but it's enough that landmarks like the Battersea Power Station conjure up images. Picturing that in ruins immediately sets the scene for me.

I loved all the characters here, even Tabatha! I mean obviously she's hateful and horrid but she is such a good villain! I really appreciated having a female baddie, and especially one so ruthless too.
Luke is instantly likeable as a protagonist, as is Jess. They make a great pair, and though their friendship is forged quickly it's easy to see why it's a strong one.

The plot is great: there's kidnappings, friendly ghosts, unfriendly ghouls, a despicable boss lady, and just enough magic to make it all work. I particularly like the theory behind why Luke can see and travel with Alma when other people can't.

All in all a great fun read. If you're an older reader who enjoys middle grade books give it ago. If you're a younger reader (or reading with younger readers) don't worry it isn't too scary!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Group for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this imaginative and original story. I'm in no way its target demographic, but I devoured it in one sitting. As soon as they're available, I will be buying copies for young family members as gifts.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book! I loved the dystopian feel to it and found the characters likeable and fun! I loved the idea of Ghostclouds and that a person could be half ghost and enjoyed watching the friendships develop, both old and new. I did predict a few of the twists but Michael's writing made it enjoyable and interesting and made me want to keep reading. I thought it was a great middle grade read!

12-year-old Luke shovels coal deep below Battersea Power Station with all the other stolen children in an alternate version of London—suffocating in smog and grime. But then one day he sees someone no one else can see, a ghost-girl called Alma, and he discovers a world and a part of himself that he didn’t know existed. Alma inspires Luke to look for a way for him and his friends to escape the evil Tabatha Margate, until he realises that her devious plans go way beyond kidnapping children. Can Luke and his friends find a way to stop her before it’s too late?

'Ghostcloud' is a dark and twisty story with a richly imaginative ghost mythology. I loved the use of familiar London landmarks in a gloomy alternative reality—particularly the iconic Battersea Power Station, which seems ideally designed for dystopian landscapes. Luke is a wonderfully relatable character, as he struggles to work out where he belongs and where his loyalties lie, and Tabatha is a chilling Cruella-esque villain. (Watch out Battersea cats and dogs!) I was thoroughly swept away by Luke’s ghostly adventure and will continue to avoid the sinister chimneys of Battersea Power Station. An excellent read!

A steampunky, dystopian ghost story with a difference!

The story centres around Luke, and his friends Ravi and Jess, who are all child captives forced to labour in a coal mine beneath Battersea Power Station. The children may earn their freedom through hard work and the earning of amber tickets, but what do those amber tickets really mean? What is the manageress of the mine really up to? What secrets are hidden in the air vents, the incinerators, and pipework that run through the building, and how can the children find their way back to their families?

This was a great story! While ghostly goings-on do take centre-stage, the atmosphere is mainly felt in the lamplight, the coal dust, and the smog of a London mired in a second Industrial Age.

The central character, Luke Smith-Sharma, is clever and relatable, not the bravest, nor a chosen one, his actions are throught out or cleverly worked out, and he is an intelligent, bright, and compassionate central character. His friends Jess and Ravi have. The threat feels real and imminent, the claustrophobic and oppressive coal mine, functioning on child labour, feels as dangerous as it should, and the friendships and dynamics feel real.

The whole idea of a Ghostcloud is inspired, building on the idea of spirits clinging to that which they felt an affinity for in their lifetimes in a new and interesting way.

I also love the cover art which is what drew me to this book in the first place.

I would definitely recommend it, especially for an Autumn read with it's ghostly themes, though the ghosts are the least of Luke's problems!