Review: ElsBeth and the Call of the Castle Ghosties by J. Bean Palmer and Chris Palmer

Title: ElsBeth and the Call of the Castle Ghosties (Cape Cod Witch #3)
Author: J. Bean Palmer and Chris Palmer
Source: Author Request
Genre: Middle Grade
Release Date: January 2, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

When their wild and free ancestral lands are threatened, three ancient ghosts need one of their clan from the living world. They call the Thistle heir from across the sea to the old country. 

Almost-eleven-year-old ElsBeth Amelia Thistle, the youngest witch on Cape Cod, has her own need to unearth the family mysteries and to begin in earnest her chosen calling to protect the natural world. 

ElsBeth uses the best she knows of science and magic (not so very different from each other, after all). But even with help from a curious cast of magical creatures she befriends, and her spirited classmates who've been swept along (including the beautiful feisty fashionista Veronica, a Wampanoag chief-to-be Johnny, and Frankie, who wants to follow in the footsteps of his prize-fighting Uncle Vittorio), ElsBeth is in way over her magic level -- and into older, odder mysteries than she could ever dream -- in an adventure just above the surface of reality. 

Includes twenty-two original, full-color illustrations.

The third story in the Coape Cod Witch series is a great continuation of the series.  We take off for Scotland with ElsBeth and the group in a 'borrowed' yacht.  The kids haven't changed much though and soon it's up to ElsBeth to get them out of another not so great position.  The reason behind ElsBeth's strange adventure are a little hazy at first, but we just get to figure out the answer as she does.

With some new magial creatures and a group of ancient ghosts determined to protect, there are many lessons to be learned.  A recurring theme through the books is ennvironmentalism, and taking care of what we now to save it for others in the future.  Some of the ideas and concepts are for kids a little older than the first two books in the series.  There is a nice development as you read through them.

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Review: Elspeth and the Pirate's Adventure by J. Bean Palmer

Title: Elspeth and the Pirate's Adventure (Cape Cod Witch Series #2)
Author: J. Bean Palmer
Source: Author Request
Genre: Middle Grade
Release Date: January 28 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Book II in the popular award winning Cape Cod Witch Series featuring ElsBeth Amelia Thistle, the youngest witch on Cape Cod. 
On an innocent field trip to Boston's historic Freedom Trail, ElsBeth and her classmates become entangled in the fateful kidnapping of another student - a young Arabian Prince. 
Under the Old North Church they meet the famous freedom fighter, the pirate ghost Captain Thomas Jacques, who leads them on a daring rescue attempt across treacherous waters to Nantucket Island. And along the way ElsBeth and her friends get a real-life lesson in fighting for freedom and caring about something bigger than themselves. 
Readers also discover a treasure chest of historical nuggets and Cape and Islands lore, together with a brief sketch of the authentic pirates featured in Books I and II. 
Originally in print as The Cape Cod Witch and the Legend of the Pirate, this enhanced and expanded edition includes twenty-five original, full-color illustrations and other stylized graphic art.

Once again Elspeth finds herself caught up with a pirate - only this time they are on the same side.  When another boy is kidnapped she enlists the help of everyone (man and animal) that she can find.  Full of some very exciting things - boat chases, underground tunnels, Arabian princes, and ghosts - Elspeth has quite a day.

Again there is a little bit of history mixed into the story in a way that makes it fun and exciting (along with some nice vocabulary words).  While we didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first, it was still a whole lot of fun.  Some of the illustrations are duplicates, but there are a few that are new and they were very beautiful.

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Review: Elsbeth and the Pirate's Treasure by J Bean Palmer

Title: Elsbeth and the Pirate's Treasure (Cape Cod Witch Series #1)
Author: J Bean Palmer
Source: Author Request
Genre: Middle Grade
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Book I in the popular award winning Cape Cod Witch Series. 
ElsBeth Amelia Thistle, the youngest witch on Cape Cod, is involved in all the normal aspects of growing up. Her teacher Ms. Finch is a horror, like something out of one of those scary movies her grandmother would never let her watch. And the obnoxious Robert Hillman-Jones has it in for her. 
But when Halloween approaches in the sleepy Cape Cod town, a never-quite-forgotten pirate's treasure awakens some serious trouble. ElsBeth and her friend Johnny Twofeathers, chief-to-be of the local Wampanoag tribe, together with a cast of spirited classmates and curious magical creatures (including two troublesome fairies from the old country), must face off against dangerous outsiders - and the notorious pirate Billy Bowlegs - to restore the balance of past and present, good and evil. 
Originally in print as The Cape Cod Witch and the Pirates Treasure, this enhanced and expanded edition includes twenty-one original, full-color illustrations.

Elsbeth is the youngest Cape Cod Witch and she seems to cause just a little bit of mischief (but maybe it isn't really her fault).  But she isn't the only one - the second grade boys have a super secret plan that doesn't go very well.  It's up to Elspeth and her friends to make sure they make it out alive!

I loved this little book.  It's just the right length for a child delving into their first chapter books, and with the handful of illustrations to liven up the pages it was very enjoyable.  I like that the Halloween lore used seemed to be fairly historically accurate (from what I remember of history class).  Elsbeth was incredible likeabele and there were even a few non too subtle lessons thrown in for good measure.  This was a very fun read.

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