Reading Metrics
Description
The novel follows two intertwining storylines set in the 19th century. In 1845, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror depart London on an Arctic expedition led by Sir John Franklin with Francis Crozier as second-in-command, seeking the North-West Passage while facing dangerous ice conditions and an inexperienced crew. In Derry, Ireland, siblings Ann and William Coppin believe the spirit of their deceased sister Weesy has returned to haunt them after she died of a fever.
Quick Summary
The book weaves together the real-life doomed Franklin expedition with a contemporary ghost story, creating a rare middle grades read that feels like a history lesson and a thriller rolled into one. Readers get two spine-tingling stories at once, with the Arctic crew facing starvation and strange sounds in the ice while Irish siblings William and Ann try to communicate with their lost sister Weesy through séance games and mysterious signs. If your kid loves the historical mystery and chills of "The Night Inspector" or wants something that mixes real history with ghost stories, they'll be hooked. Perfect for readers in grades 5-7 who enjoy mysteries, history, or books that give them goosebumps.