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In "Ghost Knight" by Cornelia Funks, we are introduced to 11 year old Jon Whitcroft, a very unhappy boy. Jon's mother is soon to marry a man Jon calls "The Beard", and to make matters worse, Jon's sisters are absolutely captivated by the man Jon abhors. After all, Jon has been the man of the house since his father's death and he feels things are running smoothly and just fine without "the Beard." Since Jon's attitude causes problems for the entire family, he is sent to boarding school and initially, this location transplant only causes Jon further grief. He soon meets ghosts that terrify him and he feels his life has surely come to an end. Enter his lovely friend Ella, a girl with a passion for adventure and exploration. Together, the two try to solve the mysteries that have plagued the boarding school for centuries.
Jon summons the ghost of Knight Longspee and the adventure kicks into high gear. Funke is highly adept at captivating the interest of the young reader and pulling the child right smack dab into the center of the adventure. No child will be able to resist playing the part of Jon or Ella as they make their way through the world of the dead. The story is just frightening enough that the child wants to work to resolution but not so tame as to discourage the imagination of the child adventurer who wants to slay dragons and put to rest the walking dead. A truly delightful tale!