From the Publisher
★ “Even more impressive than the shiver-factor is the way the author skillfully uses the compelling premise to present a strong, consistent message of not rejecting what you don’t understand.” — Booklist (starred review)
★ “Oh has crafted a truly chilling middle grade horror novel that will grab readers’ imaginations.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Like all of my favorite ghost stories, Spirit Hunters is a pulse-pounding read, filled with nonstop thrills, shocking twists, and-most important-heaps of heart!” — Dan Poblocki, author of The Ghost of Graylock
“This mystery thriller infused with diverse characters and intriguing themes will appeal to horror fans and to reluctant readers who enjoy a good scare.” — School Library Journal
“Balancing fear and humor and heartache, Spirit Hunters is a page-turning, spine tingling delight. I absolutely loved it.” — Kelly Barnhill, Newbery Award winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon
“Combining Korean-American experience with ancient cultural traditions for a new twist on exorcism, this tale’s for beginning horror fans and readers looking for a decent scare.” — Kirkus Reviews
Booklist (starred review)
★ “Even more impressive than the shiver-factor is the way the author skillfully uses the compelling premise to present a strong, consistent message of not rejecting what you don’t understand.
Dan Poblocki
Like all of my favorite ghost stories, Spirit Hunters is a pulse-pounding read, filled with nonstop thrills, shocking twists, and-most important-heaps of heart!
Kelly Barnhill
Balancing fear and humor and heartache, Spirit Hunters is a page-turning, spine tingling delight. I absolutely loved it.
Kirkus Reviews
2017-04-26
A neophyte Korean shaman, or "mudang," takes center stage in this chilling thriller by Oh, of We Need Diverse Books.The story starts when mixed-race 12-year-old Harper Raine, who is half white and half Korean, moves into a new home in Washington, D.C., that her new Jamaican friend, Dayo, tells her is haunted. Before the Raines left New York City, Harper survived both a fire and a traumatizing illness, but she has blocked all memories of these events. The creepiness ramps up in mind, gut, and heart as readers see Harper's little brother making a new "friend" in their home. As she witnesses an evil spirit slowly overtaking her brother, Harper's memories begin to resurface. While Harper selflessly tries to save her brother's life from multiple evils, she juggles the psychological conflict of her mother's broken relationship with Harper's beloved Korean grandmother, who lives nearby. The tension of the life-ending danger stretches across sometimes confusingly paced chapters, as help arrives slowly. While the writing level skews young, the graphic content is gruesome. Readers will not want harm to come to the likable Raine family. The well-rounded and diverse cast provides interesting cultural touchstones of Korean and Jamaican heritage throughout the novel. Korean shamanism, specifically, is explored with respect and curiosity. Combining Korean-American experience with ancient cultural traditions for a new twist on exorcism, this tale's for beginning horror fans and readers looking for a decent scare. (Horror. 10-14)
