The Unexplained

5/5. This slim eye-catching nonfiction look at ghosts reads like it's written by an exacting and interested skeptic who's provided hip, digital graphics to engage and inform. Hot pink endpapers give way to a tidy collage of small spooky pseudo-photos, a table of contents, and a helpful introduction. Boardman then supplies definitions of ghosts, myths, legends, and hauntings, along with practical explanations for all these mysterious phenomena. Proceeding chronologically, he offers a look at ghosts and beliefs in ancient times before moving on to the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. All of this information is interspersed with micro-ghost tales, including stories about London's 18th century Cock Lane house, supposedly haunted by Fanny Lynes, and Calico Ghost Town in California. Boardman has collected unusual sightings all over the world and across time; although many are in England (his home country), there's also information about a haunted airport in Thailand and a spooky lighthouse in France. Other cultures' spiritual beliefs receive brief, respectful treatments, with Boardman employing a measured and scientific (but playful) tone throughout. Haunted possessions, transportation apparitions, phantom animals, and debunkings/ghostbusting efforts all receive two-page spreads. The sharp, neat infographic-style illustrations enhance the content immeasurably. The book closes with a helpful glossary and index. This book was an absolute joy to read or browse and students looking for solid information about ghosts and hauntings will love it, either as a recreational read or as a starting point for research * Susan Harari, Youth Services Book Review * Marrying bold graphic illustrations and intriguing pared-back text, this collection of hauntings from different countries, cultures and historical periods will enthral ghost enthusiasts of 8+. -- Imogen Russell Williams * The Guardian, 'Best Children and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels' *