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Seer of Shadows (by Avi)

common sense media says

Thrilling historical mystery blends ghosts and photography.

parents & educators say
See all 9 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this book is best for older tweens, rather than the publisher's suggested target ages of 8-12. The language is beautiful, yet formal and sophisticated, as it reflects the historical time period. Younger kids may have difficulty reading it on their own, and parents may find that they are often stopping to explain meanings. Also, this story is creepy: The ghost of Eleanora is frightful in appearance and in action. The story ends with a raging fire and two people dead. While there is resolution in the end, uncertainty remains.

Positive messages: The main adult characters are deceitful: Middleditch purposefully deceives a customer for his own profit, and Mr. and Mrs. Von Macht neglect, abuse, and ultimately kill their adopted daughter, Eleanora. As a backdrop, readers are exposed to the lifestyles and attitudes of the time, including post-Civil War race relations, class relations, the employer/apprentice relationship, the fascination with "spiritualism," as well as terms such as "Radical Republican" and "abolitionist."
Violence: A character is abused by her adoptive parents and ultimately
killed; a ghost seeks revenge with the intent to kill, sets fires, and
bludgeons a major character. A main character is killed, and it's insinuated
that another main character did the killing.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Language is formal with sophisticated vocabulary, but not offensive in any way.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Descriptions involving alcohol and smoking are brief and part of the historical backdrop: "saloons and rum houses overflowing," and men holding "a tankard in one hand and a shot glass in another." The smell of cigar smoke wafts out of a bar.
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More on Seer of Shadows

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the challenge of untrustworthy adults. Both Horace and Pegg lived in the shadows of deceitful adults -- how would you have handled being in their shoes? What would you do today if you knew an adult was lying? Families can also talk about the idea of ghosts and spirits. Do you believe in unsettled souls? They can also talk about discrimination at that time, and what challenges Pegg and Horace may have faced as a biracial couple. Lastly, families can talk about the art and science of photography and how it has changed through time.

What's the story?

What's the story?
In 1872 New York City, 14-year old Horace takes an apprenticeship with Enoch Middleditch, a society photographer. While Horace is excited to learn photography and take his own pictures, Middleditch is excited to make money through the clever deception of a wealthy client named Mrs. Von Macht, who is mourning the death of her daughter, Eleanora. Middeditch plans to superimpose a photo of Eleanora onto the portrait of Mrs. Von Macht, thereby startling her into an emotional buying spree for more photos. But the photos have called forth more than memory; they have actually called forth the ghost of Eleanora, who is set on deathly revenge. With the help of Pegg, the Von Macht's servant girl, Horace learns the truth about Eleanora's unnatural death, who she really was, and about his own supernatural part in unleashing the angry ghost.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
For good readers ages 12 and up, THE SEER OF SHADOWS is a richly detailed page-tuner, filled with elegant language and a well-crafted plot. This suspenseful ghost story is also a fine historical novel, filled with descriptions of clothing, food, period attitudes, New York society life, the tension between science and spiritualism, and the elements of early photography. Characters are genuine, and the time and place feel real. Readers will find themselves biting their nails, pondering moral dilemmas, learning, and rooting for Horace and Pegg. Boys and girls, as well as adults can enjoy this thriller.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Avi
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication date: March 25, 2008
Number of pages: 208
Hardcover price: $16.99
Read Aloud: 11
Read Alone: 12
This review was written by Kristen Breck
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Curley
teen, 15 years old
11
 
A good mystery.
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helped me decide (12) | had useful details (9) | read my mind (10)
GlamorousUSA
teen, 14 years old
11
 
Good Mystery Book
Very detailed and suspenseful. It does get a LITTLE scary so i don't think it would be appropriate for kids and 11.
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helped me decide (9) | had useful details (9) | read my mind (10)
Decoco
teen, 14 years old
13
 
pegg is awesome...nuff said.
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helped me decide (9) | had useful details (9) | read my mind (9)
1kk1
kid, 11 years old
10
 
fine for 10+
like it
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helped me decide (9) | had useful details (10) | read my mind (8)
jmurrayo56
parent of 9 year old
11
 
A Good Novel for reteens
Excellent book for my 11 year old, but not my 9 year old.
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helped me decide (8) | had useful details (9) | read my mind (10)
court_court_01
teen, 15 years old
11
 
Perfect for 11+
Love it. I read it and I'm 13 and I love it. My 11 year old sister is reading it now and she likes it also.
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helped me decide (8) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (9)
victoria1998
kid, 13 years old
12
 
Good for 12 year olds
Hi i am 12 my name is victoria and i am doing an author study on Avi and i picked out 2 book of Avi and the seer of Shadows was one and it is a good book for 12 year old kids to read and i read crispin the cross of the lead that book was ok to me. Buit seer of shadows is really good to read!
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helped me decide (8) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (8)
CP3bigplay
teen, 16 years old
10
 
The Seer of Shadows
In this book, two pre-teens overcome a fear of an apprentice photographer bringing people back into existence. They work together as a team and overcome this dilemma. This book keeps you guessing as far as what you think will happen. It's easy to read and enjoyable.
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helped me decide (8) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)
rosie23
teen, 14 years old
11
 
AWESOME
I picked this book up a few days a go and I loved it. You can see where Eleanora was coming from and feel Horace's frustration and Pegg's pain. Pegg is shown as a strong and smart African-American role model and Horace is a great role model too. Both try to stop Eleanora from killing even though she's getting payback for her abuse and Horace doesn't feel right about helping his greedy, lazy, lying master. Great read for kids who love mysteries.
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (6)

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