Book report:

The book “City of Ghosts” by the author Victoria Schwab is an interesting book that any kid my age will like. The genre of this book is Horror since it has multiple spooky encounters, making it even more fascinating in my opinion. 

The main character, Cassidy, was a very nice, comprehensive, and great friend. Cassidy always understood and paid attention to Jacob and Lara (after they created a friendship) throughout the book. I would connect with her because she was ready to protect and help her close friends at all times; that is also another reason why she’s my favorite character.

The book's setting varies depending on what part of the story you want to know about. For example, at the beginning of the book, the setting would be the city where Cassidy grew up, a suburban town surrounded by fields and hills accompanied by some ghosts at the time of the day. However, at the end of the book, the setting would be in the middle of the day in another city which was Edinburgh, Scotland.

The main conflict of this book is that Cassidy found out that she is able to do some special things with her unique talents related to people similar to her; the ghosts. I believe that the theme of the book  “City of Ghosts” is how an early event in your life can change you, your thoughts, and your mind for the rest of your life. A reader can take away that something probably very little might turn into something very big for you in the future. Also, some antagonists try to make Cassidy’s more difficult than it already is by trying to take her talents away from her.

Even though, I believe that this book is very interesting and good-written, I think that it would have been better if the author, Victoria Schwab, had included what happened to Cassidy’s and Lara’s relationship. Additionally, she could have made “City of Ghosts” an even better book by adding more horror encounters.

I believe that someone my age would want to read this book because it has an interesting plot, a lot of ghosts, and very detailed conflicts throughout the book. I really enjoyed this book mostly because I like horror books, but I also liked the way that the author wrote. Victoria did a good job of making me, the reader, feel like I’m part of the story.  Someone else who would enjoy reading this book is the people who like mystery books because there’s a lot of mystery and suspense in small periods of time all over the book.

Scene Reimagining:

OMG!! I can’t believe my plan worked!! well, kind of-. 

So, today at lunch, I saw one of the most annoying girls in the whole Westchester Country Day Middle School. I think her name is Nikki and she’s in my Biology class.😐

First of all, I told her to give my invitation to my best friend Jessica who sat behind her. She probably thought that I gave it to her because she said “Mackenzie, I would LOVE to! Thanks for asking me hon!” At first, I thought she was just being nice, but then I saw that she had opened JESSICA’S invitation. I was so mad that she opened the invitation when I clearly told her to give it to Jessica. Like why would she think that I would invite her?! Now I have to give Jessica a new invitation since Nikki decided to rip it open in 2 pieces like an uncivilized gorilla.

As I was saying, my best friend Jessica, was sitting right next to me during lunch break, so I told her to put her leg out so that when that annoying girl walked down our table, she would trip and fall. That would be so funny and she would feel so embarrassed. Hopefully, she would leave the school after that “traumatic” experience. 

While we sat down and ate the lunch my chef made me, I saw Nikki, or whatever her name is, about to walk by. I told Jess to put her leg out while she was walking by our table with her lunch tray. This was perfect, she would fall and all of her food would smear all over her and her clothes. When she was finally walking by, Jessica stuck her foot out. I guess she was blind or something because she didn’t see her foot. She tripped and fell while her food went flying in the air causing it to land on top of her and she yelled “noo” with a shriek. When I saw that happening, I started laughing with the whole cafeteria. However, the funniest part of this is when she tried getting up but she couldn’t since the mix of the school’s spaghetti and milk. 

The bad part about this was that Brandon helped that girl get up and gave her a napkin. I think she’s in love with him because she started saying dumb things, so I told her, “I hope you’re not STUPID enough to think HE’D like a LOSER like you!” I didn’t feel bad because now she’s also trying to take my crush. 

After all of this happened, she just left, probably to the restroom to cry. 

Book Interview:

Here we have a special guest named Cassidy from the book “City of Ghosts” by Victoria  Schwab. 

Interviewer: How did you feel when your parents told you that they got their acting gig?

Character: At first, when I saw that my parents had the pasta-pizza on the table, I knew that something was wrong since they only order it on “special” occasions. When they told me that we were leaving to another country, the first thing that crossed my mind was what this meant for us - our family.

Interviewer: How do you feel about your parent’s show

Character: I honestly didn’t like the idea of them having a ghost show because I know that they don’t know a lot about ghosts. I know that they don’t know about ghosts because I know most of them since I'm one myself. 

Interviewer: How did you feel when you first started learning about the “in-betweeners”?

Character: When I started learning about the “in-betweeners” and the veil, confusion was the only thing that crossed my mind. When I first saw what Lara did to the old man, I knew that she was like me, but I didn’t believe that we were able to send someone on to “the peace and quiet.”

Interviewer: How did you feel after you learned about the special things you could do?

Character: After I learned those things, I felt like I was way more prepared for my life than before. Thanks to Lara and her uncle, I now know things that I didn’t know before. They’re going to help me a lot when my family and I get to a new city. Even though I understand many more things than before, I know that I’m going to learn new and important things in new places. 

Interviewer: Did you ever regret going in the veil when the raven took your life away?

Character: At the time, I didn’t regret it because I knew I was doing the right thing by helping my only best friend. I believed he was in trouble at the veil since he started calling me; however, it was just the raven getting my attention to get my life. I am very grateful that Lara and Jacob helped me get my life back.

Interviewer: What do you think about Lara?

Character: When I first met her, I didn’t believe she was like me, but when I got to know her better, I understood that she had the same powers as me. I believe she’s a good friend and I’m going to miss her a lot.

Interviewer: Do you think that sending your best friend (Jacob) on, is a good idea?

Character: I personally think that it isn’t, I don’t think he’s ready to make that change and I am not either. I think it’s best if he stays with me no matter what anyone says or does.     

Interviewer: What are your future plans?

Character: I don’t really have plans for the future since I don’t really know what’s going to happen in my life since my parents got that acting gig. I just hope that nothing bad happens during these trips around the world, but a bunch of fun adventures do. 

Interviewer: What do you think is going to happen to your relationship with Lara?

Character: I really don’t think nothing is going to happen in our relationship other than we missing each other. I just hope I get to see and talk to her at least once more. 

Interviewer: Lastly, what are some things that you are grateful?

Character: I am grateful for a lot of things that have happened in my life recently. For example, I am very grateful for becoming friends with Lara just after the past trip. Additionally, Jacob is always here to help me, which is someone I show gratitude to.  I am also grateful for my family since they are very supportive and they always care about me.