I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

What a fun little book this is, this is something I'd read to my 4 year old nephew. This book is very good on character building and very engaging.

What a wonderful children's book this is! Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is about twelve-year-old Ollie Oxley moving again.

His mom is starting another new job at the Bingham Theater in Granite City, California. Moving all the time means Ollie has struggled in the making friends' department, but he quickly connects with a boy named Teddy. This book is very well written and clear to understand. Love the characters.

What a fun little read! This one would be perfect to read to my students at school! I will be adding this to the list to share with the for sure!

You have to love Teddy and Ollie - they make a great pair - even if one of them is a ghost!

At first I was going to give this book 4.5 stars but know that I sit down to write my review I realise I don't have anything negative to say about it.

The biggest reason why I loved this book so much were the lovable characters. My favorite is without a single doubt Teddy, just the cutest and most adorable little boy I've read about, most of the time I just wanted to hug him even though I knew it wouldn't have been posible since he's a ghost lol. Then we have our other main character, Ollie who in my opinion was spoiled and a bit impolite a lot of times and I couldn't love him throughout the story like I did with Teddy but he had his nice times. Lastly, there's Ollie's little sister, DeeDee who was even cuter and funnier than Teddy but unfortunately we didn't get to see much of her.

Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is a super quick to read, it literaly only took me a day to finish it and the fact that it's so catching only makes it go by even quicker. One thing that surprised me was to discover how eerie this book was for the first few chapters, maybe it wasn't that scary but I decided to start this book in the middle of the night so maybe I was being paranoid.

Moreover, the ending was phenomenal. It truly showed how enemies may not always be bad people and that we're all people struggling to do the best we can in each of our situations. I loved it wholeheartedly and I'll never get over it.

This is the perfect ghost story for readers who don't want a scary read. The mystery is fantastic, so tightly written, and the stakes are relatable but high. Ollie and Teddy are quite the pair and if your reader enjoys a little history, this one is for them.

I would love to thank Lisa Schmid, North Star Editions and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Such a great middle-grade! It hooked me right from the start. The reason why I gave it 3 stars though is because at some point the characters went flat and cliche. But still, the story was amazing.

It follows a boy named Ollie and he just moved to a new home with his little sister and their mother. There Ollie meets a ghost, Teddy, and together they go on searching a treasure that was actually burried by Teddy's after years ago. I kind of anticipated the ending and I was right, but the story was still good and the characters were jokers and funny.

If you like detective/sleuth stories and also middle-grade books, go for this book! It came out in June so you can easily find it.

Happy Reading!

I think that this book will be enjoyable for every age. It's a great fantasy story with the nice amount of mystery. I wish that I was able to read it in my Dutch classroom. The story was everything I've hoped for and I'm secretly hoping for a series!

Pros
All ages: The book reminded me a bit of the first Harry Potter book. It just feels like it would be enjoyable for all ages. The story is you discovering something new together with the main character. The fact that there is a bully in the story together with friendships makes me think of Harry Potter. It's a good formula that will work in a good book.
Story line: I was a bit surprised that the book only had 184 pages. I thought that the book was much longer, because so much is happening but it doesn't feel cramped in 184 pages. It's almost 3 weeks ago but I still remember the book very well and I think that is also a great pro; the story line was clear and easy to remember.
Sarcasm: The wittiness and sarcasm in this book had me grinning at multiple times. I sometimes felt that the humor and remarks were maybe a bit too grown-up, but I could still appreciate it. If I think about the kids in my classroom, they would enjoy humor like this as well, so that's why I still feel that the humor, sarcasm and wittiness in this book are a big pro.
Writing: This book is superbly written. It is so easy to read and get through. I've read it in a day and I was so sad that it was over! I immediately started following Lisa Schmid, because I want to read other books by her. The writing style was so enjoyable and I'd easily read a 300/400 page book by her.

Cons
. . .

Overall
If you're not scared to read a Children's book and enjoy a bit of mystery and fantasy you will enjoy this book. The writing style is so easy to get through, for fast readers it would be a book that you could read in one setting. I'm just very happy that I was able to get to know Ollie Oxley and Lisa Schmid and I'm a fan already!

What I Liked
This is a spooky book, but it's manageably spooky for the age group. The descriptions of the places really jump off the page; you can see the crumbling Bing theater and the bubblegum pink house as plain as day. The details of the setting remind me of when I was a kid and my brother would drive us around in the Sierra Nevadas through these little mining mountain towns. In hindsight, it would have been fun to see if they were haunted!

What I Would Have Liked to See
Nothing. Great little book that had everything it needed!

My Favorite!
Teddy! He's such an adorable, sassy little ghost. It's nice to have a friendly, funny ghost in a book. Now instead of being afraid of a ghost in the house, my kids can't wait to befriend their Teddy!

TL;DR
12yo Ollie teams up with a spunky yet forgetful ghost to find some lost gold so his family can stay in their home, but he winds up finding much more than he bargained for.

There is not much to say, only that I didn’t expect to enjoy this much.
The story was gripping and funny to read, the characters were interesting and likable. The one thing I enjoyed the most is the relationship between siblings, in my humble opinion, very realistic.
I will definitely offer this book to my son, when he’s old enough to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search of Lost Gold by Lisa Schmid. I’ve voluntarily read and reviewed this copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is a story about Ollie, a twelve year old boy who has to move a lot because of his mom’s job. When Ollie and his family arrive in Granite City, Ollie finds a new friend, Teddy. Strangely it turns out that Teddy is a ghost. When Ollie fears he has to move again because his mom might lose her job, he and Teddy try to find a lost treasure to make sure he and his family don’t have to move again.

This was such a fun, light and heartwarming story. Ollie is tired of moving all the time but when he meets Teddy his whole life changes. Which results in hilarious banter between Ollie and his ghost friend Teddy. Which I enjoyed immensely.

The writing is fast-paced and leaves little clues. The story gets your attention from the moment Ollie sees Teddy and they embark on this adventure together.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a story about ghosts, adventure and friendship.

I really enjoy children's books because due to the lack of adult responsibility and feelings you can really just deal with the story and plot at hand without getting muddled with everyday problems....which is fun!

When I finished this book I felt really happy and relieved and content with the world. Maybe children's books will be my new palate cleanser after big mysteries and psychological thrillers. Anyway, I really loved this one. It was unique and whimsical, had a lot of heart, and had good solid characters that you can root for - including breaking down some stereotypes.

When I first started I was a little iffy with it because I couldn't stand the main child Ollie or his sister, but they really grow on you fast and remind you of what it was like to be that age - and I think kids will be able to relate to both of them strongly. Also, I love the spooky element of ghosts and treasure hunts.

Would completely recommend.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Oh my, a lovely ghost story with tons of friendship and fun has appeared! I already was curious about this book and then I finally had the chance to read it when I spotted it on Netgalley.

It took me a bit before I had the chance to read it, but here I am. And I enjoyed it oh so much. With the exception of Aubrey. I didn't like that girl at all. Bleh.

Meet Ollie, he is the new kid in the town and hopes that this time they settle down for once. His family keeps on moving with each new gig that his mom has. She takes care of theatres, and in this one she is in charge of getting a theatre out of the ground and up again to a profitable business. The town was just so tiny and fun to read about.

Ollie's new friend? Teddy? Well, he is a ghost. Yep. Ollie doesn't know this from the start and I had quite a laugh at how he found out and how apparently he was too oblivious to everything to see that his friend was dead. Oh hey, my best friend is only visible by me. Oh hey, he can teleport into trees. Totally normal behaviour, right?
Teddy was at times a tad too much, but still I liked him, and I also felt sorry that he didn't have any clue who he was any more. Other than his name and some details on his past, he didn't have any other recollection. He seemed to have a pretty nice life though, he tells Ollie that he at times pops into cinemas to watch new movies. That is one big benefit of being a ghost I guess.

Ollie learns of a treasure thanks to Teddy and he is very eager to get started but it isn't until something happens that he fully goes for it. Helped by Teddy and also the psychic lady on the other side of the road. They try to figure out all the clues and see if they can find the gold, before it is too late. I already had a small suspicion to where the treasure may be, but I was hoping it wouldn't be that as it seemed a bit too obvious to be true.

I wasn't a fan of Aubrey and I frankly couldn't give a damn about her boohoo home situation. Am I supposed to feel sorry for a bully? No. I have been bullied for years to the point of wanting to quit life, and so I really don't have any feelings for people who bully. Just because your life at home sucks doesn't mean you have to throw it out on other people. Sorry if I sound harsh, but I hope people understand why I can't feel any sympathy for people who ruin other people's lives.

Next to treasure hunting Ollie is also trying out for student president and I loved that he went for it so much. That he tried all sorts of things and, unlike Aubrey, tried to win fair and square.

There is lots of adventure and fun treasure hunting and I had plenty of fun reading it. Finding out more about the town, about who owns the treasure (which was a surprise to me but does explain a few things), seeing the theatre and I wanted to try out some of those candies that Cook is selling. It seems they are quite delicious. I would recommend this fun book to everyone.

I try to throw some books in there that I can use in class so I asked for this little book for a quick read. I always look for things my students might be interested and ghosts are high on the list. Overall, I can see my students enjoying this book. It's not one I would call a classic, but it is good fun.

Ollie and his family move a lot since his dad left the family. Mom directs plays and indie movies, so she goes where the work is. Now the work is in Granite City, California. This time she swears it will be different but Ollie isn't so sure. He sometimes doesn't even make friends. Mom is more sure. She thinks they can make a go of it here in the old theater and their Victorian house. Ollie jokes with his sister that it's probably haunted. And then he sees the kid on the porch swing next-store.

Ollie then meets the predictable bully. Every time she bullies Ollie, something happens to her and Ollie spies "Porch Boy" near. Soon we find that, in the literary convention of bullies beget bullies, Aubrey is really sad and her mother is the real bully. That bully is intent on shutting down the new theater that Ollie's mom has come to town to save. Ollie doesn't want to move again so he and his new best friend, Teddy the ghost, decide to find Teddy's dad's gold and save the theater and attached candy shop.

Ollie is a pretty likable character with a good family dynamic. As someone who moved constantly as a kid, the idea of being the new kid all of the time and all that came with it, hit home. There is a lot for kids to identify with without being too sad for students to enjoy.

I loved Ollie Oxley and the Ghost!!

Ollie Oxley and the Ghost is a great ghost story perfect for kids off all ages. It’s a fun mystery with a redemptive ending and terrific characters.

Ollie Oxley and the Ghost was a fun read, the target audience is middle grade but I enjoyed myself. This is some humor while dealing with serious subjects such as loneliness, bullying and that search for belonging and purpose, especially when your past is filled with moving from one place to another. Never really settling down and making true friends.

Ollie is a likable character and one that I couldn’t help rooting for. The story isn’t always from his viewpoint, which roundabout the story nicely. The story while enjoyable was somewhat predictable, but it was well written, creative and one I think will appeal to the younger readers.

My thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy (via Netgalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lisa Schmid's novel Ollie Oxley and the Ghost was a wonderful middle grade text. It follow's a young man named Ollie as he adjusts to yet another home. His family has undergone some changes forcing them to relocate a bit for Mom's job. When they arrive in what each of them hopes is their forever home. Ollie is the new student at school and faced with many of the challenges middle schooler often face, difficult course work, bullies, acceptance, and the hope for lasting friendships. Along this journey, Ollie face some interesting challenges, meets a number of diverse characters. This book is filled with humor, mystery, suspense, and hope. I enjoyed this work immensely. Who doesn't enjoy a book with a ghost or two in it.

Author Lisa Schmid has penned an enjoyable, if predictable, middle-grade novel with Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold, the first of what’s clearly meant to be a series.

The titular Ollie Oxley once again finds himself as the new kid when his peripatetic mother relocates to Granite City, Calif. It won’t be spoiler to say that he encounters a ghost, an eternally 12- or 13-year boy named Teddy who died in the mid-19th century when Granite City was a Gold Rush town. Nor will it come as a surprise that Teddy’s father left a stash of gold somewhere, and that the spectral Teddy helps Ollie find the missing treasure, overcome a girl bully named Aubrey Kelly and save Ollie’s mom’s workplace, The Bingham Theatre, from foreclosure. Still, there’s plenty of humor and middle-school situations to appeal to the youngsters, although adults will probably check out some time in Chapter 7 when they see the end coming.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, North Star Editions and Jolly Fish in exchange for an honest review.

Ollie is a middle schooler who moves a lot due to his mom and his little sister. He has. A hard time adjusting to movie so much and with this new move, a ghost is in the midst. This s a cute and fun ghost story. The plot was cute and easy to follow the characters had loads of personality. I wish there was a bit more on Miss Sally and Captain Cook. However it was a quick nice read overall.

Even as an adult sometimes you just need to reach for something that you know (or at least hope) will be a fun, simple adventure with a good, wholesome ending. A talented author can bring an adult reader as much joy with a middle-grade book as they can someone in the intended age range simply because a good story doesn’t know what an age-range is. This is a good story.

I reached for Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for the Lost Gold partly because the name reminded me of the kid’s phrase “Olly Olly Oxen Free”. It sort of instantly transported me back in time and I had to pick it up. I was very glad I did. It is a well-told story with a very average little boy (apart from his ability to see ghosts) who is stuck moving from place to place with little to ground him. Being the new kid over and over again sucks, but Ollie is used to it by this point. However, things are a little bit worse this time (pink house is just the beginning!) and with the supernatural involvement? Eesh. It’s tough being a kid!

Well-paced, with believable dialogue and a story that reminds adults of the belief and hope they had as a kid, this is a story to enjoy reading with your kiddo. Or simply one that you can pass to your child knowing that they are going to get a good story out of it. I rooted for Ollie the entire time and left the story with a smile on my face.

Mystery, adventure, mischievousness all combine to make a thoroughly pleasing reading experience. Put Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for the Lost Gold on your list.