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Eva Ibbotson
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The Haunting of Hiram Paperback – Unabridged, January 1, 2001

by Eva Ibbotson (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 44 ratings
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The Haunting of Hiram
The Haunting of Hiram
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‘I will buy your castle,’ declared Hiram C. Hopgood. ‘But only if there are no ghosts!’

Alex MacBuff can’t afford to keep his beloved Castle Carra, and an American millionaire has made him an offer he can’t refuse. The castle is shipped all the way to Texas, but its ghostly inhabitants, including Krok the Viking warrior and a hell-hound called Cyril, follow their home across the Atlantic. How can Alex stop them haunting Hiram and also save the millionaire`s daughter from an evil ransom plot?

`Funny, gripping, charming and completely irresistable` Amanda Craig

`Eva Ibbotson weaves a magic like no other` Michael Morpurgo

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Macmillan Children's Books
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    5.12 x 0.51 x 7.76 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780330398428
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0330398428
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eva Ibbotson writes for both adults and children. Born in Vienna, she now lives in the north of England. Her husband was a naturalist who taught her to value even the smallest and most unattractive animal – and her four children and seven grandchildren showed her that ghosts, wizards and witches are people like ourselves ‘only madder and more interesting’. She has written eight other ghostly adventures for children.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0330398423
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Macmillan Children's Books; 2nd edition, revised (January 1, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780330398428
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0330398428
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.12 x 0.51 x 7.76 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 44 ratings

About the author

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Eva Ibbotson

Eva Ibbotson

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Eva Ibbotson, born Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner (21 January 1925 20 October 2010), was an Austrian-born British novelist, known for her children's books. Some of her novels for adults have been successfully reissued for the young adult market in recent years. For the historical novel Journey to the River Sea (Macmillan, 2001), she won the Smarties Prize in category 9 11 years, garnered unusual commendation as runner up for the Guardian Prize, and made the Carnegie, Whitbread, and Blue Peter shortlists. She was a finalist for the 2010 Guardian Prize at the time of her death. Her last book, The Abominables, was one of eight books on the longlist for the same award in 2012.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
44 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars youth book
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2010
Verified Purchase
Another good read by Eva Ibbotson. She writes quite gruesome stuff - but it is funny. Gruesome from an adult's point of view.
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Overseas Mom
4.0 out of 5 stars 'Dead'ly Funny!
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2011
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Overall Review: Alex MacBuff has no parents. He was raised by a group of ghosts that haunt his family's castle in Scotland. When he is twelve, he finds he can't keep his family home because he is broke. Enter Mr. Hopgood who wants to buy and pay top dollar. His only caveat: No ghosts! His daughter is sick and he's afraid the shock would kill her. So, Alex has to ban his ghosts from the castle. The ghosts have to move to a relatives' house, whose ghosts are far from friendly, so the Carra ghosts run away back to the castle only to find it in pieces! The castle is taken down and shipped to America--with the ghosts! On the way, they encounter some bad guys, discover America through a cinema, make a new friend (a severed hand), and eventually save the day! Each of the ghosts has such a funny personality. From Krok's false bravado, to Miss Spinks who always has to drown herself (even if it's just using the drinking fountain!), to Mr. Louse and his false teeth, there's always something to laugh at! Of course, this story isn't just about the ghosts. Alex is a sweet little boy and is a great influence for good on his new friend Helen Hopgood--who isn't as sick as everyone thinks she is! All in all, this was a fun book with a lot of twists to keep you reading and dripping with droll humor to lighten the mood. Overall rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

Content Review:

PROFANITY: A few mild instances

VIOLENCE: Mild throughout

SEXUAL CONTENT: A few mild instances

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 12+

Since this book is about a group of ghosts, already there are a few issues to deal with. The first is the ghosts themselves. They're not scary at all, but violence does surround them. The instances of their deaths is described in vague detail and obviously includes death--in some cases a lot of death. All of this is described very `tongue-in-cheek'. There is a Viking who is cursed because he couldn't manage to kill someone--and had to kill someone to be un-cursed, however, he's been a spook now for well over a thousand years; he just doesn't have the heart to kill. The others include a poltergeist, a wanna-be vampire, an ex-governess, and a large dog. The dog used to work in the underworld, and is referred to often using an interesting term, which some people may find offensive. There are a few other instances of profanity, but not more than five. There are some very vile characters who enjoy hurting and killing people. Many characters die. There are kidnappings, shootings, drowning, stabbings, bombings and death threats. The sexual content includes a man who dresses as a woman (his disguise)--a character sees him take off his `false bosoms' through a window. This is referred to often throughout the story. A Valkyrie comes to take the Viking to Valhalla and she is described in a slightly uncomfortable way (an emphasis on thighs and chest). A character falls in love with a married man, and since he doesn't return her love, she drowns herself. This story is meant to be very humorous. It usually is, but there are times when it tips a bit to the dark side. This is recommended as a Clean Read for ages 12+.

This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer

To see more fantastic books reviewed with content in mind, visit us at squeakycleanreads!
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microjoe
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story, wild characters, laugh out loud situations
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2005
Be aware that there are 3 books with the exact same story word for word. "The Haunting of Granite Falls", "The Haunting of Hiram C. Hopgood", and "The Haunting of Hiram" are all the same story by the same author. Just a different title and different cover art, same book inside. This is not the author's fault by the way, it is just that 2 publishers have the right to publish, Puffin and Macmillan, and this is what they have done. For some reason that is done with another book from this author, "Island of the Aunts" is also released as "Monster Mission". Personally, I like the artwork on the Macmillan covers from England better.

On to the story - This is a book about a rich Texan that buys a Scottish Castle named Carra from the last heir of an old family, an orphan boy. But he does not want any ghosts included as he is worried that they will scare the little girl that will live in the castle. The millionaire ships the whole thing stone by stone and rebuilds it in Texas. But the castle does have ghosts, very nice ones who have helped raise the boy. They include a viking, a ghost dog, and Miss Spinks. What the millionaire does not notice is that the ghosts do come with the castle. The boy flies to America to get the ghosts out and stays in the castle. When they learn they cannot stay, they move into an old movie theater next door, where they meet the mysterious ghost hand. Somehow, he is trying to solve the mystery of his murder many years ago. And when the little girl is kidnapped for ransom, the ghosts must join the effort to rescue her and the boy.

This book is suspenseful, but laugh-out-loud hilarious. The author creates the most charming and imaginative characters you can imagine. I strongly reccommend!
3 people found this helpful
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LonestarReader
5.0 out of 5 stars Ghoulish fun
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2004
Eva Ibbotson writes stories about funny and not too scary ghosts. A recurring theme is displaced or homeless ghosts.
The Haunting of Granite Falls, 2004 is the story of a millionaire who purchases an ancient Scottish castle from 12-year-old orphan Alex MacBuff, and moves it to Texas. Every castle has ghosts; this one has five of them and they are the only family Alex has every had.
Her writing always makes me grin. There is just the right touch of ghoulish humor. It occurs to me that her "Granite Falls" could be modeled on Marble Falls, Texas where Granite Mountain is a huge dome of pink and red granite. This granite was used for the construction of the Texas Capitol. A fun connection for Texas readers.
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L. Cousins
4.0 out of 5 stars Beware! This is the book also call: " The Haunting of Hiram"
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2004
"The Haunting of Hiram" is the same book as: "The Haunting of Granite Falls"

Some of the book that Eva Ibbotson wrote in the U.K, are publish in the US with another title, like this one, and

"Moster Mission" that was publish as "The Island of the Aunts"

After that been said, every book that she had done is excellent!!

Synopsis of "The Haunting of Hiram" from Amazon.com U.K.

Twelve year old orphan, Alex MacBuff, doesn't want to sell his beloved home, Carra Castle. But it is falling to pieces and he can't afford to keep it. American millionaire, Hiram C. Hopgood, offers to buy it on condition that there are no ghosts - and Alex can't refuse. Problem is, Carra Castle is full of ghosts! There's Krok the hairy Viking warrior, mad Miss Spinks, a vampire with no teeth and a hell-hound called Cyril. Will Alex be able to stop them haunting Hiram? A barmy, brilliantly funny, supernatural adventure from the ever-popular Eva Ibbotson.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Placeholder
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book !
Reviewed in India on September 12, 2018
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My daughter loved it , good book
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Sol
4.0 out of 5 stars Entrañable
Reviewed in Spain on September 29, 2015
Verified Purchase
Un libro de aventuras infantiles con unos fantasmas adorables que, por accidente, se ven trasladados de su Escocia natal a Texas junto con las piedras de su castillo. Divertido y emocionante.
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Agnes Feuchtgruber
5.0 out of 5 stars Wunderbares Buch für das Grundschulalter
Reviewed in Germany on January 9, 2015
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Ich habe das Buch meinen Kindern vorgelesen und dabei haben wir viel gelacht. An manchen Stellen hat es einen etwas makaberen Humor.
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Alexandra Sach
5.0 out of 5 stars The Haunting of Hiram
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
I am a big fan of the Eva Ibbotson books, and this book was definitely one of my favourites. The plot is exciting and has many unexpected twists. Overall I would give it 9 1/2 out of 10.
2 people found this helpful
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Tigerlily.
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 9, 2016
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Good.
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