It might seem strange to be writing a review for a young adult’s book, entitled World of the Unknown Ghosts, however this particular work, is something very dear to my memories, now that I turned 50 this year, I recall first reading it in my elementary school library (4th grade) and enjoying it so much that I would almost addictively re-read it and hence becoming fascinated with the subject of ghosts. The term paranormal had not entered my realm of knowledge, but it causes me to seek out spooky tales to find and perhaps assisted in my journey into the horror cinema. This book, which was originally published in 1977 has become a true cult classic for ghost hunters, fans of ghost stories and of course countless authors/filmmakers. It is truly a book for anyone who has an interest in both these sooky subjects and those that enjoy researching these topics, to separate fact from fiction and interpretation of other matters presented. Many fans of this subject have had those personal connections or interactions with a shadowy figure, or hearing mysterious sounds and very few had the presence make itself known to the individual.

One thing that anyone can agree about ghost tales in general is they are as old as history itself, from urban legends to seafaring tales and campfire spookfests; some of us perhaps set the goal of reading and collecting every ghost telling novel on the market. Well, this book contains the ghouls in all forms around the globe in all forms whether that is human, animal, place, or ship.

While today it might appear as morbid curiosity and something deemed inappropriate back then children and young adults had freedom to explore a multitude of subjects, our discoveries often found inside of libraries where children sections were sealed off from the adults. But this book helps to breach that gap of leaving behind the world of Scooby-Doo. Therefore, let’s begin the journey of past faded memories and ghost hauntings all brought to us by the author Christopher Maynard (penned over 50 children’s books) and from Usborne Publishing, assisted by many great illustrators.

The illustrations are incredible they aren’t slick, rather well created and uncensored in any manner, and the book itself is broken down into three sections which are The Story of Ghosts, Haunted Places, and Searching for the Truth. Hence part one, one learns about the meaning of a ghost, those from longing from the past and the strange customs surrounding the response to hauntings. Learning a wealth of information, (which I researched to prove its truthfulness which surprisingly was fairly accurate such as glimpses into 1751 Tom Colley Tring, England organized a mob to kill a couple and was hanged in gibbet (iron cage) at a crossroad believed to confuse a spirit to find itself way back to townsfolk. Also learn about Gilgamesh (2000 bc) as one of the oldest written ghost tales to survive from the Sumerian region (now Iraq) which is equally true. Then the tale of Athenodorus (74 BC – 7AD), a Greek philosopher, who practice stoic lessons and likely the first ghost hunter, was renting a notorious haunted villa in Athens. He used his stoic mindset to stay calm under all circumstances in this manner a ghost, as panic leads to rash decisions. He noted afterwards to be aware but controlled one’s emotions allow for rational thinking he ignore the ghost, as it left he followed noted where it vanished and by the day dug in that discover the individual received a proper burial no more ghost. The stoic teachings still exist today with the understanding every problem as a solution. What is more interesting is recalling this reading would lead the reader to research these topics further thereby expanding one’s mindset. The pages covering strange is very good, learning how other places treat the subject, it does me laugh when a ghost hunter goes to place to investigate speaking i.e., English and our words would absolutely be foreign to them, but still a wonderful read.

I do believe the second section Haunted Places of the book is the best portion, so many curious places and locations, that one can still visit today. First the discussion of ghostly battlefields and wrongful deaths, anyone who ever ventured into an old battle such Gettysburg can attest to the high mysterious creepy factors. Everyone understands war is Hell, and the casualties number in over 20,000 if men and boys crying in pain the moaning sheer agony. As for the suicides (a word highly censored from children’s books nowadays) and accusation evil doers (witches) often believe not deserving of a holy burial and hence place at crossroads or in ground outside of the cemetery that is often covered in shade and darkness, this is true in Salem, Massachusetts with some the false accusations. On pages 12 and 13 we enter ships and the strange sinkings, and floating phantom vessels, another great insight with a wonderful subsection the legendary UB-65 V(a quick Google search will show an eerie history of the submarine as UB stands for u-boat in German). However, pages 16 and 17 have likely the best drawings and the most detail everything possible to involve the haunting of house referencing 12 possibilities a mesmerizing picture (shown below).

Then the inclusion about Village of Pluckley is noted with a spread of two pages of exactly how the location is, and remember this book was published in 1977, it easily mesmerized a young reader, googling it now reveals that it holds a Guinness Records “as it is reputed to be the most haunted village in Britain.” The final portion of the book concerns the tools, of determining if a ghost exist and the possible solutions that is just natural, or man-made hoaxes or fakes, while much of the equipment present is highly date for the naive and curious young child it can provide an interesting hobby.

Overall, Maynard goes to quite a varied amount of depth, and fills his book with ghost stories ranging from well-known to highly obscure yet provides explanations of each, still knowing this is directed to children, it is a mild mannered book, there no happy pleasant storylines, it’s a tad frighting for some, especially if they aren’t aware of the entire concept of death, hence each parent needs to decide for their own children and not everyone. Now some might deem this an occult work, it’s not merely the topic of ghosts, and how cultures worldwide deal with such topics, therefore it presented in an educational intent. Finally, it is a good read, and for some a wonderful trip back to our innocent childhoods noting the dated item, however many items allowed me a few minutes to reference whether truth existed or mere folklore, urban legends carried over and surprisingly the former proved true.

Baron’s Rating: 4.8/5.0

Publisher: ‎ Usborne Publishing Ltd; New edition (October 3, 2019)

Language: ‎ English

Paperback: ‎ 32 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 1474976689

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1474976688