Ghost Trackers: The Unreal World of Ghosts, Ghost-Hunting, and the Paranormal

By Chris Gudgeon

Inspired by the hit television series "Ghost Trackers," this ghostly tome invites readers to explore the mysteries that haunt us all: ghostly histories, how to equip yourself to explore a haunted house, the latest on what the scientists think. All this and much more is packed into this fascinating book.

In the world of Ghost Trackers, kids who are interested in ghosts and the paranormal search for answers to the questions we all have about the afterlife. Full of stories of sightings, both ancient and recent, and information about becoming a ghost tracker, this book demands to be read and shared. After all, who knows if ghosts are evidence of life after death or if they are simply a natural occurrence we are yet to understand?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Apr 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781770491816

Chris Gudgeon

Ever since his first piece of fiction was published 25 years ago in the small literary magazine Thrust, Chris Gudgeon has been honing his literary craft. Although his influences range from Will Self and Tibour Smith to fifteenth-century Japanese pornography, Chris Gudgeon has written, in this instance, a collection of stories with subtle echoes of Kurt Vonnegut. In addition to The Naked Truth, Chris Gudgeon's works of non-fiction include An Unfinished Conversation: The Life and Music of Stan Rogers and The Luck of the Draw: True Life Tales of Lottery Winners and Losers, both national bestsellers, and Out of This World, a controversial biography of the poet Milton Acorn. A resident of Victoria, Chris Gudgeon writes regularly for radio, television, film, and print publications as diverse as Mad, the Globe and Mail, Canadian Wildlife, and Playboy.

Reviews for Ghost Trackers

[randirousseau · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I didn't realize when I requested this book that it was so very basic and focused on children (or quite so self-promotional - it's a show!). I'm not unhappy to add it to my collection of ghost books, but I can NOT say it's one I enjoy, or will pull out to re-review. I guess those who watch the show would really enjoy this as accompanying material.

[jayble_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think when I ordered this book I was expecting something completely different. I had no idea that this book was for children or that it was a book that was used basically as promotional material for a television series I wasn't familiar with. That said, if you have children who watch this series or are interested in ghost hunting, this thin little book is full of high gloss photos and interesting information.

[kristibernard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Do you believe in ghosts? That is the question that is asked in this television series inspired book for young adult readers. If ever there were a treasure chest of ghost hunting basics, this photo filled guide is it. This page turner is for the novice ghost hunter or even for the experienced ghost hunter who wants to brush up on their terminology. Just about every page is filled with eerie photos and colorful sidebars full of quick and easy defintions, how-to's and true ghost stories. If you aren't a believer in ghost you will be after reading Gudgeon's book.Readers will be dazzled with everything pertaining to ghosts, hauntings, and sightings dating all the way to 68 CE. Skeptics will read what the scientist think about ectoplasm, fake photos and pyschic tricksters. This very interesting and informative book will educate readers about animal afterlife and a checklist to determine if their homes are haunted. The index in the back of the book makes for a quick reference guide. If parents or teachers wanted to teach a course on ghost tracking this book takes the lead.

[bookwormteri · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A great book for a youngster that is interested in ghosts or hauntings. I have never seen the show that is linked to this book, but I was impressed by the book itself. I am a little (wink, wink) older than the age group this book was written for, but was charmed by the history given in the book (with simplified explanations) and the level-headedness of the author. Clearly stating that we don't know what "ghosts" are, could be science, could be supernatural, but not ruling anything out. I will be giving this to my kids as soon as I get home.

[tmyers526 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I got this through the Early Reviewers program. I really enjoyed this book. I thought it covered the history aspect of ghost hunting and the paranormal in a way that would be good for tweens and teens. I also liked that it included tips on how to do searches on the internet to see the video footage that was referred to, and I think making it almost interactive in that way will also make it more appealing for kids. I have never seen the television show, but I will have to check it out now. Overall I enjoyed the book, found it to be very informative without going into so much detail that it would not hold a young reader's attention, and I thought it was a good introduction to the subject without making it too scary. I would definitely recommend it to kids interested in this topic.

[crazyjster · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ghost Trackers: The Unreal World of Ghosts, Ghost-Hunting, and the Paranormal-by Chris GudgeonThis book is geared for children from ages 9-12. It is informative, well written, and covers a variety of topics, ranging from historical ghost stories to how to carry out your own “ghost-hunting” (even though no kid in the world would have the equipment to do this). I liked the fact that it gave both a scientific basis and other...possibility for what possibly may be a paranormal experience. It also gave excellent definitions and examples that were appropriate for a child between the ages of 9-12 to understand. It was engaging and quite fun to read. I actually had my 9 year old check it out around Halloween with her friends to see what they thought of it. I was a little nervous that it might be a little scary, but it the writing was humorous at times and interesting, that it took any “scare” out of ghosts and paranormal away. We were actually able to have some interesting conversations about haunted houses, possible ghost sightings (I grew up in Boston and lots of people's houses are “haunted”...or are they?), and visiting some of the places mentioned in the book that were nearby. She and her friends carried that book around for a good couple of weeks before I could get it back from her to actually review it myself. If a book can engage a nine year old girl in to science of any type (who has no interest in science what so ever), then there has to be something good about it. As a former teacher, I think these types of books are great. They are not to long, they are appealing to children, and they are not to complected to read so that a “non-science” person is bored. They also encourage conversation between parents and children about belief systems, experiences, and who knows, maybe exploring new places together.

[kawika_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It really is a shame this book turned out so poorly. I know this is a tie-in to the TV show that goes by the same name and so, therefore, maybe I should be more forgiving of the constant use of Ghost Trackers throughout the book. However, it is borderline disrespectful, in my view, to call parapsychologists and paranormal investigators and researchers by that name the entire time and rarely use the proper titles. If that were the biggest concern, I really wouldn't have a problem with this book, but that's the least of the flaws.The book starts off very strongly, acknowledging the history of psychical research, even if it is brief. This is perfectly understandable when considering the target audience for the book. It certainly is pleasant to look at and keeps its points succinct and moves along at a brisk pace. At this point, I would still consider recommending this to those in the initial stages of looking into paranormal investigation and research. However, after the history, the book completely falls short on many counts.The discussion of the theory of ghosts and the why and how of their existence brings up two or three possible theories, but falls short of any good, tangible discussion about these theories as well as completely failing to mention other current theories. It also classifies a poltergeist, solely, as a type of ghost, which ignores all the research that speaks about poltergeists as psychokinetic events that may not have anything to do with ghosts or spirits. There is some discussion of orbs and the possible mundane causes of them, but there is failure to mention that unless something very extraordinary (more extraordinary than capturing possible paranormal data in the first place, that is) can be documented, just about every orb must be discarded as "evidence" due to these environmental factors and cannot be considered as any sort of objective evidence of paranormal activity. There is an abbreviated section on equipment at the end, which also contains wrong information. Of particular interest is the section on using an infrared thermometer, which absolutely cannot be used to detect cold spots in the air, as the book claims. IR Thermometers measure the surface temperature of objects, and so are ineffective for detecting cold spots unless you've got the type that use an external probe, but this isn't mentioned at all.The aforementioned problems are enough to set Ghost Trackers aside as a good starting point for potential investigators and researchers. However, these don't come close to being the most egregious problems of the book. The worst problem is the way the concept of conducting an investigation is treated. The investigation and its goal is treated, seemingly, as some sort of thrill-seeking game, with pictures of shadow people and other data being prized items. Also, there is a statement that implies that no ghost or spirit can exist in a place without some sort of tragedy or negative situation being involved. Paranormal investigation should never be presented in such a sensational manner. Yes, tragic and violent deaths do seem to trigger some paranormal activity, but it does not represent the reasons for all activity. Seemingly, the author wants you to believe that hauntings and ghostly activity are only the result of negative situations, which any investigator worth their salt would readily deny.Given the above problems, I cannot, in good faith, recommend this book to anyone.

[waterlylly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book, aimed at a young audience, is a good introduction to the history and theories of paranormal activity. It is particularly aimed at viewers of the show Ghost Trackers, but those who have never seen the show will still find plenty to learn and plenty to like about it. I was glad to see that, because when I saw the book's cover I was afraid that it would be a book about a TV show I had never seen more than about ghosts, and that was not the case at all. The text is easy without being condescending, and there are plenty of pictures and colorful sidebars to break up the text and add visual interest to the pages. There are also web sites referenced so that the reader can find more information on the subjects covered. The material covered includes a brief overview of reported ghost sightings in history, including some popular stories like the Bell Witch. There is a chapter about historical research into paranormal phenomena, and also a chapter covering how types of ghosts and phenomena are classified in paranormal research and discussion. What you will not find in here is any kind of judgment call about what ghosts are spiritually, and you won't find any real discussion of psychic or spiritual means to deal with a haunting. The book's focus is on detection of activity and classification of activity. The book encourages a scientific viewpoint towards paranormal phenomena while managing to not suck all the fun and life out of the subject, and I think that's a good thing. The subject is treated neutrally, leaving any kind of religious or spiritual judgment to the reader and his own spiritual background. I think this book is an excellent introduction to the study of ghosts and paranormal phenomena, and I would highly recommend it to a kid who is interested in ghosts but who has not had a lot of prior background reading on the subject.

[amyblue_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My 11 year old loved this book...I would say this book is intended for 11-13 year olds. I have never seen the TV show on which it is based so I can't comment on that aspect of it. It took a semi-sceptical approach and tried to show both how paranormal phenomena can be real, and how they might be faked or imagined. I would have liked more of the science behind ghost hunting discussed, but that's just me.

[jechtshot · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Chris Gudgeon's, Ghost Trackers, is a short book that serves to educate young readers on the history of the paranormal and to provide insight into the world of ghost-hunting. The book is clearly geared towards younger readers and provides some interesting features, such as pointers to web links to continue your paranormal education beyond the provided content.I do find it a bit disconcerting that a book on ghost-hunting is geared towards children. Granted, handing junior a DVR camera and an EMF detector may be a great way to get the kids out the house while you watch the football game, but that would probably not be the best means to gain an award in parenting. I would advise that parents read this book first to ensure that they are comfortable with their children consuming this subject matter. An enjoyable read and a great introduction to the world of the paranormal.

[cal8769 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is an overview of the history of hauntings, types of ghosts, various famous hauntings, and how to conduct a ghost hunting investigation. This book was written for children from ages of 9 to 12 and is easy to follow. A nice beginning ghost hunting guide for kids.

[dearheart_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This easily read book is based on the TV series “Ghost Trackers” which showcases kids, already taught how to use the equipment and what to look for, to investigate purported locations of paranormal activity. The book’s purpose is to give kids enough knowledge to do their own investigations. I’ve never seen the show.The author breaks the book down by giving a little bit on history, science involved in investigating, the different types of ghosts or spirits, some famous haunted sites, and information on what you need and should do if you want to try this yourself. Sprinkled throughout the book are colorful pictures and interesting tidbits and stories. What I found most unusual is that the author says multiple times that no one really knows if ghosts exist.As someone with paranormal experiences, I would have appreciated more information and examples on the different subjects, although the book is geared towards kids who are probably more interested in getting to the “how to track and what to look for” portions of the book. Sensible advice is given on what you need and should do, although while describing the equipment needed, it doesn’t say how to use it. Kids watching the show might already have a good idea. Overall it’s a decent book for the target audience.