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Imagine Garth Hale's surprise when he's accidentally zapped to the spirit world by Frank Gallows, a washed-out ghost wrangler. Suddenly Garth finds he has powers the ghosts don't have, and he's stuck in a world run by the evil ruler of Ghostopolis, who would use Garth's newfound abilities to... read more

Summary edit see section history

A young boy named Garth is in a car with his mother, annoying her with his detailed commentary of his toy plane crash.

Meanwhile, a man in a suit and briefcase named Frank Gallows stands in front of a house with a note: "Under the bed." He enters the house, making sure no one else is... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

A young boy named Garth is in a car with his mother, annoying her with his detailed commentary of his toy plane crash.

Meanwhile, a man in a suit and briefcase named Frank Gallows stands in front of a house with a note: "Under the bed." He enters the house, making sure no one else is around to witness it. Upstairs he finds the ghost of Benedict Arnold and sends him back to Ghostopolis. He is then attacked by the pet poodle in the house he's in.

Garth's mother is at the doctor's office, and is informed that Garth's illness is incurable and he doesn't have long to live. She is visibly distraught and tries to comfort Garth.

Back at the Supernatural Immigration Task Force Headquarters (Frank's job), an elderly psychic draws a picture and gives it to Frank. It is visible by the fact that Frank is sleeping that he is washed up and tired of his life.

At Garth's home, he is asking questions about his grandfather and his mother informs him that he was a drunk. Frank arrives at the house next to Garth's and finds a NightMare - a skeletal horse, which puts up a fight, dragging Frank through the house, into the yard, and escaping into Garth's house. Garth is in his bed reading and is trapped within the NightMare's ribcage - and when Frank sends the horse back to Ghostopolis, Garth is sent with it.

Back at the SITF, Garth's mother argues with Frank about trying to get her son back, and he claims that as soon as the "Chronoplasmere" is ready, he will head the mission to rescue Garth himself. However, they are interrupted by Frank's boss, who fires him.

Garth and the NightMare arrive in the afterlife. Garth is at first very afraid of the NightMare, but they connect and he nicknames the NightMare "Skinny." They sleep and when they awaken, they begin a trek but are attacked by skeletal dinosaurs. After escaping, Garth and Skinny head toward the city.

Meanwhile, Frank heads to Indio, California to ask his ex, Claire, who is also a ghost, for help. At first she is reluctant, but agrees and they travel on her PlasmaPod.

Garth and Skinny are interrupted by the noise of engines and are saved by a young boy in aviators and a pilot's coat. They hide from the bugs, who deface the tree the trio is hiding behind by carving "I was heer" into it. The boy introduces himself as Cecil and informs Garth that he is Garth's grandfather. Cecil explains how Ghostopolis was created by a Tuskegee Airman named Joe. They think he may be Garth's only way home. As they travel through Mummyville, Cecil explains that he appears as a young child because in the afterlife, people who have unfinished business revert to their internal age. He then explains that Garth's mother came home wearing earrings, they got into an argument, she ran away, and never spoke to him again. Cecil then ages to sixteen.

Meanwhile, a vehicle carried by giant bees arrives in the same meadow the NightMare and Garth started in and large beetle inspects the grass. He discovers the footprints and hoofprints.

After a bumpy reentry, Claire and Frank discuss how the afterlife has been destroyed by the reign of a man named Vaugner, whom Claire used to date.

Back in a dark castle, the beetle informs Vaugner that a mortal has arrived. Vaugner views them through a green pool in the hole in the floor, tests Garth's plasma levels and determines they are abnormal when they form into Joe and knock Vaugner and his servant to the ground. Vaugner decides they must capture Garth.

As they travel through the forest, Claire explains to Frank that afterlife physics don't apply to the living. They are attacked by a werewolf-like creature, but Claire shrugs it off and continues on their journey.

By now, Garth, Cecil, and Skinny have reached Ghostopolis. Cecil continues to age and outgrows his clothes, so they steal some off of a skeleton. They have a brief heart to heart about being a father before Garth realizes he can fly and takes Cecil on a ride.

In the city of Ghostopolis, Claire and Frank arrive to a large festival in Ghostopolis. Vaugner is seated at the center of a row of people and introduces them as the various Kings and Queens of the Afterlife. Cecil tells the story of how the Kingdoms were unified after Vaugner manipulated them. Claire and Frank visit Claire's uncle, who is a werewolf seer, and they learn where to find Garth. As they are leaving, Claire's uncle informs her that Frank loves her and was only doing what he thought was safe for her.

Cecil and Garth are at the festival when Vaugner's servant arrives and attempts to kidnap Garth. A large scuffle erupts between Garth, Frank, Claire, and Vaugner's bug minions, which encourages another fight amongst the citizens of the afterlife. At this point, Garth's powers are unleashed, but he does not have complete control over them. Garth is rescued by Frank and Cecil, and Cecil and Vaugner's servant are blown back into the PlasmaPod by the force of Garth's power. They then are teleported back to Earth when Cecil accidentally hits the "send" button during the fight.

Claire, Frank, Skinny, and Garth hide out, but the chase is on as Vaugner is searching for them. They run into Benedict Arnold, who unexpectedly distracts the servants. They are captured by the skeletons and taken to the Bone King, who is surprised to learn that Garth has tamed the untamable NightMare - Skinny. The Bone King takes Garth to the fringes of his Kingdom where Joe hides in a cave and helps those who are ill, impoverished, and alone. Garth wants Joe to send him home, but the Bone King says he must wait.

Back at Vaugner's castle, Vaugner is angry and has discovered the Bone King's operation. Benedict Arnold betrays Frank and switches to Vaugner's side.

Claire and Frank share a heart to heart when Garth and the Bone King rush back. Their plan is to go to the "electric plant" where a giant lightening bug supplies power, so they can recharge the plasma cuffs and go home. However, they have been found out and must fight to get inside. They hook the cuffs up but the Bone King is destroyed by Vaugner. Garth saves Frank, Claire, and himself by blowing up the lightning bug and making a shield.

The Chronoplasmere arrives and they are about to go home when Vaugner reappears and it is revealed that he must be human because he didn't die in the explosion, and Vaugner sends the Chronoplasmere home. Frank's boss remains and reveals that Vaugner was the other boy that was accidentally sent to the afterlife. Vaugner claims he has spent all of these years building his power to control the afterlife. Another fight breaks out between Garth and Vaugner, and they morph themselves into buildings. Although he is strong, Garth is not capable of Vaugner's level of power and begins to lose. Frank encourages him by sneaking into the building that makes up Garth's body and they combine their powers to defeat Vaugner. Frank dies in the explosion.

The leaders of the other Kingdoms gather to elect Claire as the new leader of the afterlife, and Frank arrives to reveal that they can now be together forever. Suddenly, an elderly man emerges that Garth mistakes for his grandfather. The old man informs Garth that he is Garth's son, and that his disease is cured, and that he is a good father. He also says that the power to go home was always within Garth, so he creates a portal home. He says goodbye to all of his friends and gives his mother the earrings and explains that Cecil knows she forgives him. Up on the roof, Cecil takes flight.

Characters edit see section history

  • Garth: it is cureable at the end which is good so he lives
  • frank gallows: He dies at the end
  • Cecil: is a ghost who becomes queen
  • Claire: Is Franks girlfriend XD
  • Vaugner: He dies at the end. He's very evil
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Setting & Locations edit see section history

The afterlife and various places on Earth.
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First Sentence edit see section history

Ladies and gentlemen, we're having a little engine trouble.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Kirkus Reviews: 2010 Best Children's Books. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Doug TenNapel (Author)

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Page Count: 266

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