The 13th Floor: A Ghost Story

Buddy Stebbins falls asleep watching a movie and wakes up in the year 1900 in San Francisco. After realizing he has traveled back in time, he encounters his great-grandmother Roberta as a young girl and discovers she needs his help. Buddy must navigate the unfamiliar world of turn-of-the-century San Francisco while trying to assist his ancestor and find his way back to the present. His quest leads him through the city's historic neighborhoods and brings him face-to-face with both danger and opportunity. This ghost story combines elements of time travel, family connections, and historical fiction to explore themes of courage and responsibility across generations. The narrative raises questions about how the past and present intertwine, and what we owe to both our ancestors and descendants.

Readers call this book more humorous than scary, despite its ghost story premise. Parents and teachers note it works well for reluctant readers due to its short length and fast pace. Positive reviews mention: - Quick, engaging plot that keeps kids' attention - Amusing time travel elements - Appropriate level of spookiness for ages 8-12 - Clear, straightforward writing style Common criticisms: - Too brief/simple for older readers - Plot feels rushed in places - Some find the ending unsatisfying Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (436 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (21 ratings) One teacher wrote: "My 4th graders loved this as a read-aloud. Just scary enough to be fun without causing nightmares." A parent noted: "My reluctant reader finished it in two sittings - rare for him." Several reviews mention recommending it specifically for 3rd-5th grade readers who want light ghost stories.

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🏆 Author Sid Fleischman won the Newbery Medal in 1987 for his book "The Whipping Boy" 🎪 Before becoming a writer, Fleischman worked as a professional magician, which influenced many of his stories including "The 13th Floor" 🏢 Many buildings skip the 13th floor in their numbering due to superstition, going straight from 12 to 14 - a practice called triskaidekaphobia 👻 The book incorporates elements of time travel and ghost stories, blending historical fiction with supernatural elements 🖋️ Fleischman wrote more than 60 books during his career, starting with magic instruction books before moving to children's literature