Time travel, WW2 London, 1940, 1666 Bubonic Plague London, 1700s Cornwall, Wales
Joni Jones and the Ghost Train
by P.D Leyshon
Key information
Author: P.D Leyshon
Cover artist: -
Release Date: 7th October 2024
Book type: Chapter, 296 pages
Genre: Fantasy, horror
Star rating: ★★★★★
Reader level: Developing reader, Shared read 8+
Age: 8+
Overview
Nearly a year has passed since Cai Jones mysteriously vanished on Halloween night. His younger brother, Joni Jones, remains haunted by the loss and becomes intrigued when he hears the eerie sound of a steam engine emanating from the nearby woods. Convinced that this phantom train is linked to Cai's disappearance, Joni enlists the help of his friends, Osh and Ellie, to investigate.
Their exploration leads them to a ghost train that transports them to a parallel Spirit World, a realm where restless spirits from history yearn to escape. In this otherworldly domain, they encounter the Resistance, a group of time-traveling ghost fighters dedicated to preventing malevolent spirits from infiltrating the real world. With the Resistance's guidance, Joni and his friends embark on a perilous mission to rescue Cai and thwart the spectral armies threatening their reality.
Joni and his friends must travel through time and place to save Cai, including: 1940 WW2 London, 1666 Bubonic-plague-ridden London and 17th Century Cornwall. In each location, Joni experiences what life was like at key points in British history and is introduced to ghosts who lived at that time.
The book contains a few plot twists and a frustrating cliffhanger at the very end which should keep children hooked and wanting more!
Key concepts/themes
- Time travel
- British history
- Bubonic plague London
- WW2 (1940) London
- 17th Century Cornwall
- Friendship and teamwork
- Sibling bonds
- Loss
- Bravery
Considerations
- Puss (lots of it!)
- Zombies
- Ghosts
- Banshees
- Battle
- Death
- Missing children
Curriculum links
History - 1940 London, WW2, 17th Century Cornwall, Pirates, Bubonic plague
Geography - Wales
Additional teaching opportunities
1. Writing
- Writing a suspense story
- Writing action story
- Writing character description
- Instructions (how to kill a zombie/ghost)
- Recount (first day as a cadet)
- Setting description - London in different eras
- Comparison - modern vs historical London
- Dialogue to enhance plot
- Writing in character
- Developing character through speech
2. PSHE
- Sibling relationships
- Bullying
- Friendship
- Bravery
3. Geography
- Exploring nationalities of characters (Ukrainian, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Cornish, English, French)
Vocabulary
| Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|
| musing, other-worldly, disturbing, dislodge, re-occuring, momentarily, elocution, surged, trundled, agape, cascaded, synchronized | Messerschmitt BF 109, Hurricane, Spitfire, Bubonic Plague, Smugglers, Cadets, Mousehole, Smigglers Cove, Battle of Britain, Armstrong Whitworth A.W.41 Albermarle, barges, platoon, Resistence, regiment |
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