Skeleton Island: An Araminta Spookie Adventure by Angie Sage is a children's chapter book. It is the seventh in the series and after finishing it, I will definitely be recommending this series for the library.

Araminta Spookie and her best friend Wanda are attending boarding school, Gargoyle Hall. They are still having problems with two other girls, Nosy Nora and Creepy Cora, but nothing they can't handle. When Miss Gargoyle announces that they are going on a fieldtrip to Skeleton Island Araminta is excited. She has been there before with Uncle Drac and she even has a baby bat in a bat box as her pet. Wanda is excited because she loves pirates and Araminta has shared the pirate story about the sunken ship the "Cutlass Kate", Captain Peg Leg and the pirate crew that sank off the island. Of course when they get to the island they end up paired with Nosy Nora and Creepy Cora. Araminta decides to scare them by taking them to the bat cave and disrupting the bats, but unfortunately, her plan backfires. When Araminta and Wanda find themselves marooned on the island as the Fat Seagull, the ferry, chugged back to school without them, the adventures begin. Meeting ghosts, skeletons, finding treasure and being taken captive all keep you wondering what is going to happen next.

This is a great story for reluctant readers as well as avid readers. It is a good chapter book for youngsters looking to move out of picture books. Araminta is a strong willed, and slightly odd, young lady with lots of stories and experiences to share. We learn more about Wanda in this story. She seems to be quiet and mild mannered, but get her upset or scared and she will stand up for herself and her friends. She can be a little whiny though, but then again, when you are in danger or bat guano, you might be whiny too. This book is illustrated by John Kelly with black and white artwork that adds to the story just enough to keep you entertained. The story has enough adventure to entertain reluctant readers that need high action books to hold their interest and for those that love a touch of the spooky or supernatural.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )