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Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
$5.95

Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family LOOK like a normal family. But the Russells don’t know they are living with Kimble, the ghost of a 10-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to Kimble’s mother.

Book 1 in the Katie & Kimble series. A chapter book for ages 7-10 at RL3 (reading level 3, 280L). Also suitable for reluctant readers ages 11 and 12. The Katie & Kimble books are funny, engaging and exciting, but are not fear-based. 114 pages. Juvenile fiction; humorous stories. Click here to access the Katie & Kimble e-store.

Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish
$5.95

There’s no time to lose! The ghostly Kimble has come for a visit and Katie’s dad will be home soon. What will Mr. Russell do when he finds out about Kimble?

Book 2 in the Katie & Kimble series. A chapter book for ages 7-10 at RL3 (reading level 3, 290L). Also suitable for reluctant readers ages 11 and 12. The Katie & Kimble books are fast-paced, engaging and moving, but are not fear-based. 116 pages. Juvenile fiction; humorous stories. Click here to access the Katie & Kimble e-store.

Read the Katie & Kimble Reviews, Interviews, and Guest Posts Here

Here you can read reviews of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (a chapter book for ages 7-10) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (book 2 in the series). Some of the reviews are by kids, some are by moms, and some are by book bloggers and contest judges.

You can also read (and hear) interviews with Linda Thieman, the author of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story, and guest posts she has written for book blogs who were kind enough to host her Katie & Kimble book tour.

Reviews by Kids

1)  NEW! Video Review! Ki, age 6, Reviews Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story

“I think a lot of kids in the world that know how to read would like Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story by Linda Thieman.”

3)  Katie & Kimble Kids’ Corner: Katrina, 8, Reviews Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story for ages 7-10

“Katie & Kimble is a very honest book with a lot of friendship and truth.”

4)  Madeline, age 8, Reviews Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish for Reader Views Kids!

“Katie and Kimble: The Magic Wish by Linda Thieman is the second book in this series about Katie and Kimble I have read. They are fun and easy for the reader to follow. I really like these books about friends because they always have a happy ending and make me feel good. I liked both books equally well.”

Reviews by Mom Bloggers

Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1)

1)  NEW! Mom’s Most Wanted  (Stefanie’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)

“I was fortunate enough to receive Linda Thieman’s book, Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story. My son was home when it arrived. He is 7 years old and an avid reader. As soon as he got it in his hands, he sat down on the couch and didn’t stop reading it until he was finished. He absolutely loved the book. I thought that since he had read it and loved it so much, I had to read it…. The book is extremely well-written and is easy to follow for a child, as well as an adult. I think I loved the book as much as my son did!… I feel it should be a must-read for every school.”

2)  NEW! Rave & Review  (Leanne’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)

“Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story takes you to traditionally spooky locations and situations but does so in a lighthearted way that is anything but scary even for young readers…. I did really like that the book was about something very different than I had seen before and the opportunities were huge to engage in good discussions with your kids … about the topics brought up in the book.”

3)  NEW! She Scribes  (Kimberly’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)

“This is not really a “Ghost” story, per se, but more so a story about friendship and having that special bond with someone. It has a lot of funny parts in it too. Even though it’s not a scary story I still think it would be fun to read, or to read to your child, for Halloween. ”

4)  NEW! Pink & Posh  (Jeri’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)

“Throughout this story as well as its sequel, Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish, the girls work together to solve puzzles and mysteries that kept my daughter and even myself ready to find out the endings.  But, don’t let the “ghost” titles fool you.  These books are light-hearted and fun and are not at all based on fear.  We had a blast reading this series together….  My daughter is 6, and may be a little younger than most Katie & Kimble fans, but she is super excited to see if there will be a third story in this wonderful set of books for young mystery lovers.”

5)  Café of Dreams  (April’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“a magical feeling”

6)  The Book Connection  (Cheryl’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“An excellent start to a new series of chapter books for young readers”

7)  The Homeschool Messenger  (Susieqtpie’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)

“…It is 106 pages of pure fictional fun! Don’t let the Ghost Story title keep your young ones from reading the book. It isn’t a scary book! Katie moves to a new town with her family and discovers a kindred spirit! She goes on a quest that is engaging and heartfelt!”


8)  Moomette’s Magnificents  (Cindi’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)

“…make sure to add this charming mystery book to your child’s reading list this summer!”

9)  ‘Deal’ectible Mommies  (Candace’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)

“Not only is Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story a fun read, it allows Milla and me to have some precious time together every night before bed. She makes a point every night to bring me the book and curiously awaits the next adventure!”

10)  The Post-it Place  (Jyl’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)

“…a book that will keep children engaged and wanting to know more. It isn’t frightening at all, so no worries that your child won’t be able to sleep at night; it is just fun, excitement and a little suspense.”

11)  From Melissa’s Desk  (Melissa’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)

“I recommend this fabulously written book to all children ages 7-10!”

12) Homeschool Buzz Reviews  (Kathy’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)

“Kimble is so pleasant you quickly forget she’s really a ghost!… Another spunky character is Katie’s dog Twinkle; her ever present, playful English sheepdog is very appealing.”

13) Mom of 2 Dancers Reviews  (Ginny’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story is the first book in this wonderful new series.”

14) The Book Faery  (Farrah’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“I would recommend this book, and look forward to the other chapter books Thieman has coming out for my daughter to read.”

15) Posey Sessions  (Megan’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“I ended up really enjoying the story and the idea of friendship between Katie, a little girl, and Kimble, a ghost.”

16) Bookfoolery and Bable  (Nancy’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“a very positive book”

Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)

17) Homeschool Messenger (Susieqtpie’s review of Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish)

“BOOK 2 kept my daughter’s inquisitive attention from the get go! It started with a mysterious coupon found in a cereal box stating that it is ‘good for one wish.’ I always LOVED getting the goodie in the cereal box as a kid!… What is it that they wish for and how will it forever change the girls’ lives as well as Katie’s family’s life? You’ll have to read the book to find out!!!”

18) Café of Dreams  (April’s review of Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish)

“Readers (and parents) looking for a wholesome and rewarding story will be incredibly satisfied with Katie & Kimble – through both A Ghost Story and The Magic Wish. This is an amazing and timeless series that I can see being read by generations to come.”

19) The Book Connection  (Cheryl’s review of Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish)
“One of the best aspects of this book is the complete acceptance of Kimble into the Russell family from Katie’s parents, her two-year-old brother, Toby–who has always been able to see Kibo (as he calls her)–and even the family’s dog, Twinkle.”

Reviews by Book Bloggers and Contest Judges

1)  4 the Love of Books  (Abi’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“a delightful read”

2)  A Blog of Books  (BookManiac’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“I found it interesting and I thought it was great.”

3)  Fiction to Fruition (Tess’ review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“shows a strong bond between two friends trying to help each other”

4)  2007 Writer’s Digest Contest Judge’s Review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
“This is a story for the ages, with everything it needs to stay interesting from beginning to end.”

 
5)  2008 Writer’s Digest Contest Judge’s Review of Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish
“Books like this, well-written with a good plot, well-presented and illustrated, are a pleasure to read.”

My Radio Interview

Inside Scoop Live Blog Talk Radio Interview with Linda Thieman, author of the Katie & Kimble series

Interviews

1)  Paperback Writer Interview

 
“Certain things about children’s literature had long bothered me. For instance, it seems that in so many books, the kids are independent because they are neglected or even abused. I wanted to create a series about a girl, Katie, who is just turning 9 and who grows in independence everyday because her parents help her to be!”
–Linda Thieman, author
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story

2)  Blogcritics Interview

     “I regret that I did not get very good guidance on book selection when I was a child.  But in spite of that, I managed to read some really great books.  The Boxcar Children was a favorite, and Susie and the Ballet Family, too, which is now out of print.  I also loved From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, but could never figure out what the title meant!  And then, in 6th grade, it happened.  I had a new and dedicated teacher who would read to us for a half hour after lunch every day.  And one day, she started reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle and my world sort of shifted.”
–Linda Thieman, author
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story

3)  The Writer’s Life Interview
This interview got picked up by USA Today!
“I also wanted to get Kimble’s look right, so after years of searching, I met up with a gal who owns an online costume gallery and she ended up helping me with an appropriate and realistic dress pattern for Kimble, plus the right hair style, the right print on the material (plaid), and the right accessories and shoes!”
–Linda Thieman, author
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
4)  The Book Connection Interview
“What happened to Kimble’s mother is the central mystery that guides and motivates everything that Kimble, the ghost of a 10-year-old girl, does. So, it was a topic that needed to be addressed.  It was really important to me to deal with grief in a realistic way. In so many children’s books, the author sort of glosses over death and grief as if it’s not really that big of a deal, all in the interest of moving the plot along. But it is a big deal. If a spirit can be earthbound because of unhealed grief, then that grief must be dealt with or the author is just cheating the reader.”
–Linda Thieman, author
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
5)  American Chronicle Interview

     “A lot of little things are based on my own life. As I said, we moved three times when I was a kid, so I can relate to how disruptive that is to Katie´s world and why it leaves her so open to forming a friendship with a ghost. We had several dogs, and naming the dog was always an important part of the process, so that was important to Katie, too. Katie’s mom is quite affectionate and she’ll walk by and give Katie and/or Kimble a hug and a kiss. My mom does that kind of thing. And then there was that time that my sister and I saw a ghost when I was 8. I adapted and revised that incident for the second book, Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish, and assigned that particular childhood memory to Katie’s dad, which pretty much surprises the heck out of the family when he relates the story.”
–Linda Thieman, author
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
6)  Zensanity Interview
“I’ve always been fascinated by power. And I don’t mean the kind of power where you have to live in fear to keep it. I mean the true power that comes from within. In my interactions as a teacher and in my interactions as a writer, I’ve always tried to include a strong element of empowerment. With my students, I would explain why we did what we did—I didn’t just lay down the law. I would show them that I was taking their schedules into consideration. I would give them tips on how to survive in an American classroom setting, which is very different from how classes are run in Japan, which is where I was teaching at the time. Then, as a freelancer, I did articles on alternative health and a lot of ‘how-to’ articles, particularly on starting businesses. With the Katie and Kimble series, each book contains some element of growth and empowerment for both Katie and Kimble.”
–Linda Thieman, author
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
7)  Posey Sessions Interview

     “On the sidebar of the Katie & Kimble blog, I have written three funny stories about my childhood: one from age 7, one from age 8, and one from age 9. When I was 8, we got a piano for the first time, and I always loved to play songs a little bit differently from how they were written. I relate one story about a joke my dad and I played on my aunt that year. But, since then, any piano just attracts me like a magnet. One Christmas season when I was 14, my mom, my sister and I walked into this nice department store. There, right in the middle of the floor, was a big grand piano! My mom and sister walked away to do their shopping, but I could not move from that piano. There was a very nice young man playing Christmas songs there, and at that moment, he was playing some kind of jazzed up version of Jolly Old St. Nicolas—just my cup of tea! So I waited until he was done with the song and then I asked him if he was playing that as written or if he had improvised the flourishes himself. He told me that he was playing it as written and showed me the little book of sheet music he was using. I memorized the cover and before long, I was at home, at my own piano, playing Jolly Old St. Nicolas to my heart’s content. It was, by far, the best arrangement in the book. That was a beautiful experience.”
–Linda Thieman, author
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story

NEW! Reader Views Kids Interview about Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish
“The books do stand alone as independent stories. However, I think it greatly enriches the experience of reading “Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish” if a reader has already read “Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story.” Each story in the series builds on what has come before it. If you haven’t read the first book, you might wonder how the relationship between Katie’s mom and Kimble has developed. You might wonder why Kimble calls Mrs. Russell “Mama.” That’s certainly the reaction that Katie’s dad has in the second book! And if you’re looking at it from the point of view of enhancing your child’s ability to read, teachers acknowledge that series books with continuing characters take some of the pressure off of the child. By the time they get to the second book, they already know who all the characters are and what the settings are, so they have less work to do and can focus on the actual story.”
–Linda Thieman, author
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish

9) NEW! BlogCritics Interview about the Katie & Kimble Series

“Now that I’m finishing up the third book, Katie & Kimble: The Golden Door, which I’ll be bringing out during the first part of 2010, my writing process has actually changed a bit. For instance, last week I was sort of stuck. I’d firmed up the first three chapters and the last four chapters. I needed to do a pretty good-sized revision of the middle four chapters, but I didn’t know what level of detail to include. So I sat down with my sister, who has been a wonderful content and continuity editor this time around, and just brainstormed the fourth book, Katie & Kimble: The Time Bubble. I needed to plan out in detail what was going to occur in the fourth book before I could finish up the third book. I have found that I can’t just rush through the writing of a book because new ideas and plot points need time to come alive.”
–Linda Thieman, author
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish
Katie & Kimble: The Golden Door

Guest Posts

1) NEW! The Book Faery Reviews

Katie & Kimble: Expect the Unexpected
by Linda Thieman, children’s book author

2) Café of Dreams

Writing for the Child in Me!
by Linda Thieman, children’s book author

3)  Posey Sessions
Kimble: The Character Development of a Ghost
by Linda Thieman, children’s book author

4)  A Blog of Books
The Budding Children’s Book Author: Choosing Your Level
by Linda Thieman, children’s book author

5)  Jacket Flap
Letting Your Illustrator into Your Storyline
by Linda Thieman, children’s book author

6)  Divine Caroline
How The Godfather Influenced My Children’s Healing Stories
by Linda Thieman, children’s book author

7)  Morgan Mandel
Making Kimble Real:  How an Entire Family Comes to Believe in a Ghost
by Linda Thieman, children’s book author

8)  Hope’s Bookshelf
Katie & Kimble: Bucking Conventions
by Linda Thieman, children’s book author