All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn

All the Lovely Bad Ones Reviews

• 
  Sian Jones

  Has some genuinely spooky moments, with a believably evil set of baddies, but my enjoyment was hampered by a couple of things: the underdeveloped main characters and the inconsistency of ghosts' actions with the conventions of ghosthood.
  
  I need more of a past for Travis and Corey than "They're pranksters, the little rascals!" I need to know why in three months, in dire circumstances, there is never any mention of their parents -- wanting their parents with them, resenting their parents for sending them away for the summer, notifying their parents when they're in danger. Their parents exist purely as stage devices for how the kids came to exist, and yet there's so much potential there, for developing that theme of parents who cannot (or do not) protect their children. I need to know what their life was like before coming to the inn; I know more about the ghosts' old homelife than I do about the flippin' narrator's. These characters don't act like real children with real needs, with real fears. They're paper dolls.
  
  Also, without real comment, without even the slightest evidence of surprise by any one involved, the ghosts are as material as the living kids. I know it's hokey to have too much of "And then I tried to grab the ghost's hand and my hand went right through!", but to not even comment on it? The ghost children grab and pull and push the main characters, taking their hands to lead them places -- and that doesn't feel weird to the kids? In the conventions of ghost lore, ghosts can act as a physical force, but being in physical contact with a ghost, being acted upon by a ghost, is reliably described as an uncanny experience. Chills are typically involved. Hairs on necks typically get raised. If you're going to write a ghost story, you have to address the readers' expectations of the genre -- this novel is the equivalent of a tale about vampires without any mention of sunlight. And in a ghost story, the immateriality of ghosts matters, because the inability to affect the physical world is the driving force behind the haunting: if the ghosts could so casually, so directly affect the physical world, why weren't they themselves doing the revealing, the digging up of damning evidence? If you can grab a kid and drag them to the pertinent grave, you can certainly move the soil from the grave yourself -- unless the tale gives me reasons otherwise, and this tale does not give any time to such explanations.
• 
  Liza Fireman

  I really loved this book, for a children's book it is excelling. There is suspense, but not enough to be creepy or scary. It is moving fast, just in the right amount to be entertaining.
  
  Travis and his sister, Corey come to stay with their grandmother. Pretty quick, they understand that the inn was known to be haunted. They decided to bring the place to life (or to death actually), and play tricks on the guests. After their tricks, probably grandma will have more guests.
  But then, their plan is not going as expected. Something strange is going on. Maybe there are real ghosts in the inn? Now, they might be responsible for awaking a bunch of ghosts. And it seems that only the cooks know more about what's going on.
  
  The kids need to find a solution and get this uncontrolled situation to an end. And they need to get to know these ghosts and find out what is bothering them. No ghost can rest in peace when there is an unresolved issue.
  
  Really sweet, and I bet anyone that reads this book will like the ghosts in the end. All the lovely bad ones is a lovely book. Almost 4 stars.
• 
  Sesana

  As a kid, I absolutely loved
  Wait Till Helen Comes. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I read it. It was just the right level of creepy I needed in elementary school. I'm very sure that if I'd read All the Lovely Bad Ones at the same time, I would have loved it every bit as much. Alas, I didn't.
  
  All credit where it's due, there are plenty of things to like about this book. It's very readable, the ghosts have a credible backstory, and the evil in the house is nicely malevolent. There are several parts of the book that are quite creepy, even for an adult reader.
  
  But the hauntings are defanged very early on. Turning the poltergeists into just a pack of mischievous children loses a lot of the tension and makes the ghosts more annoying than frightening. And for ghosts, they're weirdly solid. There's a lot of physical contact between the ghosts and the living, which makes them significantly less, you know, ghostly. I can't help but feel like the book could have done with a few less mischievous, oddly corporeal ghosts and focused more on the actually malevolent Miss Ada.
  
  The solution comes rather more easily than I would have liked. It felt very much like Hahn had written herself to the point where she could have gone either of two ways, and she deliberately chose the easier and less frightening version. I probably shouldn't complain about this too much. This is, after all, basically written for kids, and it isn't going to go for the jugular in quite the same way that a book for adult or even teen readers would. That isn't a bad thing, necessarily, and I don't hold it against the book, but it did kind of keep me from getting fully invested.
• 
  ☠Kayla☠

  I loved this book and really enjoyed reading it! It was short enough to get through quickly but still packed a punch in its pages. Plus as I've said 100 times I'm a sucker for ghost stories and this one was amazing!
• 
  Brendaaa;

  My book that i read was "All the Lovely Bad ones" this book was a scary book i really enjoyed it.
  The beginning,Corey and Travis get kicked out of the camp there at,so there mom sends them too the inn,where there grandma is the owner of that hotel. they are sent there for the hole summer. they meet acouple at the inn and they are ghost hunters. And Corey and Travis start playing of jokes on all the people there so reporters can go and interview them so they can become famous. well all of the sudden weird things are actually happening. they start talking too the really ghost. and Miss.Ada is a ghost too but shes the mean one. she killed them all back when they were all alife because the inn was a poor farm house back in the past. Miss.Ada whould treat all of them very bad. so she killed them all and those children ghost cant rest in peace. so they talk too travis and corey and they want a stone with all there names on it so they can rest in peace and so travis and corey get one and they all leave too rest. and a big mean man comes and takes miss.ada away forever because she was worst then the devil. she was very mean. and at then end everyone is happy because the poor children go too heaven!:)
• 
  Jim

  All the Lovely Bad Ones, by author Mary Downing Hahn, is yet another horrifyingly spooky young readers ghost story by an ageless wonder. This time MDH delivers a spine-chilling tale about siblings Travis and Corey who are visiting their grandma's inn for the summer. When they decide to play a terrifying trick on her guests, they inadvertently stir up a whole barrel of trouble, ya hear? Before they know it they're caught up in a firestorm of bitter hickish motel cooks, psychedelic pot-smoking hippie ghost hunters, a gaggle of adorable little child-spirits, and of course the vile bondage-loving Mistress Ada! It's pretty awesome, really.
  
  MDH has really outdone herself this time. Just when I thought she couldn't sabotage her own writing any further, she comes up with this gem. Truthfully, this book started out pretty creepy. MDH is a perfectly capable writer and for a while I fooled myself into thinking she might actually write something, oh I don't know, scary? But it was just too much to ask. Right when I started to believe she might pull it off, she had to go and make all of the ghosts nothing more than a bunch of fun-loving orphan spirits. I'm now thoroughly convinced MDH needs to just go back to collecting social security.
• 
  Ivonne Rovira

  Author
  Mary Downing Hahn writes one great ghost story aimed at middle-grade readers after another. I'd already read
  Wait till Helen comes,
  The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story, and
  The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall (The last is probably the scariest of the lot; I'm a grown woman and I had a bit of trouble sleeping!) All the Lovely Bad Ones ranks with the rest.
  
  Mischievous siblings Travis and Corey Donovan stir up more than just trouble when they pretend to be ghosts at their grandmother's Vermont inn, which had a reputation for being haunted. I won't ruin the read by telling you more, but let me just say that you'll learn a lot about a rather unsavory part of American history.
• 
  Jenny Baker

  This wasn't nearly as good as
  One for Sorrow.
• 
  Nasim

  بهش ۲.۵ میدم
  اگر زودتر خونده بودم قطعا ازش بیشتر لذت می‌بردم کتاب برای گروه سنی پایین تر بود مطمئنم برای اون گروه سنی غافلگیری های بیشتری داره، لذت داستان براشون بیشتره
  داستان برای من انسجام خوبی داشت
  شخصیت پردازی میتونم بگم در حد کتاب کودک و داستان کوتاه خوب بود ولی برای من راضی کننده نبود ینی اگر برای کتاب بزرگسال بود واقعا شخصیتی در داستان نمی‌دیدم
  فلش بک و روایت داستان رو دوست داشتم🤌🏻🤝
• 
  Angie Gaynor

  What would you do if you saw a ghost? Would you freak out? Would you be normal? Tell me how you would feel what your reaction would be?
  
  Travis and his sister are visiting there grandparents for the weekend, but they find something odd. its odd say but they find a ghost. like a old spirit in there house. and its way more odd once they find. they always see it and they talk to it.
  
  i liked this story, but not as much. because it needs more spice. but i like the scary parts of the story, but it needed some work like
• 
  Aloke

  Spooky page turner for fifth graders and their parents alike. Is it a coincidence that this tale of rich fat cats benefitting on the backs of the poor is set in Bernie Sanders' home state? I think I know who Martha Brewster will be voting for.
• 
  Mir

  Bland but readable ghost story for kids who don't want to be scared. Unlike other books I've read from this author, there is nothing creepy here.
• 
  Imari

  Have you ever read a book so tedious that you wanted to fall off a cliff? Well my book, All The Lovely Bad Ones will have you so interested,determined, and excited to read more.
  
  The Genre of All The Lovely Bad Ones is Mystery, My opinion on this book is that it really had me interested. Not like other books where I just want to read and get it over with. It was so good that I really wanted to write a book exactly similar. ***Spoiler alert*** When I found out that Travis and Corey woke something so wicked up I was scared myself to be truthful.
  
  The Setting is in the Summer at Travis and His Sister Corey grandmother's Vermont inn, the setting is important to the story because there has been ghost history and it might seem just like a regular hotel but honestly its really dangerous and scary. The time of the day is morning. The story time is Present.
  
  Travis and His sister Corey are on summer break. Instead of going to the boring camp they had so much hatred against, they go spend time with their grandmother in her Vermont's Inn. Travis and Corey discover tales about ghost history. To make their grandmothers Inn more exciting to hear about, they wanted do a little ghost prank by scaring the people whom were staying there. But they wake up something really iniquitous. So now Travis and Corey have to manage a way to get that evil spirit away from the Vermont Inn. Then they notice that a lot of history and knowledge has to go on, to sacrifice their life and to put something really evil away. After they find everything they need such as the spell to put the Ghost Mrs.Ada back to sleep, they both trap her into the grave yard and fight against her. Finally when they fight the scary ghost they go back to there perfect lives and find a lot of money that Mrs.Ada took from the ghost kids and give it to their grandmother for the damage.
  
  This type of conflict is person vs. person because Travis And Corey are going against an antagonist which is the Ghost. In this novel Travis and Corey are the heroes because they defeated the ghost which was a very hard challenge.
  
  I was surprised when i found out that people so young had to face something so serious because they are only like 10 and 12 and they have to fight against something so wicked. I think the author is trying to tell the readers that if you do something that your not suppose to then do not do it at all or you'll have to face challenges and obstacles because Travis and Corey wanted to do a little a prank but they woke something up from the dead and had to face consequences. Also, I wish that the pages were longer because I wanted more exciting things to pop up and make me want to read non stop. Overall, I thought the ending of the book was great because when they defeated Mrs. Ada, the ghost, everybody look to them as heroes because everybody that stayed at the inn could never defeated Mrs. Ada.
  
  The characters Travis and Corey are different because they do not agree with such things. Travis wants to just run away from the problem that he and his sister started. Corey is scared but also she wants to help the ghost kids who are being hurt by the big mean ghost, they have been through torture with this scary ghost and now they have help. I can relate to the character Corey because she was determined unlike her brother. When I do something I do not quit i keep going until i get it right. In the story Travis said "lets just forget about it and leave the vermont Inn tomorrow". But Corey said "No, we cant just leave our responsibilites for someone else to do, What about grandmother and the others?, what about them Travis?... That part showed how brave Corey is and she is younger than her brother.
  
  On a scale through 1-5, I rate this book as 5 because I was involved into the book. I liked how the author made the book seem so scary, that I was a little startled. I recommend this book to people who like terrifying books. So if you just happen to stop by the library and want to find the perfect book, I advocate you to check out All the Lovely Bad Ones because you'll be surprise and shocked. Mary Hahn books will have you sleeping with your mommy and daddy.
  
  
• 
  Piepie | The Napping Bibliophile

  A chilling, creepy story. Your heart just breaks for the sad little ghost children.
• 
  Brandy

  Travis and Corey are spending the summer at the grandmother's isolated Vermont inn--an excellent alternative to the summer camp they got banned from after last summer's pranks and mischief. Grandmother's inn isn't doing too well, though, since the ghostly activity has ceased, as people don't come so far out of their way to visit an un-haunted inn. The siblings vow to turn things around for their grandmother, and stage a haunting to convince the current guests that the inn still has some secrets. Their plan goes off the rails when the real ghosts awaken--from the mischief-making group of ghost children to Miss Ada's malevolent spirit. Since Corey and Travis awakened the ghosts, it's their job to put them to rest again--if Miss Ada's ghost doesn't put them to rest first.
  
  This fast-paced ghost story will appeal to upper-elementary or early middle school readers looking for a quick thrill, but isn't fully developed enough to really hold an older reader's interest. The plot is predictable almost from the first page, and even the central characters never develop beyond their most basic attributes. Only the grandmother has any kind of change of heart, and her change from skeptic to believer is too abrupt--even under the circumstances--to feel at all authentic. The climax manages to be both sluggish and rushed, without any real sense of urgency. Still, this is a quick read to tingle the spines of kids looking for more gentle ghost stories, or for Hahn's established fans.
• 
  Doris

  The book itself appealed to me from the title, from a poem / warning to children. This thin book is something I hope will appeal to the non-reading junior members of the family, and, being one of those who reads everything, once it was in my hand I had to read it through.
  
  The story starts with 2 children who are right away identified as "bad" - Travis and Corey were into so much mischief that summer camp rejected them, and the only choices left were summer school or spending the summer with their grandmother at her “haunted” inn.
  
  They quickly started acting out with mischief, by staging ghostly activites, but the "fun" doesn't end there. Apparently they woke up something they shouldn't - and the tale gets scary, at least to a young reader, as they try to undo their mischief and lay the troublesome "Lovely Bad Ones" to rest.
  
  There were some classic ghost activities, a disbelieving grandmother, hired staff who believed, and a haunted television. The story on the tv could have been better done, but it still grips the reader, partly due to the fact that the tale deserved to be told (it's based on historical ills) and partly due to the fact that the siblings are likable, as are the young ghosts.
  
  The end was a little awkward, and left some room for interpretation, but overall a compelling, well written story.
• 
  Jody Mena

  A ghost story, but not a particularly scary story, even for a children's book. Ghosts just aren't as scary when the protagonist can sit on the porch and have a conversation with them. It was more sad than scary, with the stories about the poor farm. The only real nervous moments were of a much more mundane nature, like children being caught somewhere they shouldn't be, doing something they shouldn't (lots of that). The final confrontation with Miss Ada was the only truly creepy part. However, it was still a very enjoyable story; I've read much more complex adult-level books that were far less entertaining or engaging. It was a quick read also, so thought it was a full length book, it almost had the feel of a short story. I'm definitely glad the intriguing title caught my eye, its not the most compelling thing I ever read, but I really did enjoy it!
• 
  Trinity

  All the lovely bad ones aren't as bad as you think they would be....... It all started when Cory (girl younger) and Travis Cory's big brother came to there grandmas in for the summer.. They heard people think it's haunted so they started doing some tricking that woke something that should have not woken up... Cory and Travis met the lovely bad ones and how there life was. The lovely bad ones where children living in a poor home which where in the same area as the inn and how mrs. Ada owns how she was very evil but Travis & Cory woke her up and they need to put her back so the not no bad ones can so back to rest. This book is filled with a whole lot of spine tingling mayhem that will get your heart pumping I couldn't even put the book Down. I highly recommend it .
• 
  Hailey Higgs

  Travis and Corey from the book All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hawn stay at their grandmother’s quiet inn called Fox Hill Inn over in Vermont. When they try to make the ghost believing couple think there is still some ghostly activity left there. When they put on a ghost show they get more than they bargained for. They awake an evil spirited poor farm caretaker Mrs. Ada and the rambunctious lovely bad ones. The only ones able to put them back to sleep is Travis and Corey with a little help from the leaders of the lovely bad ones that is if Mrs. Ada doesn't put them to sleep first. To find out what happens next read All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hawn.
• 
  Angel Gelique

  I read this book with my eleven-year-old daughter. We both found it very enjoyable. It was a ghost story, but not a scary one; it was just perfect for pre-teens. The characters were realistic and the plot was very good.
  
  Two young siblings are spending the summer at their grandmother's inn. The inn has a history of being haunted. The siblings decide that they could drum up business by convincing the curious guests that the ghosts have returned. Little do they realize that their actions will awaken the real ghosts and it will be up to them to stop the haunting.
• 
  Michelle

  This book could be an episode of Supernatural. I kept imagining how Sam and Dean would ride up in the Impala and take charge (and shut the girl up because she was annoying). I enjoyed the story, no doubt it could have been scarier if the narrator had used spookier voices, but I think it's a good listen for kids.
• 
  Emma

  Omg this is my fav book of all time!! I love Mary Downing Hahn's books they are so detailed. I actually felt like I was with Travis and Corey! I also felt like I was about to cry when they talked about the poor farm!
• 
  ♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle)

  Review to come.
• 
  Shannon

  I remember reading this in middle school and though I give it a reread. It seems like It was not as good as I remember it.