Jack Perdu is a longer who prefers spending his time with books. His mother died eight years ago, so he lives with his father, the chair of the Archaeology department at Yale.

After Jack was hit by a car, his father wanted him to see Dr. Lyons in New York for a second check-up. Jack would go by train from Union Station to Grand Central and back home. At 14 his father felt Jack could go along.

When Jack meets a girl named Euri in Grand Central Terminal, his journey takes a detour. Euri takes him on a tour of the terminal and shows him places the average traveller never sees. When he arrives eight floors below the station, he finds another world besides tracks and stairways. He is in New York’s ghostly underworld. Here he hopes to learn more about his mother, but he also learns more about himself.

This is well written with interesting characters and story lines, description of characters, situations and locations that take you to the action. It deals with loss of loved ones and the coming to terms with it; also with bravery in dealing with life situations.

A good read for kids and adults. ( )

I read this book way back in highschool I think but I recently saw it in a bookstore for under a dollar so I picked it up to read again. I like the story, and love the iridescent cover, but the writing wasnt quite my style. The text feels a little choppy and it has a distinctive feel to it, but I didnt think it flowed particularly well. Even with my issues with the writing I did like the emotion and humor in the story, and it paints a vivid picture of the ghost word the author has created. ( )

the main themes of the story are grief and lost. Learning to have closure with love ones who pass away.

I like how the New York subway is use for the Underworld. Then at night the ghost leaves by fountain to roam the city at night. The world is fun and invented place for the most part. The underworld in Greek mythology to be overused. The mythology is tie in nicely expect for when the three headed dog Cerberus whenever its convenient for the plot.

Jack and Euri friendship grow over time making it bittersweet for what happens in the end. There mention of suicide that doesn’t go too much in to. Suicide is a taboo and hard topic to talk about. Talking about it for too long can lead to more harm then good.
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[review written 2011]

I must admit that I was hesitant to read The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh because it had the element of Greek Mythology, but I saw it in my school’s library and thought, well, why not? I’m glad I did read it; it was definitely a great red. Quick, but great. The book features Jack, an intelligent fourteen-year-old who disappears down into the New York Underworld.

I liked the concept of ghosts all around New York. It was interesting, but the fact that the living were definitely not allowed kind of irritated me throughout the whole book. I enjoyed Euri as a character as well, though I was disappointed we never got to find out why she committed suicide. I also didn’t like the ending – it seemed too abrupt and I’m eager to read the next book. ( )

Well written but a bit boring. It had high points, but I had to force my way through a great deal of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkM5aurcEY4 ( )