The Saturday Night Trauma Club? The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson

Cassie <3
Jul 3, 2023
2 min read

My Rating: 4 Stars

This is a solid good book. I really wanted to LOVE it the way everyone else does, but to me, it wasn't mind blowing. It's definitely not bad! Just good.

Marketed as a "coming-of-age story in the vein of Stranger Things and Stand by Me" The Saturday Night Ghost Club is a promising story about a "group of misfit kids who spend an unforgettable summer investigating local ghost stories and urban legends."

The main issue that stops this from being a 5 star read for me is my disappointment in the supernatural storyline. The supernatural elements only play a small part and represent something much deeper and emotional.

Going into this based off of the fun cover and synopsis, I really just wanted some ghosts, honestly. But in The Saturday Night Ghost Club, the supernatural events are almost only tied to the emotional story and play a larger role in that than anything else.

The main character's neurological insights into human emotions and rationalities also cause you to question things about the events. It leaves you feeling kind of sad and confused, rather than giving that fun Ghostbusters vibe.

However, if that kind of ambiguity doesn't bother you and you're in the mood for a heavier storyline, then you'll probably love it! The story is very well developed with childhood memories, adult insight, and medical analyses all coming together to form the perfect puzzle. It's a short read with great writing and amazing quotes about growing up and maturing.

In conclusion: If you're looking for a nostalgic, Monster-House-ish type of read, I would definitely recommend. But be prepared for the Monster House-ish finale reveal too. If you want a plain ole fun horror book that won't cause that painfully nostalgic feeling and leave a small crack in your heart, keep scrolling on GoodReads.

Side note: Dove Yellowbird is 100% a Native American Max Mayfield. I don't make the rules, ok!

Synopsis:

Growing up in 1980s Niagara Falls--a seedy but magical, slightly haunted place--Jake Baker spends most of his time with his uncle Calvin, a kind but eccentric enthusiast of occult artifacts and conspiracy theories. The summer Jake turns twelve, he befriends a pair of siblings new to town, and so Calvin decides to initiate them all into the "Saturday Night Ghost Club." But as the summer goes on, what begins as a seemingly lighthearted project may ultimately uncover more than any of its members had imagined. With the alternating warmth and sadness of the best coming-of-age stories, The Saturday Night Ghost Club examines the haunting mutability of memory and storytelling, as well as the experiences that form the people we become.