The Ghostkeeper’s Journal & Field Guide: An Augmented Reality Adventure

Agamemnon White, the tuna-sandwich-eating ghost hunter for the Society for the Pursuit of the Reputedly Undead, Namely Ghosts (SPRUNG) has gone missing, and his casebook, a case file journal that doubles as a ghost containment unit, holds the clues to the mystery. Much like a narrative video game, the story of White’s disappearance unspools as readers use an app to unlock images in sequence, revealing clues and building backstory for the characters and SPRUNG. The scrapbook-like format combines steampunk aesthetics; trompe l’oeil ephemera such as snapshots, ticket stubs, and notes; and mildly salty humor (e.g., a photo of a plumber’s crack). Best understood as part of an app-based game instead of a standalone read, the book requires access to a phone or tablet, which may limit readership. The app’s relative inflexibility may create additional frustrations for some users. Ages 10–up. [em](Sept.) [/em]