Olivia Shivers Spooky Special Agent by Derek Keilty, illustrated by Louis Ghibault – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: spooky, fast-moving, friendship, revelations.
Children’s book title: Olivia Shivers Spooky Special Agent.
Children’s author: Derek Keilty.
Children’s illustrator: Louis Ghibault.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Scallywag Press.
ISBN: 9781836300663.
Recommended for children aged: 7+.
First published: September 2026.
This children’s book is ideal for: confident readers who enjoy fast-moving fiction with a ghostly theme.
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Our review:
Olivia Shivers is a bit of a scaredy-cat! She’s quite good at going white and fainting, much to the delight of the class bully! Today, though, she’s determined to be brave, because local resident Nik Gould is coming to her school on an author visit promoting his new book, Spectral Agents! When she’s asked to help on stage, however, things get a bit creepy – her fist pump doesn’t pump a fist, and Nik’s eyes are … strange!
After her grandpa collects her and she tells him about the shocking things which happened, he then tells her something even more shocking – she can see ghosts, just as he can, and he works for Spook Capture and Rehabilitation Enterprises, or SCARE! Everything has to be kept secret; however, Olivia’s best friend, Roop, soon discovers what is going on and joins her after her grandpa is kidnapped and it’s down to her to find him. Her inherited Spook Sense must make her brave enough to face everything, even if nobody else is convinced, right?
Our verdict:
Olivia Shivers, apart from having a really cool name, isn’t exactly hero material! She’s passed out a few times at school but has a good friend in Roop, who helps her be brave. The complexities of her grandpa’s life are suddenly made clear to her as a result of fainting at school. The way she begins to believe in herself is well done, as she helps a lost ghost, faces escaping spirits and even searches for her grandpa in scary locations! Her friendship with Roop is clearly important to Olivia and this is shown throughout the story, although he’s not averse to scaring her himself!
There is a happy ending here, and also the promise of more adventures to come. Olivia is easy to like and she, Roop, and grandpa make a great group of main protagonists.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Author visits to schools aren’t usually scary. How do you think you would feel if you realised you were sharing the stage with a ghost?
- Olivia’s best friend, Roop, finds out almost immediately about the secret she and her grandpa share. Do you think she would have been as brave without him?
- Most children’s authors like to do school visits or chats online. Design a poster for a visit by the author of your favourite book. What information is it important to include?
- Can you draw a squiggle and then turn it into a ghost like Nik and Olivia did?
- Olivia’s mum also knows about SCARE. Why do you think it’s OK for her and Roop to know but not anyone else?
Many thanks to Scallywag Press for the review copy.
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