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In Times Past Integrating US History with Literature in Grades 3-8. 
Enliven your US History curriculum! Teach US History using great kids books. |
The Ghost Belonged to Me
Review
Meet Alexander Armsworth the narrator and unwilling hero of The Ghost Belonged to Me. This novel, the first in the Blossom Culp series, combines historical, comical and supernatural events in a most delightful way. The Armsworths of small town Illinois in 1913 are a family of means, although not yet accepted by society, a fact Mrs. Armsworth regrets and intends to remedy. Her pretentions are the comical background against which the story is laid. She is not above manipulating any of her family in her schemes to be one of small town society's most important families. She succeeds in her goal, but not in the way she planned. The book is not difficult to read or understand and should be well within the reach of most fifth graders and could go up or down. It makes a good read aloud with some great slapstick comedy and not a little historical information. In The Ghost Belonged to Me, Alexander has been told by a schoolmate, Blossom Culp (more about her later), that he has second sight and it isn't long before events prove her right. He sees and eventually talks to the ghost of a young Creole girl from the Civil War era who is haunting the barn. She warns him of an impending trolley car wreck and thus makes him a hero. His mother is appalled, but Blossom is delighted. So is Uncle Miles who is not to be squelched even by his sister-in-law. It is Miles who knows the secret story behind the ghost whose body must be first dug up and then laid to rest.
CharactersThere are wonderful and memorable characters here. Blossom Culp is from the wrong side of the tracks but has no trouble with self-esteem, although she regrets not being second-sighted like her mother and Alexander. She insists on being in on everything especially if there's a profit to be made. She charges admission to the barn although she has no right to do so and conducts tours there in the daytime. She stows away on the train bringing the bones of Inez Dumaine to New Orleans and outwits the villains with little difficulty. She is not even thrown by life in New Orleans, fitting in perfectly in a fine gown at a fancy dinner party, even using the correct spoons. Another wonderful character is Uncle Miles. He swears, chews tobacco and always speaks the truth, much to the dismay of his sister-in-law. He is also, however, admired by the most respected family in town. Miles knows the whole story about the death of Inez Dumaine and the Captain who caused it before hanging himself in the house he built, now occupied by the Armsworths. He comes on and off scene throughout the book with great lack of concern for the niceties of life, but has kept a promise for many years. His relationship with Mrs. Pomarade, a fine lady of New Orleans, is tender and lovely. His acceptance of his own impending death is as truthful as everything else he does. While dealing with memorable characters from the book, don't forget the tragic figure of poor, mad Amory Timmons who causes the trolley wreck.
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Copyright 1996-2010, Rebecca Otis.
This document is from Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site at http://www.carolhurst.com.
Contact Information:
Rebecca Otis
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site
52 Brookwood Dr.
Florence, MA 01062
email: rebecca@carolhurst.com
(413) 584-3153
