LitPick Review
Rebecca is a preteen girl who is obsessed with ghosts and lives with her mother in Chicago, IL. Her mother gets an invite to spend the summer with her family in Iowa so she can catch up on work and let Rebecca get to know family she never had the chance to know. Rebecca, who is not thrilled about the idea of spending a summer away from her best friend, reluctantly accompanies her mother on a summer family vacation. Since the passing of her father, Rebecca is only allowed to talk about her father with her mother once a year, which is the anniversary of his death. When Rebecca and her mom visit her family in Iowa, Rebecca learns about her family history including a shared interest she has with her dad (which is a fascination with ghosts!). Rebecca's Uncle kept a box of some of her dad's things from when they were kids, and there are letters in the box describing a ghostly presence right there at her Uncle's farm house in Iowa when he was the same age as Rebecca. When Rebecca notices a paranormal activity at the same farm house, she is determined to figure out who the ghost is and what he or she wants. Rebecca is also hopeful this investigation will bring her closer to her dad.
Opinion:
This story is intriguing, easy to read, and a page turner, perfect for late elementary school students and early middle school students. The book is told from a twelve year old's point of view, so kids will automatically relate to how the main character thinks and feels. There is excitement from paranormal activity to get kids excited about reading. For example, there is the presence of a ghost show, from making a swing sway on from a breezeless day to showing its actual shadow figure. Rebecca's investigation of the ghost will keep kids wanting to know what happens next while also relating to family experiences. This story is not only exciting, it's also heartwarming and a bit sad towards the end. The journey Rebecca goes on to find out information about the ghost also leads to getting to know her family better that creates a bond she's never had with her relatives. This is a book about love, friendship, and secrets. I like how the author made the story feel like a mini adventure for Rebecca while also tugging at the heart strings while Rebecca learned family history and secrets from friends. This book is a great choice for entertainment and teaches the importance of love and understanding of other people.
