Mary Downing Hahn , a former children’s librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her cat, Oscar. Visit her online at www.marydowninghahnbooks.com.
The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall
Paperback
$7.99
- ISBN-13: 9780547577159
- Publisher: HarperCollins
- Publication date: 09/06/2011
- Pages: 160
- Sales rank: 30,795
- Product dimensions: 5.10(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.60(d)
- Lexile: 680L (what's this?)
- Age Range: 9 - 12 Years
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When twelve-year-old Florence boards the crowded horse-drawn coach in London, she looks forward to a new life with her great uncle and aunt at Crutchfield Hall, an old manor house in the English countryside. Anything will be better, she thinks, than the grim London orphanage where she has lived since her parents' death.
But Florence doesn't expect the ghost of her cousin Sophia, who haunts the cavernous rooms and dimly lit hallways of Crutchfield and concocts a plan to use Florence to help her achieve her murderous goals. Will Florence be able to convince the others in the household of the imminent danger and stop Sophia before it's too late?
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From the Publisher
"Hahn is a master of the supernatural tale, and her legions of fans will revel in this chilling volume, reminiscent of Dickens and Poe." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review"A deliciously spine-tingling tale that even the most reluctant readers will enjoy." —School Library Journal
"A truly scary period tale." —Horn Book
Children's Literature - Uma Krishnaswami
Edgar Award winner Hahn has crafted yet another chilling ghost story for the middle grade reader. (Her earlier titles include treasures such as Closed for the Season and All the Lovely Bad Ones). When Florence Crutchfield arrives at her uncle's home after an unhappy period of time spent at Miss Medleycoate's Home for Orphan Girls, she finds she has entered a house steeped in unhappiness, illness, and grief. A malevolent spirit hovers there; that of Florence's cousin Sophia, who died in an accident of which no one speaks. Sophia's brother James lies ill, apparently in danger of slipping away. But while trying to remember her manners and not slurp her soup, Florence finds herself falling under the spell of the relentless Sophia, experiencing and then absorbing elements of her vanity and her careless cruelty. Slowly, Florence finds an ally in James, and begins to find out about his terrible secret and the shadow that Sophia's death casts on the family. The novel is peopled with assorted charming secondary characters, including the servant girl Nellie and Florence's kindly uncle. The emotionally fraught relationship between the grieving aunt and the heartless ghost develops slowly and surely. The setting is an evocation of classic Gothic literature. In delightful asides, we see Florence immersing herself in Dickens and Austen, Thackeray and the Brontes. The literary references serve as cultural wallpaper for today's young readers, while the spotlight remains on Florence's story. The result is a well-balanced orchestration of creepiness and character. Even in the ending, as it slides to its inevitable resolution, Hahn finds a way to assert a surprising and chilling twist. Reviewer: Uma KrishnaswamiSchool Library Journal
Gr 4–6—Hahn hearkens back to the Gothic horror novels of the 19th century with her latest ghost story. Crutchfield Hall is a gloomy old place, but after spending seven years in Miss Medleycoate's dour orphanage, 12-year-old Florence can only assume her new life there will be an improvement. In addition to her genial great-uncle, the manor's residents consist of Florence's severe great-aunt, Eugenie; her invalid cousin, James; and a few servants. The accidental death of James's older sister, Sophia, is believed to have triggered his current indisposition. Sophia's ghost continues to haunt Crutchfield Hall both figuratively and, as Florence soon discovers, literally. Far from the angelic creature idolized by Eugenie, Sophia proves to be spiteful, manipulative, and determined to avenge her death. While Hahn's literary references (including Dickens and the Brönte sisters) will likely go over the heads of the target age group, most kids will be too absorbed in the chilling atmosphere of the tale and Sophia's terrifying influence on the living world to care. A deliciously spine-tingling tale that even the most reluctant readers will enjoy.—Christi Esterle, Parker Library, COKirkus Reviews
Ever since her parents drowned in a boating accident when she was five, 12-year-old Florence has led a wretched life at Miss Medleycoate's Home for Orphan Girls in London. Now she has moved to Crutchfield Hall, her great-uncle's country estate, and surely life will be better there. But when she meets Great-Aunt Eugenie, every bit as sour as Great-Uncle Thomas is kind, Florence isn't so sure, especially when she meets up with the ghost of her cousin Sophia, who died the year before and who blames her passing on her brother James. Sophia is out for revenge, and Florence finds herself becoming a pawn in her evil game. Set in 1884, the tale has all of the trappings of a superb ghost story: the bitter relative, the invalid, the mysterious groundskeeper, a sprawling gothic mansion with lots of drafty old rooms, a likable protagonist and, of course, a ghost. Hahn is a master of the supernatural tale, and her legions of fans will revel in this chilling volume, reminiscent of Dickens and Poe. (Gothic fiction. 9-12)