There's a Dead Person Following my Sister Around by Vivian Vande Velde

Genre: fiction
143 pages
Sierra Smith
English B-2
Term 4
May 4, 2009

PLOT

What would you do when your five year old sister has an imaginary friend and you start to see her, too? This is what 12 year old Ted must decide in this historical ghost story. Ted is sure his sister is making things up when she gets a new friend Marella. When Marella starts to slam doors and ruin school projects he begins to wonder if she is really in his sister's mind or haunting his 150 year old house. Since their parents don't believe them, it is up to Ted, his sister Vicki, and their older brother Zach to put an end to the strange things that keep happening.What they discover is more than a simple ghost story. These ghosts are from the past and they want the kids to know about their lives. To rid their house of the ghosts, they will have to learn much more about slavery and the Underground Railroad than they ever wanted to know.

CHARACTERS

Ted - 12 years old
Vicki - 5 years old
Zach - 16 years old
Their parents
Marella - child ghost
Adah - old lady ghost
Jackie - 14 year old cousin

SETTING

The story is set in present time in a 150-year-old house in Rochester, NY.

CONFLICT

The conflict in this book is man vs. the unknown. Ted must help his siblings rid their house of very scary ghosts while discovering why the ghosts are there and how he can help them to move on.

THEME

The main theme in the book is looking into the past to improve the future. Ted discovers things about his family that help him to fix the present and make changes in the future.

READ THIS AND MORE!

I would give this book a 5+. It was scary, funny, and educational. I really liked this author's style. I am going to read these two by her next. You might want to check them out, too.

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A Well Timed Enchantment


To view all of Vivian Vande Valde's books, you can visit her website at
http://www.vivianvandevelde.com

You can also read more about the Underground Railroad at http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/underground/