Ghost Cadet (Apple Paperbacks) [Hardcover]

Elaine Marie Alphin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Apple

While spending his summer vacation at his grandmother's old Virginia home, Benjy Stark meets the ghost of a Virginia Military Institute cadet who died at the Battle of New Market during the Civil War. Reprint. AB.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bookish, withdrawn Benjy Stark hopes for a quiet visit at his grandmother's in New Market, Va. Instead he gets lessons in the Civil War from her, and some dramatic adventures with the ghost of a cadet who was killed on the local battlefield. Benjy and his spectral friend join forces to restore the ghost's honor, overcoming painful obstacles to find a missing family heirloom. Success leads Benjy to believe that he is now a daring and gregarious boy. The change is described repeatedly, but is too abrupt to be believable. In spite of several well-drawn ghost scenes, the historical side of the story falters,weighed down by the grandmother's (and the author's) need to teach a romanticized, white, Southern view of the War Between the States. This aspect of the story blends uneasily with Benjy's purported transformation and prevents this middle-grade novel from taking off. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-- During a school vacation, Benjy and his older sister, Fran, are sent to visit a grandmother they have never met. Both are upset because they feel that their mother is deserting them, just as their father did. Arriving in New Market, Virginia, Benjy immediately becomes drawn into the local history revolving around the Civil War. He meets Hugh McDowell, a ghost who is trying to recover his honor by finding the family watch that he hid during the battle in which he died. The story that follows is one of friendship, trust, caring, and self-discovery. Alphin has skillfully woven together fact, fiction, and emotion. Readers will identify with Benjy, Fran, Hugh, and the grandmother, all of whom are portrayed in a realistic light with all of their human frailties. As the story progresses, Benjy begins to trust again and work through his anger. In a touching climax, the modern-day reenactment of the battle is integrated with the roll call of the dead heroes, and Benjy witnesses Hugh's accomplishment and triumph. The conclusion, however, is just a bit banal: Fran's new boyfriend is Hugh's great-great cousin. Written from the Southern point of view, Ghost Cadet is refreshingly different from other Civil War stories . A quick read that's great for historical-fiction assignments. --Molly Kinney, Miami Dade Public Library System, Miami, FL
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (May 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590452444
• ISBN-13: 978-0590452441
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #678,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elaine Marie Alphin knew she was going to be a writer before she could even read or write. On early morning walks with her father in San Francisco, she listened to the stories he told, and made up stories to tell him, and she realized then that she wanted to spend her life making up stories. Winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Young Adult Mystery (Counterfeit Son), the ForeWard Book of the Year Award for Young Adult Fiction (The Perfect Shot), the Society of Midland Authors Children's Fiction Award and Young Hoosier Book Award (Ghost Soldier, also an Edgar Award nominee), the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award (Dinosaur Hunter), two Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators Magazine Merit Awards, and the Virginia State Reading Association Award (The Ghost Cadet), Mrs. Alphin has made writing for children and young adults, and speaking to them at schools and conferences, her dream career. Although she started out as a journalist in Houston, a tip from her husband, Art, drew her to writing for children. Her fiction and nonfiction books for youngsters from beginning readers through teenagers have been selected for Bank Street College lists, TAYSHAS lists, VOYA Top Shelf lists, and 20 Children's Choice state award lists. Although adults occasionally ask when she's going to grow up enough to write for them, Elaine Marie Alphin explains why she loves writing for young readers instead: "I always wanted my writing to challenge readers to question their assumptions, and I discovered that a lot of grown-ups don't really want to question their assumptions. They've made choices and compromises in their lives, and they want to feel comfortable about them. But young readers are still finding out who they are, like I am, I guess. They're the perfect audience for me because they want to consider new ideas in order to decide for themselves which ideas they agree with and which they don't, and work out how they want to live their lives." Elaine Marie Alphin has written one book for adults: Creating Characters Kids Will Love. It's about writing for young readers. Get to know Elaine Marie Alphin better at her website: www.elainemariealphin.com. The Alphins live in Bozeman, Montana, and spend time in South Dakota and Wyoming.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Battle Replay, May 22, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Ghost Cadet (School & Library Binding)

Picture soldiers marching in from all directions with large guns, or in this case muskets. Would you want to be there? Would you want everything you're used to vanishing? Well at least you have nothing keeping you there. Benjy, the main character in Elaine Marie Alpfins historical fiction book, Ghost Cadet, was lead into a repetition of the battle of New Market searching for a friend. Benjy comes to his conclusion by deciding to help Hugh and make a ghostly friend.
Hugh, a soldier who died, has become friends with Benjy. Hugh haunts the battlefield in search of a goldwatch that he lost when he died. He leads Benjy into the repetition of this battle hoping to rediscover the watch. Will they suceed?
As they enter the battlefield Hugh leaves to find his regiment and also leaves Benjy to find that all modern things vanish. Soon the grass sways and ghost soldiers come marching in from all directions. Guns fire and soon Hugh falls down dead (again). Trembling while watching his ghostly friend die, will Benjy see the watch?
Hugh went to VMI college long ago. During this battle, Hugh lost his family's pride, a very old gold watch. Now, will Benjy rediscover it and make a new friend? Most important will he get it restored to Hughs family in time for Hugh to join his ghostly regiment in the parade?
6th Grade student ay OHES

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Determined Hugh, May 28, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Ghost Cadet (Apple Paperbacks) (Hardcover)

Ghost Cadet
Imagine a fifteen-year-old cadet, struggling to survive on a battlefield. He's just barely alive when he hides his grandfather's watch in a hole. Hugh is now dead, but everyday he struggles to find his watch. In this book, Ghost Cadet, by Elaine Marie Alphin, brings back a real story and gives Hugh an adventure.
Hugh's hope turns all around when he meets Benjy. Not only is he a human (which means he can dig for things and do normal things you and I can do), he is willing to help Hugh. Because of Benjy, they don't only become friends, but they might find the watch before the ceremony in which the cadets come together in pride for serving get called (As you can see Hugh would feel dishonored without a relative having the watch. That's one reason why he needs the watch before the ceremony.) .
Hugh makes Benjy search everyday on the New Market Battlefield. Hugh even makes Benjy dig by old buildings on the field. As Hugh and Benjy get closer to the day of the ceremony, Hugh tells Benjy about the BATTLE!
Do you think that Hugh's watch will be found in time? Read Ghost Cadet, and I guarantee you'll find out!

6th grade student from OHES

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book and historically accurate, too, August 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ghost Cadet (Turtleback)

I found this book to be very entertaining. A friend of mine uses this book in her elementary school classes. The students find the story very absorbing and learn about history, too. I'm a little surprised at the weak reviews given to this book. Enriching reading for adults and children ! If you've never visited the Shenandoah Valley or the Virginia Military Institute, this book will inspire you to do so.