Ghost Girl: A Blue Ridge Mountain Story [Hardcover]

Delia Ray (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Eleven-year-old April Sloane has never set foot in a school before, and now that President Hoover and his wife are building a one-room schoolhouse in the hollow of the Blue Ridge Mountains where April lives, she is eager to attend it. But these are the Depression years, and Mama, who has been grieving ever since the accidental death of her seven-year-old son, wants April to stay home and do the chores around their dilapidated farm. With her grandmother's intercession, April is grudgingly allowed to go. The kind teacher encourages her apt pupil, who finds a new world opening up to her. But at home, April cannot repair the relationship with her mother, and worse, her mother overhears the dark secret April confesses to her teacher regarding the true cause of her brother's death, for which April feels responsible. The author has used her own experience growing up in a rural area of northern Virginia to create the vivid characters and authentic dialogue and background detail that characterize this finely honed debut novel. She has based the one-room schoolhouse on papers in the Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch, Iowa, which include letters between the White House and the young teacher who taught at the school.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-April Sloane is called "ghost girl" because of her white-blonde hair and light eyes. She feels like a ghost because since the accidental death of her younger brother a year previously, her mother has fallen in to a deep depression and never seems to see her any more. The 11-year-old lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains and has never attended school, so when she learns that President Hoover and his wife are building one nearby, she is thrilled. However, her mother flatly refuses to let her go, until her grandmother, Aunt Birdy, intervenes. April is an eager student and loves her teacher, Miss Vest, but her mother soon pulls her out and rejects all appeals-from April, Aunt Birdy, and Miss Vest. Then, April's secret about her brother's death comes to light, resulting in a two-year estrangement between the girl and her parents, only somewhat healed when Aunt Birdy falls ill and dies. During those two years, April lives with Miss Vest and realizes that the future is waiting for her. There are many novels out about the lives of mountain children, but this excellent portrayal of four important years in a girl's life rises to the top. Based on a real school and teacher, this novel seamlessly incorporates historical facts into the narrative. April is an engaging character, always eager to learn but also struggling with her desire for her mother's approval. A first-rate purchase for all libraries.
Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. When President Hoover sets up a one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of rural Virginia during the Depression, 12-year-old April Sloane is thrilled at the chance to learn to read. But her bitter mother blames her for the accidental death of April's little brother in their cabin and refuses to allow the girl to attend school. With the help of her grandmother and an inspiring, supportive teacher, Miss Vest, April does get to go to school--and she finally learns to read by making a wish list from the Sears, Roebuck catalog. To do that, she must first overcome her guilt and wrench herself from home and from her angry mother, who is locked in grief. In a long afterword, first-novelist Ray fills in the fascinating historical detail about Hoover, the mountain school, and Christine Vest. But it's the local family story that will haunt readers, especially since there's no patched-on happy solution to the poverty, anger, and sorrow. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; None edition (September 22, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618333770
• ISBN-13: 978-0618333776
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,094,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hillary Bramells Book Review, October 20, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Ghost Girl: A Blue Ridge Mountain Story (Hardcover)

The book was awesome! Its about a girl named April who want to go to school but her mom wont let here because her brother died and they need more help around the house. April lies to her family about how here brother died. On Christmas Eve Aprils grandma (Auntie Birdy) talks to her mom about going to school. Her mom finally says yes. She is in school for a while when Poke and Dewy gets into a fight. April tries to move away but somehow she gets thrown into a tree and breaks her arm. Ms. Vest, the teacher, has Dewy go tell her mom that she broke her arm and she is staying the night with her. In the morning her mom comes and gets her and wont let here come back to school. A few months pass by and her dad comes home with a lot of chestnutsso they have a roast and invite people to come over. Ms. Vest comes and at first April tries to ignore her. Then tords the end they bump into each other. So April takes her to her room and the start talking, then April tells Ms. Vest what really happened to Riely. Ms. Vest promised not to tell anyone, but, Aprils mom had been listening to them the whole time and blamed April for Rielys death. So April had to go live with Ms. Vest. Two years passed and no sign of her mom or dad. Ms. Vest and April go to Washington to see the Priesdent and to get her arm fixed cuz it still bothered her, she finds out that Aunt Birdy is sick and so April moves in with her to take care of her. To find out the rest read the book bcuz it is really, really good!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, February 23, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Ghost Girl: A Blue Ridge Mountain Story (Hardcover)

After her brothers death, April Sloane's mother pays less and less attention to her and mopes around the house. When President Hoover decides to build a school for the kids in the mountains April is excited but her mother does not want her to go. With the help of Aunt Birdy (aprils grandmother) and Christine Vest, the teacher of the new school, April's mother gives in and allows her to go. Even when she has to face harsh problems in the next year, she doesnt give up. But when Aunt Birdy turns ill April has to do something...now im not going to ruin the surprise but i have to say this is a great book!!!!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Story, March 11, 2006

By 

B. Dunnagan (Myrtle Beach, SC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ghost Girl: A Blue Ridge Mountain Story (Hardcover)

I know this book was not written for women in their 70's, but I enjoyed it just as much as if I'd been 12 again! Not only is it an absorbing story, it is a snapshot of the real history of that period and what life was like then.