Ghost Singer: A Novel [Paperback]

Ann Lee Walters (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1994

Human ears, strung like beads on a cord; scalps with hair and ears still intact; infant bones in a medicine bundle; corpses, whole, in a cardboard box. These artifacts in an obscure corner of the Smithsonian cause Indian ghosts to haunt, torment, and murder researchers--even as they themselves are tormented by the items in the museum's collection. Only the sacred rituals of Indian medicine men can make it safe to be around these dangerous artifacts.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Indian remains in the Smithsonian cause ghosts to haunt, torment, and murder researchers--even as they themselves are tormented by the items in the museum's collection.

Product Details

• Paperback: 266 pages
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826315453
• ISBN-13: 978-0826315458
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #216,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Novel With An Important Storyline, April 25, 2004

By 

Michael A Jones JR (OK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghost Singer: A Novel (Paperback)

Ann Walters did write a wonderful thrilling story, and Ghost Singer deserves much gratitude. Unfortunately, it has not gotten the respect it was sought out to get. This novel was a turning point for Native Americans to get back their ancestors' bones or artifacts. Unfortunately, this book does have flaws, but it does not taint the overall focus. The worst flaw in this novel is trying to keep up with its characters. The novel likes to go from place to place and person to person. That is why this novel is for young adults because it requires a good deal of reading skills to comprehend. Walters writes about Native people in general and how they deserve respect. The title Ghost Singer will speak for itself throughout the entire novel. Ann Walters is a great Native American writer, and she knows a lot of about Native Americans obviously. Still when she writes about the Navajo people in this novel, she gives a very false impression about them. Navajo tribe is not very active in the Repatriation and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The Navajo people do not really have much of a problem with their artifacts being use by museums, but again this is a fictional novel. Maybe Walters did that on purpose to warn the Navajo people. I do not really know, but that should not be any reason to not to read this novel. The story still relates to many Native American tribes.

On a side note, I do agree with Mr. Leach. There should be more reviews about this novel. It at least deserves that.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More Than Meets the Eye, October 3, 2001

By 

Jeffrey Leach (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ghost Singer: A Novel (Paperback)

This book is a supernatural thriller but with a twist. All of the main characters are American Indians. Actually, calling this book a supernatural thriller is sort of a misnomer, because there is much more here then chills and thrills. At various times throughout the book we get strong doses of history, philosophy, and religion. I dont really know much about the author except that she is a woman, and probably an Indian herself. Her main focus here seems to be on the Navajo tribe, as most of the really important characters are members of that tribe, and many scenes in the book take place in New Mexico and Arizona. Im pretty surprised to see that there arent any other reviews of this book on Amazon.com, especially since this book has been in print since 1988.

It is really impossible to condense the plot into a few sentences without resorting to mere superficialities. Ill try, however. A museum in Washington is having some scary encounters with spirit people, or Indian ghosts. It seems that artifacts from long dead tribes, which are in storage in the museums attic, still contain the essence of those to whom the items originally belonged. These spirits are upset, to say the least, and when people start committing suicide after seeing these spirits, something must be done to put a stop to the madness. That is one of the main points of the book, but it by no means includes more than a small percentage of the storyline. There are numerous subplots involving Indian slavery, Indian elders and their importance to the younger Indian generations, and tribal representatives working to get Indian artifacts returned to tribes. Almost all of these issues are examined from the viewpoint of Indians.

There are some serious flaws. All of the white people in the book are portrayed as either victims or ignorant boobs. At least the hate whitey rhetoric is kept to a minimum, but its still there. The Indian characters themselves are portrayed as successful, emotionally secure people. Several of the characters are university students, some are tribal representatives, and others are elders who are literal fonts of sagacity in their old age. This is in stark contrast with how most Indians live today. Many languish on reservations with nothing more than a welfare check and a ramshackle house to their name. This portrayal of Indians as largely successful people seems to do a great disservice to the many who have nothing. But its also nice to see that this isnt the usual Injun and firewater type of book that is all too common in many reading circles.

Still, Walters does do a good job of keeping her storyline straight, although Stephen King has written the same type of story, and hes done it better. At only 220 pages, this one is light reading with some supernatural scares. Most people will probably enjoy this book.