Ghosts I Have Been [Hardcover]

Richard Peck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 1977

Blossom Culp's gift of second sight, which she discovers gradually, leads her into some unusual adventures.

Editorial Reviews

Review

First-class...an outrageous sequence of events charmed together with skillful wordwork. -- Booklist, starred review --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Upon discovering that she has the gift of Second Sight, Blossom also learns that whether glimpsing the future or traveling into the past, one is powerless to alter history.

"First-class...an outrageous sequence of events charmed together with skillful wordwork."--Booklist, starred review.

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, An ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults, A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 214 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile; 1st edition (October 3, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670338133
• ISBN-13: 978-0670338139
• Product Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 20 inches
• Shipping Weight: 20 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,267,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Peck has written over twenty novels, and in the process has become one of America's most highly respected writers for young adults. A versatile writer, he is beloved by middle graders as well as young adults for his mysteries and coming-of-age novels. He now lives in New York City. In addition to writing, he spends a great deal of time traveling around the country attending speaking engagements at conferences, schools and libraries...Mr. Peck has won a number of major awards for the body of his work, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award from School Library Journal, the National Council of Teachers of English/ALAN Award, and the 1991 Medallion from the University of Southern Mississippi. Virtually every publication and association in the field of children s literature has recommended his books, including Mystery Writers of America which twice gave him their Edgar Allan Poe Award. Dial Books for Young Readers is honored to welcome Richard Peck to its list with Lost in Cyberspace and its sequel The Great Interactive Dream Machine...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic, August 18, 2000

By 

Dr. Amanda DeWees - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghosts I Have Been (Paperback)

Like many another reviewer, I'm 30ish now but still go back to reread this wonderful book periodically, in part because it is so mature and intelligent, and in part because it never dumbs things down for young readers; while it incorporates big laughs and genuine chills, it is also an engrossing and moving portrait of a spunky and self-reliant young woman who discovers her own psychic powers (a truly mixed blessing). The first-person narration is some of the most skillful I've ever encountered: with her wry humor, clear-eyed honesty, and pluck, Blossom is convincing and engaging in every word she says. Readers (of any age) who enjoy this book should definitely go back to read its predecessor, The Ghost Belonged to Me, which offers a similar mix of laughs and goosebumps, as well as an equally vivid period setting, but lacks the gritty charm of Blossom as narrator. This is one of the books that helped form my taste for intelligent ghost stories with the flavor of another era, and I highly recommend it.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peck At His Best, August 10, 2005

By 

Tamela Mccann "taminator40" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ghosts I Have Been (Paperback)

Fourteen year old Blossom Culp lives in a small town in 1913 with her eccentric mother and a penchant for getting into troubles and adventures. When she discovers that she has a sixth sense, Blossom uses her gift to help a few local citizens and things proceed merrily until she has a crushing vision of the sinking of the Titanic a year earlier. Fame and fortune brought on by the revelation of this vision bring many changes to Blossom's life, not the least of which is a change in her relationship with her friend,Alexander Armsworth. Peck makes this story so much more than a ghost tale; it's a delightful romp through the paranormal in a more innocent time period. Peck never fails to amuse and often makes the reader laugh out loud over Blossom and her antics. This is recommended for kids of all ages.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Different Kind of Ghost Story, October 31, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Ghosts I Have Been (Paperback)

Let me start by saying that this is a VERY unusual book. To some, this kind of unusual could be bad, but to me, it is good. I really cannot compare it to anything that I have ever read before, because it is SO different. To be incisive, it is a great book. The story is about a 14-year-old girl named Blossom Culp, going about her everyday life until a certain cataclysm brings her world, and another's, sinking down. Blossom is a hilarious character with spunky quirks and a strong cleverness that makes the whole story captivating. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew Blossom. I really liked her attitude and the way that she handled certain situations. The horrible event that I mentioned brings her into a tragic happening of the recent past that a restless soul will not let go. One day she finds out that she has the Gift of the Second Sight. This sudden discovery links her fate with the ghost of a young boy who life was sunk, literally. Once the destinies of the two met, both the living one and the dead, they would be changed forever. The boy causes her to worry a great deal about the purpose of her visions of him, and later, something even bigger. She then surprises the world by making a huge break-through to the Other Side, which attracts a lot of publicity. Through all of this her life stays relatively normal. Her mother is still a spooky, dark-eyed fortune-teller, her friend Alexander is still a smug and supposed "gang-member," and everyone in her town is still sure of how eccentric she is. She has a perpetual connection with all things ghostly, whether it's foiling a fake spirit or getting in touch with a real one. This is an excellent book; its humor, intense theme, and deep concepts are all outstanding. I would reccomend this book for girls ages 10-15 so that they can relate to Blossom. This is definitely one of my favorite books, though very unlike the others. The whole book, each individual event, is dependent on events from the past and future of the story. This book is written by Richard Peck, whose books I have read before, all of which I have enjoyed. He is a truly imaginative, suspenseful, and complex author. I loved this book and hope that you do as well. :-)