Goodbye God I'm Going to Bodie [Paperback]

Calamity Jan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997

When 12-year-old Meggie and her best friend, Paige, uncover the missing diary in the ghost town of Bodie, California, they have no idea what secrets had been buried for over a hundred years. Bodie--once known as the 'Wildest Mining Camp in the West'--comes to life through the words of Anna Louise Lockmoor. Who is this girl whose words, "Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie" have become a legend? Why was she afraid? What was she hiding? Meggie, Paige, and a kid named Johnny Downing set out to discover Anna's secrets, but the three ghost town detectives end up with a whole lot more than they had bargained for. Historical fiction crawls out from beneath the sagebrush and skeleton shacks, bringing the West to life and taking middle grade readers on a wild and woolly ride back in time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Goodbye God, I m Going to Bodie is the debut title of the smoothly written Ghostowners mystery series for young readers. Bodie was a wild California mining town and the phrase Goodbye God, I m going to Bodie was found in a young girl s diary. This unknown girl and her adventures reveal the hardships and history that will enthrall the readers from first page to last. The Children s Bookwatch --Midwest Book Review

Goodbye God hard to find but well worth the effort. Scott Coy Lommers --The Bellingham Herald

Three curious youngsters become involved in a mystery while visiting the old ghost town of Bodie. After finding a hidden diary once owned by a girl, the three would-be detectives try to uncover the long-buried secrets of its author, Anna Louise Lockmoor. After reading Anna's diary (with a missing last page), the young sleuths search for a missing treasure box mentioned in its pages to discover mor of her life and the history of the town. All ages will enjoy this fantastic story. Bobbie Hurst Barnes & Noble --Northwest Family Magazine --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

No, it's not Nancy Drew, and no, it's not the Hardy Boys! It's Calamity Jan Pierson who has made a grand slam homerun with her latest mystery for young readers. The story never loosens its hold as Pierson grabs readers by the scruff of the neck, unleashing history through a legend and its secrets found in a diary. Let sleeping ghosts lie? Never!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 91 pages
• Publisher: Press Tige Pub Inc (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575321076
• ISBN-13: 978-1575321073
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,223,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting, Enthralling, Involving!, July 20, 2003

By 

LeRoy All (Murphys, Ca. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goodbye God, I'm Going to Bodie (Ghostowners - #1) (Paperback)

I started this book not knowing what to expect. Suddenly I found myself involved in the adventure along with Meggie and Paige. I have been to the ghost town of Bodie many times and I could relate to everything the author presented. It was as though I was there and a part of the mystery. The way the author wove history and the story together made it compelling reading. I originally intended to read only one chapter at a time. However, when I came to the end of a chapter the story compelled me to continue reading. Before I knew it I was in the middle of another chapter. I am an adult male and have read many books on Bodie and never enjoyed one as much as this. I recommend this story for children of "all" ages. To the author I say "BRAVO, WELL DONE!" I look forward to more of her books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will enthrall the readers from first page to last, August 8, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goodbye God, I'm Going to Bodie (Ghostowners - #1) (Paperback)

"Goodbye God, I'm Going To Bodie" by Jan Pierson (a.k.a. Calamity Jan) is the debut title of the smoothly written "Ghostowners" mystery series for young readers. Bodie was a wild California mining town and the phrase "Goodby God, I'm going to Bodie" was found in a young girl's diary. This unknown girl and her adventures reveal hardships and history that will enthrall the readers from first page to last. Also very highly recommended is the second title in this fledgling series, Ghost Of Nighthawk (097218001X, $10.00) which takes place in the ghost town of Nighthawk, Washington, and will leave young readers looking forward to the pending release of the third "Ghostowners" series title, Shadow Of Shaniko (0972180028, $10.00) set in the ghost town of Shaniko, Oregon

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars Plus, August 27, 2003

By 

Phil Boudrot (Oklahoma City, OK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goodbye God I'm Going to Bodie (Paperback)

I received an autographed copy of this book direct from the Author. I saved it for the weekend, and found it difficult to put down - until I finished it (well before the end of the weekend).

I was made to feel as though I was in Bodie and able to work/play alongside the players in the story.

I have a granddaughter entering reading age, and plan to read this story with her, to help further her interest in learning/reading.

A compelling read. Keet up the good work, Jan.