The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn (Sandpiper, 2010)

This story is about an orphaned girl named Florence who is taken in by relatives she never knew about.  Florence arrives at her new home to find out she looks almost exactly like her dead cousin.  Aunt dislikes her immediately, and Uncle is very distant.  Her other cousin, James, is apparently too sick to leave her room.  Florence begins to hear noises, and soon her dead cousin Sophia appears to her – as a ghost.  Sophia begins to influence Florence to do mean things to people, including taking away James’ ghost-warding charm so Sophia can see James.  Sophia wants to recreate her death, and have someone else die to return her to life.  And she wants Florence to help her.  On Sophia’s death-day, she tries to repeat her death but have James die instead.

            I liked this book a lot.  Great details, very imaginative.  The only thing I don’t really like is how scared Florence was of Sophia.  I understand a bit, like James, but Florence was a little overdone.  Everything else was great.  I definitely recommend this book.