Review : Ghosts I Have Been by Richard Peck

Title : Ghosts I Have Been

Author : Richard Peck

Publisher : Puffin Books

Genre : Young Adult

ISBN : 978-0141310961

Series : Yes, #2

Rating : 5

From Paperbackswap :

Blossom Culp is the outspoken outcast of Bluff City, always getting into trouble. No one wants to cross her, especially now that she's revealed that she can see the Unseen. Then Blossom herself is stunned, because her lie turns out to be truth. She actually does have second sight ...and she is "on board" the sinking Titanic.

Review :

The Gift of Second Sight is nothing new to young Blossom Culp, as it is a gift that has been passed down amoungst the women of her family for years. Her own mother is one to have been blessed with this particular gift. Blossom herself doesn't believe she could possibly be gifted like her mother, as people with gifts such as these come in hand with good looks and a good meal.

Blossom decides that she must stand against the local gangster boys from tipping out houses, by scaring them witless with her ghostly costume. She doesn't give her name away, but she does give the name of another young girl, Letty, in her own class. Letty gets attacked the next day at school by one of the young gangsters and, feeling guilty Blossom finds herself defending the poor girl.

To show her appreciation, Letty's mother invites Blossom to their house to spend time with Letty and her band of friends, The Sunny Thoughts and Busy Fingers girls, as they call themselves. Letty doesn't appreciate what Blossom has done, and neither do the other girls, so they make Blossom tell them a scary story. She tells them about an encounter her own mother had with her gift of second sight, only for them to tell her she's nothing but a liar. Before Blossom can even think, she tells them that she herself has the gift.

Blossom must prove to them that she isn't lying, and so she begins to tell them that two of such girls will be punished the following day for cheating. They believe her, because they know they have cheated, so she is in the clear. To make things more believable, her own true gift shines through and she foretells an actual event that will stir the whole town. She will soon become a celebrity for her gift of second sight.

This book was recommended to me by a friend from work. I didn't think I would enjoy it, but I suppose he knew more about myself than I did. This story was truly captivating, and at points even gave me goosebumps. It was also a nice quick read, only lasting a mere three hours total of reading time. This book was originally published in 1977, and it shows in the way that it is written. The author, Richard Peck, has written many books including, Are You In The House Alone?, Dreamland Lake, and The Ghost Belonged To Me. This is the first of Richard Peck's books that I have encountered, and I look forward to reading more of them in the future.