The Ghost Children (1991) by Eve Bunting ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I just finished The Ghost Children by Eve Bunting. This one was a book I’ve had since childhood. I believe this was my older brother’s book. I am fairly sure I had never read it. What I do know is that the cover scared the bajeezus out of me when I was in middle school. I remember I was so scared of it one time that I threw it down the stairs at the middle of the night into the living room and left it there till the next morning!
This copy was published by Bantam Skylark. Having now read the book and examining the artwork on the cover, I am struck by how accurate the picture is, right down to the little signs.
The Ghost Children was a suprisingly good read. It is geared toward middle schoolers, but it doesn’t treat the reader like they’re an idiot, and isn’t too kiddish. It’s written in first person, and tells the story of brother and sisters — thirteen year old Matthew and five year old Abby —- who have just lost their mother to an illness and have to go live with their great aunt Gerda whom they have never met.
Gerda is a little strange —- she has a bunch of life sized wooden dolls that she calls her ‘children’ and acts as if they are real. The people of the canyon don’t like Gerda’s ‘children’. They think they’re creepy, and they want her to get rid of them. But she could never get rid of them — they’re family!
Matthew really starts getting creeped out when he hears them talk to Gerda. Are these dolls just dolls? Or are they something more?
Find out when you read this must-read creepy-mystery for young teens. I think adults will find this enjoyable, too.
I really liked this book a lot. It surprised me immensely how well-written it was. I don’t really understand the not-so-favorable reviews on this one. Perhaps it’s because I am so used to Goosebumps books, that I enjoyed the writing style in this one so much more. I felt like there was a lot more content to the story instead of the author relying so heavily on character traits to give the characters personality.