Mary Downing Hahn is an author I quickly give to any Middle
School student asking for a ghost story or wanting to be scared by a wicked
(evil) story. I never hesitate as she has never disappointed. Her newest book, One for Sorrow: A Ghost Story, can fall onto
the genre of Fantasy as well as dabble in the area of Historical Fiction. The
flu epidemic of 1918 was a reality for the United States and, thanks to flu
vaccines, one our young readers are not well acquainted. Within 24 hours of flu
symptoms, its victims were dead. A simple black wreath would adorn the front
door of the deceased allowing neighbors to know the house was in mourning. A
tragic time in our country and one not taught often as it was shadowed by the
oncoming of World War II.
One for Sorrow gives
us Annie, an only child who has recently moved to a small town. Annie is immediately
greeted by Elsie who demands instant friendship. At first Annie is appreciative
of the friendship until she realizes Elsie is a social outcast and not liked by
anyone. Elsie is mean to Annie, but has instilled the fear of God in Annie if
she vacates the friendship. The other girls, lead by Rosie, play the games
Annie likes and seem to be having fun, but Annie knows better than to leave
Elsie despite her mean spirit until
the week Elsie is missing from school. Annie flees the friendship, joining the
other girls performing an alliance in the taunting and cruelty towards Elise.
School is soon cancelled due to the outbreak of Influenza
and the girls take advantage of this by attending wakes of those who have
passed enjoying the free cakes and cookies. It isn't until they go to the wake
of Elsie when Annie discovers she is being haunted by Elsie's lost soul. Annie
is taken away to an insane asylum in hopes of removing Elsie from her life, but
instead she does mean and cruel things to poor Annie.
In the classroom:
Middle School girls beware! The sorrow left in Elsie's soul
by the mean girls is enough to make anyone second guess their decision to say
mean things to a person. Even if you think the mean things, I warn you not to
act on them. Poor Annie has to live with the things she did while being a part
of the 'in' crowd.
Ghost stories allow creative writing to occur while also
allowing Common Core to be met and all in the month of October! Read aloud
passages from the text: especially the part where Rosie has made up a jump rope
chant rhyming In FLEW Enza into the art of jumping between the ropes. If you
miss, the flu has got you and you are dead. What chants can your students
incorporate into a unit of social studies?
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