Grade 3-6

Carol Jordan Stewart's expert narration adds distinction to Betty Wright's fairly routine but entertaining ghost story (Holiday, 1985). Stewart does a wonderful job of voicing Christina, a lonely girl forced to spend some time with her grumpy Uncle Ralph in an isolated mansion, and bringing gruff yet vulnerable Uncle Ralph to life. His exchanges with the riddle-loving Christina keep listeners hooked. The fast-moving story kicks into high gear when Christina sees a young boy in a blue sailor suit watching her swim. He vanishes, but she keeps spotting this fleeting mysterious figure, and speculates about him being a ghost. Some sleuthing leads to the discovery that the boy was Russell Charles, the victim of a crime committed in the mansion 30 years ago. To Christina's dismay, she discovers that the evil spirit responsible for his death is residing in the ice cold attic. Although it possesses many familiar elements (secret rooms, an unsolved crime), this ghost story will captivate young listeners. As Christina joins forces with her crusty uncle, Wright adds surprising poignancy to the family dynamics. And by introducing an ill-tempered small town newspaper editor who thinks women should not pursue careers, Wright adds a welcome commentary about sexism, helping Christina realize that she must defy traditional gender roles and embrace her inner girl-power. Stewart reads this formulaic story with heart and a surprising sense of humanity.