The Ghost Belonged to Me facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Richard Peck |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
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Publication date
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1975 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 183pp |
| ISBN | 0-670-33767-6 |
| OCLC | 1174625 |
| LC Class | PZ7.P338 Gh |
| Followed by | Ghosts I Have Been |
The Ghost Belonged to Me is an exciting children's novel by Richard Peck. He is a famous author who also wrote A Year Down Yonder, which won the Newbery Medal. This book tells the story of a boy who meets a ghost and goes on an amazing adventure.
Contents
Discovering a Ghostly Secret
The story takes place in 1913. Alexander Armsworth is a regular boy living his life. One day, he sees the ghost of a girl in his barn. She warns him about a big problem that is about to happen. Thanks to her warning, Alexander becomes a local hero.
When Alexander explains that a ghost helped him, he learns her sad story. She ended up on his family's land far from her home. Her home was in New Orleans, Louisiana. Alexander decides it's his job to take her body back home. This starts a big adventure for him.
Meet the Characters
Alexander Armsworth: The Boy Who Sees Ghosts
Alexander is 13 years old and in 7th grade. His classmate, Blossom Culp, tells him he can see ghosts. She also says his barn is haunted. At first, Alexander thinks she is playing a trick.
Later, he truly meets Inez Dumaine, the ghost in his barn. With her help, he saves many people. A man had damaged a bridge to cause a trolley crash. Alexander becomes a local hero for stopping the disaster. When he tells people a ghost helped him, it leads to a journey. He must return Inez's body to New Orleans. Blossom and his great-uncle Miles help him. They finally take her body home to her family's crypt.
Blossom Culp: Alexander's Ghost-Seeing Friend
Blossom is a 12-year-old girl. She is the first to tell Alexander about his special ability to see ghosts. Blossom lives in a small house near the trolley tracks. She becomes a big help to Alexander. She joins him on his trip to take Inez's body back to New Orleans.
Uncle Miles Armsworth: The Wise Carpenter
Uncle Miles is Alexander's great-uncle. He is a carpenter who works whenever he wants. He is the only one who knows the full story of Inez Dumaine. He goes with Blossom and Alexander to New Orleans. He makes sure Inez finally gets to rest at home.
Inez Dumaine: The Ghost Who Needs Help
Inez is the ghost who lives in the Armsworth barn. She warns Alexander about the man who damaged the bridge. She helps him save many lives. Inez tells Alexander that her body is buried nearby. She asks him to return her to her family. She says her family is "above ground, but they rest."
Where Did the Ideas Come From?
Richard Peck, the author, wrote about his life in a book called Anonymously Yours. He shared that some characters and places in The Ghost Belonged to Me were based on real things.
Uncle Miles Armsworth was inspired by Peck's own Uncle Miles Peck. His uncle was a carpenter even when he was very old. Just like Alexander's uncle, he "worked when he wanted to, he fished when he wanted to, and he said rude things in front of people's mothers. I thought he was God."
The way Blossom Culp talks came from Peck's grandmother and great-aunts. He said she speaks with their combined voice. They were "never wrong and always precise except for grammar."
The Snake Creek trestle bridge in the book was inspired by a real bridge. This was the Williams Creek trestle bridge in Decatur, Illinois.
The Book on Screen
In 1978, The Ghost Belonged to Me was made into a movie. Walt Disney Productions created it as a TV film. The movie was called Child of Glass.
