The Ghost of Skinny Jack facts for kids

The Ghost of Skinny Jack is a children's book by the famous Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. Its original Swedish title is Skinn Skerping – Hemskast av alla spöken i Småland. The book tells a spooky story about a ghost and how it affects two children.

The Story of Skinny Jack

This book is about a girl and her older brother. They are visiting their grandmother, who loves to tell them ghost stories. Their favorite story is about a ghost named Skinny Jack.

Who Was Skinny Jack?

Skinny Jack was once a servant who enjoyed playing tricks on people. One night, he dressed up as a ghost. He wanted to scare the church sexton (a person who looks after the church). The sexton got very scared and ran out of the church.

As Skinny Jack tried to follow, something strange happened. It felt like something grabbed him. He believed it was a real ghost, or maybe even God, punishing him for his prank.

Skinny Jack's Fate

The next day, people found Skinny Jack. His blood had frozen, making him neither truly dead nor alive. He stayed in the church for about 100 years. No one dared to go near him.

Then, a brave maid came to town. She said she wasn't afraid of anything. A rich man wanted to test her courage. He offered her five crowns (money) to bring Skinny Jack to him. The maid did it and got her reward.

However, she hadn't promised to take Skinny Jack back. So, the man offered her five more crowns. The maid put Skinny Jack on her back again. But as she neared the church, Skinny Jack's cold, ghostly fingers wrapped around her neck.

He forced her to carry him to the sexton's grave. There, Skinny Jack asked for forgiveness. The sexton replied that if God forgave him, he would too. Right after this, Skinny Jack turned into a pile of ashes. From that day on, the maid was never quite the same.

The Children's Journey Home

After hearing the spooky story, the grandmother gives the boy a guitar. She gives the girl a bag of magazines. She ties the heavy bag onto the girl's back. Then, she tells them to get home before it gets dark.

The boy plays his guitar as they walk. He suggests they go over the mountain. The girl always follows her brother, so she agrees. But the path is long, and the magazines feel very heavy.

The girl jokes that she would rather carry Skinny Jack. But then she gets scared. She remembers that ghosts might appear if you say their name. Her brother walks ahead and disappears into the bushes. The girl is now too scared to move. She thinks Skinny Jack could be hiding anywhere.

Finally, she gathers her courage and starts walking. Suddenly, she feels like Skinny Jack's cold hands are grabbing her. She screams, thinking there's no escape. But then she hears her father's voice.

Her father asks what she and her brother are doing there. He frees her from a hazel branch that had caught her. He then carries the crying girl to his carriage. The girl, her brother, and her father all go home safely.

At dinner, the girl asks her brother a question. She wonders if he thinks she went crazy, just like the maid in the story. Her brother tells her that she is not as crazy as the maid.

The Real Story Behind the Book

The Ghost of Skinny Jack is based on a true event. In July 1916, Astrid Lindgren (who was then Astrid Ericsson) visited her grandmother. Her brother, Gunnar Ericsson, was also there.

Their grandmother, Ida Ingström, often told them old legends and ghost stories. On that day, she told them the tale of the Skinn Skerping ghost.

After the story, their grandmother gave Gunnar a guitar. She gave Astrid a thick book. Then, the two children started their walk home.

Lindgren later said in an interview that everything after that moment in the book was made up. Her father did not come to save her from Skinn Skerping. She and her brother had to walk all the way home by themselves. They finally arrived home that evening, very tired.

The book Skinn Skerping hemskast av alla spöken i Småland was published in Sweden in 1986. Rabén & Sjögren was the publisher. Ilon Wikland created the illustrations for the book. An English version of the book was released in 1988.

Awards and Recognition

The illustrator of the book, Ilon Wikland, received an award for her work.

• 1986: Expressens Heffaklump