This book is a children's classic. It's a wonderfully powerful story of relationships beyond the veil. If you are someone who sees spirits this book is one of your best guides. I loved this story as a child. As an adult who works with spirits and those in form, I recommend this book to my clients who see spirits and want to learn how to respond to them compassionately. It is indeed a children's book with lessons from which everyone can learn. ( )

Alexander's family is "new money" in the small town of Bluff City and as such his mother and sister are obsessed with making sure they fit into society. What no one expected is that it is Alexander's ability to "see", as foretold by Blossom Culp's mother, that would bring their family to notoriety.

For such a short story I found it to be thoroughly engrossing. A couple years ago I read the sequel "Ghosts I have Been" which is Blossom Culp's story harkening back to the sinking of the Titanic. I liked that story but if I hadn't happened upon this book on the supermarket's used book table, I would never have gone out of my way to read it. I'm so glad that I found it! I really enjoyed 13 year old Alexander's point of view. He was a very empathetic character and just so pure hearted I couldn't help but love him. I also enjoyed the plot and his dealings with both Blossom and his ghost. Although this book was written a couple decades ago, since this story takes place back in the early 1900s it didn't feel dated to me (I think I may have mentioned this about the sequel as well). My favorite part of all was the description of early New Orleans. I wish I had been able to see it as it was.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. There are two more books in this series that I now plan to read, although I believe they both take place from Blossom's POV which is a little disappointing since I really enjoyed Alexander. This is certainly a story I wouldn't hesitate to recommend for fifth grade and up. ( )

When I was much younger, I saw a special show on TV where it presented some books that kids might like. This book was one of them. It has since become one of my all time favorites. It is the story of Alexander Armsworth, a young boy in turn of the century Bluff City, who sees the ghost of a dog and a girl in his barn. This begins a series of adventures with his Uncle Miles and a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Blossom Culp. ( )

This is a ghost story that takes place at some point in the past, around the turn of the century in I think Iowa. Alexander is told by his neighbor, Blossom, that he can see ghosts. He thinks she's playing a joke on him, until he finally sees one up close and is told about a streetcar accident, which he is then able to prevent. It becomes the mission of him and his Uncle Miles to restore the body of the ghost to its rightful place. All the while Alexander has to deal with Blossom, who won't leave him alone, and his mother and sister's hysterics. ( )