Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Krysten Weller

This is a fun book about a contemporary twelve-year-old girl who encounters a ghost from the Civil War period. The book begins with Tamara intrigued by the mysterious vacant house across the street. When she spots a light in the home, she decides to go and investigate and finds herself in the middle of a ghost story. The ghost, a little girl named Sarah, tells Tamara that her father was murdered and wants Tamara to help her find her doll, Pearly. Tamara sets about finding the doll as well as stopping two boys from stealing the Civil War era artifacts that she finds hidden in the house.

Donna Lessard keeps the reader in suspense as you wonder what happened to Sarah and her family. You can feel Tamara's anxiety as she hides from the two boys and her nervousness as she must confront them on her own.

This book is a great introduction to the subject of the Underground Railroad and the Civil War. It deals with this heavy subject without overwhelming the reader.