Aurelia: The what?
Me: Four novels by Richard Peck starring the main characters, Blossom Culp and Alexander Armsworth. Four books which, BTW, are A. Fabulously entertaining reading for anyone between the ages of 9 and 99. B. The best teacher read-a-louds I have ever come across. And C. Technically examples of paranormal romance published way ahead of their time. With superior humor.
Book 1: The Ghost Belonged to Me—in which seventh grader, Alexander Armsworth, has the unfortunate experience of . . .
-Becoming trapped in a fire escape with his classmate, the spidery-legged girl from across the tracks—aka Blossom Culp.
-Finding a small wet dog in his family’s barn, and . . .
-Discovering that the dog belongs to a ghost.
Book 2: Ghosts I Have Been—in which the narrative is now taken over by the vibrant voice of eighth grader, Blossom Culp. Who has the remarkable experience of . . .
-Scaring the pants off her neighbor, Alexander Armsworth, and the “low-lifes” he has regrettably teamed up with for the night of Halloween.
-Been invited—against ALL likelihood—to attend one (and only one) exclusive meeting of the Sunny Thoughts and Busy Fingers Sisterhood, and . . .
-Begun seeing a small ghost boy who appears to be on the recently sunk Titanic.
Book 3: The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp—in which our heroine . . .
-Moves on to the frightening, and entirely unspiritual, hazards of high school.-Rescues the entire freshman class from embarrassing themselves during the Freshman Haunted House, and . . .
-Fast forwards one hundred years into the modern day.
Book 4: Blossom Culp and the Sleep of Death—in which Blossom . . .
-Attempts to rescue Alexander Armsworth . . . from himself. And the clutches of the popular Letty Shambaugh.
-Spies upon Alexander, who appears to be scrubbing the library floor with a toothbrush.
-And, along with Alexander, is in serious peril of being cursed by the ghost of an Ancient Egyptian princess.
All in the average lives of two teens from the opposite side of the tracks in 1800’s Bluff City. Two teens with NOTHING in common. Except the ability to run into each other. And see ghosts.
Okay, You've sold me, if not Aurelia. I've always meant to read these books and never gotten around to it. Hopefully, I can find them at the library.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen,
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy them. My dad, my sister, and I all read & reread them! Which is quite impressive in my family.
Anne
Wow, these sound great. Thanks again for the recommendation. So amazing your entire family loves it. My family would barely want to read a title of a book let alone what's inside. How did I end up the only bookworm? LOL! Thanks again hon :)
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