The reader is able to feel Annie's despair, her anger, and anxiety as Elsie's relentless persecution just goes on and on. The ensuing haunting is grim stuff as Elsie seeks to destroy Annie's life.Īlthough not a lot of time is spent on character development, it doesn't impair this narrative that moves along at an almost frenetic pace. Elsie's untimely death brings her ghost back to Annie to seek vengeance against the girls who victimized her in life. Annie can't bring herself to remain friends with the unlikable Elsie, and joins the "mean girl" group in making fun of her.
When young twelve year old Annie starts a new school, she is quickly befriended by Elsie, a girl who no one else likes and who is the subject of bullying and abuse from her classmates. Set during the influenza epidemic of 1918, this novel is rich in atmosphere and thick with dread. Although written for the tween set, make no mistake, this is one creepy, chilling tale. Mary Downing Hahn has written some great ghost stories for kids, and One for Sorrow is ready to join the ranks of her most popular offerings. Overall, it's not a bad ghost story, but WaitTil Helen Comes is probably my favorite Mary Downing Hahn book. I had wished for more character development in that area. I was bothered that Annie couldn't talk to her parents, but she couldn't stand up for herself either. Honestly, One for Sorrow felt more like an evil mean girl book than a ghost story. The ghost was as likable as a ghost as she was in real life which that is not saying much. The bullying wasn't resolved in a good manner, and the girls only changed after a mean ghost bothered them extensively. There were a lot of mean girls, girls with low self-esteem, and bullying. The major issue I had with this book is the fact that I didn't like any of the characters. I found it fascinating to know that Hahn was inspired by her mother's experience of visiting homes with her friends of those that died, and then they actually came to a home of a classmate that had, unknown to them, died. I liked the information on the influenza, and the feelings people had about WWI. I think a ghost story is a fun read, but this one was less ghost and more evil and mean.
This book was probably one of my least favorite Hahn ghost stories. Worth a Check Out: Yes, if you like ghost stories
Best For: 10 - 13 year olds, 5th through 8th grade
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