Here There Be Ghosts

VOYA - Florence Munat

Yolen proves that ghost stories need not exclusively be about blood, gore, and screams in the night in this collection of seven poems and eleven short stories (six of which are reprints). Nearly all of the pieces do feature ghosts and/or supernatural phenomena such as seances, desanctification of churches, exorcisms, and travel through time and space. The stories fall into two categories: contemporary (sometimes humorous) tales told in the first person by young narrators, and fantasies or fairy tales in third person. The first category includes Mrs. Ambroseworthy, about a drowned choir director who returns for the Christmas concert; and Prom Ghost, where a girl learns the truth about how her older brother and his prom date died. Many of the protagonists come from homes with single parents or stepparents. (One small complaint: the age and sex of the narrator are often not revealed until well into the story, which can be jarring for the reader.) Examples of the second category-and here Yolen showcases her masterful storytelling talent-include The Moon Ribbon with its Cinderella motif; and Souls, a chilling tale about a boy who is told it is all right to kill soul-less animals and then takes this to its logical, horrifying extreme. Each entry is prefaced by a description of its origin and the circumstances under which it was written. Often these include events or people from the author's own life, as in Mandy, about a homesick boy at camp who is befriended by a magical dog; here Yolen resurrects the beloved black Lab of her childhood. One serious poem was composed during a week when two of the author's friends died. This is the fifth collaboration between Yolen and illustrator Wilgus in the Here There Be series. The other books' subjects are dragons, unicorns, witches, and angels. VOYA Codes: 4Q 4P M J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses, Broad general YA appeal, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).

Children's Literature - Uma Krishnaswami

"Ghost. So near the word guest, yet uninvited to our converse, we shook with the raw intrusion." From the opening poem in this mostly prose collection, these words capture the essence of the fascination we have with specters from the beyond. Yolen spins these ghostly tales with her customary ease, playing skillfully on the subtleties of fear. Not all the ghosts are terrifying either - each has personality, uniqueness. A delightful post-script to the other "Here There Be..." books (Dragons, Unicorns, and Witches) in what has, happily for Yolen's fans, become a series. Teachers of writing should appreciate the author's background note for each piece, which helps render transparent the process of writing.

The ALAN Review - Nancy A. Verhook-Miller

Well-crafted examples of prose and poetry are intricately meshed together in Jane Yolen's Here There Be Ghosts. Dealing with the timeless appeal of the traditional ghost story bordered with the popularity of recurring urban legend motifs. Yolen presents the adolescent reader with stories and poems that evoke shivers and touch the heart. Melancholia threads itself throughout the collection, but hope is also evident. The adolescent protagonist is empowered. In "Prom Ghost," the young sister of the popular captain of the football team works through her grief at his death on prom night and at her own senior prom comes to terms with her brother's mortality. Very real teen issues are evident in the story. Yolen's literary collection demonstrates a writer's reflection upon the past, present, and future. When literary works connect the writer's and reader's reflections, they are worthy of sharing.

School Library Journal

Gr 5 Up-Ghosts, lost souls, and demented prom dates roam the pages in this collection of new and previously published short stories and poems by the prolific author. Each entry is prefaced by a note by Yolen discussing the origin of the piece and her thoughts about it. These comments will be useful when introducing poetry and stories, providing background information, and aiding in interpretation. However, the insights offered often give away essential information and would be best read after completing the selection. Soft pencil drawings illustrate this addition to the author's "Here There Be..." series Harcourt. Readers will do some serious thinking about topics such as God, souls, and the supernatural while devouring these creepy tales.-Kimberlie Baker, Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, MA