The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn

Hahn, Mary Downing The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall, 160 p. Houghton, 2010.  $17.00.  Content: G (scary, but not violent).  Orphaned Florence has been sent to Crutchfield Hall to live with her aunt, uncle and her invalid cousin James.  She quickly finds out about her dead cousin Sophia, James’ sister, who tragically died not even a year earlier.  Sophia’s jealous nature, however, has no plans to stay dead.  She would be more than happy to have James or Florence take her place in the after life.  As Sophia builds her powers, Florence and James must joins forces to thwart her evil intentions.  Hahn has a skillful word with the ghost novel.  Her venture into the past does no harm to the creepiness of her tale.  EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher