title: The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story
author:  Mary Downing Hahn 
description: Starred Review. Grade 5-8&ndash;Diana and her younger brother, Georgie, have been living on the grounds of the old Willis place for oh, so long. They've seen caretakers come and go, but the new one seems different. Mr. Morrison has a daughter, Lissa, who seems to be about Diana's age. Both girls are lonely and long for a friend but Georgie reminds Diana that it's "against the rules" to have friends; that they must remain out of sight. But Lissa remains intriguing to the children. She not only has a bicycle, but she also has many books and a stuffed animal that reminds Georgie of one he once had. They share even more; Lissa, too, has suffered a huge loss. Masterfully constructed, the story shows readers the same events from the perspectives of both girls; Diana narrates, and Lissa writes in her diary. The combination builds tension, raises questions, and allows characters&ndash;and the mysteries that surround them&ndash;to unfold gradually. The story is taut, spooky, and fast-paced with amazingly credible, memorable characters. More than just a ghost story, this riveting novel is a mystery and a story of friendship and of redemption. After this tale, readers are not likely to think of ghosts in the same way.<I>&ndash;Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at Washington DC Public Library</I> <BR>Copyright &copy; Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Old Willis Place
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  >
  
  
  >
  
  
  >
  
  
  >
  
  
  >
  
  
  >
  
  
  >
  
  
  >
  
  
  >
  
  
  >
  
  
  >
  
  
  
  
  
  A Ghost Story
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Mary Downing Hahn
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 2
  
  When it was almost dark, Georgie and I sneaked back to the trailer. No matter
  how risky it was, we couldn't stay away. This time it was the smell of food
  cooking that drew us to the edge of the woods.
  
  Lissa and her father were sitting at a sagging old picnic table that had been
  in the yard as long as the trailer. The wood was silver gray with age. Every
  caretaker who'd lived on the farm had carved his initials in the top. Georgie
  and I had carved ours more than once, using a jackknife we'd stolen from Mr.
  Wagner, one of the first caretakers. As Georgie had said, the old man could
  always get another one.
  
  While hamburgers sizzled on a grill, Lissa sliced tomatoes. MacDuff watched
  eagerly, hoping a burger would come his way. Barely containing his appetite,
  he inched forward, making a little s