Ghosts I Have Been is set in 1913 in Bluff City. Blossom Culp is a 14-year-old adventurous and trouble making young girl that is looked upon as the teenage outcast. She is witty and cunning. Blossom comes from a very poor family only having her eccentric mother. Her mother claims to have psychic powers just like the women in their family. Her mother is odd and neglects Blossom. Her mother's bizarre fortunetelling behavior does not seem to bother Blossum one bit. Blossom pretends that she has supernatural powers too but then she soon discovers that she also has the ability to see ghosts, can see past events, and can have premonitions about things that will happen in the future. This power is fun until she sees something terrible. She immediately finds herself in the room aboard the Titanic. The room belongs to a small boy who is left to drown by his socialite wealthy parents. Blossom attempts to change history by rescuing the boy. Using her telepathic powers she journeys to the doomed ship. Blossom returns to the present covered in water and wrapped in a blanket from the Titanic. Blossom receives massive attention from the media and a letter from the Queen of England thanking her for exposing the boy's parents.
Mrs.Garza's Thoughts:
When I decided to read this book, I immediately thought of the movie, "Titanic." I reminisced about the part when the boat was sinking and the people trying to load the extra life boats to escape the sinking ship. I think that's one of the most exciting parts of the movie! Children and women were asked to board the rescue boats first while the men stayed behind. I recall the part when one the characters (Rose's mother) asks one of the crew members if the people were going to board the rescue boats according to class. All of these scenes from the movie allowed me to connect to the book. How could a parent leave their child behind to die a horrible death in the deep cold ocean? The boy's wealthy parents reminded me of the people that Rose's fiance and mother (from the movie) associated with aboard the ship.
This book was the first ghost story I had ever read and I simply enjoyed it! The setting and time were so precise for the story line. I loved how I felt like I was watching a movie, instead of just reading a book. I didn't connect with the main character, Blossum, but I enjoyed reading about her character. She was funny and clever at the same time. She refuses to let life get her down, and despite the horrors that her gift brings upon her (she sees a future of devastating wars in one of her visions), she remains upbeat about her special gift.
The book was unpredictable and it being a ghost story I wasn't frightened at all. The book was an easy read and I especially liked how Richard Peck tied the Titanic into the story. As a librarian, I have many students that are interested in reading stories about the Titanic. This is definitely a book I would recommend for my older students. It's a historical fiction novel that my students will find interesting. Friendships, the Titanic, ghosts, and romance are all topics of interests of my older students. Happy Reading!
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