The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story

 The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story. Mary Downing Hahn; Clarion Books, 2004
Grade Level: 6 th -8 th
ISBN & Cost: 0618430180, $15

Synopsis:

With the help of her new friend Lissa, Diana faces the truth about her past and with her little brother Georgie takes steps to release the ties that have bound them to the old Willis place for so many years.

General Review:

Sympathetic and believable characters, a strong plot with many twists and turns leading to a satisfying conclusion, and an overlay of suspense make this a book which engages students’ minds as well as hearts.

Themes: Ghosts, Haunted houses, Brothers and sisters, Friendship

 Author Information:

SOMETHING ABOUT THE AUTHOR—Volumes 50 and 81

THE SIXTH BOOK OF JUNIOR AUTHORS

http://www.childrensbookguild.com/hahn.html

Discussion Questions: Standard 3, Benchmark 3

1. Describe Diana, the narrator of the book. What do she and Lissa have in common?
2. This book is subtitled “a ghost story”. At what point did you realize Diana and her brother are ghosts? What were some clues the author provided?
3. “The rules kept us where we were, as much a part of the farm now as the trees, more firmly rooted to its earth than the deer and foxes.” (pg. 133) what are therules? How do they change?
4. Why do you think the author included entries from Lissa’s diary from time to time?
5. Miss Lilian is described by Diana as “…the snake in the garden, the witch in the gingerbread house, someone to fear, even though she was dead.” (pg. 4) How and why do Diana’s feelings about Miss Lilian change?
6. What are some things Lissa learns during her time at Oak Hill Manor?

Activities:

 1. An illustrator’s idea of the old Willis place can be found on the cover of the book. Draw a picture or make a model of how you imagined the old house to look as you read the book. (Standard 5, Benchmark 3)

Note: to see photos of the actual house the author used as a model, visit:

 2. Read one of Mary Downing Hahn’s other ghost stories, such as DOLL IN THE GARDEN, and compare it to this book using a Venn Diagram or other graphic organizer. (Standard 3, Benchmark 1)

3. There are many allusions in this book. Select one or two from the list below and use the internet to find out more about them:

Nero Romulus and Remus Mowgli

MacDuff Alladin Rapunzel

Roy Rogers LASSIE, COME HOME “Moonlight Sonata”

CLEMATIS by Bertha B. and Ernest Cobb (see if you can find out what this out-of-print book could be worth!)

Share what you’ve learned in a final product of your choice. (Standard 1, Benchmark 3)

4. This book follows a classic plot pattern of rising and falling action followed by resolution. When Lissa moves to the property, it sets a chain of events into motion. Create a timeline of the major events in the book which lead up to the final event. (Standard 3, Benchmark 1)

Similar books for further reading:

Bauer, Marion Dane. A TASTE OF SMOKE Houghton Mifflin

Bunting, Eve. THE PRESENCE: A Ghost Story Clarion Books

Conrad, Pam. STONEWORDS: A Ghost Story HarperCollins

DeFelice, Cynthia. GHOST OF FOSSIL GLEN HarperCollins

Griffin, Peni. THE GHOST SITTER Penguin Young Readers

Hahn, Mary Downing. DOLL IN THE GARDEN; TIME FOR ANDREW; WAIT TILL HELEN COMES Clarion Books

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. JADE GREEN: A Ghost Story Simon & Schuster

Wright, Betty Ren. THE DOLLHOUSE MURDERS; CHRISTINA’S GHOST; CRANDALL’S CASTLE Holiday House

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