The Blue Ghost

Marion Dane Bauer


This story begins with a young girl named Liz. Shes going for a visit too her grans log cabin in the woods of Minnesota. Liz and Gran are really close, they even share the same name Elizabeth. When Liz went to bed that night she was awoken by a strange blue light and someone whispering the name Elizabeth. She thought that was really strange since no one ever called her by that name. As the light got closer it turned into the shape of a woman. The figure was wearing old fashioned clothes and her hair in a bun. She kept repeating the name Elizabeth and then vanished when Liz tried to answer her back. The figure disappeared into the wall so Liz ran over to touch it, nothing was there and she knew it probably was a dream and not a ghost. The next day she found out from her gran that her room use to be part of the old log cabin and that all the women in her family before her were all named Elizabeth too. When Gran went to take nap the next day Liz went back to her room to look around. She wondered if there was something in the old trunk she needed to see. Back in the room again she heard kids laughing and a mother's voice say hush. As she put her ear to the wall she heard them call for Elizabeth again. The next night she saw the blue light again and heard a baby cry. She knew she had to do something so she closed her eyes tight and took steps until she was inside the wall. It was the old log cabin. She was very surprised to see a young girl, three small kids, and a baby. The girl thought that Liz was her guardian angel and was there to help save her little brother who was really sick with the croup. Her dad went to get a doctor but the doctor was hours away and wouldn't make it on time since the baby was really sick. He was coughing,wheezing and sobbing and needed help fast. She noticed the blue light hovered over the same trunk that was in Liz's room. We need to open that trunk right now Liz said. She didn't know anything about the croup and the trunk was her only hope. Under a few sheets, candles, and bibles she found a small hand written booklet. What's this she asked? My Mama's book of remedies. That's it! This will help us with Matthew. But how come you didn't look in here? Elizabeth felt bad and told Liz she couldn't read because she never had any schooling, So Liz knew it was up to her to read the remedy book. After she did and the two girls did everything the booklet said, Matthew looked like he was doing better. You truly are an angel Elizabeth said. Well I was sent by your mother! Next morning Liz awoke in Grans house in her own bed and was glad to be back. She wanted to tell Gran everything she did to save the baby. So when she started to tell her about the ghost, Gran stopped and said she had heard the same voices. I'll tell you my story if you tell me yours, Gran said. They sat and talked and shared their story of the Blue Ghost.







Review-
My favorite Chararcter is The Blue Ghost. She's not trying to scare Liz but trying to help her Daughter Elizabeth and her son Matthew.

My Favorite part is when Liz finally opens the trunk to find the book of Remedies. She reads the part on the croup and finds out what to do to try and save baby Matthew. She's was really brave to follow a ghost and help the family.

Dexter the Tough

Margaret Peterson Haddix


Dexter just moved to Seattle to live with his grandmother and that meant he had to go to a brand new school. Before the first day was over, he knew he hated that school. His teacher Mrs. Abbott made the class write a story so Dexter did one on the fight he got into earlier that day. Dexter beat up a kid named Robin in the bathroom because he was mad. The reason he punched Robin really had nothing to do with him, he just was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When Dexter was writing his story he started feeling really bad about what he did to Robin. Dexter was really mad about his mom and dad leaving him in Seattle,the principal, secretary and janitor all being mean to him and all the kids laughing at him after he slipped in the hallway. It was a really bad first day that he took out on poor Robin who was crying in the bathroom.

Even though Dexter didn't really say sorry he wanted to be friends with Robin. During recess they started talking and Dexter found out that Robin never told on him about what happened in the bathroom that day. Dexter thought that was really cool of him not to get him in trouble. So in the end they became great friends and Dexter wrote a great story all about how they met.