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The Old Willis Place

by Mary Downing Hahn

4.06 · rating details · 1,822 ratings · 341 reviews

Diana and her little brother Georgie have been living in the woods behind the old Willis place, a decaying Victorian mansion, for what already seems like forever. They aren’t allowed to leave the property or show themselves to anyone. But when a new caretaker comes to live there with his young daughter, Lissa, Diana is tempted to break the mysterious rules they live by and...more

Paperback, 199 pages

Published August 20th 2007 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (first published September 20th 2004)

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Sep 18, 2008

Kaity rated it

· review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 13, 2009

Barky rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: ghosts-and-spirits, suspense-thriller, mystery, juvenile-fiction, 2008-caudill-nominees, spooky, borrowed-from-the-library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Diana and her brother Georgie have haunted the grounds of the Willis house for almost as long as they can remember. Their parents used to work for old Mrs. Willis until the bad thing happened. When they left, Diana and Georgie had to remain behind and follow certain rules – they were to remain hidden, and they were not to leave the property. Mrs. Willis eventually passed away, and her house has been looked after for many years, now, by a series of caretakers – each taking less care than the l...moreDiana and her brother Georgie have haunted the grounds of the Willis house for almost as long as they can remember. Their parents used to work for old Mrs. Willis until the bad thing happened. When they left, Diana and Georgie had to remain behind and follow certain rules – they were to remain hidden, and they were not to leave the property. Mrs. Willis eventually passed away, and her house has been looked after for many years, now, by a series of caretakers – each taking less care than the last. Diana and Georgie “borrow” whatever they want from the caretakers and take great pleasure in playing practical jokes on them. Then, one day, new caretakers arrive – a novelist and his daughter, Lissa – and suddenly what Diana wants more than anything is for Lissa to be her friend.

Diana’s friendship with Lissa changes everything, however. It breaks the rules, it angers Georgie, and worst of all, it releases the ghost of Mrs. Willis from its imprisonment in the parlor of the old house. Her ghost is free to chase after Diana and Georgie, and they’re not sure what horrible fate it has planned for them.

In the beginning of the story, it’s not entirely clear whether Diana and Georgie know that they’re ghosts. And they’re not like most ghosts you’ve heard of either – frail and insubstantial. Diana and Georgie are full-bodied, fleshed ghosts – almost exactly like their young selves the day that they died. There are clues, however, throughout the book that should help readers guess what they are. Mrs. Willis was a slightly crazy, cantankerous old woman when she was alive, and she was cruel to the children – just as they were cruel to her. On the fateful day that the “bad thing” happened, Mrs. Willis chased the children into the basement and locked them in a room. She told them she would let them out when they were ready to apologize, but she promptly went upstairs and had a stroke. By the time she returned to health, the children were dead. She never meant to do them that kind of harm, so she never mentions what had become of them.

While Mrs. Willis remains a mostly evil presence throughout the book, she does manage (in the last chapter) to acquire some depth. She apologizes to the children and they’re even able to forgive her. Their resolution enables them all to follow Diana and Georgie’s parents into the afterworld – presumably, heaven.

This was a quick, haunting read. It’s spooky enough to entertain 9-12 year olds – some of the parts about Mrs. Willis are truly scary. The “nice” resolution, though, is quite reassuring and should allay any residual fears about ghosts and evil old Mrs. Willis. (less)

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Jan 13, 2012

Brett H rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

The book The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn is a ghost story. The book The Old Willis Place is about two children, Diana who wants to make a friend and Georgie who doesn’t. The evil Ms. Lilian is trapped in her house, this makes it so Diana and Georgie are afraid to go near the house. Ms. Lilian is always trying to lure people into her house so they can release her, because she wants to go after Georgie and Diana. Diana becomes friends with Lissa the caretaker’s daughter. Diana and liss...more The book The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn is a ghost story. The book The Old Willis Place is about two children, Diana who wants to make a friend and Georgie who doesn’t. The evil Ms. Lilian is trapped in her house, this makes it so Diana and Georgie are afraid to go near the house. Ms. Lilian is always trying to lure people into her house so they can release her, because she wants to go after Georgie and Diana. Diana becomes friends with Lissa the caretaker’s daughter. Diana and lissa’s friendship struggles from the beginning because of Ms. Lilian.

My opinion of this book is that it is great because it’s scary and it is exciting. The theme of the book is interesting because it is about a girl that make’s a friend even though she is not allowed to. The delivery of this story is one that makes it so you don’t want to stop reading it. You keep wondering what is going to happen next, this makes it a trilling story. The style of the book is mystery, my favorite kind of book. It is my favorite because I love it when the mystery is solved. The voice of the book is depressing which was a turn off for me. Other than the depressing tone I think the author did a great job writing this book. I learned to think before doing something stupid because you may end up regretting it. I think people should read this book if they like mysteries because it’s a mystery that doesn’t reveal it self until the middle of the beginning.

I would give the book. The Old Willis Place a 4. With all the scary events that take place in the old house it makes it exciting. I like scary things like the description of the old mansion “Paint peeled from the front door and the wood trim. The steps and porch had rotted long ago. Shutters hung crooked from the boarded windows; some had fallen off and leaned against the house. Slates from the roof littered the yard. Two tall double chimneys tilted to the right, giving the place an unstable look, as if it might topple over at any moment in a tumble of brick.”(Hahn 2-3) that leaves an erie back ground that I think is great. Ms. Lilian’s search for Diana and Georgie is scary because I thought that she would find them and hurt them.(less)

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Mar 18, 2011

Crissy rated it

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like 1 like

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Oct 22, 2010

Brendaaa; rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book would be fiction.
I really enjoyed this book it had a very nice ending too it. This book was about a girl names Liss and her Dad, move by a cabin near the Old Willis Place,her dad is the new caretaker of that place that nobody lives. Because The old lady that use to live there she died. And since then there had been many caretakers but they all leave. Diana and her little Brother Georgie are ghosts,they live in the woods. And they love eachother and take care of eachother alot. Th...moreThis book would be fiction.
I really enjoyed this book it had a very nice ending too it. This book was about a girl names Liss and her Dad, move by a cabin near the Old Willis Place,her dad is the new caretaker of that place that nobody lives. Because The old lady that use to live there she died. And since then there had been many caretakers but they all leave. Diana and her little Brother Georgie are ghosts,they live in the woods. And they love eachother and take care of eachother alot. They saw lissa that she moved there and diana wanted to become friends with her. Georgie didnt want to,i think it was because he was a little jelous brother. but diana and liss actually became friends at first lissa was scared of diana,but she went in the old willis place and took some old clothes and tried clean up her self,so she wouldnt look as bad. so they became friends. Diana's brother didnt like the idea he told her they couldnt break the rules. which were they couldnt have no friends but them too. diana didnt listen too him and she kept talking too lissa. and diana told lissa all that had happend. the old lady that use too live i the old willis place was veryyy mean. she didnt let diana or gorgie go in the house,and one day that gorgie cut his feet with barb wire they went in the kitchen so diana could clean him up and could tell her mom what had happen. the old lady found out and she put both of them in a locked closet and they didnt in there from not breathing. when they woke up they were in the woods. and now they wanna leave home with there parents. lissa opened up the door where the old lady had died. she escapes and tells diana and gorgie so many mean things. and doesn't like them. at the end of everything the old lady regrets everything that she did. and diana and gorgie forgave her. and there parents came for them and there parents didnt want to take the old lady but diana and her brother told them that she was actually really sorry. and so they all left happily. and now there in a peaceful place. Lissa was left by her self just with her dad and cat that was diana's.
i really enjoyed this book it was awesomeeee!(less)

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Oct 15, 2010

Heather Frahm added it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: everyone if you like scary things!

Recommended to Heather by: no one

bIt was so good at first and the ending.
was unbelievable it was so amazing.
there was a girl named diane she and her brother die because diane brakes a rule on the old willis place! she and her brother are combined and swared to not go anywhere around the old willis place which is scary because it is a huge mansion that is haunted by the ghost of an old cranky lady and she is fat and ugly!p.s thats what it said in the book. The best thing about this book is it is very thrilling its s...more

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Jun 03, 2010

Ian Mclean rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The old Willis place

Ian McLean Group 2

Like many other ghost stories this book keeps you on your feet. I am not saying I’m out of shape but if you are sweating from the excitement in a book you know it’s a good one. I will be writing my review on this tale of mysteries, action and even drama. And I am sure you will agree if you read this invigorating book.

The setting in this spine tingling tale is a sort of depressing. With the way ...more The old Willis place

Ian McLean Group 2

Like many other ghost stories this book keeps you on your feet. I am not saying I’m out of shape but if you are sweating from the excitement in a book you know it’s a good one. I will be writing my review on this tale of mysteries, action and even drama. And I am sure you will agree if you read this invigorating book.

The setting in this spine tingling tale is a sort of depressing. With the way it describes it is always sad and colorless. This story takes place on old farm land about one or two anchors big. The seasons are fall and winter, so it is either leaves blowing everywhere in a frenzy of red, yellow and brown, or the sparkle of the fresh snow on a cold brisk winter night.

The plot is the biggest heaping chunk of the book. This plot was amazing if it’s not the twisting turns it’s the spicy mysteries. See what happens is there are these kids named Gorgie and Diana. They live on this farm; by the way this farms owner Miss Willis died in about 1917 in the parlor of the house and sat there for ten days before anyone knew about her and she is believed to haunt that house. So anyway these kids are wild kids but they are also spirits from the productive times of the old farm. and they were murdered by Miss Willis and they live on the farm and no one knows about them. but on the farm theirs caretakers. They like fix the old house and basically own it. But the kids would take their stuff and what not, and would make the caretakers go crazy. but one day a new caretaker comes and he is a man with his daughter Lissa. So Gorgie and Diana start to steal and look at her stuff like they did with the caretakers stuff. But Diana wanted to do more than steal stuff she wanted to be Lissa’s friend but Gorgie did not agree but Diana had not had a friend in so long so she wanted to be friends with Lissa so much. so she later becomes friends with Lissa. Then they decide they want to go into the old Willis place and guess who opens the parlor door and releases the old, vindictive and incredibly eye popping ghost of Miss Willis!

The conflict of this story is that when Diana and lissa open up the parlor door and release the spectral spirit into the world that she once cruelly lived in. while Gorgie and Diana run from the revengeful Miss Willis. Lissa feels bad about what happen even when Diana told her not to open that parlor door. The reason miss Willis is chasing Gorgie and Diana is because before Miss Willis murdered them, they would play tricks on Miss Willis and even steal stuff

The resolution is when Miss Willis is chasing the kids she corners them, and they play the blaming game and whose fault is whose. so Diana thought maybe that if they all forgave each other then they would leave the farm and live in peace so they all held hands and forgave each other. Gorgie and Diana forgave Miss Willis for killing them and Miss Willis forgave them for playing all the mean and cruel tricks on her plus stealing her stuff. And then the moon lit up like a thousand stars and they all left the farm that they were attached to for life peacefully.

This deserves a 4/5 check it out

(less)

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Feb 14, 2010

Samantha rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-science-fiction-shelf

Two children live in the woods surrounding an old abandoned house. They are alone expect for the times when a groundskeeper comes to live there. The newest one bring a young daughter with him. One of the children, Diana, is excited at the possibility of having a new friend. Her brother, Georgie, thinks this is a bad idea. He thinks it will break the vague rules they live by. It may also anger the other person still lurking around the property.

When I started this book, I thought the ...more

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Jun 08, 2009

Annehobdy rated it

· review of another edition

IT IS SUPER GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love it sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...more

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Oct 01, 2010

Ronda ♥ rated it

· review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I choose this book beacuse I love reading mystery's. I also read this book beacuse I like to read about old creepy house's that are haunted. The genre of the book is mystery. the setting is at an old farm with an old house that an old lady died in named miss. lillian the weather is getting colder and almost winter. The main chacters are Diane and her liittle brother Georgie. They have long hair that has leaves and sticks in it and they are dirty kids. They wear old clothes and no shoes. The othe...moreI choose this book beacuse I love reading mystery's. I also read this book beacuse I like to read about old creepy house's that are haunted. The genre of the book is mystery. the setting is at an old farm with an old house that an old lady died in named miss. lillian the weather is getting colder and almost winter. The main chacters are Diane and her liittle brother Georgie. They have long hair that has leaves and sticks in it and they are dirty kids. They wear old clothes and no shoes. The other main chacter is Lisa and her father that just moved into the house next to the old willis place. They are very clean and perfect they have a dog. The last main chachter is Miss lillian she has been dead for a while and her ghost is in the old Willis place thats what every ones says. The plot summary is Diane and Georgie have been there for many decades watching care giver after caregiver come and go. But one out of the ordinary named Lissa. she is a girl that you could say changed every thing. Diane and Georgie made rules not to make friends with no one it was aganist the rules. But one day Diane wanted to rember what it was like to have a freind again so she became freinds with Lissa. As the freind ship went along Diane had to make up her life so Lissa dident ind out what her and her brother really were(ghosts). But one day Lissa wanted to see what was really in the old Willis place but her dad and everyone to stay away from ther. But Lissa dident listen. Lissa got Diane and went into the Old Willis place and Diane n=knew that miss Lillian was in the main parlor. But lissa just wanted to open it so bad she said miss lillians ghost made her do and and she did she let the ghost out for goo miss lillians ghost was out ther now and lissa put Diane and Georgie in danger. But one day when Diane and Georgie were out Miss lillian giot ahold of them and they talked and Miss lillian saying from all the years you put me through and now this but Miss lillian hadet know bout she killing th kids. DAine knew the couldent go any where til there bodys have been found so they told Lissa to tell ehr father and her father when where diane and georgie told them to go and there they were the bodys have been taken away just like miss lillians had a whiile ago. nd after Diane and Georgie told miss lillian she felt horrible beace she had a hrt attach and she couldent tell any one beasuse she was on conscience for awhile. so after the bodys were found andMiss lilian found out what happend Dianas and Georgies father and mother showed up and were gunna leave but miss Lillian dident wanted get leffted so Diane took Miss Lillian to and the all lived better but Lissa and her farther moved away and put lissa in a school to make real frends and live a normal life. My opion of the book was I thought this was a very good mystery. I love how it kept you wanting to read more and more. I also liked that in some part it kept you haging. I would read more by Mary downing Hahn she seems like a very good writer.(less)

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Sep 12, 2011

Brittany C rated it

· review of another edition

Book review
I finished reading Old Willis Place. It was a very clear book to understand and everything fitted together just right. The main character is Dana and her brother Gorge and Lisa. Dana and Gorge are wild children. They don’t take any baths they don’t have any parents and they are free to do whatever they want but they have rules.
Rules:
1) Don’t talk to anyone
2) Don’t let anyone see you
3) ...more

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Feb 18, 2011

Olgaod96 rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: anyone who likes ghost stories

The Old Willis Place is about two kids, Diana and Georgie. They live on a farm called the Old Willis Place, but it's true name is Oak Hill Manor. One day, a new caretaker comes with his 12-year-old daughter and his dog, MacDuff. Diana and Georgie are thrilled because they have someone new to spy on, especially Lissa. Diana decides to break the rules, for one little thing, a friend. Georgie gets really mad at Diana and Lissa. But Diana doesn't really pay attention. On a rainy day when Lissa's dad...more

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Dec 02, 2010

Tyler Crews rated it

· review of another edition

I chose this book, beause i like books that are scarey.The setting of this book was at this old farm.there three main chaters in this book there names are daina,lisa, and gargie. danina and gargie are brohter and sister.This book is about this girl name daina and her brothe name gargie. They live in the woods of the fram and ther are not alound to leave the farm or talk to any one but each other.Then daina want a friend ,so she made friends with this girl name lisa who dad is the caretake of the...more

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Jan 29, 2009

Tori Richards rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: mmm-okay

Diana and her little brother Georgie have lived near this old, Victorian house for a long time. Caretakers try to take care of the mansion, but they always come, then soon go. What makes them leave? Diana and Georgie just like to mess with them, like stealing their TV remote and changing channels while the caretakers watch. They never do real harm. Caretakers insist they can hear a spirit in the mansion. They say it is haunted. Is it? Diana and Georgie never took a second thought to that house. ...more

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Oct 25, 2009

Alice Ishrat rated it

· review of another edition

This book is kind of mysterious. The main characters are two siblings, Diana and Georgie and a girl who moved in named Lissa. At first, the book is very confusing, but later on, it starts to make sense. Lissa is friends with Diana, and soon she finds out that the siblings are ghosts! Diana and Lissa go into the haunted house, or Miss. Willis's house, and since Lissa wanted to know if all the ghost rumors are true, she opens the parlor door that Miss.Willis dies in, and the ghost comes out. She i...more

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Feb 02, 2010

Krystal added it · review of another edition

The main characters of this book are Diana and Georgie. Diana and Georgie are brother and sister. Diana wishes that she could go to school but can't because her parents are dead and her and Georgie live in the woods in a shack. Georgie doesn't want to go to school but wishes he had a bike. Also they both wish that their parents where alive. Georgie and Diana don't know if they can survive the winter because the shack that they live in is falling apart. Will they be able to survive the winter?...more

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Mar 15, 2010

Breanna F rated it

· review of another edition

The Old Willis Place

The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn, is a creepy thriller that you can't put down.

Diana and Georgie are two ghost children who been living in the woods, after they died from their unsolved murder. Waiting for their parents return.
They take no risks, and don't plan on breaking the rules. That is until a new family comes.
Diana and Georgie live across the haunted house, called the Old Willis place, which was where Miss. Lilian lived....more

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Sep 23, 2010

Rachel Mount rated it

· review of another edition

last week i had the pleasure and joy of reading the book The Old Willis Place. The Old Willis Place, which was written by Mary Downing Hahn, takes place in a woods right by a very old haunted house. The kids that live in the woods have very strict rules that they can not break. When the rules are broken, by the to main characters, Diana, Georgie, and the new kid that moved in next door, the consequences are very extreme. this story is very scary and life threatening. The kids are always scared t...more

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Oct 08, 2010

Rosa Sophia rated it

· review of another edition

Mary Downing Hahn writes ghost stories primarily for children, but each wonderfully written tale is enjoyable for adults as well. The Old Willis Place is the story of two children, Georgie and Diana, who live on a very old farm that is supposedly haunted. They have been there for quite a long time and they don’t have any friends. So when a new caretaker moves in with his young daughter, Diana is thrilled at the prospect of having someone else to talk to. However, Diana, Georgie and the newco...more

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Jan 03, 2011

Clare rated it

· review of another edition

Diana and Georgie have been living behind the Willis Place, a old mansion, for what seems like forever. They have rules to follow, and if they break them it could mean deadly consequences, but then a new caretaker comes and he comes with his daughter Lissa. Diana wants a friend so badly that she is willing to break the rules to meet Lissa. Doing that though means breaking the rules.
The Old Wills Place was a good two hour car trip read. Nothing special, or too complicated. I loved it thou...more

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Sep 06, 2009

Jake rated it

· review of another edition

First off, let me just say that randomly getting a book handed to you when you still have ten books to read can be slightly irritating. *Evil glare at lender* Ok, now that that's over with I must say I've never read a ghost story before. Slightly ironic, wouldn't you people who know me agree? Anyway, it was a good book. Though you can guess what will happen fairly easily, you still get amazingly caught up in the scenes. For example, in one of the exploration scenes, I literally leaned int...more

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Jun 22, 2009

Janice rated it

Shelves: children-s-fantasy

Surprised by how prolific an author this person is. This was the first book of hers that I've read. Not likely to read more but can see that this and perhaps her other books might appeal perfectly to children in the 4th-8th grade range. The topic was a little disturbing as far as scaring children not about ghosts but about terrible events, but then again, in the real world a similar tragedy could have/might have happened. Trying not to give away any spoilers but from the start it seemed pretty c...more

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Sep 21, 2011

Jennifer Lavoie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: classroom-library, family, ghost, mystery

I was expecting a scary ghost story, after reading Wait Till Helen Comes by the same author just the day before. Both have "a ghost story" on the cover. The back synopsis makes it seem creepy. And yes, it was indeed a ghost story. But was I scared? No. Instead I end up sobbing on my couch at the end, and one of my final thoughts is, what will happen to Nero, the cat? And then that part is resolved and I still feel sad. It was a lovely story, more mystery than horror, but it broke my he...more

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Sep 20, 2010

Ann rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2007, supernatural, suspense

Ages 8+

Yawner ghost story about a parentless brother and sister who must live by special "rules." It's pretty clear from the start that they're ghosts, though the book tries to make that fact mysterious. (hint: the mystery, if any, is given away by the cover illustration). The ghost of the older girl, Diana, befriends the same-age daughter of a caretaker, who in turn helps the ghosts discover an Important Lesson that allows them to (in Shusterman's words) "get where the...more

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Jul 10, 2011

Annette rated it

· review of another edition

Oh, the talent of Mary Downing Hahn! She writes some superb ghost stories, and this is no exception. This story is about Diana and her little brother Georgie who've been living in the woods behind the old Willis place, a decaying mansion. A strict set of rules won't allow them to leave the property or let anyone see them.

But then a new caretaker and his daughter Lissa come to live there and Diana is tempted to break the rules for the first time hoping she'll make a new friend. Sh...more

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Jun 22, 2010

Briana Mccarthy rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 28, 2010

Sammi Cremer rated it

· review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I liked this book but it wasn't one of my favorites, however, It managed to get my attention at the end of every chapter. I wanted to keep reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

I was a little disappointed with the ending but it wasn't terrible.
I wish that Georgie and Diana could have lived, but then again, they can be with their parents now. I think it's kind of an ironic twist on the book because it shouldn't be a happy ending when people die, bu...more

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Nov 01, 2010

Jessica rated it

· review of another edition

Diana and her brother, Georgie, have been living on the old Willis place for a very long time. They've seen people come and go but the new one seems different. Mr. Morrison has a daughter namedd Lisssa, who seems to be about Diana same age. also,both girls are lonely and wants a friend but Georgie reminds Diana that it's "against the rules" to have friends and that that they must remain out of sight. But Lissa remains atractive to the children. She has a bicycle and many books and a ...more

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Nov 22, 2010

Marcus rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2-quarter

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Jul 03, 2010

Kevin rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-literature

My 5th Grade Students participate in a year-end 'Battle of the Books.' Reading these books is my attempt to (1) Be a good example and (2) actually know some of the answers to the questions kids ask me about the books.

---

This book started out strong... and kept me reading (and, I'll be honest, a little spooked) all the way through the end. This non-traditional ghost story was entertaining and a fun read.

And, for anyone with an annoying younger brother... you...more

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About Mary Downing Hahn

I grew up in a small shingled house down at the end of Guilford Road in College Park, Maryland. Our block was loaded with kids my age. We spent hours outdoors playing "Kick the Can" and "Mother, May I" as well as cowboy and outlaw games that usually ended in quarrels about who shot whom. In the summer, we went on day long expeditions into forbidden territory -- the woods on the...moreI grew up in a small shingled house down at the end of Guilford Road in College Park, Maryland. Our block was loaded with kids my age. We spent hours outdoors playing "Kick the Can" and "Mother, May I" as well as cowboy and outlaw games that usually ended in quarrels about who shot whom. In the summer, we went on day long expeditions into forbidden territory -- the woods on the other side of the train tracks, the creek that wound its way through College Park, and the experimental farm run by the University of Maryland.

In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.

Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.

When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.

In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.

By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.

Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.(less)

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