An American Ghost

by Chester Himes, David Gwynne Lemon (Illustrator)

When flood waters sweep his house down the Mississippi River in the 1860s, Wisconsin fourteen-year-old Albie encounters a mountain lion that is also trying desperately to stay alive, and that proves less dangerous than the men Albie meets next.

Genres: Historical Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Chester Bomar Himes began writing in the early 1930s while serving a prison sentence for armed robbery. From there, he produced short stories for periodicals such as Esquire and Abbott's Monthly. When released, he focussed on semi-autobiographical protest novels.

In 1953, Himes emigrated to France, where he was approached by Marcel Duhamel of Gallimard to write a detective series for Série Noire, which had published works from the likes of Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Jim Thompson. Himes would be the first black author included in the series. The resulting Harlem Cycle gained him celebrity when he won France's Grand Prix de Littérature Policière for La Reine des Pommes (now known in English as A Rage in Harlem) in 1958. Three of these novels have been adapted into movies: Cotton Comes to Harlem, directed by Ossie Davis in 1970; Come Back, Charleston Blue (based on The Heat's On) in 1972; and A Rage in Harlem, starring Gregory Hines and Danny Glover in 1991.

In 1968, Himes moved to Spain where he made his home until his death.

Reviews

[Jack Tompson]

I'm not actually sure where to begin with this...it was all very strange. The foreword is beyond bizarre with Albie and his dad, and their friend killing two Indians (Why? Was it really necessary?) then just leaving their bodies in the grass. Secondly, Albie seems entirely unfazed that his entire house is floating down a river, with him on board. The lion appears to be as interesting as a tabby cat to him. Albie seems to be really upset about killing two goats (even after seeing two men killed) and doesn't seem at all scared about being kidnapped. Its as though its a minor issue to him. Albie keeps going for "Alice Anne". Who actually is this girl? We find out later she's about 9 years old, so why does Albie, 14, really care about her? The entire plot was lacking in so much emotion. Overall this was a really dull and boring read. Will not recommend.

[Books Kids Like]

It rains for four days and then stops. Despite the rising waters, Albie doesn't think that the river poses any threat to his family’s farm. But five miles upriver, the flood waters breach the levee. Without warning, the water sweeps through the house, rocks it off its foundation, and carries it away. Albie is the only one home when this disaster strikes. The second story remains dry so Albie retrieves jars of food and other useful items floating in the water downstairs and takes them upstairs. Things do not seem too bad until a tree crashes into the house trapping the mountain lion stranded in its branches. After much struggle, the lion frees itself and moves into the master bedroom. Albie and the lion develop a respectful but cautious relationship with each other. Then thieves, who are looting the flood ravaged land, discover Albie. A flood, a lion, and thieves! What will Albie do to protect his house and save his life?
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Miss Amanda]

gr 4-6 ? 189 pgs


1860s, frontier. Left home alone, Albie must somehow survive as the Mississippi River overflows its bankings sweeping Albie's house off its foundation. Albie discovers that an "American Ghost", a mountain lion, is trapped in the floating house along with him! Then, Albie finds himself in even worse trouble when he is kidnapped by thieves.

[Alison Byrne]

I read this book because it was the very first book on the fiction shelf of my school library. I had grand plans then to read everything...