Blossom Culp and the Sleep of Death

Blossom Culp #4

by Richard Peck

Teenage psychic Blossom Culp finds that her  powers of Second Sight are needed in both the past and  the present. Will she be able to help her  suffragette schoolteacher keep her job while also helping  a long-dead Egyptian princess regain her  tomb?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Mystery

185 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1986

About the author

Richard Peck was an American novelist known for his prolific contributions to modern young adult literature. He was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2001 for his novel A Year Down Yonder. For his cumulative contribution to young-adult literature, he received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1990.

Reviews

[Scorpianmuse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to occasionally go back and read this series. Blossom is probably one of my all-time favorite fictional heroines and many seem to actually remember these books. Peck captured a young girl in the early part of the 20th century, peculiarities and all, so well. She makes for a more enjoyable heroine than some others that have filtered down thru the years, extra "gifts" and all.

As an adult, I have always wished that Peck would have picked these characters up again just to see what happened to them.

Anyway, it is good for a quick read at any age and I highly suggest all four books in this series. They are truly YA gems.

[hpboy13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blossom Culp remains a joy to spend time with, and Richard Peck remains a master of his craft. Blossom's wry narration, her sly ways, and the very enjoyable ensemble surrounding her make for a delightful reading experience. As usual, these books are strongest when dealing with Blossom in her present, as opposed to the fantastical mumbo-jumbo. And Blossom and Alexander are so cute together; I think Peck adds just the right amount of hints at romance without ever going there. It's just a shame this book isn't widely available, and that there aren't more Blossom Culp adventures.

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth and final book in the Blossom Culp series and I am sad to see it end.
When an author has the ability to make learning about history laugh out loud funny, then he should, by all means, continue on.
I will miss you, Blossom.
Fare thee well.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

First released eleven years after The Ghost Belonged to Me began the Blossom Culp series in 1975, how would Blossom Culp and the Sleep of Death bring the story to a close? Still a freshman at Bluff City High School in 1914, Blossom is intrigued when a new teacher arrives. Miss Fairweather has political ideas further to the left than Bluff City residents are likely to tolerate, but some girls in class aren't opposed to her belief that women should have the right to vote for their politicians. When Miss Fairweather announces the start of a unit on Ancient Egypt, Blossom sets right to work despite her general apathy toward school. Blossom’s clairvoyant powers could be useful in the research process.

Alexander Armsworth, Blossom's occasional partner in psychic activities, is distracted lately by his opportunity to pledge as a member of the Iota Nu Beta club at school. This exasperates Blossom, who chooses to ignore Alexander and focus on her Egypt project for Miss Fairweather, but things take an eerie turn when a spectral Egyptian princess named Sat-Hathor materializes. She seeks vengeance on Blossom, the only local she has found who can visually perceive Princess Sat-Hathor's bodiless spirit.

The Princess, who looks about Blossom's age, was entombed thousands of years ago, but her resting place was plundered by shepherds. Some of the valuable stolen pieces made their way to Bluff City on the black market, where Blossom's mother took her turn selling them. Princess Sat-Hathor insists Blossom help track down every piece and return them to Egypt for a museum exhibit. If Blossom fails, the Princess vows a punishment worse than death. Blossom pulls Alexander into this improbable task, but is their psychic convergence enough to restore the Princess's tomb? The threat Blossom and Alexander face has never been more severe.

I like Richard Peck's dandy writing style, but Blossom Culp and the Sleep of Death is a dull read. Nothing of real consequence occurs for more than one hundred fifty pages, and by then I was checked out of the experience. Book two, Ghosts I Have Been, is the best of the Blossom Culp series, followed by book three, The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp. I rank The Ghost Belonged to Me third—the only entry told from Alexander's perspective—and Blossom Culp and the Sleep of Death last. I'm not sure I'd rate it the full two stars. The Blossom Culp series offers a few interesting ideas, but is below the standard Richard Peck is capable of achieving at. I suppose even a great author can't succeed every time.

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth and final book in the Blossom series, and I thought that this was actually one of the best stories. I found it to be equally as fun to read as the second book. I was an enjoyable read.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I love Blossom Culp. Such a fun series.

[Sahar Siddiqi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blossom is as amusing as ever in this last book of the Blossom Culp series. Alexander's getting himself into trouble as usual (he's been smoking...in those ancient outdoor bathrooms), and Blossom isn't making things any easier for him ^_^. Not to mention that their new history teacher is a strict woman who believes in women rights (to the despair of Letty's mom) and favors Blossom a bit. Oh, and a dead Egyptian princess! Awesome book that doesn't fail to please!

[Ceilidhchaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would really love it if there were more Blossom Culp Books. Its only 1914. They have 4 and a half more years of high school, what else can Blossom and Alexander get up to?

[Chazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blossom Culp is not your average high school freshman. It’s 1914 in Bluff City. It seems she has the ability to go back and into the future of time. It comes from the gypsy blood that runs through her family. The only thing is, she can’t always control it.

This time she finds herself dealing with an Egyptian Queen who is upset that her body and grave contents have been disturbed and removed. She wants Blossom to find them and return them to her.

This is not the only problem on Blossom’s dance card. There is also Letty Shambaugh. Seems Letty is quite sweet on Alexander Armsworth, someone who also has time travel powers, but seems to be afraid of them. He also happens to be one of the best looking boys in school and he and Letty are from the same social level, but he is a little more down to earth.

When Blossom goes hunting for the missing items, she winds up enlisting…or rather shanghaiing Alexander to assist. The two find themselves bounced back to the days of the Pyramids on a chase to find the missing property.

It is a fun read with humour and adventure.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am actually pretty upset that this, volume four in the series, is the last. I want more Blossom! Alas... her time travel into ancient Egypt is the end of it. I should instead be grateful that these books existed in the first place, and that I managed to stumble across them (albeit three decades after I should have). They're wonderful. Consistently entertaining, and Blossom herself is the sort of narrator who, in a different fantasy world, would grow up to be Granny Weatherwax. It's no real surprise that she took over as protagonist from Alexander, who was the narrator of the first book. He was pretty clearly overwhelmed by his more entertaining sidekick, and the result is a joy to read.

I'll be poking around secondhand book shops until I find my own copies of these - actually, no! It looks like they're still in print. Either way, I want them.

[Leisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-reading books from my childhood collection. Book #7. Rating based on my past affection for the book and warm fuzziness of memory. I loved this series so much as a young adult. I still enjoy re-visiting these books when I have time, because the characters never get old. This is my least favorite of the series, though.

[Barbm1020 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blossom Culp is an unforgettable character, and her story, while fantastic, is a painless history lesson. The whole series is thoroughly enjoyable, and I'm glad my daughter discovered these books when she was in the 7th grade.

[Emily Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still just completely love this series! Are Blossom Culp and Alexander Armsworth some of my favorite characters ever? Indeed, they are. I loved them as a kid and I continue to go back and revisit them as an adult!

[Alistair Geis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book, I love the plot. So much crammed into one small book!

[Serena Keene · Rating 5 out of 5]

184pages a wonderful book

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two book in this series were some of the best books I've read. This one was good but lacked that certain charm that made the first two books incredible.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful. I can’t believe there are only four Blossom Culp books in the series.

[Linda Spear · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all of Peck's historical novels for kids. His sense of humor is great! For some reason, I had never read Blossom.

[Kim Mullee Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Blossom Culp. I can't believe I just found out about this book. I'm alot older now. But I still enjoy her adventures. I'm sorry to know that this is her final book.

[Alyssa Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I (as a ten year old) almost shit myself when Blossom and Alexander kissed. Reread the passage multiple times afterwards too.

[Mashael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun. The narrator has a wickedly fun personality even if the plot is sort of childish, but then this is a child’s book.

[Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

A QUEST THROUGH TIME AND SPACE TO ANCIENT EGPYT

Blossom Culp is an unlikely heroine: living hand to mouth in dilapidated quarters, with a light-fingered mom who scrounges food and items to sell in the dead of night. But she is also one of the few freshmen at her school with ESP. Yet not even Blossom could have predicted that she would be chosen as the natural contact (medium) in this world and time for the spirit of a wronged Egyptian princess!
Blossom and her mom live (more like squat) in squalor on the wrong side of the tracks in a small town in 1914, when women did not have the Vote.

Then a new History teacher sails into town and quickly gets both her class and their mothers into an uproar. So just what ancient secret was left hastily forgotten in an old traveling show tent? Does Alexander have what it takes to join a high school fraternity with dare-devil initiaion rites, while Blossom is ostracized by the girls? Clever plotting and zippy dialogue combine to make this a fun read.

(April 19, 2011. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

[Kathleen Garber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not as good as the other Richard Peck novel's I've read but it's still very interesting. I admit I've never read a book about Egyptian princesses coming to teen psychics for help. The summary doesn't really do the book justice though. I think the summary makes the book sound silly but I loved it.

The Egyptian Princess doesn't show up till the last half of the book which I wasn't expecting so the book really is about more than that. The book takes place in 1914 too so you get a glimpse of life back then. So this isn't your average teenage girl with a room full of clothes and jewelery and her own cellphone. This teenage girl sleeps on a cot in a room with barely anything else in it. She has a chamber pot by her bed and an outhouse behind her house.

This book is also apparently apart of a series featuring Blosom Culp and Alexander Almsworth. The other books are The Ghost Belonged to Me, Ghosts I Have Been and The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blossom Culp's and Alexander Armsworth's new history teacher, Miss Fairweather is an expert on ancient Egypt. One evening, Blossom is visited by the spirit of an Egyptian princess. The princess wants Blossom to find and return her "earthly self" (mummy) to her Egyptian tomb. When the mummy turns up at an abandoned circus, Blossom and Alexander use it to get an "A" on their Egypt project for history class. How Blossom and Alexander then help the princesss return to her tomb makes exciting reading.
Alexander Armsworth and Blossom Culp make an unlikely team. Alexander comes from an upper middle-class family and Blossom lives on the wrong side of the tracks. But Blossum is spunky and brazen enough to carry out several hair-brained schemes, with the (usually) reluctant aid of Alexander.
The book is humorous, well-written, and peopled with interesting, fully-developed characters. For 6th-12th grade students.

[Kressel Housman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picking up right where The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp left off. It’s November, and Blossom and Alexander get a new history teacher – a suffragette who has earned herself a few loudmouth adversaries in town. The first topic of study in her class is Ancient Egypt, but unbeknownst to her, between Alexander, Blossom, and their powers, they meet the ghost of a mummified Egyptian princess who demands they deliver her body back to its Egyptian tomb. It's probably my least favorite of the series, but it's still good. I was disappointed not to see more of Daisy-Rae, a character introduced in The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp, but most disappointing of all: the series comes to an end.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth in a series of Blossom
Culp books. Blossom is gifted with second sight in this story set in 1914. We return to Bluff City as Blossum and Alexander are contacted by the spirit of an ancient princess through a scarab and the princess is furious. They are catapulted out of their history class and into ancient Egfypt where they must help the princess ragain her tomb. Almost simultaneously they must help their history teacher keep her job after a protest suffragette demonstration. This book is rich with historical fiction.

[Rea K]

AH! I loved this one, too! I must see if this one is in the boxes somewhere. It has to be.
Well, I in fact DO own it! How delightful. A short search through goodreads and I discover that this is the final in the series. :'( It always seemed like there ought to be more to the story. I never read the previous books, it's pretty decent as a standalone. I loved this book. A lot. It's still pretty darn entertaining. Yes, I will admit that I found it and skimmed here and there.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blossom Culp is at it again, dealing with the continuation of freshman year of high school and the general oddities of high school, when a new history teacher arrives, a woman who teaches them about ancient Egypt. It is there Blossom's gift takes her next, bringing the ka of a long-dead princess, whose tomb was ransacked, to her demanding help, lest she and Alexander face a curse.

[Emily Von pfahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the funniest of the Blossom Culp books, and it's really the one where the elements of romance (as they are) start to bloom. Which makes the final book in the series all the more disappointing. You will learn a fair amount of ancient Egyptian history here too.

[Ramatteson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember loving this book as 12 year old.
I am reading it again and loving it even more. The language is rich, theme universal, and plot very tidy not to mention hilarious.
If it was illustrated I'd give it 6 stars.