Current Reads & Reviews: Battle of the Books

Hahn, Mary Downing. One for Sorrow: a Ghost Story. Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing, 2017. ASIN: B01I4FPLE2

Summary: Against the ominous backdrop of the influenza epidemic of 1918, Annie, a new girl at school, is claimed as best friend by Elsie, a classmate who is a tattletale, a liar, and a thief. Soon Annie makes other friends and finds herself joining them in teasing and tormenting Elsie. Elsie dies from influenza, but then she returns to reclaim Annie's friendship and punish all the girls who bullied her. Young readers who revel in spooky stories will relish this chilling tale of a girl haunted by a vengeful ghost.

Analysis: While I enjoyed the story okay, and the story flowed nicely, I was never scared in the least. I was more annoyed by the ghost’s character than anything. Teaches a good moral regarding bullying though.