The Ghost Of Crutchfield Hall By Mary Downing Hahn
Imagine meeting a family member for the first time, only after they are dead. Florence thinks her life will get better when her Great Aunt and Uncle adopt her, but she finds herself haunted by her late cousin Sophia. Tasked with saving her mawkish cousin James and the entire household from Sophia before it’s too late, Florence must warn the others of Sophia’s murderous goals. Sophia’s ultimate ambition is to take back her place among the living and have someone else perish in her place. It’s no easy task to thwart Sophia, as she seems to be able to control Florence’s mind. Hahn’s mystery and fictional novel, The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall, keeps readers’ eyes glued to the page dying to know what comes next in the lives of her intriguing characters.
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On December 9, 1937, Mary Downing Hahn was born in Washington D.C.
(“Mary Downing Hahn." Goodreads). She grew up in Maryland, telling her creative stories in pictures ("Mary Downing Hahn." Goodreads). Although she was never interested in writing as a child, in high school, she developed an interest in more complex stories showing peoples’ thoughts and feelings ("Mary Downing Hahn." Goodreads). Feeling as if she wasn’t intelligent enough to write adult novels, she decided to focus on writing and illustrating children’s literature ("Mary Downing Hahn." Goodreads). Hahn writes in a variety of genres but is most widely known for mystery and horror stories ("About Mary."). Since her first novel has been published, she has written on average one book a year ("Mary Downing Hahn." Goodreads). Some of her well-loved novels include The Doll In The Garden, The Ghost Of Crutchfield Hall, and Deep and Dark and Dangerous ("About Mary."). Many of her novels are consistently rewarded with state children's choice awards ("Mary Downing Hahn." Children's Book Guild). Currently, Hahn lives in Maryland with her two daughters ("About
Mary.”)
Readers are engaged from page 1 of The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall with the suspense and mystery that is revealed early on in the novel. Upon Florence’s arrival to Crutchfield Hall, she is not permitted to see her sickly cousin, James. In response to her interest to meet James, Uncle says, “I can’t really say [when Florence will meet him]. Your aunt doesn’t think he is well enough for you to visit him” (Hahn 24). Immediately, readers are left to wonder what happened to young James after Sophia’s passing. Unexplainable events continue throughout this thrilling story. Readers may feel their hair rise on their heads when Florence is trapped in the garden and hears a child’s voice. The voice called, “Hide and seek” (Hahn 38) and “You’re it” (Hahn 38). This gripping moment is the first sign of a ghost in Crutchfield Hall. This book is fast paced and suspenseful making it a perfect match for tween readers.
Hahn also engages the reader with the use of vivid and descriptive language to describe character and setting. When the ghost of Sofia appears, her strong and controlling character remains, but her beauty has faded. Hahn writes, “ She wore a stained white silk dress, and her dainty slippers were muddy. What was left of her dark hair was dull and sparse. Her face was narrow and pale, her skin stretched tightly over her skull. Dark shadows ringed her eyes. Her teeth were brown. She smelled of earth and mold” (Hahn 64). Sophia’s wretched description engages the reader’s attention and makes her come alive in one’s imagination. Hahn depicts her novel’s setting in equally expressive language. The attic that is filled with Sophia’s old belongings is spine tingling. Florence wills herself to face the threatening place: “I [Florence] closed the door behind me, plunging myself into the cold darkness given voice by the wind and the rain” (Hahn 56). This scene is classic of a good mystery novel, instantly setting the reader on edge with cliff-hanging suspense. A haunting picture is painted throughout the novel with Hahn’s illustrative words used in both setting and character development.
Hahn’s novel, The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall, jumps off the page with vivid imagery of both character and setting, and entertains with its suspenseful plot. The story picks up momentum quickly as young Florence is adopted into a new home and is troubled with the perils of living in a haunted mansion. Young teens will enjoy Hahn’s choice of language that is used to depict detailed character and setting. Sophia seemingly acts as a friend to Florence, but what lethal plans lie in the darkness?
On December 9, 1937, Mary Downing Hahn was born in Washington D.C.
(“Mary Downing Hahn." Goodreads). She grew up in Maryland, telling her creative stories in pictures ("Mary Downing Hahn." Goodreads). Although she was never interested in writing as a child, in high school, she developed an interest in more complex stories showing peoples’ thoughts and feelings ("Mary Downing Hahn." Goodreads). Feeling as if she wasn’t intelligent enough to write adult novels, she decided to focus on writing and illustrating children’s literature ("Mary Downing Hahn." Goodreads). Hahn writes in a variety of genres but is most widely known for mystery and horror stories ("About Mary."). Since her first novel has been published, she has written on average one book a year ("Mary Downing Hahn." Goodreads). Some of her well-loved novels include The Doll In The Garden, The Ghost Of Crutchfield Hall, and Deep and Dark and Dangerous ("About Mary."). Many of her novels are consistently rewarded with state children's choice awards ("Mary Downing Hahn." Children's Book Guild). Currently, Hahn lives in Maryland with her two daughters ("About
Mary.”)
Readers are engaged from page 1 of The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall with the suspense and mystery that is revealed early on in the novel. Upon Florence’s arrival to Crutchfield Hall, she is not permitted to see her sickly cousin, James. In response to her interest to meet James, Uncle says, “I can’t really say [when Florence will meet him]. Your aunt doesn’t think he is well enough for you to visit him” (Hahn 24). Immediately, readers are left to wonder what happened to young James after Sophia’s passing. Unexplainable events continue throughout this thrilling story. Readers may feel their hair rise on their heads when Florence is trapped in the garden and hears a child’s voice. The voice called, “Hide and seek” (Hahn 38) and “You’re it” (Hahn 38). This gripping moment is the first sign of a ghost in Crutchfield Hall. This book is fast paced and suspenseful making it a perfect match for tween readers.
Hahn also engages the reader with the use of vivid and descriptive language to describe character and setting. When the ghost of Sofia appears, her strong and controlling character remains, but her beauty has faded. Hahn writes, “ She wore a stained white silk dress, and her dainty slippers were muddy. What was left of her dark hair was dull and sparse. Her face was narrow and pale, her skin stretched tightly over her skull. Dark shadows ringed her eyes. Her teeth were brown. She smelled of earth and mold” (Hahn 64). Sophia’s wretched description engages the reader’s attention and makes her come alive in one’s imagination. Hahn depicts her novel’s setting in equally expressive language. The attic that is filled with Sophia’s old belongings is spine tingling. Florence wills herself to face the threatening place: “I [Florence] closed the door behind me, plunging myself into the cold darkness given voice by the wind and the rain” (Hahn 56). This scene is classic of a good mystery novel, instantly setting the reader on edge with cliff-hanging suspense. A haunting picture is painted throughout the novel with Hahn’s illustrative words used in both setting and character development.
Hahn’s novel, The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall, jumps off the page with vivid imagery of both character and setting, and entertains with its suspenseful plot. The story picks up momentum quickly as young Florence is adopted into a new home and is troubled with the perils of living in a haunted mansion. Young teens will enjoy Hahn’s choice of language that is used to depict detailed character and setting. Sophia seemingly acts as a friend to Florence, but what lethal plans lie in the darkness?