Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com
Allie is not enjoying 8th grade. Ever since her best friend, Marissa, started preferring the "cool" kids to her oldest friend, Allie feels like everything has gone wrong. Allie can only imagine how much worse it would be if Marissa and her new friends knew about the ghost.
Somehow a ghost has appeared in Allie's pool. Not just any ghost, but the ghost of Dorothy May, Allie's ancestor who came over on the Mayflower! To make things even stranger, Dorothy is far from confined to the pool. She regularly appears in Allie's room, she can change her clothes and hair, and Allie can even touch her!
Dorothy and Allie seem to have quite a bit more in common than genetics, though their outlooks on the world are considerably different. Maybe, just maybe, Dorothy can help Allie with more than her English report. It's even possible that Allie might have something to offer Dorothy in return. As interesting as it is to hang out with Dorothy, Allie does wish that she had some visible, living friends. Otherwise, Allie's not sure she'll make it through 8th grade, much less to high school.
Let's be honest, middle school stinks for a lot of people. Kids are mean, people you thought you knew change out of nowhere, and everything feels very unstable. Allie is a perfect example of all of this. Her story is extremely realistic, and sadly common, except for the ghost part. Boy, do I wish I'd had a Dorothy May to help me!
While this is a good, sweet, positive growing up kind of story, it doesn't stop there. There is some history, of course. A look at the differences, and similarities, between life now and life way back when. Mostly, though, it's about appreciating yourself, and other people, for who they really are.
Allie is not enjoying 8th grade. Ever since her best friend, Marissa, started preferring the "cool" kids to her oldest friend, Allie feels like everything has gone wrong. Allie can only imagine how much worse it would be if Marissa and her new friends knew about the ghost.
Somehow a ghost has appeared in Allie's pool. Not just any ghost, but the ghost of Dorothy May, Allie's ancestor who came over on the Mayflower! To make things even stranger, Dorothy is far from confined to the pool. She regularly appears in Allie's room, she can change her clothes and hair, and Allie can even touch her!
Dorothy and Allie seem to have quite a bit more in common than genetics, though their outlooks on the world are considerably different. Maybe, just maybe, Dorothy can help Allie with more than her English report. It's even possible that Allie might have something to offer Dorothy in return. As interesting as it is to hang out with Dorothy, Allie does wish that she had some visible, living friends. Otherwise, Allie's not sure she'll make it through 8th grade, much less to high school.
Let's be honest, middle school stinks for a lot of people. Kids are mean, people you thought you knew change out of nowhere, and everything feels very unstable. Allie is a perfect example of all of this. Her story is extremely realistic, and sadly common, except for the ghost part. Boy, do I wish I'd had a Dorothy May to help me!
While this is a good, sweet, positive growing up kind of story, it doesn't stop there. There is some history, of course. A look at the differences, and similarities, between life now and life way back when. Mostly, though, it's about appreciating yourself, and other people, for who they really are.
