Seer of Shadows
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The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book is best for older tweens, rather than the publisher's suggested target ages of 8-12. The language is beautiful, yet formal and sophisticated, as it reflects the historical time period. Younger kids may have difficulty reading it on their own, and parents may find that they are often stopping to explain meanings. Also, this story is creepy: The ghost of Eleanora is frightful in appearance and in action. The story ends with a raging fire and two people dead. While there is resolution in the end, uncertainty remains.
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A Good Novel for reteens
AWESOME
The Seer of Shadows Review
What's the story?
In 1872 New York City, 14-year old Horace takes an apprenticeship with Enoch Middleditch, a society photographer. While Horace is excited to learn photography and take his own pictures, Middleditch is excited to make money through the clever deception of a wealthy client named Mrs. Von Macht, who is mourning the death of her daughter, Eleanora. Middeditch plans to superimpose a photo of Eleanora onto the portrait of Mrs. Von Macht, thereby startling her into an emotional buying spree for more photos. But the photos have called forth more than memory; they have actually called forth the ghost of Eleanora, who is set on deathly revenge. With the help of Pegg, the Von Macht's servant girl, Horace learns the truth about Eleanora's unnatural death, who she really was, and about his own supernatural part in unleashing the angry ghost.
Is it any good?
For good readers ages 12 and up, THE SEER OF SHADOWS is a richly detailed page-tuner, filled with elegant language and a well-crafted plot. This suspenseful ghost story is also a fine historical novel, filled with descriptions of clothing, food, period attitudes, New York society life, the tension between science and spiritualism, and the elements of early photography. Characters are genuine, and the time and place feel real. Readers will find themselves biting their nails, pondering moral dilemmas, learning, and rooting for Horace and Pegg. Boys and girls, as well as adults can enjoy this thriller.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the challenge of untrustworthy adults. Both Horace and Pegg lived in the shadows of deceitful adults -- how would you have handled being in their shoes? What would you do today if you knew an adult was lying? Families can also talk about the idea of ghosts and spirits. Do you believe in unsettled souls? They can also talk about discrimination at that time, and what challenges Pegg and Horace may have faced as a biracial couple. Lastly, families can talk about the art and science of photography and how it has changed through time.
Book details
- Author: Avi
- Genre: Horror
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date: March 25, 2008
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 12
- Number of pages: 208
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
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