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Title: Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story
Score:
Author: Mary Downing Hahn
Rating: Not available
Hits: 124

Review of Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story

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Comments for Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story

• Posted on 2009-08-19
  Still scary after all these years
  
  This book scared me in elementary school, and I re-read it this summer as a law student and found out the chill hasn't gone away. I finished it last night at my kitchen table, with the screen door letting the warm August air in, and as I got up to go to bed there was a split second when I felt a little shiver run down my spine.
  
  As an adult, it struck me that a lot of what makes this book scary is how the dynamic of the family assures that Molly's stories of Heather and Helen won't be taken seriously. Michael, Molly's brother, is scientifically-minded, and Dave, their stepfather and Heather's father, thinks nothing is ever his daughter's fault. Molly and Michael's mother is just trying to make the family work, so no matter how hard Molly tries to get everyone to believe that Heather is in real danger, no one does. Not even when Helen smashes Molly's room, Michael's room, and their mother's studio - but leaves Heather and her father's things curiously untouched.
  
  Helen is a genuinely frightening but ultimately poignant ghost. For over a century she's been leading sad little girls to watery deaths in the pond, luring them with stories of another world of fairies and unicorns, a beautiful place where the two of them will always be friends forever. There's a true malice in her, but at the same time she's a lonely child. The imagery of her grave, Heather's jars of daisies, and the locket is well-done and contributes to the creepy feel of the book.
  
  There are a few flaws, but nothing huge. At times Heather sounds just a little too scripted for a seven-year-old, even an intelligent one, and it would have been nice to have at least a sentence about what happened when Molly and Michael's father left, seeing as so much of the book centers on family relationships. (The book is nearly over before we even learn that he left the family, as opposed to dying.) On the whole, it's a great read and sure to make you at least a little nervous when walking past an old graveyard on a summer night.
  
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• Posted on 2009-07-30
  *spoiler alert*
  
  This story is about a ghost named helen who lures this girl heather to the graveyard.But thing they have in common is they both accidently kiled there mothers in a fire.This book has a really great ending but you will have to read to find out!An overall touching story.
  
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• Posted on 2009-05-14
  10 year old daughter loved this book
  
  My daughter has read other books by this author and enjoyed them.
  Another thumbs up for this author.
  
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• Posted on 2009-02-27
  amazing
  
  one of the best books ive read. suprising but not scary. two thumbs up
  
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• Posted on 2008-12-08
  OLD BUT GOOD!!!!!
  
  I am now 31. I read this book about 16 years ago. Of all the books I read as a little girl, this one is the one I remember most. I loved everything about it. The story is well told and I clearly remember finishing the book in about 2 days. Then I read it again. I took a chance to see if I could still find the book for my 7year old baby girl. I am amazed to see how popular this book is. IF YOUR CHILD LOVES TO READ......GET HER THIS BOOK!!!! SHE'LL LOVE IT.....I ONLY WISH THE COVER WAS THE ORIGINAL ONE.
  
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