Ghosts I Have Been

Blossom Culp #2

by Richard Peck

Many's the ignorant person who claims that spirits and haunts have forsaken the modern age in this new twentieth century. But what they do not know would fill a book. And this is the book.

Blossom Culp, spunky, devious, a bit of a female chauvinist—soon to be the most famous girl in two countries—is the outspoken outcast of Bluff City, Mid-America. But she begins a climb to fame one Halloween night when she deliberately puts the blame on Letty Shambaugh for squelching Alexander Armsworth's conspiracy to overturn Old Man Leverette's outhouse.

Always resourceful, Blossom manages to foil Letty's plan for revenge by suddenly developing a spurious gift for second sight—which unexpectedly misfires. It turns out that Blossom indeed has the Gift for Seeing the Unseen.

Nothing daunted, Blossom goes on to put herself and her town on the map. She tames the ghost of a suicidal servant and caps her career with a lunatic odyssey to London.

In the midst of her adventures, however, Blossom comes to understand the serious side of her flickering Second Sight. In ghostly form she witnesses the terrible last minutes of the sinking of the Titanic and learns the sad truth that whether one glimpses the future or travels into the past, one is powerless to alter history.

Low comedy and high tragedy are beautifully blended by a master comfortably at home in the perhaps more innocent era already happily familiar to readers of The Ghost Belonged to Me.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Ghosts, Middle Grade

214 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Richard Peck was an American novelist known for his prolific contributions to modern young adult literature. He was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2001 for his novel A Year Down Yonder. For his cumulative contribution to young-adult literature, he received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1990.

Reviews

[Micki · Rating 4 out of 5]

An oldie from my childhood which I just finished re-reading this October -- great timing, because it begins on Halloween . . . .

Excellent, and now I remember why I hung onto this so long. I was ghost crazy as a kid, and adored witches, and this book certainly filled the bill. Blossom Culp, social outcast and "a girl with powers" tells her early 20th-century story in the first person voice. Growing up in a small town like Blossom, I loved the echoes this had in my own life.

I was very worried that the book wouldn't age well, but even as an adult, it's still a good (and amusing) read. The humor is still there, and even though Blossom is one of those "loner girls without a friend in the world" she never turns into a whiny heroine. The first person voice is amazing. And while the plot turns on something a little bit far-fetched, I've read much worse in books for adults.

Still love it. Would recommend it for even adults. There is a paedophile villian, but it's not too creepy, and he gets his comeuppance. One thing I didn't realize as a kid was that this was part of a series . . . I may have to look for the others.

[❀⊱RoryReads⊰❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

This book is just as fantastic and hilarious as it was when I was a child. I read my paperback version so many times it fell apart, so I'm thrilled that it's now available as an ebook. Blossom, Sybil, Miss Dabney, and the Sunny Thoughts and Busy Fingers Sisterhood are all unchanged. It also contains one of my favorite poems:

Not drunk is he who from the floor
Can rise alone and still drink more;
But drunk is he, who prostrate lies,
Without the power to drink or rise.

Ghosts, time travel, a severed head in a jar, and the brave, resourceful, Blossom Culp make this a story winner. May it always be in print.

[Cassandra Abate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm more reminiscing than reviewing here, this has been a favourite book of mine for as long as I can remember. A teacher let me keep it in grade 6 because I had read it about 8 times that year. Or maybe I stole it because I couldn't part with it? That's probably more likely. Either way, that same ragged, taped-up copy has sat on my bookshelf for 17 years, with it's little "St. John's School Property" stamp inside.
For me, it's one of those stories that when you think about it, you can still remember the images it brought to mind the first time you read it. I could practically touch the clothes and smell the curling smoke. It actually gave me goosebumps and got my heart pounding. This was definitely the book that started off my love for "otherworldly" stories and opened the door to a long obsession with Stephen King and Dean Koontz types, not to mention Haunted Houses.
It's been a while since I've cracked it open now, and I'm reluctant to reread it as an adult in case I'm disappointed, but I think the nostalgia of it will override any critical thinking :)

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think it's possible for Richard Peck to write a book I won't love. Amazing characters, setting, and plot. An unexpected amount of warmth and message on importance of family and friendships as well.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shifting the first-person perspective from Alexander Armsworth to his friend/rival Blossom Culp, we revisit Bluff City, Missouri in 1913 to experience history through the eyes of a young spiritualist. Blossom, in her early teens, has been less than close with Alexander since the events of The Ghost Belonged to Me, but circumstances draw them together via Miss Gertrude Dabney. She is a middle-aged woman of traditional English manner, who asks Blossom to placate the ghost of a Dabney family servant named Minerva who hanged herself decades ago. Blossom's success earns Miss Dabney's undying gratitude.

Blossom and Alexander are pulled into a con game by a Professor Regis, who publicly conjures a “spirit” to absolve Miss Dabney’s guilty feelings over her father's death. Blossom doubts the charade, and discovers Regis’s British preteen helper, Sybil, who knows every trick in the book of feigned spiritualism. Blossom's revelation of the scam boosts her own popularity but leads to demands that she prove her gift of Second Sight…a demonstration even Blossom is shocked to see materialize in front of witnesses. Blossom’s spirit is teleported aboard the ship Titanic during its final hours nearly two years ago, into the same passenger cabin as a troubled blonde child named Julian Poindexter. What is Blossom to do with detailed knowledge of his dying moments?

"There is nothing more real than fear, fight it though you may."

—Ghosts I Have Been, P. 125

Miss Dabney is elated beyond outsider comprehension when England's Queen Mary invites Blossom, as a result of her Titanic vision, to Buckingham Palace. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean with Miss Dabney and Alexander in a vessel much like the Titanic, Blossom waits for her Second Sight to put her aboard the doomed ship again to sit with young Julian while his parents abandon him to death at sea. Blossom hasn't the power to alter his fate, just hold his hand in the moment of whelming fear. Perhaps that is Blossom's purpose with Miss Dabney, Alexander, and for all her remaining days.

"I wonder why in storybooks only three wishes are offered, when in real life they are never enough."

—Miss Dabney, P. 75

Ghosts I Have Been is an improvement on The Ghost Belonged to Me. Blossom is a more interesting narrator than Alexander, and the story has better variety. The most compelling person is Julian, who cannot escape his doom no matter how Blossom intervenes. On this basis Ghosts I Have Been could have turned out to be a great novel, but it is too distracted by competing plots. I rate it two and a half stars, but I like how the series is trending and am open to The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp being the best entry so far.

[Kressel Housman · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Harry Potter fans looking for a magical adventure that isn’t a rip-off, this is a must-read. Like Harry Potter, it mixes magic, drama, humor, and romance, and throws in some historical fiction to boot. Ghosts I Have Been is actually the second in a series of four, but it’s the most action-packed and therefore the best. I read it first and then went backward. It did not damage the experience at all.

The series is set in a small Midwestern town in 1914. The two main characters are Blossom Culp and Alexander Armsworth, both of whom are psychic. Blossom is a spunky little adventurer from the wrong side of the tracks. Alexander just wants to forget about his powers and live like a normal boy. . . except that Blossom won’t let him. Together, they help ghosts find their way into peaceful graves, sometimes in their own town, and sometimes via time travel.

Author Richard Peck says that Blossom is so loved, she gets more fan mail than he does, and you’ll immediately see why in the first chapter, if not on the very first page. Read it! You’ll have loads of fun.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great kids book. Its one of those books that is fun to reread as an adult- which I have done several times. The best thing about this book is that I lent it to my mom and she and her husband liked it and went on to read more of Richard Peck's books. I always love giving someone a book they like to read.

[FlowerFairy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another favorite from childhood. This one more than stood the test of time. Loved it every bit at 51 years as I did at 11 years.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is originally posted to my blog - FallingOffTheShelf.blogspot.com

Title : Ghosts I Have Been
Author : Richard Peck
Publisher : Puffin Books
Genre : Young Adult
ISBN : 978-0141310961
Series : Yes, #2
Rating : 5


From Paperbackswap :


Blossom Culp is the outspoken outcast of Bluff City, always getting into trouble. No one wants to cross her, especially now that she's revealed that she can see the Unseen. Then Blossom herself is stunned, because her lie turns out to be truth. She actually does have second sight ...and she is "on board" the sinking Titanic.


Review :


The Gift of Second Sight is nothing new to young Blossom Culp, as it is a gift that has been passed down amoungst the women of her family for years. Her own mother is one to have been blessed with this particular gift. Blossom herself doesn't believe she could possibly be gifted like her mother, as people with gifts such as these come in hand with good looks and a good meal.


Blossom decides that she must stand against the local gangster boys from tipping out houses, by scaring them witless with her ghostly costume. She doesn't give her name away, but she does give the name of another young girl, Letty, in her own class. Letty gets attacked the next day at school by one of the young gangsters and, feeling guilty Blossom finds herself defending the poor girl.


To show her appreciation, Letty's mother invites Blossom to their house to spend time with Letty and her band of friends, The Sunny Thoughts and Busy Fingers girls, as they call themselves. Letty doesn't appreciate what Blossom has done, and neither do the other girls, so they make Blossom tell them a scary story. She tells them about an encounter her own mother had with her gift of second sight, only for them to tell her she's nothing but a liar. Before Blossom can even think, she tells them that she herself has the gift.


Blossom must prove to them that she isn't lying, and so she begins to tell them that two of such girls will be punished the following day for cheating. They believe her, because they know they have cheated, so she is in the clear. To make things more believable, her own true gift shines through and she foretells an actual event that will stir the whole town. She will soon become a celebrity for her gift of second sight.


This book was recommended to me by a friend from work. I didn't think I would enjoy it, but I suppose he knew more about myself than I did. This story was truly captivating, and at points even gave me goosebumps. It was also a nice quick read, only lasting a mere three hours total of reading time. This book was originally published in 1977, and it shows in the way that it is written. The author, Richard Peck, has written many books including, Are You In The House Alone?, Dreamland Lake, and The Ghost Belonged To Me. This is the first of Richard Peck's books that I have encountered, and I look forward to reading more of them in the future.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I liked this book, and I'm interested to read more by Richard Peck. I loved the humor, but it also had substance. The descriptions were vivid, but not longwinded, and the book read like a movie. I'm not sure how Peck wove all the elements together that he did. There was a very magical flavor with the fact that the main character, Blossom, has the gift of second sight- she can see ghosts and things that are currently happening, and things that have happened long since- and her mother can tell fortunes from tea dregs and other otherworldly things. Then there's a kind of historical flavor- he paints a vivid picture of the time period, complete with servants, tea cozies, tea cakes, streetcars and then Blossom's vision of the Titanic.
I would recommend this book for 5th and 6th graders, maybe. Blossom and another character, Alexander, seem to be going through the changes of adolescence, and it just seems like a read for a younger audience.
However- The Warning.

There are some scarier "scenes", one where the ghost that Blossom sees hangs herself, and then the tragedy of the titanic. Based on the vividness of the reader's imagination and their age, this could be kind of a disturbing read. Also, a lot of parents discourage any kind of reading with witchcraft and such, and there are those elements.

[tatterpunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Latest re-read: 7/24/17

This book has no right to be this good when I'm this old.

But it is. God, it really is.

And Peck, who was in his forties when he wrote this book, has no right to be so good at capturing Blossom's voice: devastatingly self-aware, funny and wry, out for everything she can. Plus she sounds every inch a preteen girl who has experienced more than a few uppercuts to the chin by the ringside opponent known as Life. Blossom's circumstances were exotic and adventurous when I was a kid, but that scene now where she's asked about three wishes and her first is an unthinking "plenty to eat, at least enough" is a shot straight to the heart. But it's never maudlin, and Blossom is never anything but the architect of her own destiny.

That's even before we get to the side characters, sketched in color and drama, each with their own rich inner life. The eccentricities and peccadilloes of small-town personalities are on full display.

I'm mad! I'm mad at how good this book is.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that I first read when I was in 6th or 7th grade. I have recalled the book over the years, but could never remember the name. Thanks to the internet I found it and recently purchased it so I could read it again and share it with others. Re-reading the story again, now as an adult, I still found it really written well and very enjoyable.

I would recommend this for any younger readers and for adults for a quick easy and enjoyable read. Now that I know that there are others stories that include the character of Blossom Culp, I just may need to read them too. After all, I'm just a big kid at heart.

[Alistair Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghosts I Have Been, Richard Peck, 1977

My favorite quote: “The truth is too much for some people and too little for others.” How true is that?

Notable characters: Blossom Culp, the girl who sees ghosts; Alexander, her friend and partner-in-crime

Most memorable scene: Blossom’s visions of the sinking of the Titanic. For being a book aimed at youngsters, Richard Peck injected a lot of terror into that

Greatest strengths: Ghosts I have Been has great historical flavor. If Richard Peck had been my history teacher, I would have paid more attention

Standout achievements: The prose in Ghosts I Have Been is surprisingly beautiful. It pulls you right along the same way good poetry does. Apparently, Richard Peck would have made a great poet, too

Fun Facts: After cutting his teaching career short to be a writer in 1971, Richard Peck went on to write and publish a book every year for the next 41 years. That’s a lot of books, guys

Other media: No adaptations have been made of Ghosts I Have Been, but the first book in the Blossom Culp series, The Ghost Belonged to Me, was adapted into a film of the same name in 1976. I haven’t seen it yet and haven’t been able to find it anywhere

What it taught me: Ghosts I Have Been taught me that good book is a good book, regardless of its intended age-group or audience. I appreciated Richard Peck’s spooky tales story as much in my thirties (if not more) than I would have in grade or middle school

How it inspired me: Richard Peck is one of those authors who makes me want to be a better writer myself. His prose is both simple and pretty … and make no mistake, that’s not easy

Additional thoughts: I would have loved Ghosts I Have Been as a kid, and I remember seeing it around a lot at school — but somehow, I never got the chance to read it. I even managed to check it out at the library once, but for reasons I don’t remember, it just never happened. So, when I got older, I figured I owed it to my childhood self to track it down, and I’m glad I did. I loved it so much I bought every book in the series … and as many of Richard Peck’s standalones I could get my hands on … and they’re all pretty awesome

Haunt me: alistaircross.com

Read Ghosts I Have Been: https://tinyurl.com/2p922ysz

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this book in elementary school and I know it had an effect on me because I remembered the title--I read a LOT of books as a kid so I know that means something. Rereading it as an adult, it's still funny (and some jokes clearly went over my head as a kid) but I can see plenty of places where I know I laughed as an eight or nine year old. Very little of the plot was familiar in my rereading, but there were a few scenes that I do remember clearly. The scene where she's on the Titanic would have been the one I vaguely recalled for you had I tried to dredge up the plot before rereading.

However, the entire reason I reread this book all these years later is thus:
I was walking through Salem with a friend this summer, and we got on the subject of Madam Tussaud's and I mentioned that I had a very strong recollection of a very disturbing scene in a book as a child that would flash in my mind every time I heard mention of Madam Tussaud's, but I couldn't remember the book--and she had exactly the same experience. We had clearly read the same book but neither of us could remember what it was. She, however, is a librarian and a couple days later she thought she could recall which book it was--this one (obviously). And it sounded familiar enough to me that I ordered it from the library because I just *had* to read this gory scene that had stayed with me for 35 year.

Turns out that scene was three sentences, at the very end of the book, and had nothing to do with the plot, but yes, it was gory. Nothing like a man gored on a hook, hanging from the ceiling with flies on his face, to embed itself in a young mind.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming, suspenseful tale by Richard Peck, who I was recently alerted to. A young girl has “second sight” and begins to see events in both the past and the future. Her adventures start on a Halloween night when she dresses up as a ghost to keep a gang of boys from tipping over outhouses. Then she exposes a con man who promotes himself as a spiritualist, quiets a local ghost, and experiences the sinking of the Titanic. If that’s not enough, she becomes a celebrity, gets invited to England to visit the queen, etc. etc. It’s all lots of fun. My only complaint with Richard Peck is his inconsistent use of vernacular. The narrator, Blossom Culp, sometimes uses substandard expressions like “I can’t do a durn thing,” or “She whupped the tar out of me,” besides substituting “was” for “were” as in “We was coming along just fine.” At other times, she sounds like an Oxford scholar, and her English is impeccable for page after page. Which is it? I’m sure there were good editors back in the 60's and 70's, and I wish Mr. Peck had used them more often.

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shenanigans abound in this delightful little book about a teenage girl who can see into both the past and the present.

[Melisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading this book. It's a great continuation of the Bloosom series.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember picking up this book in middle school and LOVING it. I read it several times and even read parts of it out loud to a friend because I loved it so much. I remember my friend telling me I was a good reader for the book!

Blossom Culp is definitely very scrappy and bright - she is able to get herself into and out of a lot of situations. I'm glad the trip to England worked out for her to see the Queen. I was worried she wouldn't!

[Octavia Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one just as much as the first in the series - honestly, maybe even more. Blossom is the narrator this time, and her voice is slightly more entertaining than Alexander's. She's a feral little girl, albeit essentially goodhearted, and takes a pretty jaundiced view of, well, everything, which is extremely entertaining to read. I can't help but think that she and Tiffany Aching would get on very well.

Anyway, Blossom's second sight is coming in, which she finds an absolute nuisance, especially as it's forcing her to deal with ghosts crying in the kitchen and visions of a young child drowning aboard the Titanic. Don't expect a happy ending to that storyline; as with The Ghost Belonged to Me there is a solid streak of unhappiness running through the lives of the dead, and Peck is clearly very careful not to sentimentalise, or to have the narrative soften cruelty unnecessarily. That being said, there's not a great deal of dwelling on it either, and these are fundamentally hopeful books in which you can't help rooting for the protagonist. Apparently there's a couple more in the series, and after I've got them out from the library I think I'll try to locate a complete set somewhere so I can have copies of my own, because they are fantastic books and I don't care if they're meant for children, I am thoroughly enjoying them.

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm concerned about people's heavy home-sticking to 'young adult' novels. But there are timeless gems I like, even if I was 4 when this came out. ;) I didn't recall anything except the title and unusual synopsis. I found it again and urge today's youth not to miss out!

The year is 1914 but other than adults threatening corporal punishment, characters don't feel outdated. We're drawn into a multi-layered story where 'Blossom' and her fortune-telling mother are dirt poor. She is quick-witted, stands up to bullies, and determines to prevent a few crimes. We progress from 'young sleuth' to an eerier vibe as she befriends the town's eccentric and develops extra-sensory ability of her own. The elder friend and a schoolmate stand by Blossom through manifestations of unsettling phenomenon.

The wealthy lady is a fan of British royalty. She takes Blossom and the boy to England by ship, after a bizarre psychic occurrence captures international attention. There Richard Peck weaves highly original scenes, with mischief and humour. The story stays with you long after it finishes. It's a masterpiece on its own but I discovered there was a prequel: "The Ghost Belonged To Me". Blossom appears in sequels too. Locating them will be a fun quest!

[Sarai · Rating 4 out of 5]

from Amazon: By Tamela Mccann "taminator1"
Fourteen year old Blossom Culp lives in a small town in 1913 with her eccentric mother and a penchant for getting into troubles and adventures. When she discovers that she has a sixth sense, Blossom uses her gift to help a few local citizens and things proceed merrily until she has a crushing vision of the sinking of the Titanic a year earlier. Fame and fortune brought on by the revelation of this vision bring many changes to Blossom's life, not the least of which is a change in her relationship with her friend,Alexander Armsworth. Peck makes this story so much more than a ghost tale; it's a delightful romp through the paranormal in a more innocent time period. Peck never fails to amuse and often makes the reader laugh out loud over Blossom and her antics. This is recommended for kids of all ages.

This is another book I still have on my shelf, and I remember being enthralled by the descriptions of Blossom's visions, especially one she has from the Titanic. As with The Ghost Belonged to Me, this is a good read for anyone who likes a little bit of romance and a little bit of spooky in their reading.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This YA book had me laughing right out loud. It is the second in the Blossom Culp series. I recently read The Ghost Belonged To Me and a friend recommended that I follow up with this one.

Superficially it appears that there is nothing in depth re. Richard Peck's books, but in reality, his keen wit and ability of portraying hypocritical high society in 1913 contrasted with down to earth plain folk eking out a living is excellently handled.

Blossom Culp is born on the wrong side of the tracks. Her mother is an odd character who possesses sixth sense. 14 year old Blossom has inherited this trait.

Blossom latches on to an eccentric older woman whom the town society folk deem loony. Teaming with her school mate Alexander, and "crazy as a coot" Miss Dabney, Blossom uses her paranormal ability to advantage in every way she can with a great deal of panache and incredible spunkiness.

If you are stressed and want a laugh out loud chuckle, this is a great book of balm for a weary soul. Peck has a quick turn of phrase, images that delight while beautifully blending drama and comedy.

Recommended.

[Joanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the details of this one and "The Ghost that Belonged to Me" all mixed up but I rememeber the scene with the sinking of the Titanic from this one. I'm starting to realized I really used to gravitate towards ghost story types of books when I was a kid.

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this is a young adult book and I read it when I was 40, I thought it was a great book.

[Vaughnda Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book I read over and over. good book for girls. If I were rich, I'd buy the rights for the movie.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 4 out of 5]

A teenage favourite I discovered in High School because it featured the Titanic and I am a self confessed Titanic buff. An enjoyable read.

[treehugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my FAVORITE BOOKS in late elementary school. Scary awesomeness.

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

...it's juvie fiction with psychic pre-teens, trans-continent boat travel, capers and heists and all sorts of shenanigans. What's not to like?

[Ann]

This is vintage Peck. A fine example of voice.

[Nikki Boisture · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome Y.A. paranormal book.