What do you think?
Rate this book
American Spirits: The Famous Fox Sisters and the Mysterious Fad that Haunted a Nation
CAN THE DEAD TALK TO THE LIVING? Discover the astonishingly true story of Maggie, Kate, and Leah Fox—the Civil War-era sisters and teen mediums who created the American séance.
A real-life ghost story for young adult readers interested in the supernatural, American history, and women’s rights!
Rap. Rap. Rap. The eerie sound was first heard in March of 1848 at the home of the Fox family in Hydesville, New York. The family’s two daughters, Kate and Maggie, soon discovered that they could communicate with the spirit that was making these uncanny noises; he told them he had been a traveling peddler who had been murdered. This strange incident, and the ones that followed, generated a media frenzy beyond anything the Fox sisters could have imagined. Kate and Maggie, managed (or perhaps manipulated) by their elder sister Leah, became famous spirit mediums, giving public exhibitions, and advising other celebrities of their day.
But were the Fox sisters legitimate? In the years that followed their rise, the Civil War killed roughly 1 in 4 soldiers, increasing the demand for contacting the dead. However, media campaigns against the sisters gathered steam as well...
This thrilling and mysterious true story from veteran author Barb Rosenstock (Caldecott Honor winner) will spark teens’ interest in American history, encourage media literacy, and reveal insights into the Civil War era, fake news, and women's rights.
A real-life ghost story for young adult readers interested in the supernatural, American history, and women’s rights!
Rap. Rap. Rap. The eerie sound was first heard in March of 1848 at the home of the Fox family in Hydesville, New York. The family’s two daughters, Kate and Maggie, soon discovered that they could communicate with the spirit that was making these uncanny noises; he told them he had been a traveling peddler who had been murdered. This strange incident, and the ones that followed, generated a media frenzy beyond anything the Fox sisters could have imagined. Kate and Maggie, managed (or perhaps manipulated) by their elder sister Leah, became famous spirit mediums, giving public exhibitions, and advising other celebrities of their day.
But were the Fox sisters legitimate? In the years that followed their rise, the Civil War killed roughly 1 in 4 soldiers, increasing the demand for contacting the dead. However, media campaigns against the sisters gathered steam as well...
This thrilling and mysterious true story from veteran author Barb Rosenstock (Caldecott Honor winner) will spark teens’ interest in American history, encourage media literacy, and reveal insights into the Civil War era, fake news, and women's rights.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published April 15, 2025
23 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
April 17, 2025
God forbid a girl have hobbies 🧍🏼♀️
April 21, 2025
Unexpectedly relevant and brilliant. Barb Rosenstock leaves a lot of questions deep under the surface, but if you pay attention you will find yourself asking them.
If you don’t recognize her name, she’s branching out here from biographical and non-fiction picture books, putting her in a Candace Fleming type of category. So why this story and why now?
This is about three sisters who deceived the country and began the Spiritualism (seances) movement, which swept the US like a religion in the years before the civil war. What might look and talk like a religion today? What lies are told? And who benefits? I think there’s more than one answer….
As time went on, the true believers of Spiritualism built conspiracy theories to protect themselves from their own cognitive dissonance. Even when the sisters revealed the method of the fraud, believers went on believing. Were people 200 years ago that much more naive? Or could we fall for something similar just as easily?
Rosenstock provides the historical context for readers to understand the mindset of the country and the believers. This story is also about the opportunities available to women, especially single women, just as the women’s rights movement is beginning. The bigger question—what happens when people feel, or actually are, powerless?
I recommend this for older middle school, high school, and adult readers interested in this period of history and a chance to see why it’s worth understanding.
As a side note—If you’d like to read more about spiritualism, I highly recommend the middle grade novel A Drowned Maiden’s Hair by one of my favorite authors Laura Amy Schlitz.
If you don’t recognize her name, she’s branching out here from biographical and non-fiction picture books, putting her in a Candace Fleming type of category. So why this story and why now?
This is about three sisters who deceived the country and began the Spiritualism (seances) movement, which swept the US like a religion in the years before the civil war. What might look and talk like a religion today? What lies are told? And who benefits? I think there’s more than one answer….
As time went on, the true believers of Spiritualism built conspiracy theories to protect themselves from their own cognitive dissonance. Even when the sisters revealed the method of the fraud, believers went on believing. Were people 200 years ago that much more naive? Or could we fall for something similar just as easily?
Rosenstock provides the historical context for readers to understand the mindset of the country and the believers. This story is also about the opportunities available to women, especially single women, just as the women’s rights movement is beginning. The bigger question—what happens when people feel, or actually are, powerless?
I recommend this for older middle school, high school, and adult readers interested in this period of history and a chance to see why it’s worth understanding.
As a side note—If you’d like to read more about spiritualism, I highly recommend the middle grade novel A Drowned Maiden’s Hair by one of my favorite authors Laura Amy Schlitz.
August 4, 2025
A captivating and exceptionally well-researched account of the Fox sisters rise and fall in the age of Spiritualism.
I was familiar with the basics of the Fox sisters story coming into this, and very familiar with the tenets of Spiritualism. I got a lot out of this as far as Kate and Maggie and the rest of the family went. There wasn’t a lot that was new to me regarding Spiritualism in general, though the information is well-documented and would give a good general idea of the practice and its popularity for anyone new to the topic.
To me, the real value of this is in the specific story of the Fox family. Spiritualism gets a bad name historically, and only recently have we seen smarter and more thorough analysis on its connection to feminism and the fortunes of women in this era. Here we see that first hand in the story of the Fox sisters, who come from a decidedly working class background, and would thus have had few options aside from a pragmatic marriage match in life.
Kate and Maggie ultimately take unconventional paths through life, some of which looks like freedom and some of which looks only like a different sort of cage than the one wrought by an unhappy marriage. The age of the girls when they began “working” as mediums says a lot about how much choice they had in their paths, and about who really benefited from what they were able to do.
I really appreciated the author’s approach to Spiritualism from the perspective of belief. Maggie and Kate were frauds from a factual standpoint, but the ideas behind and results of what they do is far more nuanced than that, and I appreciate the open mindedness of the narrative.
Oh, and bonus if you love gentleman explorers and the polar explorers of this era (raises hand): There’s a big sideline that dives into that in this book too, and as with the rest of the contents of the narrative, it’s fanatically told.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I was familiar with the basics of the Fox sisters story coming into this, and very familiar with the tenets of Spiritualism. I got a lot out of this as far as Kate and Maggie and the rest of the family went. There wasn’t a lot that was new to me regarding Spiritualism in general, though the information is well-documented and would give a good general idea of the practice and its popularity for anyone new to the topic.
To me, the real value of this is in the specific story of the Fox family. Spiritualism gets a bad name historically, and only recently have we seen smarter and more thorough analysis on its connection to feminism and the fortunes of women in this era. Here we see that first hand in the story of the Fox sisters, who come from a decidedly working class background, and would thus have had few options aside from a pragmatic marriage match in life.
Kate and Maggie ultimately take unconventional paths through life, some of which looks like freedom and some of which looks only like a different sort of cage than the one wrought by an unhappy marriage. The age of the girls when they began “working” as mediums says a lot about how much choice they had in their paths, and about who really benefited from what they were able to do.
I really appreciated the author’s approach to Spiritualism from the perspective of belief. Maggie and Kate were frauds from a factual standpoint, but the ideas behind and results of what they do is far more nuanced than that, and I appreciate the open mindedness of the narrative.
Oh, and bonus if you love gentleman explorers and the polar explorers of this era (raises hand): There’s a big sideline that dives into that in this book too, and as with the rest of the contents of the narrative, it’s fanatically told.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
April 18, 2025
This was a good story learning about spiritualism and the history of it and the story of the fox sisters I'm not sure what to believe about Wether or not spirits exist but I do know that sometimes unexplainable things do happen 3.5⭐️
March 11, 2025
I got an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher. While non-fiction is not my usual choice, I wanted to know more about Spiritualism and its start in the mid-1800s. I had not heard of the Fox sisters before reading this book and it was interesting reading about what happened to them. While I did finish the book, it was honestly a little repetitive, ok a lot repetitive, in describing their travels back and forth between locations. Maybe some of that could have been streamlined. If you are interested in Spiritualism and the beginnings of seances you will enjoy this, but know that it is dry and reads like a history book.
June 3, 2025
Really interesting portrayal of the Fox sisters and there witting/unwitting role in the start of the Spiritualism movement. The book starts out strong but loses steam about 1/3 of the way through. The writing style isn't always super engaging and it gets a little dry when the story delves into their tragic later years and their struggles with alcoholism and problematic relationships. The book is strongest when Rosenstock gets into how the Fox sisters' ordeal ties into feminist and abolitionist issues, and the things powerless women/people had to resort to in order to be heard. I think the book would have been more engaging, especially for a teen audience, if there had been more of a focus on the injustice of the girls' plight and the complex power dynamics at play.
Read
May 13, 2025The majority of this book is of course on the Fox sisters and the creation and history of Spiritualism. There are random moments where the author includes random paragraphs on slavery The author never really connects the two subjects so there are moments they feel very disjointed. Even though it's important for the time period and happened at the same time I think some of it could have been skipped.
May 16, 2025
Interesting history I never knew, however as a leisure read this isn’t one for the general audience. This felt more like a factual textbook than a storytelling book. This is not one I’d recommend to just anyone to try but I enjoyed learning more of the history of spiritualism, spiritual fraud and the beginnings of seances.
October 19, 2025
American Spirits recounts the history of Leah, Maggie, and Kate Fox, young women who made seances, or spirit rapping, a popular phenomenon in nineteenth century America. It begins in the 1840s with unexplained sounds in the Fox household, the provenance of the girls communing with spirits, and goes through many of the family’s hardships via alcoholism, torrid love affairs, and distrust among the sisters, especially Leah, who was the oldest by decades. And while it can be a fascinating story, the writing style is so simple and straightforward, it tends to get repetitive and feels like the author is just not doing the story justice.
The book is definitely aimed at younger readers, and this is fine overall but may have been what slightly disappointed someone like me who enjoys crusty scholarship and more analysis. The author does attempt to add some historical context at times. One of the more helpful examples is the public’s reaction to the bloodshed of the Civil War in regard to seances, which was twofold: it simultaneously found them silly entertainments and comforting spaces where people could find some kind of closure with loved ones they had lost in the war. But even so, there are too many unnecessary details about the battles. And any comments about the patriarchal nature of nineteenth century society come across as superficial. In the end, these contextual asides don’t do much to break up the monotony of seance after seance.
I was worried we were only going to get the story from the perspective of the sisters and other mediums for a while, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw how many contemporaneous skeptics the author chose to include. Even at the height of its popularity, rapping was a contentious issue.
There is, of course, no definitive answer to the question of spirits. As the author says at one point, “Like the spirits, people saw in the Fox sisters whatever they wanted.” And too much time has passed at this point to get credible evidence or accurate details in the documentation. So even when Maggie confesses later in her life that the sisters’ act was a fraud, it’s still hard to tell whether she’s now being honest, further duplicitous, or lying to herself out of some longstanding grudge. (But, I mean, come on. Clearly the skeptics were right.)
One way or another, it’s always nice to be reminded of who our former celebrities were and what fads were of interest before they fell out of fashion.
The book is definitely aimed at younger readers, and this is fine overall but may have been what slightly disappointed someone like me who enjoys crusty scholarship and more analysis. The author does attempt to add some historical context at times. One of the more helpful examples is the public’s reaction to the bloodshed of the Civil War in regard to seances, which was twofold: it simultaneously found them silly entertainments and comforting spaces where people could find some kind of closure with loved ones they had lost in the war. But even so, there are too many unnecessary details about the battles. And any comments about the patriarchal nature of nineteenth century society come across as superficial. In the end, these contextual asides don’t do much to break up the monotony of seance after seance.
I was worried we were only going to get the story from the perspective of the sisters and other mediums for a while, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw how many contemporaneous skeptics the author chose to include. Even at the height of its popularity, rapping was a contentious issue.
There is, of course, no definitive answer to the question of spirits. As the author says at one point, “Like the spirits, people saw in the Fox sisters whatever they wanted.” And too much time has passed at this point to get credible evidence or accurate details in the documentation. So even when Maggie confesses later in her life that the sisters’ act was a fraud, it’s still hard to tell whether she’s now being honest, further duplicitous, or lying to herself out of some longstanding grudge. (But, I mean, come on. Clearly the skeptics were right.)
One way or another, it’s always nice to be reminded of who our former celebrities were and what fads were of interest before they fell out of fashion.
April 13, 2025
** “Though we can learn much about the Fox sisters’ actions from their believers and detractors, we have little direct evidence for what Maggie or Kate truly thought or felt about their lives. They are historical ghosts, glimpsed only in the mirror of others’ opinions.” **
Barb Rosenstock reveals the lives of the infamous Fox Sisters and the craze they created in “American Spirits: The Famous Fox Sisters and the Mysterious Fad That Haunted a Nation.”
When young Maggie and Kate Fox, led by their much older sister Leah, claimed to be able to interpret rapping heard in their home, a craze hit mid-1800s America like never seen before. They claimed to be communicating with a man who had been killed in their cottage. Friends and neighbors were astounded when these raps were able to answer their own questions too, answers the sisters should not be able to know.
Rosenstock takes the reader through the beginning of their journey, their meteoric rise in fame, their struggles, their relationships, and their eventual downfall. She presents theories that still haunt people today — were their talents faked or legitimate? But no matter where you fall in your belief, as she points out this intriguing story “included pretty young women, a mysterious murder, and the possibility of scandal.”
She ends the book with several bibliographic listings, as well as excerpts of the supposed confession of Maggie Fox.
Having researched the book for five years, “American Spirits” is definitely a thorough look not only into the sisters’ lives, but the factors happening to them, as well as to America — alcoholism and addiction; slavery versus abolition; the growth of Spiritualism; new tools used by mediums, like automatic and mirror writing; diseases; global exploration; and the rise of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.
The book, which is due out April 15, features many photographs, artwork and clippings to add to the story.
Fans of the paranormal, Spiritualism, and the rise of women in an era where they had very little power will enjoy this book.
Five stars out of five.
Calkins Creek provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
Barb Rosenstock reveals the lives of the infamous Fox Sisters and the craze they created in “American Spirits: The Famous Fox Sisters and the Mysterious Fad That Haunted a Nation.”
When young Maggie and Kate Fox, led by their much older sister Leah, claimed to be able to interpret rapping heard in their home, a craze hit mid-1800s America like never seen before. They claimed to be communicating with a man who had been killed in their cottage. Friends and neighbors were astounded when these raps were able to answer their own questions too, answers the sisters should not be able to know.
Rosenstock takes the reader through the beginning of their journey, their meteoric rise in fame, their struggles, their relationships, and their eventual downfall. She presents theories that still haunt people today — were their talents faked or legitimate? But no matter where you fall in your belief, as she points out this intriguing story “included pretty young women, a mysterious murder, and the possibility of scandal.”
She ends the book with several bibliographic listings, as well as excerpts of the supposed confession of Maggie Fox.
Having researched the book for five years, “American Spirits” is definitely a thorough look not only into the sisters’ lives, but the factors happening to them, as well as to America — alcoholism and addiction; slavery versus abolition; the growth of Spiritualism; new tools used by mediums, like automatic and mirror writing; diseases; global exploration; and the rise of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.
The book, which is due out April 15, features many photographs, artwork and clippings to add to the story.
Fans of the paranormal, Spiritualism, and the rise of women in an era where they had very little power will enjoy this book.
Five stars out of five.
Calkins Creek provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
May 5, 2025
Kate, Maggie, and Leah Fox dominated newspaper headlines in antebellum America with their ghostly seances and semi-scandalous conduct. Rosenstock opens her careful examination of their story (citing voluminous primary sources) in 1847, when 11-year-old Kate and 14-year-old Maggie’s small home in upstate New York erupted in a flurry of night-time disturbances that were eventually identified as messages from a murdered peddler buried in their cellar. After this bizarre incident, the Fox sisters (the elder Leah served as both manager and medium) became the most famous representatives of the period’s emerging spiritualist movement. Beset by skeptics and financial troubles, manipulated by adults, and unlucky in love, Kate and Maggie would eventually and tragically descend into alcoholism, with Maggie making one last ditch attempt at truthfulness and financial remuneration when she belatedly exposed their trickery. The history of spiritualism is fascinating and Rosenstock explores all of its surreal manifestations: rapping, spirit writing, ghostly instrument playing, levitating furniture, and verbal communication with the dead. She carefully interweaves her account with more general history so that we can see connections between the sisters’ activities and the approaching Civil War, the limited opportunities for women, growing class divisions, a celebrity-obsessed popular press, and an increasing respect for science and empiricism. Throughout the narrative, readers will have to weigh the veracity of the sisters’ claims. Were they actual mediums, charlatans, or gullible dupes?
The book’s design is wonderful, featuring a goth-y black cover, thick pages, and amazing images. Great care has been taken in choosing and reproducing many period photos, maps, engravings, and letters, all of which ratchet up the story’s spookiness. A thoughtful author’s note at the end of the book outlines Rosenstock’s own final take on the Fox story and the research challenges she faced. Back matter includes comprehensive notes for the plentiful primary source quotes found in each chapter, an extensive bibliography, and an index. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
The book’s design is wonderful, featuring a goth-y black cover, thick pages, and amazing images. Great care has been taken in choosing and reproducing many period photos, maps, engravings, and letters, all of which ratchet up the story’s spookiness. A thoughtful author’s note at the end of the book outlines Rosenstock’s own final take on the Fox story and the research challenges she faced. Back matter includes comprehensive notes for the plentiful primary source quotes found in each chapter, an extensive bibliography, and an index. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
May 18, 2025
I've always been fascinated with the subject of ghosts and spirits. I never shy from saying what I believe if someone were to.ask "do you believe in ghosts?"
The reaction from people today is no big deal. Worse case, they may laugh if you say yes or tell you how their grandmother could speak to spirits if you said no. In the 1600s,1700s, and the 1800s, there was a more dangerous response. You were sacrilegious, a devil worshiper, or worse, a witch. Any of which could end up with you in prison or dangling at the end of a rope.
The Fox sisters were the first to introduce communication with the departed to the public. That journey is what the book American Spirits is all about.
The path these young girls were set on and the live they led, the good and the bad.
I was familiar with these sisters' role in spiritulism but not their story. This is a well researched book that tells that story with no particular bias.
Believing or not believing is left entirely up to you, Barb Rosenstock simply presents the evidence as she finds it.
I, for one moved back and forth between believing in the sisters and rolling my eyes over how gullible people were back then. Then laughed at myself because people are still pretty dang gullible today as the news shows.
Anyway, I believe in ghosts. I have seen ghosts in my life, though I have never spoken to one.
As for the Fox sisters? Maybe I do... Maybe I don't. I keep changing my mind.
It's not an impossible thought. Can it be proven? I don't think so, but neither can the existence of God, but that doesn't stop people from claiming he speaks.to them and gives instruction. Show me the scientific proof behind that, please.
The book is excellent and an engaging read. I would suggest that if you like stories about ghosts and the paranormal, you should know some of the history behind these stories, and behind the large following of spiritualist
Who are the forerunners of today's ghost hunters.
Highly recommended. American Spirits has been available since April 15, 2025
Thanks to @netgalley and RBMedia/Recorded Books for the opportunity to listen to this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
The reaction from people today is no big deal. Worse case, they may laugh if you say yes or tell you how their grandmother could speak to spirits if you said no. In the 1600s,1700s, and the 1800s, there was a more dangerous response. You were sacrilegious, a devil worshiper, or worse, a witch. Any of which could end up with you in prison or dangling at the end of a rope.
The Fox sisters were the first to introduce communication with the departed to the public. That journey is what the book American Spirits is all about.
The path these young girls were set on and the live they led, the good and the bad.
I was familiar with these sisters' role in spiritulism but not their story. This is a well researched book that tells that story with no particular bias.
Believing or not believing is left entirely up to you, Barb Rosenstock simply presents the evidence as she finds it.
I, for one moved back and forth between believing in the sisters and rolling my eyes over how gullible people were back then. Then laughed at myself because people are still pretty dang gullible today as the news shows.
Anyway, I believe in ghosts. I have seen ghosts in my life, though I have never spoken to one.
As for the Fox sisters? Maybe I do... Maybe I don't. I keep changing my mind.
It's not an impossible thought. Can it be proven? I don't think so, but neither can the existence of God, but that doesn't stop people from claiming he speaks.to them and gives instruction. Show me the scientific proof behind that, please.
The book is excellent and an engaging read. I would suggest that if you like stories about ghosts and the paranormal, you should know some of the history behind these stories, and behind the large following of spiritualist
Who are the forerunners of today's ghost hunters.
Highly recommended. American Spirits has been available since April 15, 2025
Thanks to @netgalley and RBMedia/Recorded Books for the opportunity to listen to this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
April 13, 2025
American Spirits by Barb Rosenstock totally surprised me—in the best way. I usually approach nonfiction like I do a lukewarm cup of tea: politely, skeptically, and ready to abandon it for something more exciting. But I got an advanced audiobook copy through NetGalley and Astra Publishing, and after reading the blurb about séances and spiritualism, I figured I’d give it a shot. By chapter three, I was in. Like, fully in. I may have even Googled “Fox sisters real?” halfway through.
I’d never heard of the Fox sisters before, which is wild considering they basically sparked an entire movement of table-knocking, ghost-whispering spiritualists in 1800s America. The book starts a little cluttered—lots of names and people flying at you—but once the dust settles, it becomes a fascinating, fast-paced ride. The chapters are bite-sized and super easy to listen to (or read, if that’s your thing). And while it’s technically marketed toward teens, it’s got enough depth and grit for adults too—especially those of us who appreciate a good “girls just trying to hustle while the 1800s aggressively 1800s at them” story.
There’s a lot packed in here: class struggles, questionable romance, addiction, heartbreak, ambition, and the blurred line between belief and performance. I loved the portrayal of Maggie, especially her complicated love life with Elijah and the very relatable theme of “ugh, men.” The sisters’ rise and fall is tragic but told with sharpness and care, and it never feels preachy or dry. It’s more like listening to a smart friend who knows how to gossip historically.
All in all, American Spirits is perfect for readers who like a dash of the supernatural in their history, or anyone curious about the strange, scrappy women who made waves in Civil War-era America. Highly recommend—even if you think nonfiction isn’t your thing. Turns out, sometimes the ghost stories are real. Or are they?
I’d never heard of the Fox sisters before, which is wild considering they basically sparked an entire movement of table-knocking, ghost-whispering spiritualists in 1800s America. The book starts a little cluttered—lots of names and people flying at you—but once the dust settles, it becomes a fascinating, fast-paced ride. The chapters are bite-sized and super easy to listen to (or read, if that’s your thing). And while it’s technically marketed toward teens, it’s got enough depth and grit for adults too—especially those of us who appreciate a good “girls just trying to hustle while the 1800s aggressively 1800s at them” story.
There’s a lot packed in here: class struggles, questionable romance, addiction, heartbreak, ambition, and the blurred line between belief and performance. I loved the portrayal of Maggie, especially her complicated love life with Elijah and the very relatable theme of “ugh, men.” The sisters’ rise and fall is tragic but told with sharpness and care, and it never feels preachy or dry. It’s more like listening to a smart friend who knows how to gossip historically.
All in all, American Spirits is perfect for readers who like a dash of the supernatural in their history, or anyone curious about the strange, scrappy women who made waves in Civil War-era America. Highly recommend—even if you think nonfiction isn’t your thing. Turns out, sometimes the ghost stories are real. Or are they?
November 5, 2025
I snagged this one on the way out of a library branch I don't usually visit - but I saw the title and who it was about and knew I had to read it. I lived for a decade just outside one of the (briefly) mentioned Spiritualist camps and the rise of Spiritualism is something fascinating to me.
Rosenstock takes us back to the very beginning of Spiritualism with the Fox sisters, Maggie and Katie, who inexplicably (maybe) had a knocking taking place in their bedroom when they were put to bed. Now this being a shared bedroom (their parents had a bed across the room), their mother was very startled. After a few nights of this, the parents called in neighbors - and the knockings continued. Not only did they continue, but strange things happened: people's relatives seemed to be trying to contact from the Other Side. A man said he'd been killed in the house and was buried beneath it. And Leah, the girls' older sister, decided to come and help out.
What happened next over the years was the beginning of the Spiritualist Movement - where contacting the dead was almost commonplace. And then the Civil War happened and people were more interested in other things - and maybe Maggie had a tale to tell about what happened back then with Katie and Leah and herself.
A very interesting read and very sad as there seemed to be no one to champion two young girls who were thrust into limelight and what happened to them thereafter.
Rosenstock takes us back to the very beginning of Spiritualism with the Fox sisters, Maggie and Katie, who inexplicably (maybe) had a knocking taking place in their bedroom when they were put to bed. Now this being a shared bedroom (their parents had a bed across the room), their mother was very startled. After a few nights of this, the parents called in neighbors - and the knockings continued. Not only did they continue, but strange things happened: people's relatives seemed to be trying to contact from the Other Side. A man said he'd been killed in the house and was buried beneath it. And Leah, the girls' older sister, decided to come and help out.
What happened next over the years was the beginning of the Spiritualist Movement - where contacting the dead was almost commonplace. And then the Civil War happened and people were more interested in other things - and maybe Maggie had a tale to tell about what happened back then with Katie and Leah and herself.
A very interesting read and very sad as there seemed to be no one to champion two young girls who were thrust into limelight and what happened to them thereafter.
April 17, 2025
American Spirits tells the story of two girls who garnered attention by claiming to communicate with spirits. Rosenstock does a great job of guiding us through the girls' rise and fall - it all began with the girls saying that they thought their house was haunted. They claimed to hear noises and attracted attention from neighbors - even after they moved to another home, they were still allegedly haunted.
This book was well researched and expertly melds history, biography and the mystery of what happens when we die? It engages the readers from the first line and the mix of text and images keeps you flipping the pages. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, interesting read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Calkins Creek for the electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was well researched and expertly melds history, biography and the mystery of what happens when we die? It engages the readers from the first line and the mix of text and images keeps you flipping the pages. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, interesting read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Calkins Creek for the electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2025
I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.
This was a super interesting story and important to note that this is a non-fiction. It was really well written that it did not feel like a non-fiction, dry story at all. It definitely caught may attention and kept it. It was confusing at times as it felt like the author was going back and forth about what was true and what wasn't. As I thought more about this book after I finished it, I realized that I actually appreciate that the author never really definitive said what she does and does not believe and really leaves it up to the reader. Were these sisters faking this all these years and manipulated by their older sister? Or is there an element of truth? I guess it all depends what one WANTS to believe, as seances still do happen to this day...make up your own mind!
This was a super interesting story and important to note that this is a non-fiction. It was really well written that it did not feel like a non-fiction, dry story at all. It definitely caught may attention and kept it. It was confusing at times as it felt like the author was going back and forth about what was true and what wasn't. As I thought more about this book after I finished it, I realized that I actually appreciate that the author never really definitive said what she does and does not believe and really leaves it up to the reader. Were these sisters faking this all these years and manipulated by their older sister? Or is there an element of truth? I guess it all depends what one WANTS to believe, as seances still do happen to this day...make up your own mind!
April 14, 2025
This nonfiction account of the era of mentalism/spiritualism/mesmerism that swept the 19th century in the USA is aimed at MG/YA readers but is very informative for adults, too. Details have been meticulously researched and thread throughout the rise, peak, and subsiding of the fad/movement. The central family (the Fox sisters of the subtitle as well as their extended family) is intriguing in itself, with the text deftly balanced on the fence about the truth or delusionary tricks behind their public demonstrations.
It definitely opens thinking about parallels to many current day conspiracy theories, questionable pseudo-science, and hype for various approaches to medical and other problems.
It definitely opens thinking about parallels to many current day conspiracy theories, questionable pseudo-science, and hype for various approaches to medical and other problems.
April 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not normally huge on history books but the topic of the Fox sisters has always intrigued me. This book is really well written and feels much more like reading fiction than a history book, though I also feel it kept true to fact and recorded quotes. The take on the “truth” of the sisters is delightfully balanced and pushes for a more subtle theme of “who knows, but it’s fascinating to imagine!” The background provided to set the events in history was good as well though a bit lopsided and more focused on I. The second half of the book. The narrator is fabulous- I can only imagine how tough it is to repeat the ghostly “rap rap rap” as many times as she had to.
I’m not normally huge on history books but the topic of the Fox sisters has always intrigued me. This book is really well written and feels much more like reading fiction than a history book, though I also feel it kept true to fact and recorded quotes. The take on the “truth” of the sisters is delightfully balanced and pushes for a more subtle theme of “who knows, but it’s fascinating to imagine!” The background provided to set the events in history was good as well though a bit lopsided and more focused on I. The second half of the book. The narrator is fabulous- I can only imagine how tough it is to repeat the ghostly “rap rap rap” as many times as she had to.
April 22, 2025
This was a well-written, thought provoking account of the spiritualist movement and, in particular, the Fox sisters, who were celebrities in their own right in the mid- to late-1800s. I loved the way this was laid out, with a chronological account of the Fox sisters’ rise to prominence and the resulting adulation from their believers and the revelations of their trickery in the end. This was easy to follow and written in a way that gets you swept up in the same hype their believers were and the extensive research was evident in this account. The narration was excellent and helped to keep me engrossed in this book. Highly recommended!
I received a copy from #NetGalley, #RBMedia, and #AstraPublishing for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley, #RBMedia, and #AstraPublishing for an honest review.
May 5, 2025
This was a very interesting read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4!
I had some knowledge of the Fox sisters through a few YouTube documentaries throughout the years but this went into a lot more detail so I learned quite a bit. I loved the use of some of the writings from the sisters (especially Maggie Fox's letter), as well as the back and forth of how you may feel towards spiritualism/ghosts being "real". I really liked learning more about spiritualism too as the documentaries I watched previously focused more on just the sisters and their activities. Definitely would recommend to anyone interested in ghosts, spiritualism, and biographies in general.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in return for an honest review.
I had some knowledge of the Fox sisters through a few YouTube documentaries throughout the years but this went into a lot more detail so I learned quite a bit. I loved the use of some of the writings from the sisters (especially Maggie Fox's letter), as well as the back and forth of how you may feel towards spiritualism/ghosts being "real". I really liked learning more about spiritualism too as the documentaries I watched previously focused more on just the sisters and their activities. Definitely would recommend to anyone interested in ghosts, spiritualism, and biographies in general.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in return for an honest review.
December 12, 2025
This was actually my first nonfiction in a while! It was a really refreshing and entertaining read, with a consistent story instead of just fact-dumping. It told the story of Kate, Maggie, and Leah Fox in a compelling, tragic frame, and perfectly interwove their personal and public lives in a way that portrayed them as individuals rather than historical artifacts.
The story itself was interesting, with the Fox sisters and the “spirit of the murdered peddler” starting a journey down the perilous path of religion, fraud, and American stardom in a time when women were still seen as lesser. For anyone looking to pick up a nonfiction read, this one is fresh, fun, and deeply connective. That’s all!
The story itself was interesting, with the Fox sisters and the “spirit of the murdered peddler” starting a journey down the perilous path of religion, fraud, and American stardom in a time when women were still seen as lesser. For anyone looking to pick up a nonfiction read, this one is fresh, fun, and deeply connective. That’s all!
April 14, 2025
Thank you for the advanced reader copy of American Spirits!
As someone who does not read a lot of non-fiction, I was a little afraid for how this novel would read about the Fox Sisters. American Spirits is a book I would recommend to those who are new to the genre or who want something to easily follow. We seamlessly switch from being an active participant in the conversations to addressing historical aspects of their lives. Often times it would feel like you were listening to a fiction novel with how Barb wrote about the sisters.
As someone who does not read a lot of non-fiction, I was a little afraid for how this novel would read about the Fox Sisters. American Spirits is a book I would recommend to those who are new to the genre or who want something to easily follow. We seamlessly switch from being an active participant in the conversations to addressing historical aspects of their lives. Often times it would feel like you were listening to a fiction novel with how Barb wrote about the sisters.
June 1, 2025
This reminded me of "The Fairy Ring, Or, Elsie and Frances Fool the World", where 2 tween girls hoodwink Victorian society. Or did they? Mixed in with the constant presence of death through disease and how the US stumbled inevitably towards the Civil War that caused yet more massive deaths, this is also a cautionary tale of how the fame didn't lead the sisters to long-term happiness. It's also the tale of how some powerless, very lightly educated females were able to find a way to earn a living when "proper" women didn't do such things.
June 4, 2025
This is the book that will (maybe? hopefully?) get me out of the longest reading slump of my life. I was really looking forward to this book -- I love to see an author I like doing something new and I have been fascinated by spiritualism since I took a history of photography class in college. This book delivered. I like how it approaches the subject with a mix of belief and skepticism, I think for YA readers that is a really big advantage. Anyway, loved it. Hopefully will catch the reading bug again because I am BEEEEHHHIIIINNNDD.
June 20, 2025
3.5⭐
The true story of the three Civil War-era Fox sisters. After they discovered they could communicate with the dead at a very young age, and after perfecting their craft, they end up being famous well known mediums as they got older. Until media campaigns against the sisters start to gather.
Enjoyed this book a lot.
A real-life ghost story for anyone interested in the supernatural, American history, as well as women’s rights.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The true story of the three Civil War-era Fox sisters. After they discovered they could communicate with the dead at a very young age, and after perfecting their craft, they end up being famous well known mediums as they got older. Until media campaigns against the sisters start to gather.
Enjoyed this book a lot.
A real-life ghost story for anyone interested in the supernatural, American history, as well as women’s rights.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 16, 2025
I hadn’t heard of the Fox sisters so I was intrigued when I saw the book description. This was an easy read though a bit lengthy for teens. It isn’t just the story of the Fox sisters but what was going on in America at the time. always enjoy learning and this held my interest.
Thank you to the author, Calkins Creek, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Thank you to the author, Calkins Creek, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
July 13, 2025
I didn't know much about Spiritualists before reading this book, and I had never heard of the Fox Sisters. I was actually surprised this was pre-Civil War as I remember reading more about seances during WWI and the Spanish flu era. This isn't so much a ghost story as a celebrity gossip train wreck. Rosenstock does a good job of keeping the believers and the skeptics both in perspective all the way through the Author's Notes at the end.
November 11, 2025
This was a fascinating (and beautiful) history of an incredibly interesting hoax. I was inspired to pick this up after seeing a play inspired by Houdini and spiritualism, and this did not disappoint.
I learned so many interesting things about spiritualism and Victorian-era America. So many famous figures made an appearance and I was shocked every time. The overlap with the civil war was fascinating and well integrated into the story. I loved the saga of Maggie's romance with Dr. Kane. And the photographs throughout were so well placed and helpful to illustrate events. I wish more history books did this!
Happily adding this to my Victorian shelf of obsession 😆
I learned so many interesting things about spiritualism and Victorian-era America. So many famous figures made an appearance and I was shocked every time. The overlap with the civil war was fascinating and well integrated into the story. I loved the saga of Maggie's romance with Dr. Kane. And the photographs throughout were so well placed and helpful to illustrate events. I wish more history books did this!
Happily adding this to my Victorian shelf of obsession 😆
December 4, 2025
For starters, this book is about 50 pages too long. I also think the author's last point that the Fox sisters paved the way for women like Sojourner Truth holding the roles they did in public society is a stretch and gives the Fox women far too much power.
As far as books on spiritualism, I though Gail Jarrow's Spirit Sleuths provides a more well rounded picture of the time period - though it does focus more on a time period after the Fox Sisters.
As far as books on spiritualism, I though Gail Jarrow's Spirit Sleuths provides a more well rounded picture of the time period - though it does focus more on a time period after the Fox Sisters.
Read
December 22, 2025I had to return the book to the library so I didn’t finish it, but I knew what was coming.
The book wasn’t bad. It got a little repetitive. The girls traveled to this city and someone said they were frauds but someone else believed them. Wash, rinse, repeat. Slavery was also brought up quite a bit, and I’m not sure of the connection there, other than how the spiritualism movement was a distraction from the political climate of the US at the time?
The book wasn’t bad. It got a little repetitive. The girls traveled to this city and someone said they were frauds but someone else believed them. Wash, rinse, repeat. Slavery was also brought up quite a bit, and I’m not sure of the connection there, other than how the spiritualism movement was a distraction from the political climate of the US at the time?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews