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Blossom Culp #3
The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp
It's Halloween, 1914. Teenage psychic Blossom Culp sneaks into the house where the rest of her class is having a party-and that's when everything goes haywire. Suddenly Blossom is hurled into a time warp. Her psychic powers have found a way to send her into the future-our time. But will they be able to send her back?
183 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1983
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381 people want to read
About the author
Richard Peck
113 books731 followersRichard 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
April 9, 2025
Following the lead of the previous book in the series, Ghosts I Have Been, The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp awards fourteen-year-old Blossom the narrator role instead of Alexander Armsworth, her fellow freshman at Bluff City High School in the year 1914. After their past adventures involving the Second Sight they both possess, Alexander begs Blossom to make an effort to fit in as their high school career commences, but she won't present a sanitized version of herself. Blossom intends to be the same girl in ninth grade as in every year thus far.
Blossom gets off on the wrong foot with Mr. Lacy, the most eligible bachelor among the school faculty. Avoiding class as much as possible, Blossom meets a girl named Daisy-Rae in the school bathroom. Daisy-Rae hides in here every day while her mentally slow brother Roderick attends the younger school nearby, but Daisy-Rae refuses to enroll herself as a freshman. Blossom's attention is soon drawn by other matters, including the school Halloween party that Alexander and others will host at the abandoned house Old Man Leverette lived in before he moved into the city proper. Blossom hears of a nasty prank some of the boys are plotting against Old Man Leverette, and she doesn't intend to let them escape retribution.
On a walkthrough to scout the old Leverette house for the party, Blossom feels anxious. Her mother, whose own Second Sight is powerful, warned Blossom about this place. Blossom enters a room that emanates bright light...and emerges into a bedroom in 1984, seventy years later. She makes the acquaintance of a redheaded boy named Jeremy, a loner and technology nerd, but Blossom is fascinated by the modern world. There are video games, television, and other major advances, and she glimpses the future of Bluff City, some good and some bad. The knowledge will help when she travels back to her own time and reads the fortunes of students at the Halloween party...but how much future is Blossom prepared to reveal?
"The trouble with the truth is that it's hard to believe."
—The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp, P. 181
This book starts slow; a hundred pages drift by before Blossom steps into the future. The narrative is prettily painted, as usual for Richard Peck, but not riveting enough to rate above average. I suppose I'd consider two and a half stars; Blossom is an engaging companion to read along with, and I'm invested enough to seek out the series' concluding volume, Blossom Culp and the Sleep of Death.
Blossom gets off on the wrong foot with Mr. Lacy, the most eligible bachelor among the school faculty. Avoiding class as much as possible, Blossom meets a girl named Daisy-Rae in the school bathroom. Daisy-Rae hides in here every day while her mentally slow brother Roderick attends the younger school nearby, but Daisy-Rae refuses to enroll herself as a freshman. Blossom's attention is soon drawn by other matters, including the school Halloween party that Alexander and others will host at the abandoned house Old Man Leverette lived in before he moved into the city proper. Blossom hears of a nasty prank some of the boys are plotting against Old Man Leverette, and she doesn't intend to let them escape retribution.
On a walkthrough to scout the old Leverette house for the party, Blossom feels anxious. Her mother, whose own Second Sight is powerful, warned Blossom about this place. Blossom enters a room that emanates bright light...and emerges into a bedroom in 1984, seventy years later. She makes the acquaintance of a redheaded boy named Jeremy, a loner and technology nerd, but Blossom is fascinated by the modern world. There are video games, television, and other major advances, and she glimpses the future of Bluff City, some good and some bad. The knowledge will help when she travels back to her own time and reads the fortunes of students at the Halloween party...but how much future is Blossom prepared to reveal?
"The trouble with the truth is that it's hard to believe."
—The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp, P. 181
This book starts slow; a hundred pages drift by before Blossom steps into the future. The narrative is prettily painted, as usual for Richard Peck, but not riveting enough to rate above average. I suppose I'd consider two and a half stars; Blossom is an engaging companion to read along with, and I'm invested enough to seek out the series' concluding volume, Blossom Culp and the Sleep of Death.
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June 11, 2017The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp is the third book in the four book series written by Richard Peck. By some reviews here and other places, it seems to be the least favorite of the Blossom Culp Books.
Regardless, I still enjoy this story. I think the progress of the friendship between Alexander and Blossom takes a bit of a hit here in this story.
Taking place after "Ghosts I Have Been," Blossom & Co have moved up to the High School, where they are no longer the big fish in the pond, but now more the little fish. Not that this is exactly a big thing, but it does have some bearing on the story. Now freshmen, Blossom Culp and her fellow classmates have to wear beanies designating what year they are going to be graduating (1918). To prove their "worth" they take over Old Man Leverette's old farm house for a haunted house. Blossom's ma, warns her against going to the house, but Blossom does her usual and makes her way to the future (the future being approximately 1983/1984.
There, she meets a young boy named Jeremy and spends some time with him. She meets Letty Shambough's granddaughter, sees Atari games, Darth Vader and basically sees everything that she has ever known, disappear. She ends up back in her time, leaves her precious spelling medal in the loose floorboards of the farmhouse for Jeremy in the future to find, runs a philandering history teacher out of town. Add in a gratuitous scene of Alexander and two of his chums skinny dipping in a pond and Blossom meeting a country girl and her brother...and....well....
Here is the thing: I understand why many readers of this series find it to be weakest of the series. All the progress made between Alexander and Blossom sort of, well, lessens. We are introduced to the new character of Daisy-Mae and her little brother Roderick. Daisy May spends her days in the downstairs girls bathroom. Blossom befriends her (as was heard the in the 2002 version of Carrie suggests, Birds of a feather...
Alexander comes off as rather rude. Letty comes off worse than ever and while we get a bit more about Blossom's Ma, she really doesn't come off real well here. By the other books, she is wacky and such, but she about tans Blossom twice in this book, which is a bit of a turn around. Also disappointing is that when Jeremy takes Blossom around Bluff City, much of what she knows is either withered by time, or is just gone. The only thing that has pretty much remained the same is the Armsworth property, but Blossom gets cold feet when it comes time to find out who is living there. It's where Peck does let the readers down.
I still enjoy this book. I'll admit I have read this and The Ghost Belonged To Me, probably the least out of the four. There seems to be avenues that should have been more explored, story lines that were dropped from the first two books and leaves some interesting stuff for the follow-up "Blossom Culp and the Sleep of Death" which by turns--well, doesn't get followed up.
It is still a trip though. I think those of us who grew up in that time period of 1983/1984 will get the nostalgia of the story. Those who weren't, well, you get a bit of an idea. It is like going back to your home town and find out how drastically it changes--and not for the best.
3.5 stars. (Rounded up)
Regardless, I still enjoy this story. I think the progress of the friendship between Alexander and Blossom takes a bit of a hit here in this story.
Taking place after "Ghosts I Have Been," Blossom & Co have moved up to the High School, where they are no longer the big fish in the pond, but now more the little fish. Not that this is exactly a big thing, but it does have some bearing on the story. Now freshmen, Blossom Culp and her fellow classmates have to wear beanies designating what year they are going to be graduating (1918). To prove their "worth" they take over Old Man Leverette's old farm house for a haunted house. Blossom's ma, warns her against going to the house, but Blossom does her usual and makes her way to the future (the future being approximately 1983/1984.
There, she meets a young boy named Jeremy and spends some time with him. She meets Letty Shambough's granddaughter, sees Atari games, Darth Vader and basically sees everything that she has ever known, disappear. She ends up back in her time, leaves her precious spelling medal in the loose floorboards of the farmhouse for Jeremy in the future to find, runs a philandering history teacher out of town. Add in a gratuitous scene of Alexander and two of his chums skinny dipping in a pond and Blossom meeting a country girl and her brother...and....well....
Here is the thing: I understand why many readers of this series find it to be weakest of the series. All the progress made between Alexander and Blossom sort of, well, lessens. We are introduced to the new character of Daisy-Mae and her little brother Roderick. Daisy May spends her days in the downstairs girls bathroom. Blossom befriends her (as was heard the in the 2002 version of Carrie suggests, Birds of a feather...
Alexander comes off as rather rude. Letty comes off worse than ever and while we get a bit more about Blossom's Ma, she really doesn't come off real well here. By the other books, she is wacky and such, but she about tans Blossom twice in this book, which is a bit of a turn around. Also disappointing is that when Jeremy takes Blossom around Bluff City, much of what she knows is either withered by time, or is just gone. The only thing that has pretty much remained the same is the Armsworth property, but Blossom gets cold feet when it comes time to find out who is living there. It's where Peck does let the readers down.
I still enjoy this book. I'll admit I have read this and The Ghost Belonged To Me, probably the least out of the four. There seems to be avenues that should have been more explored, story lines that were dropped from the first two books and leaves some interesting stuff for the follow-up "Blossom Culp and the Sleep of Death" which by turns--well, doesn't get followed up.
It is still a trip though. I think those of us who grew up in that time period of 1983/1984 will get the nostalgia of the story. Those who weren't, well, you get a bit of an idea. It is like going back to your home town and find out how drastically it changes--and not for the best.
3.5 stars. (Rounded up)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2022
Ok so I didn’t realize this was part of a series (none of those covers look related at ALL btw), but it doesn’t reference any of the past books, so it holds up fine on its own.
The writing is fun and quick, and I like our spunky, sassy fortune telling protag from the 1900s. I was just surprised that the plot revolved around a Halloween prank and not the 80s time warp! That doesn’t happen until maybe 3/4 the way in, and she’s only there for a day.
I think it would’ve felt more like this big, crazy adventure (I mean, she’s a victorian kid in the 1980s!!!) if she had taken more time to explore the future and her friendship with the endearingly nerdy Jeremy. The whole time travel bit was inconsequential and really had nothing to do with the rest of the story, sadly.
I wanted more of those computer BLEEPS and PYONGS and random 80s pop culture references. Sigh.
The writing is fun and quick, and I like our spunky, sassy fortune telling protag from the 1900s. I was just surprised that the plot revolved around a Halloween prank and not the 80s time warp! That doesn’t happen until maybe 3/4 the way in, and she’s only there for a day.
I think it would’ve felt more like this big, crazy adventure (I mean, she’s a victorian kid in the 1980s!!!) if she had taken more time to explore the future and her friendship with the endearingly nerdy Jeremy. The whole time travel bit was inconsequential and really had nothing to do with the rest of the story, sadly.
I wanted more of those computer BLEEPS and PYONGS and random 80s pop culture references. Sigh.
July 20, 2010
This book is so funny! Richard Peck always writes hilarious books and I would recommend his books to anyone. In this book the main character is a misfit fortune teller named blossom who has the ability to travel in time.
I was constantly laughing and I love Blossom and her originality. She is a tough girl who is honest and very decieving at the same time. Great book.
I was constantly laughing and I love Blossom and her originality. She is a tough girl who is honest and very decieving at the same time. Great book.
June 1, 2016
I teased myself by looking at a Goodreads list called Obscure Children's Vintage Gems. I started off by reading the second book in this series (which was in the Vintage Gems list), but that's all it took. Blossum Culp is downright hilarious. So I knew I had to read them all, and thanks to Open Library, I did. Of course, now I want to own them.
July 10, 2014
Probably the one that will feel most dated.
January 8, 2024
I wish I'd known these books existed when I was a kid - I would have loved them! That love would be entirely due to Blossom, who is an absolute terror of a child and is therefore deeply entertaining. Her psychic powers are used mainly, it has to be said, to troll other children (and they thoroughly deserve it); she's a very funny little girl, possessed of an absolute and brutal honesty... at least when it suits her. She's fantastic.
I was a little hesitant to read this one, even given how much I enjoyed the previous two volumes, as the blurb indicated that Blossom would time travel into the future, and with the best will in the world that's not one of my favourite tropes. Blossom in the 1980s is still fun, but it's admittedly the least interesting part of the book. Luckily, it only takes up maybe a quarter or so of the story, so much less of a focus than the blurb indicates, and the rest is her life back in 1914. That's the time that best suits her, I think, as she's so very self-possessed there that she comes off to best effect. Not that she isn't self-possessed in the future, but it's a little muted because her surroundings are so unfamiliar and she's not always sure how to react to it.
I must say, though, the Dreadful Future of the title? It's not really Blossom's. For some of the kids there, she is the Dreadful thing, and again... they deserve it.
I was a little hesitant to read this one, even given how much I enjoyed the previous two volumes, as the blurb indicated that Blossom would time travel into the future, and with the best will in the world that's not one of my favourite tropes. Blossom in the 1980s is still fun, but it's admittedly the least interesting part of the book. Luckily, it only takes up maybe a quarter or so of the story, so much less of a focus than the blurb indicates, and the rest is her life back in 1914. That's the time that best suits her, I think, as she's so very self-possessed there that she comes off to best effect. Not that she isn't self-possessed in the future, but it's a little muted because her surroundings are so unfamiliar and she's not always sure how to react to it.
I must say, though, the Dreadful Future of the title? It's not really Blossom's. For some of the kids there, she is the Dreadful thing, and again... they deserve it.
March 30, 2023
Almost entirely great, except for a couple of chapters near the end that came near to ruining the book for me (when she travels to the future). Maybe I missed something, but the event seemed utterly unnecessary to both plot and characterization. Nothing changed as a result of the event, the procedings of the plot didn't require it, and it all seemed shoehorned in just to have a paranormal event natching earlier iterations of this series, or perhaps a marketing gimmick—it made the cover, after all.
Aside from that, it was terrific, Blossom's a great character, and I'm saddened (since I read them out of order unwittingly) that this is the last one for me. (I began with #4, then 1,2,3, so I'm done).
Wish we could chop those unnecessary chapters out, like my 11th grade drama teacher did with the Hecate scenes in Macbeth!
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
Aside from that, it was terrific, Blossom's a great character, and I'm saddened (since I read them out of order unwittingly) that this is the last one for me. (I began with #4, then 1,2,3, so I'm done).
Wish we could chop those unnecessary chapters out, like my 11th grade drama teacher did with the Hecate scenes in Macbeth!
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
October 12, 2017
This novel tells the story of Blossom Culp who is a young girl that likes to beat to her own drum. She and her mother are described as outcasts in the town because of their 'powers.' Most of the book describes Blossom's interactions with her fellow peers and then we get to the paranormal stuff! Blossom goes on an adventure that ends with a new friend and a renewed love for the town and time period she is in.
This book was a short read. I thought it would get to the time-traveling part sooner than page 100 but I guess not. I don't feel like it had a difficult story line, definitely good for young readers to branch out to. Overall I gave it three stars because it took a little long to get to the promised 'time traveling' experience and I didn't feel like there was much to it.
***No Content Warning***
This book was a short read. I thought it would get to the time-traveling part sooner than page 100 but I guess not. I don't feel like it had a difficult story line, definitely good for young readers to branch out to. Overall I gave it three stars because it took a little long to get to the promised 'time traveling' experience and I didn't feel like there was much to it.
***No Content Warning***
October 23, 2017
Blossom is a young girl growing up in the the mid 1910's. Her and her mother are social outcasts in the town they live in, and she is definitely a social outcast at her new high school. In this book we follow her as she navigates the struggles of being a freshmen in high school, and as she also deals with her "powers" of seeing the future. Because her and her mother have "powers", they get into some crazy stuff, and at one point Blossom travels to the future. How does she get back to her time? You'll have to read it to find out.
I honestly did not like this book. I do not mean to give away any spoilers, but when she time travels it seems pointless to the story. I do not understand why it was included in the book, especially because it is only for a very short time. The characters were flat and not well rounded in my opinion, and I struggled reading the book in its entirety.
Content warning
N/A
I honestly did not like this book. I do not mean to give away any spoilers, but when she time travels it seems pointless to the story. I do not understand why it was included in the book, especially because it is only for a very short time. The characters were flat and not well rounded in my opinion, and I struggled reading the book in its entirety.
Content warning
N/A
October 23, 2017
Blossom Culp has wonderful powers - she has the Sight - and that sets her at odds with her classmates. Set in 1914, Blossom is convinced to be part of the freshman class haunted house. Using tricks she learned from her gypsy mother, she is convinced she'll make it successful - but when she explores the old abandoned building the night before Halloween, her powers suck her into the future, 1980. She makes a friend and learns how people hide in plain sight. A story of friendship, mystery and standing up for oneself, this is an interesting book.
I did like this book, though it seemed a bit abrupt when she goes to the future. There doesn't seem to be very much purpose, besides meeting certain people that she would remember. And the cover doesn't match the time period very well, in my opinion. I'm not sure if I would seek out reading more of these books, but we'll see.
I did like this book, though it seemed a bit abrupt when she goes to the future. There doesn't seem to be very much purpose, besides meeting certain people that she would remember. And the cover doesn't match the time period very well, in my opinion. I'm not sure if I would seek out reading more of these books, but we'll see.
April 7, 2020
Lucky young readers
Blossom Culp is 14 in 1914 but second sight gives her the chance to preview the 1980's--when Atari, Pong, and oversize computers have just become the rage. A new age, but being fourteen is remarkably similar to life in Blossom's time. I hope today's young readers discover Richard Peck in their folks' bookshelf, or Half Price Books , or the library, because it holds up wonderfully, as good writing always does. This is a great read aloud book the whole family will enjoy. I promise.
Blossom Culp is 14 in 1914 but second sight gives her the chance to preview the 1980's--when Atari, Pong, and oversize computers have just become the rage. A new age, but being fourteen is remarkably similar to life in Blossom's time. I hope today's young readers discover Richard Peck in their folks' bookshelf, or Half Price Books , or the library, because it holds up wonderfully, as good writing always does. This is a great read aloud book the whole family will enjoy. I promise.
August 25, 2019
3.5 stars
This is a solid series! Blossom Culp is an excellent main character. She is different and owns it. She feels the difference, but believes in herself enough that she doesn't give in. In this one I would have liked there to be a bit more with Jeremy, the boy from the future, and how she foils Letty when she is back home.
This is a solid series! Blossom Culp is an excellent main character. She is different and owns it. She feels the difference, but believes in herself enough that she doesn't give in. In this one I would have liked there to be a bit more with Jeremy, the boy from the future, and how she foils Letty when she is back home.
January 15, 2023
As with the first two books we see Blossom running into trouble and helping others in her own interesting way. Unfortunately the story line is a little flat. There could have been a lot more done with her foray into the future.
July 7, 2024
I remember really enjoying this as a kid. Sadly, it didn't hold up. I prefer a story where the characters grow or there is an uplifting change. Many problematic themes from the 80s and very little positivity here.
June 20, 2017
Excellent for that 9 to 10 year old age.
June 11, 2018
Not as good as the other Blossom books but I still enjoyed it.
June 27, 2018
Cute premise and a charming lead character
May 7, 2020
Blossom Culp is almost as good a character as Grandma Dowdell!
July 2, 2020
I loved these books in Middle School when I was a library TA. I must have read them a dozen times. They definitely hold up. Also why doesn't Blossom have a TV series?
August 11, 2020
2.5 stars. Least favorite of the four books in this series but still enjoyed it because I love Blossom!
November 3, 2021
183 pages a good book
January 18, 2022
Interesting version of a ghost story with a time slip.
July 3, 2022
Still much of the charm of the series, but this is a steep downgrade in quality compared to the other three in the series.
December 29, 2024
No one can make me hate this series
November 21, 2020
“My name is Blossom Culp, and I live by rules of my own... The world is full of Letty Shambaughs, and this includes the high school. But there is only one Blossom Culp, and I am her.” Love Blossom Culp and her adventures! Fun paranormal YA perfect for young readers. I enjoyed this series there is a fourth book but I can’t find it on Libby or an ebook... maybe I’ll try and find a physical book at the library.
July 20, 2015
Blossom is a unique and stubborn girl with the ability to see the past. However, when she sneaks into a house her mother told her not to go to, everything goes wrong and she is sent into the future, from 1914 to present day. Though she makes a friend, everything has changed, and Blossom wants to go back home to her own time.
An alright read to pass the time, though the main characters are certainly unique. Blossom's mother is a fortune-teller, and Blossom seems to be following in her mother's footsteps. The side characters are not so unique.
There are themes of lies versus truth in this book, and wondering how much we actually want to know about how things will turn out.
Content Warning:
- Witchcraft = Blossom and her mother and kind of weird, and practice their psychic talents. Not to mention the whole time-travel.
An alright read to pass the time, though the main characters are certainly unique. Blossom's mother is a fortune-teller, and Blossom seems to be following in her mother's footsteps. The side characters are not so unique.
There are themes of lies versus truth in this book, and wondering how much we actually want to know about how things will turn out.
Content Warning:
- Witchcraft = Blossom and her mother and kind of weird, and practice their psychic talents. Not to mention the whole time-travel.
July 21, 2011
I loved this book, as with every other book in the series. But there were a few things that annoyed me. Alexander went back to avoiding her, just like in the second book. And the book was too short.
Other than that, the book was awesome! Very amusing indeed. Blossom, just as always, walks to the beat of her own drum. Not to mention that she drags Alexander into all her little adventures (Why are they STILL not together? WHYYYYY????)
I'm really eager to read the next and last book in the series, can't wait!
Other than that, the book was awesome! Very amusing indeed. Blossom, just as always, walks to the beat of her own drum. Not to mention that she drags Alexander into all her little adventures (Why are they STILL not together? WHYYYYY????)
I'm really eager to read the next and last book in the series, can't wait!
May 31, 2013
Finally managed to get through the third book in Richard Peck's Blossom Culp series. It DOES NOT compare to the storytelling of the first two. It did have quite a few humorous moments, which made me snicker out loud. However, most of it was just marginally good. I give it three stars because of all the funny parts, but if you are expecting it to be as great as the first two, you will be disappointed. I am still looking forward to picking up the last book in the series at the library tomorrow...
March 4, 2015
Blossom and Alexander are entering high school, and the entire freshman class prepares a haunted house for the Halloween festival. Blossom's mother tells her not to enter the house where the festival is being held, and she's not exactly the type to obey. So she blackmails Alexander into checking out the house, and suddenly finds herself... in the future. The 1980s, befriending a boy named Jeremy who for some reason drew her Gift to him. How will she get home? Not my favorite in this series, but intriguing.
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