The Phantom Fair

The Bee Theres #7

by Lael Littke

Bonnnie, a twelve-year-old Mormon girl, hopes that her ideas for the ward Halloween party will get her into the popular girls' club the Bee Theres, but the situation is complicated by a mummy in her backyard.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery

156 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

Daughter of Frank George and Ada Geneva (Petersen) Jensen; married George C. Littke (a college professor), June 29, 1954; children: Lori S. Education: Utah State University, B.S., 1952; graduate study at City College (now City University of New York), 1955-59, and University of California--Los Angeles, 1968. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). Hobbies and other interests: Travel. Memberships: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Council on Children's Literature. Agent: Jack Byrne, 3209 South Fifty-fifth St., Milwaukee, WI 53219-4433.

CAREER:

Gates Rubber Co., Denver, CO, secretary, 1952-54; Life Insurance Association of America, New York, NY, secretary, 1954-60; worked as a medical secretary for a physician in New York, NY, 1960-63; writer, 1963--. Taught writing classes in writers' programs at Pasadena City College and University of California--Los Angeles, 1978-88.

AWARDS:

Southern California Council on Children's Literature Award for notable work of fiction, 1992, for Blue Skye; Best Books for the Teen Age, New York Public Library, 2003, for Lake of Secrets.

Reviews

[Anna del C. Dye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written and a fast read. It contains lots of excitement, fun, and great ideas for a spook-alley. Furthermore, it teaches a lot about friendship and serving to others. It is a clean and wholesome book that should be in every young woman 19s home.
Bonnie just turned 12 and thus she is promoted to a different Sunday school class. She has been dreading this change for a while and wishes she could stay in primary. Alas, she is too old for primary and she is sure too clumsy and tall to be in Young Women 19s. She is sure the girls will never let her be one of the Bee There group, a group she really wants to belong to. She can 19t face the shame she is sure her family is feeling about her. She has to be messed up 26doesn 19t she? To liven things up, her best friend believes she is Cleopatra and can summon up one of her servant 19s ghosts to become Bonnie 19s servant.
This tale is a fascinating coming of age story that will be loved by any girl between 10 and 16.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story with some very good life lessons. This was a great book used to introduce my niece to mystery books. We also used it to have some very good discussions about worries, fears, and how to overcome them.

Suggest this book for the LDS tween that likes a good mystery.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this is the last one in the series. I don't think it was intended to be, but I never saw any come out afterwards and I of course by then was growing out of them.