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Ghost Soldier
The ghost of a young soldier from the Civil War haunts a troubled teen.
"I sat up. The jagged trenches were only soft grassy depressions in the sunny battlefield park. I felt tears burn my eyes, the relief was so strong, and then the misery of losing the ghost hit me."
Alexander has the ability to see ghosts. But it's been several years since his last encounter. When he reluctantly joins his father on a long trip away from home, a surprise awaits him. In the unfamiliar territory of North Carolina, Alexander is confronted by the ghost of a young soldier who lost his life in the Civil War. As an unusual friendship develops between the two, Alexander is drawn into a new reality where he comes face to face with the haunting past of his soldier friend. But can Alexander help this troubled ghost, and can he, finally, come to terms with his own disturbing past? With deftness and insight, Elaine Marie Alphin tells a gripping story that weaves the supernatural with the historical. Ghost story fans and Civil War buffs alike are in for a real treat.
"I sat up. The jagged trenches were only soft grassy depressions in the sunny battlefield park. I felt tears burn my eyes, the relief was so strong, and then the misery of losing the ghost hit me."
Alexander has the ability to see ghosts. But it's been several years since his last encounter. When he reluctantly joins his father on a long trip away from home, a surprise awaits him. In the unfamiliar territory of North Carolina, Alexander is confronted by the ghost of a young soldier who lost his life in the Civil War. As an unusual friendship develops between the two, Alexander is drawn into a new reality where he comes face to face with the haunting past of his soldier friend. But can Alexander help this troubled ghost, and can he, finally, come to terms with his own disturbing past? With deftness and insight, Elaine Marie Alphin tells a gripping story that weaves the supernatural with the historical. Ghost story fans and Civil War buffs alike are in for a real treat.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2001
20 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Elaine Marie Alphin
27 books29 followersI was born on 30 October 1955 in San Francisco, California, and attended Lafayette Elementary School in San Francisco. Then my family moved to New York City, where I attended William H. Carr Junior High School. This is a school picture of me from my junior high school days. After that we moved to Houston, and I went to Westchester High School and on to Rice University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
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October 27, 2017Alexander is a boy that likes history he is waiting for his mom the come but his father thinks that she never will come back and that makes a bad re lationship between him and his father.It’s been three years since his mother walked out on him and his father, but 13-year-old Alexander still hopes for her return—and blames his father bitterly for her departure.The only thing that distracts him from his anger is the ghost he meets while touring a Civil War battlefield.
February 8, 2011
Read it twice and didn't like it either time.
November 13, 2018
In The Ghost Soldier, a man and his teenage son visit South Carolina. The son, Alexander, has missed his mother ever since she left years ago and is resentful towards his father for getting a new girlfriend. The ghost of a young boy begins to haunt Alexander when he slips back in time to the Civil War trenches and witnesses the boy’s death. The ghost needs assistance in finding out what befell his family after his death. Alexander reluctantly agrees and they begin searching for the missing records, which they eventually find in a museum on the opposite side of town. Alexander solves the mysteries surrounding the ghost and frees him from his afterlife.
The main theme in this novel is that family will remain even when everything else fades away. Alexander’s struggles revolve around accepting a new mother and siblings, or waiting for his biological mother whom may never return. He learns to accept change and let go of the memories holding him back to become closer with his father. This theme is also evident in the ghost’s struggles to discover what happened to his family. The ghost repeatedly shares stories of the times that his family enjoyed and the trials which brought them together. A heartwarming scene at the end of the book reunites the ghost with his sister, which reminds Alexander that family is the most important thing he has.
I loved this book! It included a lot of historical background which was entertaining to read and reinforced the family as a unit. Alexander’s experiences are relatable and I especially enjoyed watching him grow closer with the ghost and become invested in discovering his history. The book was well written and held lots of suspense, especially at the big reveal. Although it was targeted at a younger audience, it was still very enjoyable and appropriate for audiences young or old. The end is fulfilling and I left feeling satisfied with the way it was wrapped up.
The main theme in this novel is that family will remain even when everything else fades away. Alexander’s struggles revolve around accepting a new mother and siblings, or waiting for his biological mother whom may never return. He learns to accept change and let go of the memories holding him back to become closer with his father. This theme is also evident in the ghost’s struggles to discover what happened to his family. The ghost repeatedly shares stories of the times that his family enjoyed and the trials which brought them together. A heartwarming scene at the end of the book reunites the ghost with his sister, which reminds Alexander that family is the most important thing he has.
I loved this book! It included a lot of historical background which was entertaining to read and reinforced the family as a unit. Alexander’s experiences are relatable and I especially enjoyed watching him grow closer with the ghost and become invested in discovering his history. The book was well written and held lots of suspense, especially at the big reveal. Although it was targeted at a younger audience, it was still very enjoyable and appropriate for audiences young or old. The end is fulfilling and I left feeling satisfied with the way it was wrapped up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2019
Ghost Soldier is a touching story that discusses the changes in a teen boy's life (his divorced father potentially remarrying) and some of the often overlooked hardships of the South during the Civil War (or as Southerners call it the War Between the States). The boy discovers parallels between him moving on from his mother who left him and helping the ghost of a young soldier find his lost family.
November 23, 2019
In my opinion, a good book goes in many waves between excitment/interest to parts of slow plot building. This book, unfortunately, is only exciting in the very beginning and the very end of the book. There's about 100 pages in the middle that are painfully slow and boring. Even then, the ending of the book was slightly predictable and unoriginal making the book overall feel slightly like a waste of time. The story/plotline as a whole id rate 5/10 bc of its lack of originality and excitement.
October 13, 2017
Excellent book! I sometimes like to read novels written for teen readers because they’re quick, light reading that I can get through in a few hours. This novel was great for my purposes. It was easy to get immediately involved in the story. I’m glad it was a short read because I would have had a difficult time putting the book down.
November 17, 2017
It was a good book for teenagers like myself. Alex is a great character and person but I feel bad for him because he does not know where his mom is, so then he has to be with his father. And Alex does not like his father for one, he believes his father made her leave. But when Alex goes to a Civil War battlefield he meets a ghost who fought in the war.
June 11, 2018
This book was okay. The characters are okay. Nobody’s truly interesting, but they hold up just fine. The story is alright. It never really got super exciting, but it was never really boring either. The pacing is pretty good. Overall, it’s your average, run-of-the-mill book. It’s a short and sweet read for any history lovers.
March 11, 2025
Quick teen (?) read that I enjoyed. Alexander is 13 (I think) but showed growth and acceptance that those older don't always show. Ending had me feeling a bit weepy. May have tied up a bit too neatly and the adult acceptance a bit too easy but hey, it's fiction.
December 15, 2017
I loved hoe descrptive the book is and where the dad and the kid is. I also enjoyed how the author put a map at the beginning of the book
November 9, 2018
i think it is a good book and i would recommend it for my class mates be cause it is a really scary and sad book about the war when he died.
October 27, 2020
I enjoyed reading this short story. Alexander helping the ghost find his family from a Civil War time, was sad heartwarming and sometimes just funny.
Read
May 15, 2021ok, but I'm not the target demographic.
May 31, 2022
Honestly, a great read for people who like history!! It's easy to read, has smooth storytelling, and is a great way to get kids and others into the stories of soldiers!
September 1, 2024
What a wonderful story
I loved learning the history of the War between the States. The Soldier Ghost was amazing. I loved this book
I loved learning the history of the War between the States. The Soldier Ghost was amazing. I loved this book
September 16, 2024
Loved this book!
May 2, 2025
My son and I loved this historical fiction story! My 9 year old asked me to read it again as soon as we finished!
October 5, 2017
good ghost story
February 22, 2017
I chose 4 stars because I find this book amazing to me and compared to some other books i read before this is a good book.I got three reasons for someone to read this book they are if you like the paranormal ,history and fiction then you should read this story.The story would be better if Elaine made a cliff hanger to make another book with a different ghost.
April 12, 2013
Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin, clearly portrays that the historical time period is 1861-1865.
My evidence to support this thought is there is an army on the front cover. Also on pages 14 and 15 in this book the author gives clues jumbled throughout the text waiting to be revealed. When the General of the army murmured about the slavery caused by farmers,barrens, and companies to the soldier in a Southern accent that proves that it was the Civil War. Because during that time slavery occurred; however, men were fighting against it by war. Which the war was called the Civil War.
In the Civil War everything had battlefield marked all over it. 750,000 men and women died, but the horrible, terrible, and gruesome thing is........... only 500,000 men actually fought in the battle!
The Civil War is an important historical event that has happened in the past lives of others. Supporting this is if we didn't have the Civil War most of the blacks every where would be locked up in a cage like animals. The blacks would be locked up in chains begging for survival.
To reiterate, the time period here had battle in it, for this battle is called the civil war. The Civil War was an importent time period, for all the blacks today who are happy in life. Everybody must be grateful for the fact others went through the pain and agony instead of us having to go through that miserable fate. Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin, clearly portrays that the historical time period is 1861-1865.
My evidence to support this thought is there is an army on the front cover. Also on pages 14 and 15 in this book the author gives clues jumbled throughout the text waiting to be revealed. When the General of the army murmured about the slavery caused by farmers,barrens, and companies to the soldier in a Southern accent that proves that it was the Civil War. Because during that time slavery occurred; however, men were fighting against it by war. Which the war was called the Civil War.
In the Civil War everything had battlefield marked all over it. 750,000 men and women died, but the horrible, terrible, and gruesome thing is........... only 500,000 men actually fought in the battle!
The Civil War is an important historical event that has happened in the past lives of others. Supporting this is if we didn't have the Civil War most of the blacks every where would be locked up in a cage like animals. The blacks would be locked up in chains begging for survival.
To reiterate, the time period here had battle in it, for this battle is called the civil war. The Civil War was an importent time period, for all the blacks today who are happy in life. Everybody must be grateful for the fact others went through the pain and agony instead of us having to go through that miserable fate. Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin, clearly portrays that the historical time period is 1861-1865.
February 20, 2011
Read this book last weekend. So glad I did not let the cover chase me off. I usually don't judge by the covers but this one had "Boy Book" written all over it!
Note the civil war clothes, the gun, the battlefield ... yeah, I thought it was going to be dreary and depressing, old-fashioned, like most of the civil war books I have read, and I needed something lighter to read.
What a surprise this turned out to be. A modern boy needs to come to terms with his mother leaving him while dealing with a father that wants to relocate from Illinois so he can marry a woman in NC. While visiting a Civil War battlefield with their future blended family during spring break, he meets a ghost who follows him home. Turns out, the ghost is trying to find the family he left behind and he wants the very reluctant living boy to help him.
Nice parallel story lines ... one boy struggles to let go of his mother so he can accept his future and move on while another is desperate to find out what happened to his family so he can finally let go and move on. It wasn't nearly as heavy handed as most children's lit needs to be to get its point across. Add to that some pretty smart thinking, good research skills and an awakening of a love of history and museums on the part of the human boy and we have a wonderful book.
Note the civil war clothes, the gun, the battlefield ... yeah, I thought it was going to be dreary and depressing, old-fashioned, like most of the civil war books I have read, and I needed something lighter to read.
What a surprise this turned out to be. A modern boy needs to come to terms with his mother leaving him while dealing with a father that wants to relocate from Illinois so he can marry a woman in NC. While visiting a Civil War battlefield with their future blended family during spring break, he meets a ghost who follows him home. Turns out, the ghost is trying to find the family he left behind and he wants the very reluctant living boy to help him.
Nice parallel story lines ... one boy struggles to let go of his mother so he can accept his future and move on while another is desperate to find out what happened to his family so he can finally let go and move on. It wasn't nearly as heavy handed as most children's lit needs to be to get its point across. Add to that some pretty smart thinking, good research skills and an awakening of a love of history and museums on the part of the human boy and we have a wonderful book.
April 14, 2009
I loved this book. If you are interested with history and adventure this is the book for you. Elaine Marie Alphin used such incredible detail in the novel. For example, when Alexander would have a flashback she wrote that he could smell the scent of oranges and whenever Alexander was around the ghost he would get chilled by a cold gust of wind following the ghost. This book was an amazing adventure story. Alexander was on a mission to help the ghost figure out what had happened to his family while he was off at war. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in adventures and history. I enjoyed this book so much because I am interested in wars and what goes on during war time. I’ve have always been interested in wars because my grandfather fought in WW2 and I never got to meet him and I always wondered what it would be like to live in that time. Reading books about wartime helps me predict what it would have been like to live in that time and this book helps me do such as that. On a 5 star rating I would give it a 4 ¾ because there were some parts of the book I liked more than others.
October 31, 2022
This book is a pretty short book about the adventure of finding a dead soldier and trying to fill into its final wish so he can rest peacefully.
The idea is very intriguing, but the execution was anticlimactic. Alexander has a very lousy mother who left and isn’t completely explained of where she went. The relationship that happens with Alexander and the daughter of his dad’s girlfriend —the tension between the family— is never exactly resolved and the ending is kind of cheesy.
The main issues to trying to find the answer of what was in the metal container is a bit humorous, in my opinion. The concept is there, the book isn’t the most exciting or riveting, but it’s a short read and definitely not the worst. The information provided about the Civil War (specifically where Richeson is from) is very interesting and informative, which is the ideal.
The idea is very realistic in terms of how situations occur, besides the whole ghosts and supernatural beings idea. Overall, nice read, but wouldn’t recommend to people who want an exciting adventure, the book is very realistic in the ways of not having the most action-packed life. Nice and informative though!
The idea is very intriguing, but the execution was anticlimactic. Alexander has a very lousy mother who left and isn’t completely explained of where she went. The relationship that happens with Alexander and the daughter of his dad’s girlfriend —the tension between the family— is never exactly resolved and the ending is kind of cheesy.
The main issues to trying to find the answer of what was in the metal container is a bit humorous, in my opinion. The concept is there, the book isn’t the most exciting or riveting, but it’s a short read and definitely not the worst. The information provided about the Civil War (specifically where Richeson is from) is very interesting and informative, which is the ideal.
The idea is very realistic in terms of how situations occur, besides the whole ghosts and supernatural beings idea. Overall, nice read, but wouldn’t recommend to people who want an exciting adventure, the book is very realistic in the ways of not having the most action-packed life. Nice and informative though!
March 8, 2014
I took this book from the school library on a whim. Someone had left it on a table instead of returning it to be shelved. I was in a "ghost mood" so I began reading it.
I like the protagonist. He's struggling with the loss of his mom and his changing life. I understand that and I think some of my students would, too. I like that he's not an ordinary kid: he sees ghosts, he plays the recorder (self-taught), and he gardens. He's also stubborn as a mule--which turns out to be a good thing.
I like the storyline. It's unusual for a ghost story. It reminded me of The Ghost Sitter because the ghost is not the typical ghost we're used to. I like the idea that ghosts are waiting for their "out of timers" to help them on their way. We're interacting with their world as much as they're interacting with ours. It's a neat notion.
I felt happily satisfied with the ending. There was a lot of character growth and it rounded out the story nicely.
I like the protagonist. He's struggling with the loss of his mom and his changing life. I understand that and I think some of my students would, too. I like that he's not an ordinary kid: he sees ghosts, he plays the recorder (self-taught), and he gardens. He's also stubborn as a mule--which turns out to be a good thing.
I like the storyline. It's unusual for a ghost story. It reminded me of The Ghost Sitter because the ghost is not the typical ghost we're used to. I like the idea that ghosts are waiting for their "out of timers" to help them on their way. We're interacting with their world as much as they're interacting with ours. It's a neat notion.
I felt happily satisfied with the ending. There was a lot of character growth and it rounded out the story nicely.
June 15, 2009
This is a good story for a sixth or seventh grader (or eighth grader who is not a strong reader) about the "War Between the States."
Alexander's father takes him to North Carolina for spring break where they will spend time with Mrs. Hambrick (the woman - a widow who Alexander's dad wants to marry) and her two children Nicole and Carelton.
During a visit to the battlefield at Fort Stedman (near Petersburg) Alexander experiences the battle as the soldiers did and meets a ghost (Richeson - Rich Frances Chamblee) who asks Alexander to help him solve the myster of what happened to his sisters, Louise and Amalia.
The mystery that follows is fun to experience. There are no spys with guns or violence of any sort, but the book moves along and it is fun.
It should be on the reading list of any junior high history teacher who wants their students to read historical fiction about the WAR between the STATES.
Alexander's father takes him to North Carolina for spring break where they will spend time with Mrs. Hambrick (the woman - a widow who Alexander's dad wants to marry) and her two children Nicole and Carelton.
During a visit to the battlefield at Fort Stedman (near Petersburg) Alexander experiences the battle as the soldiers did and meets a ghost (Richeson - Rich Frances Chamblee) who asks Alexander to help him solve the myster of what happened to his sisters, Louise and Amalia.
The mystery that follows is fun to experience. There are no spys with guns or violence of any sort, but the book moves along and it is fun.
It should be on the reading list of any junior high history teacher who wants their students to read historical fiction about the WAR between the STATES.
July 25, 2009
This book is about a boy named Alexander. All his life he was able to see ghosts, except his late mother. He always thought that sooner or later he would see her, but he never has. Now he moves in with the women his father intends to marry. One day, he saw a confederate soldier about his age, Richeson. Day after day the vision he sees become more real. Richeson came back and appeals to Alexander to help look for his sister.
I connect this book to the movie, "The Sixth Sense". The movie is about a boy who can see dead people, so can Alexander. I also connect this to some shows, that says they can track the paranormal (ex:Ghost Hunters).
I gave this book 3 stars, because it didn't seem like a good book. It's about a dead soldier who looking for her sister. It was boring some times. I recommend this book to any one likes books about ghosts, or history about war.
I connect this book to the movie, "The Sixth Sense". The movie is about a boy who can see dead people, so can Alexander. I also connect this to some shows, that says they can track the paranormal (ex:Ghost Hunters).
I gave this book 3 stars, because it didn't seem like a good book. It's about a dead soldier who looking for her sister. It was boring some times. I recommend this book to any one likes books about ghosts, or history about war.
September 5, 2011
This book deals with single parenthood and how Alex feels about not having his mom around anymore. Blended families are also explored along with interesting aspects of the Civil War and the amazing amount of young people who fought for both the Union and the Confederacy. It's easy to see why this book is the winner of both the 2002 Society of Midland Authors Children's Fiction Award and the 2004 Young Hoosier Book Award. The book is well-written and Alex and the other main characters seem like people that might actually live in your neighborhood. The historical aspect of the story brings the reality of the Civil War to a young audience in a way that is understandable.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Review; 'Ghost Soldier' by Elaine Marie Alphin - San Francisco fiction | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/fiction-in-sa...
August 23, 2013
This book was a slow start for me . . . angry teens are not usually at the top of my list for favorite characters. However, this book picked up steam as it went along. And while it is a bit fantastical (one of the main characters is a ghost), it was a nice vehicle for telling about a small part of the civil war (namely the Battle of Ft. Stedman and Sherman's march). Most surprising, for me, was the even-handed treatment of the people and cause of the Confederacy (i.e. they weren't fighting solely to keep slaves and most soldiers did not own slaves). After reading and watching so many horrific accounts of evil slave owners and how awful the South was/is, this aspect of the book was refreshing. At the same time, how awful was the Civil War? That came through in the book without staying there too long. I also appreciated the family relationships resolved well at the end . . .
January 18, 2011
A Battle of the Books selection for 4th graders, this book was set in North Carolina and brought to life the Civil War in the form of a young soldier (the ghost). Alexander and his dad are visiting NC because his dad wants remarry and move there. Alexander hates the idea and feels like he'd be giving on his dream of his mother returning. He meets the ghost whose dream is to find out if his family, especially his sister, survived the war. Alexander is the only one who can help his dream come true. I liked the story and how it delved into issues like why young men fought in the war, what happened afterward, and being part of a family. Interesting tidbits of how to do family history work too - for young boys, not just old people!
December 19, 2013
The Ghost Solder
Book review
This is a great cliff hanger book. That is paranormal and historic.
This book has a ghost named rich and a boy named Alexander. The ghost is stuck in the war between the states. Then alexander comes along and gets stuck with rich. The author adds real emotion to Alexander's reaction to rich being in his life. And then adds real world issues like his mom left him. And rich died at 13. It is a great book and I would recommend this book to any historic person and to people that love paranormal books, and movies.
I would rate this book four stars out of five.
By. Nicky shemesh
Book review
This is a great cliff hanger book. That is paranormal and historic.
This book has a ghost named rich and a boy named Alexander. The ghost is stuck in the war between the states. Then alexander comes along and gets stuck with rich. The author adds real emotion to Alexander's reaction to rich being in his life. And then adds real world issues like his mom left him. And rich died at 13. It is a great book and I would recommend this book to any historic person and to people that love paranormal books, and movies.
I would rate this book four stars out of five.
By. Nicky shemesh
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews