Pemba's Song: A Ghost Story

Pemba's Song: A Ghost Story by Marilyn Nelson. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780545140201.

Pemba, an African-American teen, doesnt want to make the move from Brooklyn to Connecticut no matter how rosy a picture her mother tries to paint. As soon as she sees her new home, she knows something isnt right. At first, she thinks shes imagining things, like the strange mirror that reflects the image of an 18th-century girl. But then the blackouts begin. During them Pemba sees Phyllys, a slave who lived in the house centuries before. Something horrible happened to her all those years ago and now she needs Pembas help. Working with Abraham, an eccentric old man who lives nearby, Pemba must uncover the girls story to finally put her to rest. Told through alternating chapters, poetry, and journal entries, this title is sure to appeal to fans of ghost stories as well as historical fiction. There are few ghost stories featuring African-American teens and fewer still that are as well written and interesting as this one. With its brevity, it will make an excellent choice for reluctant readers as well.—Ginny Collier, Dekalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA