How I Became A Ghost — A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story (Book 1 in the How I Became A Ghost Series)

How I became a Ghost is a stunner of a book that deserves to be widely read, not just by kids but by grown-ups. I'd heard of the Trail of Tears, and knew it was horrible, but now it has been made real to me. And it was a really good story, with lots of magical, exciting, adventure.Isaac, the narrator of the story, is a ghost. But when his story begins, he is an ordinary kid, growing up in a close-knit Choctaw community. "I'm ten years old and I'm not a ghost yet. My name is Isaac and I have a mother and a father and a big brother, Luke. I have a dog, too. His name is Jumper, and he is my best friend. We go everywhere together. We swim in the river together; we chase chickens together." Only the date at the top of the chapter, 1830, tells the reader this is a long ago story.Isaac's life is about to be destroyed. The Choctaw are about to be driven out on the long forced march from their ancestral homeland in Mississippi to Oklahoma--on foot, in winter. Many will die, and Isaac finds himself seeing visions foreshadowing who, and how. And he knows that he will be among those who do not make it, and that he will become a ghost.But though what happens is almost unbearably harsh, Tim Tingle accomplishes something remarkable with the way in which Isaac tells his story. Without diminishing the import and impact of the suffering and death, he manages to make his characters more than just the sum of their horrible experiences, and their story more than just a litany of darkness. Part of this comes from Isaac's voice--he's very much a lovable, somewhat naive kid; a typical ten-year-old boy (who happens to be a ghost), telling his story in a matter-of-fact way with touches of humor. Another escape from darkness comes from the resilience of the Choctaw people, who face the horrible hand they've been dealt with heroism, determination, and the strength of their community, one that includes the ancestors and the recent dead as well as with the living. And because death does not sever the bonds of family, the fact that Isaac becomes a ghost is desperately sad, but not as emotionally devastating as it might be.And the final thing that keeps the weight of the subject from crushing the reader is that Isaac's story is also a gripping adventure, one that finds him on a desperate mission to save a teenage girl from the soldiers forcing the march onward...with the help of an unexpected ally, a shape-shifting panther boy. This adventure is one with tremendous appeal for younger readers (shape-shifting panther boy! desperate escape involving schemes and subterfuge!), making the pages turn fast and furiously.And an even more final, small, thing--Isaac's dog Jumper is a joy.This is historical fiction doing what the best historical fiction does--making part of the past come alive, jolting the reader into new knowledge of the past and its atrocities while keeping them engrossed in a great story. And it's the best sort of historical fiction for kids--teaching without preaching, telling a story that's exciting and entertaining, while packing an emotional punch that leaves the reader stunned and changed. It's the first of a trilogy, and I am looking forward to the next book lots.

Tingle is a native Choctaw . The story is a touching tragic story of how the Choctaw tribe was displaced, tragically from their homes and forced to be moved by the trail of tears. I read this with the 5th grader I was teaching. Many dialogues of right and wrong , and how governments can do some ruthless things to get their way.

This was a really good book for young adult literature. My kids were in 4th and 6th grade when reading it. I wouldn't recommend lower than 4th grade in tackling this book due to the nature of the content. It takes the reader along the Trail of Tears, and there is lots of heartache in the book. It lets you know from the time and first page of the book that the main character is going to 'become a ghost', so you know what it going to happen. However, the Trail of Tears is long and there are lots of tears along the way.With that being said, the book is amazing. I read it with the kids as they prepared for a literature circle and was just as enthralled as they were. Good story telling, lots of historical facts and introduction to culture, but still some elements to place this squarely in the historical fiction category. Definitely recommend for children that can handle books without Disney endings.

I read this book because one of my students in English as a Second Language class was reading it as a school initiative to read the Title I books they are given each year. She asked if I would also read it in case she need help understanding the story. In the beginning I was not very interested but the imagery and feeling that the story invoked encouraged me to keep reading and I became excited to finish the book and share a discussion about it with my student.

What a FANTASTIC book! I have been looking for more books with Native American characters for my classroom library, and I am so glad I found How I Became a Ghost. This book tells the important story of a young boy and his family as they set out on the Trail of Tears. Absolutely heartbreaking, but so important for students to read! A little graphic at times, but absolutely age appropriate for middle grade students and older!

Though How I Became a Ghost is listed as a middle grade novel, its attraction goes far beyond the target audience. This is truly a great work with crossover appeal, for early teen through adult readers. In fact, in a culture where everything must be labeled, this book transcends labels. When all the elements are considered, the reader is treated to quite the literary buffet. The story is a rich exploration of Choctaw history and culture, family roles and dynamics, coming of age, generational wisdom, supernatural fiction, classic struggle of good versus evil, ecology, the hero's journey, transformation and redemption...yet to focus your lens too sharply on any one part is to lose sight of the greater merit of this amazing work.It is written from the perspective of the main character, a 10 year old boy, in a deceptively naive, at times even lighthearted voice--one that is capable of finding humor even in the most dire situations. Yet the boy, who is thrust into tragic circumstances, seems to comprehend their severity and responds with maturity and resolve that both reflect and go beyond his age. It is a delicate balancing act that Tim Tingle's fluid narrative walks with passion and dexterity. Don't be fooled by its easy, and even sparse, conversational style, How I Became a Ghost plays masterfully on a broad range of human emotions. This is storytelling at its finest--put it on the top of your "must read--now" list. It is a book that will stay with you long after you finish it.

My daughter loves this book it is a great read and quality is great.

Je l'ai lu avec mon dernier et c'est une révélation. Histoire et poésie. Très bon récit.