Dickens & Rumi

book

The ghost children

Eve Bunting · 1989

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for The ghost children by Eve Bunting. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Good role models.

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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character3/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Good role models3/5
  • Kindness & empathy3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

The ghost-child premise appears connected to children who have died or are being remembered. The available information does not indicate graphic treatment.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

The feeling of isolation and the fear of abandonment create a tense, suspenseful atmosphere.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

The children display great internal fortitude while facing abandonment.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

The narrative invites children to imagine how they would solve problems under pressure.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The book appears to include socioeconomic hardship, offering some social-background representation, though broad diversity is not a central focus.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

The story may encourage empathy and awareness of difficult social circumstances, but teaching factual knowledge or skills is not its main purpose.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

The children demonstrate care and protection toward one another.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Explores themes of resilience, sibling bonds, and the reality of family hardship.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

The siblings show strength and cooperation in a dire situation.

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Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in The ghost children would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in The ghost children, and what caused that change?
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