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The Famous Fox Sisters and the Mysterious Fad that Haunted a Nation
by Barb Rosenstock
A real-life ghost story for young adult readers interested in the supernatural, American history, and women's rights!
Rap. Rap. Rap. The eerie sound was first heard in March of 1848 at the home of the Fox family in Hydesville, New York. The family's two daughters, Kate and Maggie, soon discovered that they could communicate with the spirit that was making these uncanny noises; he told them he had been a traveling peddler who had been murdered. This strange incident, and the ones that followed, generated a media frenzy beyond anything the Fox sisters could have imagined. Kate and Maggie, managed (or perhaps manipulated) by their elder sister Leah, became famous spirit mediums, giving public exhibitions, and advising other celebrities of their day.
But were the Fox sisters legitimate? In the years that followed their rise, the Civil War killed roughly 1 in 4 soldiers, increasing the demand for contacting the dead. However, media campaigns against the sisters gathered steam as well...
This thrilling and mysterious true story from veteran author Barb Rosenstock (Caldecott Honor winner) will spark teens' interest in American history, encourage media literacy, and reveal insights into the Civil War era, fake news, and women's rights.
"Rosenstock effectively and objectively presents historical facts alongside primary sources—journal entries, letters, newspaper clippings, photos—as she explores whether the Foxes truly experienced supernatural phenomena or whether it was a hoax all along. She also excels at integrating the larger social and historical context in which Spiritualism rose to prominence, drawing clear connections between the facts presented. A suspenseful, well-researched read filled with fascinating and evocative visuals." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A detailed and engaging account of the Fox sisters, who started the 19th-century Spiritualist movement. Pages turn quickly with short chapters and Rosenstock's intriguing ghost story–writing style. Extensive documentation is provided, including source notes, bibliography, and index. A great choice for teens who enjoy ghost stories and those interested in con artists or history. Recommended for all libraries." —School Library Journal
"Rosenstock, known for her award-winning informational picture books, turns to an older audience as she examines how the Fox sisters drove the Spiritualism movement in the nineteenth century. In meticulous detail… Rosenstock frames their rise and fall with the state of the nation, from deadly diseases to political divisions over slavery. By the end of this intriguing account, which is supported by copious source notes, readers must decide if the Fox sisters were mediums or tricksters, famous or infamous—or a bit of both." —Booklist
"The Fox sisters captivated their neighbors, friends, detractors, and all of America. This book will captivate readers—with great storytelling, rigorous research, the truth—and no trickery!" —Deborah Heiligman, winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction for Vincent and Theo, author of Charles and Emma, Torpedoed, and other celebrated nonfiction.
"Both a personal story of the three Fox sisters and a unique look at mid-nineteenth-century history, American Spirits has it all: rise to power, fame, greed, love, lost love, and fall from grace, all recounted blow by blow in the frenzied media coverage of the day." —Elizabeth Partridge, National Book Award Finalist, 2023 Sibert Medalist for Seen and Unseen, and author of more than a dozen award-winning books for young people.
This information about American Spirits was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Barb Rosenstock is the author of many nonfiction books for young people, including Mornings With Monet, Fight of the Century, Prairie Boy, and Dorothea's Eyes. Her picture book on Vasily Kandinsky, The Noisy Paint Box, won the Caldecott Honor. Visit barbrosenstock.com.
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