Rating: 4/5
Age group recommendation: Grades 5-7
The Story: In post-Civil War New York, young Horace Carpetine is apprenticed to photographer Enoch Middleditch. Enoch's apprenticeship takes a turn when Mr. Middleditch decides to specialize in spirit photography. Middleditch plans to place images of dead people in his photos, but does not plan for the supernatural to actually affect his photographs or his apprentice.
Told from Enoch's point of view, the narrative keeps a quick pace and has enough tension to make for an exciting (though not too scary) read. Enoch is a well-written character who students will be able to identify with. Enoch's discovery of and fascination with the then-new technology of photography is an interesting angle for students who have likely grown up taking lots of pictures (and movies).
I listened to the audio version of this book. At times, there seemed to be a lot of repetition which may not be as evident in the print version. The repetition may be beneficial for younger readers in being able to follow the story, while older readers may find it slows the story.
Educational applications: Great for giving students a look into life in the 1870s. Avi includes a lot of details about the Von Macht's home and the daily life of the time. There is also a lot of material for discussion of post-slavery attitudes and practices.
The Seer of Shadows by Avi
Prince Frederick, MD : Recorded Books, p2008
Copy from the Dekalb County Library
No comments:
Post a Comment