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‘Ghost
Soldier’
[JAN.
2, 2002] "Ghost
Soldier" by Elaine Marie Alphin. Henry Holt and Company, 2001,
216 pages.
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Thirteen-year-old
Alexander Raskin and his father have traveled from Indiana to North
Carolina for spring break. They are visiting Paige Hambrick, his
father’s girlfriend, and her two children, Carleton and Nicole.
Alexander really doesn’t want to be there and is worried that his
mother will return and not be able to find them.
He
has been waiting for her return since she left three years ago on
New Year’s Day. Despite his parent’s divorce, he still believes
his family will get back together. His relationship with his father
is not great, because he unrealistically blames him for his mother’s
leaving.
The
first time Alexander saw ghosts he was just 5 years old. He saw a
white man cheating some Indians by charging them a dollar for a
needle. His mother told him that it had really happened many years
ago and that he had found a window in time. He had not seen a ghost
since then, but now it happens again.
He
reluctantly goes on a sightseeing excursion with his father, Paige
and her children to Civil War battle site. He is suddenly
transported through a window in time and is there while the battle
is raging. It is a frightening and fascinating experience that
Alexander describes as follows:
"I
sat up. The jagged trenches were only soft grassy depressions in the
sunny battlefield park. I felt tears burn my eyes, the relief was so
strong, and then the misery of losing the ghost hit me."
On
returning to the Hambrink home that evening, he discovers that the
ghost of a young Confederate soldier has followed him. The ghost’s
name is Richeson Chamblee, and he is searching for information about
his family because he was killed before the war was over. He is
especially concerned about a younger sister, Louise. Richeson won’t
leave Alexander alone until he agrees to help him.
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review]
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Alexander
has no idea how to begin, but Rich tells him about a small metal box
that Louise put in the hollow of a tree in 1865. He is sure that if
they can find the box, there will be a note in it telling him where
she went and what happened to the rest of the family.
Alexander
eventually accomplishes the task and is able to go back in time to
the very night Louise put the box in the hollow of the tree. The
story ends dramatically with Alexander and Louise meeting and
changing history.
The
emotions Alexander experiences cause him to talk to his father about
things they should have talked about years before, and
reconciliation takes place. He begins to accept his mother’s
leaving and his father’s need to move on.
The
story is a blend of historical, time travel and family themes. It is
entertaining as well as giving insight into the Confederate view of
the Civil War. The author does a good job of explaining how to
research historical information about a person or family name. The
book is recommended for grades five to seven.
For
more information about this book or others, visit the library at 725
Pekin St. or call (217) 732-5732.
[Linda
Harmon, Lincoln Public Library District]
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Classic
Film Nights to feature ‘It Happened One Night,’ ‘On the
Waterfront’ and ‘The Ten Commandments’
[DEC.
11, 2001] The
Logan County Arts Association executive board, meeting on Monday
night, announced plans to show "It Happened One Night,"
"On the Waterfront" and "The Ten Commandments"
at its Classic Film Nights in February, March and April 2002. The
movie to be shown Jan. 10, however, is still unconfirmed.
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Marshall
Jacobs, president of the arts association, said he has requested
"Gone With the Wind" for the January showing at Lincoln
Cinemas but has not received confirmation that the 1939 classic is
available. Backup possibilities are "The Adventures of Robin
Hood" with Errol Flynn, "High Noon" with Gary Cooper
and "Singin’ in the Rain" with Fred Astaire.
Scheduled
for Feb. 14, "It Happened One Night" was produced in 1934,
when it won best actor and actress Oscars for stars Clark Gable and
Claudette Colbert. "On the Waterfront" (1954), to be shown
March 14, stars Marlon Brando, who also won an Oscar for that
performance. Cecil B. De Mille’s 1956 blockbuster "The Ten
Commandments" will be shown at Lincoln Cinemas on April 11.
The
association’s first Classic Film Night was a sellout. Because
people had to be turned away from "Casablanca" on Oct. 11,
the board is investigating whether future films can be shown at 4
p.m. as well as 7 p.m.
Corporate
sponsors for future Classic Film Nights and other arts events are
being sought. Those interested should contact Marshall Jacobs, (217)
899-6243, or Stuart Wyneken, (217) 732-4298.
Wyneken,
coordinator for the film nights and for the arts association’s
project to restore the Lincoln Cinemas building, announced that he
has blueprints from when the theater was "twinned," or
divided for showing two movies. When Kerasotes Theatres builds its
new theater complex, the corporation has indicated that it will
transfer the Lincoln Cinemas building to Lincoln/Logan County
Chamber of Commerce. Jacobs said plans are for the chamber of
commerce to hold the theater as part of the downtown historic
district and for the Logan County Arts Association to restore the
interior of the building. Work will not begin until at least the
fall of 2002.
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this article]
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The
arts association is looking for community members with photographs
of either the interior or the exterior of the theater building at
any point in its history. People with such photos are asked to
contact Wyneken. Any photos located will be scanned and returned to
their owners.
In
more immediate business the board completed plans for the Dec. 16
classical guitar performance by Christian
Culleton of Chicago. The concert
will take place at 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church at 402 Pekin
St. Tickets cost $5 and are available from Lincoln Public Library
Annex, Gossett’s Design Studio, Serendipity Stitches, arts
association board members and at the door. Jacobs announced that the
local association will register Culleton with the Illinois Arts
Council, which will include him in its next biennial listing of
artists.
The
regular meeting time of the Logan County Arts Association board was
changed to the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The January
2002 meeting, however, will be on the second Tuesday. The meeting
place is the lower level of Lincoln Public Library.
In
other business the board authorized Jacobs to purchase $1 million in
liability insurance from State Farm Insurance. The insurance is to
be in effect before the Dec. 16 classical guitar concert.
[Lynn
Shearer Spellman]
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