I think the plot pacing is definitely a strength of this book. As an adult, it was a bit tedious, but I was still able to get immersed in the story. The writing is very simple and straightforward in this book, which is not a bad thing, since the intended audience is for kids. It was really interesting to read and I am forever glad I picked this book up. Isaac learns from his parent wisdom, from the resilience of the Council Members, and from a boy his own age. I learned a lot while reading this book, and I particularly enjoyed learning some of the Choctaw customs and how, even among other Choctaws, there is still so much to learn from one another. Children are often stronger than we imagine them to be. I’ve always been a big supporter of not shielding children from the realities of the world. Tingle does not shy away from anything, depicting death, sickness, violence from nature as well as from people. I think this makes the story much more accessible and really opens the reader’s eyes to how horrifying the realities of this country’s past can be. I also liked how this story provides children with a view into the Trail of Tears as experienced by a child. The story shows how even young people can make difficult decisions and take on obstacles and burdens not felt by their parents. There is great courage and strength shown through Isaac’s decisions to look after not just his family, but other children.

I really like how Tingle presented this story, with Isaac knowing he will become a ghost soon, yet continuing to face each new day. Isaac is young, but wise for his years because he experiences visions of the future and speaks with ghosts. I think this book perfectly captures the life and thoughts of a young boy. The first in a trilogy, HOW I BECAME A GHOST thinly disguises an important and oft-overlooked piece of history. Isaac leads a remarkable foursome of Choctaw comrades: a tough-minded teenage girl, a shape-shifting panther boy, a lovable five-year-old ghost who only wants her mom and dad to be happy, and Isaac s talking dog, Jumper. From the book’s opening line, “Maybe you have never read a book written by a ghost before,” the reader is put on notice that this is no normal book. Told in the words of Isaac, a Choctaw boy who does not survive the Trail of Tears, HOW I BECAME A GHOST is a tale of innocence and resilience in the face of tragedy. How I Became a Ghost is the winner of the American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Middle School Book as well as a Spur Award Nominee for Best Western Juvenile Fiction and the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award Nominee.

How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle is the story of a young Choctaw boy whose family is forced to move from their home and the trials and struggles he experiences on this journey.

How i became a ghost by tim tingle