Next week Campus School will begin holding Parent-Teacher Conferences. I look forward to seeing all of you next week.
From School Library Journal
In 1878, when a yellow-fever epidemic strikes Memphis,
Eli Mahoney witnesses the death of his mother and younger sister and is
deserted by his father. He is determined to flee the city, but his plans
are interrupted by Grace, the "Graveyard Girl," and the recently
orphaned Addie, who painfully reminds him of his little sister. Grace
has taken over her sick father's responsibilities as sexton at Elmwood
Cemetery, including ringing the bell for the dead. Her compassion and
sense of duty help Eli to move beyond his own grief and assume
responsibility for Addie. When Grace dies of the fever, Eli continues
her work at the cemetery until the epidemic passes. Addie's grateful
relatives come for her and offer the boy a chance to be a part of their
family. This is a somber tale of resilient young people caught in deadly
circumstances beyond their control. The relationships among the
characters and their reactions to their individual problems are
convincingly portrayed, especially in the case of Eli, as he struggles
with his own bitterness, despair, and fear. A grim historical moment has
been effectively used by the author to show the ability of the human
spirit to endure, survive, and renew itself.
Next week Campus School will begin holding Parent-Teacher Conferences. I look forward to seeing all of you next week.
