Introduction

CAN THE DEAD TALK TO THE LIVING? Discover the astonishingly true story of Maggie, Kate, and Leah Fox—the Civil War-era sisters and teen mediums who created the American séance.

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.

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Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

1. How much did you know about the history of séances in the U.S.? What surprised you the most?

2. What were the strengths and weaknesses of each of the three Fox Sisters? How did those traits affect their lives and careers?

3. The book is set around the American Civil War. What did that era have in common with American life today?

4. Each of the sisters had one or more romantic partners. What did you think of the men in their lives? Which relationships were you rooting for?

5. How did being female affect Maggie, Kate, and Leah’s lives as celebrities? What has changed for women celebrities today? What hasn’t?

6. Was there a main message or lesson in the book? Do you think Maggie, Kate, and Leah learned that lesson?

7. What do you think of the book’s ending? Did it change the way you saw the truth of the story?

8. Many characters in AMERICAN SPIRITS believe in spirits, and others do not. In general, are you a skeptic or a believer? Which group is more open-minded?

9. Have you ever had an experience that you might attribute to a ghost or spirit?

10. If you could ask the author one question about this book, what would it be?

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