When I first thought about using 'Breathe' in the classroom as a 'teaching text' I back peddled a little. I thought about how much the book has to offer and then I began thinking about ghost stories in particular. One of the things that caught my attention when I first picked up 'Breathe' was the fact that it said 'A Ghost Story' just below the title.
At first I did not understand the need or purpose of this extra piece of information. I could tell from the front cover that it was going to be a spooky tale of sorts but there was definitely something alluring about that extra piece of informatione. The author (or publisher) was trying to make a statement of some sort; it singled the book out for me. When I pick up a Harry Potter book it does not say 'A Fantasy Story' underneath and neither do the Roman Mysteries claim to be 'Historical Fiction Novels'. So why does 'Breathe' do it?
I asked the kids about this in the class and they came up with some very interesting thoughts:
Write them down here (on laptop at school at the moment)
Upon reflection I found that my thoughts traveled to one note that stuck in my head when I first read it: how many ghost stories have I read that have been written for children? I mean the genuinely scary ones where the ghosts are not friendly and sweet, but aggressive, dangerous, tormented and confused?
I have upon my bookshelf tens of 'Ghost story collections for children', some edited by the wonderfully gifted Aidan Chambers (The Topliner Series from the 70s) and Philippa Pearce (A Century of Children's Ghost Stories) others are more recent and penned by the likes of Hazel Riley (The Crying) and Chris Priestly (Uncle Montague's Series). But I know that for every ghost story book I have, there are 30 fantasy sat next to them. Why are ghost stories for children a less trodden path than fantasy, action and science fiction? Is it that we are worried about scaring the children? Is it that children don't like reading ghost stories? If this is the case, then why not?
Sharing our Experiences:
Whatever the case be, as I started to reflect on 'A Ghost Story' I couldn't help but think about my own creepy experiences in the past. I can safely say that I have never had an encounter with a ghost at all but I can remember being extremely fascinated by stories my mum and dad told me when I was younger about experiences that they had. I can also firmly recollect being dared to run through the local churchyard late at night when I was nine years old. This dare had been floating around our gang for days and when the night and time arrived we all (under false boisterousness) approached the top of the graveyard and talked about how we would do the run.
Although many of the memories of this night are vague, I do remember that no-one in the gang was prepared to go-it alone. Why? Because we had inundated ourselves with far too many ghost stories about the graveyard beforehand. We had wanted to build up the suspense and fear before the event happened. We had wanted to show how brave we were by going into the unknown, facing it and surviving...except we did not want to do it alone. Perhaps this is why ghost stories in children's books are such a rare commodity: we liked to be scared sometimes but generally when there's someone around to look after us!I remember that I ran with two others. I was a very fast runner in those days; small and spindly in my thick parker coat which I loved so much. Although it's not evident on the map, the run itself was mostly down a steep hill (an empty woods) which would then end with a short metal bridge that crossed the Conwy river. This would then take us up several short stone steps that led into the back of the church's graveyard. From here there was a short, curving path that ran past the church itself and then towards the light - towards the exit which was blocked by (what appeared to us at the age of 9) a huge, imposing iron gate. The light from a street-lamp nearby illuminating our escape.
There were so many things that scared us all that night. Firstly, the older ones in the gang went first and together. They had decided that us younger ones needed to go last as a rite of initiation into the gang *pfft* Secondly, there were no lights where we were running which inevitably led to some of smashing into gravestones and the curbed edges of the lawns in the graveyard. Thirdly, dark in Gyffin really meant dark in those days and lastly, when I was running past with the others in my group not only did we hear something growling in the woods but we also saw a faint light on in the church itself. Whoever was in there at that time of night could not have failed to have heard the screams as we saw the light and heard, what we thought, eerie music coming from the organ inside.
We finally made it through to the end. I was the first by a long shot and actually found myself immediately concerned for the others. My mind flitted to the growling, the music and the darkness...
Needless to say the others were not far behind. We were all safe but that night would stay with us for all time. In fact, Stenny and I would go back one night in the future and try and look through the window of the church to see if we could spot who was playing the music.
You'll no doubt have noticed that I failed to spot any ghosts of any sort and that I am a long way from finding the ingredients for writing or telling anything as well planned as Cliff's book. However, what I have is experience. I have felt that fear and excitement that comes with being somewhere unfamiliar. I have gone through those moments where I heard the low growl (I probably made that up in my mind); I saw the faint light in the empty church and heard the whispering of music from within - my mind my afire with ideas and creative explosions with what was watching me, with what was lurking in the dark - and it is these elements, these experiences that will help me understand and write and tell a good ghost story.
Children know this. They know that it is the experiences that make us. If you can place yourself in the shoes of your hero in a ghost story and make their fear believable and real then those feelings emanant into the reader too. Therefore, just as we started reading 'Breathe' the class also shared moments that have scared them too. We have noted these down and shared them here concentrating very much on what it was thet affected us. With all these stories and examples, we can hopefully appreciate 'Breathe' that little bit more but also approach the writing of our story with all the elements needed to 'spook' and unsettle the reader.
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