The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn
Diana and her younger brother, Georgie, have been living on the grounds of the old Willis place for years. The children have seen caretakers of the Willis place come and go, but Diana, who has no friends, is tempted by the sight of Lissa, the caretakers’ daughter who is her age. Both girls are lonely and would like to be friends but Georgie reminds Diana that it's "against the rules" to have friends; that they must remain out of sight. The suspense continues to build as Diana narrates the story and Lissa writes in her diary.
Author Hahn uses two different storytelling devices in The Old Willis Place: Diana’s first person narrative and Lissa’s diary entries. The St. Petersburg Times provides news stories in many different writing styles, but a common tool that many reporters use is called “5 Ws an a H” (who, what, when, where, why, and how). These are the major questions that good reporters answer in the “lead” (beginning) of a newspaper article. Look through the Times for articles reporting on a mysterious situation (like a missing person, an unsolved criminal act or an anonymous act of kindness). Use one of these stories as a model and write the first paragraph or two of an article about the Old Willis Place as if you were a newspaper reporter covering the story. Share your story with other students across Tampa Bay by posting it below in the comments section. (Hint: you can write the story in a word processing program then cut and paste it into the comment box).
-This is NOT your average ghost story. Mary Downing Hahn adds new outlooks and additional rules about the after-life and if it really exists. You pity instead of fear the nonliving. Their story is full of insecurity and helplessness that forces you to feel their pain. This book presents a new outlook that will make you wonder...
Posted by: P.H., Mrs. Kohler's Library Assistant, John Hopkins M. S. | November 10, 2007 at 10:10 AM
it was cool and alot of twists. alot of twists!
Posted by: gabriel | November 29, 2007 at 12:19 PM
This Book mixes mystery with ghost which is a good mix. The book is creepy yet teaches you that you need to expect the unexpected.......Or die trying.
Posted by: Kristen Madeira Beach Middle | November 29, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Old Willis Place was a very good story! I love how it gives you the suspence that Diana, Georgie, and Lissa feel during the book. It gives me a little bit of a picture in my mind. I really liked it!!! This book is my FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!!! It ROCKS!!!!!
Posted by: Ocean Madeira Beach Middle | November 29, 2007 at 01:10 PM
Mystery and suspense line this story, and it was definitely one of my favorite books out of all the Sunshine States! Hahn has written this book with just the right amount of thrill!
Posted by: SorellaSorella | December 07, 2007 at 05:58 PM
I loved this book. It keeps you on the edge of your seat turning pages non-stop until the end. The author did a great job on writing this ghostly story!
Posted by: Megan, Bay Point Middle School | December 13, 2007 at 09:37 AM
This is an amazing book!!!! I love how it keeps you at the edge of your seat!!! My favorite part is when Mrs. Willis is set free from the parlor and says she'll come after Diana and Georgie. I think they died in their secret room and she bolts the door so they can't get out. They are now goasts right?
Posted by: H.R | December 13, 2007 at 12:15 PM
This was great! The story was really exciting and had a good ending.
Posted by: Leah Bailey | February 08, 2008 at 01:27 PM
I think this may of been the best book I have read in my life. At first I realized the book started in the middle of the story. Then diana told us half of the begining and then later she told the rest of the begining. It was one the main reasons why i was hooked to this book. Plus the fact that it was so detailed that I thought i was watching the whole thing. It was so good I got in trouble for reading it too much and it was finished in two days
Posted by: n.h. Mrs. Stuart 7th grade class, csrms | February 12, 2008 at 10:16 PM
This book had an interesting plot. It's not your ordinary ghost story, and not too creepy, but neat in a mysterious way. I liked the twists and turns in the plot and the author's style. A good read for both guys and girls.
Posted by: Mrs. Suits, Media Specialist, Charles S. Rushe Middle School | February 13, 2008 at 12:37 PM
this book was one of the best ghost stories! i like it tells a different way of what happens in the after-life!
it was very spooky!
Posted by: k. browne csrms | February 25, 2008 at 04:20 PM
The Old Willis Place had a lot of unexpected twists and turns. It gives you a different way to think about ghosts; that they may look and act just like living people. It was much different than I excpected it to be, in a very good way though.
Posted by: Savannah M. | March 05, 2008 at 09:58 PM
Two sibling ghosts abiding by 4 rules, watching caretaker after fat, lazy caretaker come and go. Until, though, that changes. That right there sounds interesting by itself. Not to mention the major twist that you won't want to miss!
Posted by: C. H. -Mr. Muggleworth , CSRMS | March 07, 2008 at 11:30 PM
I thought i would hate the old willis place because i dont usually like scary stories, but this book was much better than i thought it would be. A must read for scary story lovers.
Posted by: B. weber, CSRMS | March 26, 2008 at 01:50 PM
The old Willis place was one the best book that I read it was really fun to read. The story is mainly about two kids named Diana and Georgie. They seem to live for ever in a farm called the old willis place the owner of the mansion died and the goverment seems to always contact a care taker to take care of the mansion.so on a spring day a new care taker Mr.Marrison moved in to a trailer next to the mansion he has a duaghter named Lisa. Lisa will try to help Diana and Georige to break the rules and leave the old Willis place.But the only thing that Lisa doesn't know about is that Diana and Georgie are ghost.
Posted by: La alejo Mrs.hill charles s rushe middle school | March 27, 2008 at 04:51 PM
Blogs are becoming the main source of knowing about things certainty, its importance, idolizing, either in a marketing way that one can differentiate....
Posted by: Concierge | August 24, 2008 at 11:12 PM
old willis place is the best story i ever read but it made me cry. It was so addicting i finished it in one day!
Posted by: Dani | September 24, 2008 at 03:20 PM
i loved the book it was totally awsome and it was rilly addicting!!! but i felt kind of bad for dianna and georgie butt over all i rilly liked it and it was awsome!!! right now im on chapter 14 so and i will for sure read more of her books keep wrighting Mary hahn!!
love your stories sicerly,
(personal info)
Posted by: personal sorry | October 15, 2008 at 04:21 PM
omigosh such a nice book it was really to the point were you want to cry to the point were you feel sorry for the charectors why not have a second book that would be nice come on second book cant wait till you come out
also im sad lissa never saw diana or gorgie again made me cry broke my heart
Posted by: unknown | November 20, 2008 at 04:57 PM
i love this book i am reading it right now and i am almost done with it.it is a great ghost story !
I LOVE THIS BOOK !!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: celene | January 09, 2009 at 05:36 PM
This book is awesome
Posted by: | January 20, 2009 at 06:19 PM
THE OLD WILLIS PLACE IS THE BEST BOOK EVER BUT AT THE END IT MADE ME KIND OF CRY B/C IT WAS SAD HOW LISSA COULDN'T SAY GOODBYE TO DIANA AND WHAT LISSA SAID ABOUT HER MOM....BUT IT WAS AN AWESOME BOOK OVERALL!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: CB | February 14, 2009 at 08:29 PM
This was a great book.I really enjoyed reading it. I would definatly read this book again.I think Mary Downing Hahn is an awsome author.I love ghost stories, especally this one.
Posted by: pam tamson | February 18, 2009 at 05:58 PM
that is my favroit book i read it twice
Posted by: | February 21, 2009 at 08:43 PM
cool
Posted by: | February 21, 2009 at 08:45 PM