The Old Willis Place

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).

Comments

[P.H., Mrs. Kohler's Library Assistant, John Hopkins M. S.]

-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...

[gabriel]

it was cool and alot of twists. alot of twists!

[Kristen Madeira Beach Middle]

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.

[Ocean Madeira Beach Middle]

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!!!!!

[SorellaSorella]

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!

[Megan, Bay Point Middle School]

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!

[H.R]

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?

[Leah Bailey]

This was great! The story was really exciting and had a good ending.

[n.h. Mrs. Stuart 7th grade class, csrms]

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

[Mrs. Suits, Media Specialist, Charles S. Rushe Middle School]

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.

[k. browne csrms]

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!

[Savannah M.]

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.

[C. H. -Mr. Muggleworth , CSRMS]

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!

[B. weber, CSRMS]

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.

[La alejo Mrs.hill charles s rushe middle school]

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.