Did writers put ghosts in really old books like this Sean asked Sure his sister answered Remember A Christmas Carol It has ghosts and it was written a long long time ago I don't think I would like Mary Lennox Jasmine said She's mean sometimes She even called people names at the beginning That's true Meri said But she never really had any friends and she barely saw her parents And then she had to live with strangers at Misselthwaite Manor Oh Jasmine's eyes widened Maybe that's what the author was trying to do in the book She's trying to show what happens when someone doesn't have any love Jasmine quickly wrote that down in her reading journal Sean's nose wrinkled and he poked at the book So it's a lesson book I hate stories with lessons Meri wasn't sure Almost all books had little bits of lessons but The Secret Garden
seemed to be about more than that It has good stuff too she said Like this part where Mary's exploring the creepy house It also had that snake in the beginning David said David liked books with animals in them especially dangerous animals like snakes and sharks And I still think there's going to be a ghost She hoped David wouldn't be disappointed but Meri still didn't think there would be a real ghost She looked down at the pages of the book Meri spoke very quietly talking to herself I could ask Mary Oh what are you going to ask yourself Jasmine teased Not herself Sean said the book girl Do you talk to your book like Sonia does I don't talk to books that much his sister said poking him in the arm Only during the really exciting parts Meri was glad when the twins teased back and forth and completely forgot about Meri's
comment She did talk to her book in a way Meri had a magic mirror at home Whenever she left a book on her desk in front of the mirror the main character appeared in the mirror Meri thought it was the best magic anyone could ever have The book characters helped her with hard problems sometimes Meri didn't like keeping the magic secret She thought it would be great fun if her friends could talk to one of the book characters too She just didn't think they would believe her if she told them They would think she was playing a trick She would have to be able to show them and the mirror was too big to bring to school As she thought about ways to tell her friends about the mirror David went back to reading out loud It's your turn to read David said when he finished Meri looked up sharply She wasn't sure where David had stopped She looked down at her book looking for the place
Wow Earth to Meredith Sonia said leaning over to point at the spot where Meri needed to read What were you thinking about so hard A party Meri said as the idea popped into her head I want to have a party at my house and I want you all to come Will it be a girlie party David asked With dancing and messing with each other's hair No Meri said laughing We can watch a movie She talked faster as an idea came to her I've seen a movie of The Secret Garden at the library We can watch it together That would be fun Sean nodded But we probably should finish reading the book first so we don't spoil it Right we'll have the party after we finish reading the book Meri said A movie would be fun Jasmine said Like having the book come alive 11
