One For Sorrow

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At the end of the work day, they hide away the money they earned in a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Song of The Leprechaun or Fairy [ There are many variations in different languages of "mother" and "father". And she realizes it's wrong, but she still decides to spend time with them! The plot was kinda boring. You could see how Mary Downing Hahn wanted to make it way deeper, but it didn't really work out for me. She tried to make it about treating people better, but you know what? There's a reason that people didn't like Elsie.

Perhaps she was broken, but these girls are in 6th grade. I did not act like this in 6th grade and I hope people didn't act like this back in I wanted to continue reading, not because of the plot or the characters but because I needed to find out what happened. I didn't read it for reading it, loving it, but only to quickly get to the end. I read this book so quickly, and only wanted to get to the end, and forcing myself to get through this book was not fun.

It all felt so repetitive, and there were almost no differences from beginning to end. No character development, and the beginning felt entirely like the end. And my biggest disappointment was that I wanted something scary, and it really wasn't that bad. I wanted a hardcore horror novel, not some story about being nicer to people who blame all of their problems on someone else, because it's clearly not their fault.

It was just really annoying, and I found myself just getting plain mad through the entire book. May 13, Marzie rated it liked it Shelves: I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. One for Sorrow is an old school horror story with a ghostly theme.

The story opens with cruel children, and by that I mean tinged with Shirley Jackson-levels of meanness, taunting Elsie, a German-American girl during WWI, just before the infamous Spanish influenza epidemic of The meanness of these little girls, which is quite heavy-handed, spurs Elsie's lingering ghost status, after she succumbs to the flu due I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The meanness of these little girls, which is quite heavy-handed, spurs Elsie's lingering ghost status, after she succumbs to the flu due to misadventure, because of the mean girls. The protagonist of our story, Annie, is eventually quite remorseful, due to her being haunted and her recognition of her former status as a decent, kind little girl.

I'd have to say that there were not many likeable characters here. Even Jane, a sweet child, was all too easily peer-pressured into cruelty. This book felt oddly written in terms of language and style for the period. While the author clearly anchored the time period with WWI and Woodrow Wilson, I felt the language and manners were not very typical of the period.

People simply didn't speak this way, especially not children to adults, in this era. Little girls wandering on their own or in groups, out in public, without an older child, seems very out of character for the time, unless the town was very small. Likewise, the rather sketchy attention to dress, interiors, and even Annie's father's car was peculiar. Cars were still an unaffordable novelty for many in Why no model, color, description? There was a pronounced lack of detail. I'm not sure whether the author was worried that descriptive information would weary middle grade readers, whether she was exclusively focused on the child's perspective, ignoring pertinent details, or whether she simply didn't research the period in depth.

One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn

Given the dialogue, I wonder if it was more of the latter. It isn't a bad ghost story. But I wish it had been a richer one. May 02, Penmouse rated it it was ok.

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. One for Sorrow is either an expertly written book or a very bad book. I have waffled back-and-forth on whether the author, Mary Downing Hahn, intended to make the characters so unlikeable the reader would find them abhorrent. If this was the author's intention, she has done a fine job of creating characters that are mean, nasty and spoiled.

That includes the character Elsie who received a pretty bad rap in life and was forceful in creating a friendship with Annie Browne. I found the characters s One for Sorrow is either an expertly written book or a very bad book. I found the characters so off-putting I really wanted to quit reading the story. I slugged it out and finished the book. As ghost stories go it was a mildly creepy tale. The positive things I can write about One for Sorrow is the ending is a bit better than the beginning. The historical research is excellent and the book covers a subject not often written about the influenza pandemic that took place at the end of World War I.

The intended reading audience is for ages 10 to I don't think I'd want my children reading this book at that age. Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley. Aug 15, Melinda rated it it was ok. Sep 12, Shelley rated it liked it Shelves: Annie moves to a new school and is quickly befriended by Elsie, a lonely, mean spirited girl; when she finally disengages from that toxic "friendship," she ends up in the popular clique, tormenting Elsie and leading to a terrible haunting.

This is one of my absolute least favorite ever plots, where no one believes the protagonist and there's nowhere to turn and nothing to do and they are entirely powerless. Most of the characters are also quite unlikeable--Annie and Jane don't like going along w Annie moves to a new school and is quickly befriended by Elsie, a lonely, mean spirited girl; when she finally disengages from that toxic "friendship," she ends up in the popular clique, tormenting Elsie and leading to a terrible haunting.

Most of the characters are also quite unlikeable--Annie and Jane don't like going along with lead girl Rosie all the time, but do nothing to push back. Anne would never bully like Rosie did. The bullying was truly terrible, though I think very of the time period. I wish there were more details of the time period. The Influenza very firmly dated it, but outside of Annie describing her and Jane's playdresses as sounding very fancy, there was few details, not even on her father's car or house or anything like that. Part of it is that Annie would see everything as normal, but there are still ways to build in descriptions, like with the playdresses.

That was disappointing; it really felt it could be set any time. I wonder if that was part of the point. I thought the haunting was sad and creepy, along with frustrating, but there were a lot of unanswered questions. I'm fascinated that the store seed was based on her mother doing what these girls did: Interesting plot, not my favorite of hers by a long shot. Aug 05, Kelly Hager added it. Annie is the new girl at school, and it's awful. Elsie is the only girl who will talk to her, and she's the class freak. Not surprisingly, Annie is now the other class freak.

And it's deserved, honestly; Elsie is awful. When Elsie gets sick, Annie has a chance to make the popular girls like her Except Elsie then gets the Spanish flu and dies She's still very much around. Thi Annie is the new girl at school, and it's awful. This is an excellent, creepy and fun story. It's still very well-written and genuinely unsettling. Elsie can affect things. She can touch people who can't touch her back and she can also damage things.

Scariest of all, she can also almost possess Annie and make her say and do things. And, of course, Annie is blamed for everything. I love that Mary Downing Hahn is still writing intensely creepy novels. This one is sure to bring a bit of Halloween to your end-of-summer fun. I got this book from a book fair at my grandson's school.

And for a middle grade 'scary' story it was not too bad. However, I am pretty sure that it would not scare my 8 year old grandson. The writing itself was ok, and I enjoyed the plot, but the characters were a bit to be desired. I found the 'ghost' in the story very annoying, when she was alive and dead. I am sure that is how the author intended her to be. She is one of those kids who uses being bullied to her advantage, and that part I did I got this book from a book fair at my grandson's school. She is one of those kids who uses being bullied to her advantage, and that part I did not really like at all.

She was not your typical bullied student that's for sure. In fact it seemed to me that she too was a bully. The other character, Annie, was also a bit annoying to me. I was hoping that she would use her head a bit more, stand up for herself or just maybe just be a bit stronger than she was. I do realize that this is a kids book, but I am not sure that it would hold the attention of those targeted with this one, especially if they are specifically wanting a ghost story.

It definitely works for the younger crowd. On her first day at her new school Annie is befriended by Elsie, the least popular girl, and is ostracized because of it, but Elsie is not very nice to her. When Elsie is absent from school for a few days, Annie is able to befriend the other girls and joins them in teasing Elsie when she returns. Later Elsie dies from influenza and returns to haunt Annie and punish her.

This is not like many books today where the kids all learn to get along. One girl has a hard life and doesn't know how to get along with the other kids and they are all mean to her. It was hard to read at times. Even the ghost story part was hard to read. I'd be interested to know what kids think. Jul 23, Lori rated it it was amazing. I absolutely adore Mary Downing Hahn. She has a great talent for writing Ghost stories. Wait until Helen comes was my fave but now I think I'll make this one my fave of all times.

You know, karma comes in all shapes,sizes, and forms. Even after death it seems. I am disappointed in Annie Browne. I never thought she would've did what she did. Even if I had wanted to have friends that is not what I how I would've gotten them. I can relate to Elsie in so many ways. I hated being made fun of.

One for Sorrow (Magpies)

As the old s I absolutely adore Mary Downing Hahn. As the old saying goes, sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me is so very not true. Words and actions from others do hurt.

More than some ppl realize. I think tho that Elsie brought some of those problems herself. I finished this book in two days! I almost had it finished in one. This is young adlit genre but the way Mary wrote it it's almost directed towards adults who love ghost stories too!! Another reason is because it's written in first person. I can usually relate to the character much better.

This book will make you shiver even in the bright sun!!!!

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This book is a 5 star for sure!!! Aug 12, Sandy rated it liked it Shelves: Annie goes to a new school and is claimed as a friend by a friendless young girl. This girl is friendless because she is a liar, cheat and very possessive. Annie finally makes friends with others and turns to teasing Elsie also. Elsie dies and comes back to haunt Annie and ensure that Annie help her get back at the people who have wronged her. This is a haunting tale and I found myself unsure if the author wanted us to feel sorry for Elsie or not?

She went into her broken home life and which did Annie goes to a new school and is claimed as a friend by a friendless young girl. She went into her broken home life and which did the opposite of make her into a villain you could agree to dislike. I thought the writing well done in Annie's character but poorly done for Elsie. Nov 08, Marina rated it liked it. There is this girl named Annie and she is the new girl in this school. But there is this girl named Elsie and she making Annie's life miserable by claiming that she is her friend her only friend and Annie can't make new friend's.

But Elsie is being bulled by everyone and when Annie is with Elsie then people bully Annie too. The rhyme has its origins in superstitions connected with magpies , considered a bird of ill omen in some cultures, and in Britain, at least as far back as the early sixteenth century. One of the earliest versions to extend this was published, with variations, in Michael Aislabie Denham 's Proverbs and Popular Saying of the Seasons London, One for sorrow, Two for mirth Three for a funeral, Four for birth Five for heaven Six for hell Seven for the devil, his own self.

On occasion, jackdaws , crows and other Corvidae are associated with the rhyme, particularly in America where magpies are less common. A version of the rhyme became familiar to many UK children when it became the theme tune of an ITV children's TV show called Magpie , which ran from to The popularity of this version is thought to have displaced the many regional versions that had previously existed.

In Neil Gaiman 's epic comic book series The Sandman one of the characters recites a variant of this rhyme in which every number is for sorrow i. The song by the British pop group Steps is entitled " One for Sorrow ", taking its title probably from the old English nursery rhyme. The rhyme is also the origin of the group's name. The character Simon reflects on his mother teaching him the rhyme as a child. Ashe Corven recites a version of the rhyme in the film The Crow: City of Angels , with crows in place of magpies. The rhyme is in part 5 of Monday, January 12 in the mystery Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming when a crow caws once in a tense winter scene, leaving a character who is visualizing a grim outcome to hope for a second caw.

The novels in the John, the Lord Chamberlain series of historical mysteries , taking place in Justinian 's Constantinople , all have titles derived from the nursery rime, the first one published in being named "One for Sorrow".