Ophie’s Ghosts

By: Justina Ireland

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

The New York Times best-selling author of Dread Nation makes her middle grade debut with a sweeping tale of the ghosts of our past that won’t stay buried, starring an unforgettable girl named Ophie, performed by Audible Hall-of-Famer Bahni Turpin.

Ophelia Harrison used to live in a small house in the Georgia countryside. But that was before the night in November 1922, and the cruel act that took her home and her father from her. Which was the same night that Ophie learned she can see ghosts.

Now Ophie and her mother are living in Pittsburgh with relatives they barely know. In the hopes of earning enough money to get their own place, Mama has gotten Ophie a job as a maid in the same old manor house where she works.

Daffodil Manor, like the wealthy Caruthers family who owns it, is haunted by memories and prejudices of the past - and, as Ophie discovers, ghosts as well. Ghosts who have their own loves and hatreds and desires, ghosts who have wronged others and ghosts who have themselves been wronged. And as Ophie forms a friendship with one spirit whose life ended suddenly and unjustly, she wonders if she might be able to help - even as she comes to realize that Daffodil Manor may hold more secrets than she bargained for.

©2021 Justina Ireland (P)2021 Balzer + Bray

Important Historical Themes With a Happy Ending

I am a history major and love history, but I need some of my literature to not be too depressing. Books like this are my favorite as they don't ignore important social problems of the time period, but they take modern values and solutions and give the characters the tools needed to be happy in the story. Nobody evil is allowed to take their rights and happiness away by the end of the book. It is empowering and enlightening at the same time.

The book is great for pre-teens and up. It is a great mystery and beautiful way of looking at the world through a Black girl's eyes in 1923 Pittsburgh.

It is about a girl who sees the dead and how she tries to grapple with such a responsibility while staying true to who she is. It is a great metaphor for what many Black people endure as they see the world more as it is without white privilege and are required to compromise parts of themselves to appease white society.

The book values positive family relationships above all else and I love when books promote communication and affection between kids and parents. Kids need role models where adults are understanding of their needs and listen to their children.

As a teacher and an auntie, I try to screen a lot of children's literature. I love this book and will be sending it to my nieces and nephews.

Absolutely wonderful!

My 12 year old son has always been a reluctant reader - we listen to audio books while follows along with the physical book in hand. I have never seen him so excited to read and he told me this was the best book he has ever read in his life. I am so grateful to this author for creating this fantastic story. Our favorite part of the day has been reading this together in the evenings.
I will be recommending this book to everyone I can!

So well plotted, such well-written characters

My carpool buddy (a twenty-something dude) and I (middle-aged woman), really enjoyed this. The author did an excellent job of dropping hints and wrapped everything up nicely by the end. (And my carpool buddy and I both enjoyed calling out, "Oh! I bet...") Ophie was a really smart and nice girl, and I quite enjoyed spending time with her. Be aware of some violence that may be too intense for younger listeners. Bahni Turpin is one of my favorite narrators. If a book catches my attention and she's the narrator, I don't even bother listening to the snippet because I know she'll make the book even better. Every book I've listened to that she read has had the best acting and I never have a doubt about which characters are speaking--I forget, sometimes, that it's just one narrator because she is so good at giving each character in a story their unique sound. Such talent trained to an amazing skill level.

Ireland does it again!

This is a great genre-blending novel. The plot is interesting with good twists. Bahni Turpin does a great job narrating.

Excellent middle to young adult ghost story.

Wonderful ghost/mystery story! Doesn't shy away from many of the harsh realities for African Americans during the era, but portrays those in a respectful and age appropriate manner. The narrator is excellent, giving distinct voices to each character. The story will grab a student's attention immediately, and hold it throughout the telling. Interesting little mystery with ghosts galore, yet not "occultic". I do hope we see Ophelia in many sequels. Definitely reccomend.

I loved how all the different mysteries unfolded during this book

All the different mysteries in this book, we’re very unique, but they had one thing in common, they were fun to solve. The mystery of Clara’s death was like a murder mystery and was was very fun to to try to do figure out who had done it. The voice of the narrator was fitting for this book. She did a great job portraying Ophie character. Five stars do recommend.

Loved it!

Ireland never disappoints, I love all of her books and this is no exception! Love Turpin as the narrator as always!

A great story

Touching, yet haunting. Definitely fitting for middle grade readers. Opens doors for some amazing conversations.

Absolutely Wonderful!

Excellent story, performance, and well crafted characters. Loved how Ireland approached race and this time period.

Historical fiction with a happy end

This was a delightful story. I’m a chicken with a big imagination and tend to get scared easily, but this book is the kind of ghost story I like.

Ophelia is a young girl who finds out she can see ghosts. She learns how to help them along as their story intertwines with her time working as a servant at a large estate in 1920s Pittsburgh.

The story doesn’t shy away from the realities if the time and the sad history that shaped it. Family, both biological and chosen, are the center of this story. The narration is fantastic. Great listen for kids and adults.