Bodie
The Town that Belongs to Ghosts
From the Series Abandoned: Towns Without People
In 1880, citizens of Bodie, California, crowded onto Main Street to celebrate the Fourth of July. Among them were prospectors, miners, gamblers, and even gunfighters. They had all come to this dusty, remote spot in the mountains for one reason—to find gold. Within fifty years, however, the town’s Main Street would be abandoned and filled with a ghostly silence. Where did everyone go? What happened to the once thriving town? Bodie: The Town That Belongs to Ghosts tells the amazing but true story of a once bustling gold-mining town that was suddenly abandoned. The captivating stories include the tale of Bodie’s founder and the discovery of gold, as well as colorful accounts of real-life characters who once prowled Bodie’s streets, such as Mike “Man Eater” McGowan, the baddest man in town. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the exciting stories of saloon shootouts and grave robbers. Written in narrative format, this book is sure to keep readers hungry for more exciting real-life tales.
| Interest Level | Grade 2 - Grade 7 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 3 |
| Category | Hi-Lo, Nonfiction |
| Subject | Social Studies |
| Copyright | 2015 |
| Publisher | Bearport Publishing |
| Imprint | Bearport Books |
| Language | English, Spanish |
| Publication Date | 2015-01-01 |
| Reading Counts! Level | 5.5 |
| Reading Counts! Quiz | Q65331 |
| Reading Counts! Points | 3.0 |
| BISACS | JNF025000 |
|---|---|
| Dewey | 979.4'48 |
| Graphics | Full-color illustrations, Full-color photographs, Historical photographs |
| Lexile | 840 |
| Guided Reading Level | Q |
| ATOS Reading Level | 5.0 |
| Accelerated Reader® Quiz | 172002 |
| Accelerated Reader® Points | 0.5 |
Awards
- 2016 Children's Choices Selection
Reviews
School Library Connection Review for Abandoned! Towns Without People
Each title begins with a brief introduction posing how once busy locations became abandoned; each book likewise ends with a comparison of then and now. Split into colorful two-page spreads, this series will appeal to readers who enjoy unsolved mysteries or learning about unusual episodes in history. Some of the stylistic illustrations, layout choices, and conclusions are intended to lend a spooky element to the series, with mixed results. Bibliography. Glossary. Index. Recommended
SLC Review - Abandoned! Towns Without People
Each title begins with a brief introduction posing how once busy locations became abandoned; each book likewise ends with a comparison of then and now. Split into colorful two-page spreads, this series will appeal to readers who enjoy unsolved mysteries or learning about unusual episodes in history. Some of the stylistic illustrations, layout choices, and conclusions are intended to lend a spooky element to the series, with mixed results.
The Horn Book Guide Review for Abandoned! Towns Without People
Despite a rather sensationalized title, this series is genuinely fascinating. Each book traces the history of a now-deserted town, explaining its population boom, possible reasons for decline, and what each abandoned place is like today. With interesting historical and contemporary photos and well-placed
sidebars, these are solid places to begin research on some of America’s stranger places.
Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.
Booklist Review for Bodie: The Town That Belongs to Ghosts
Bodie, the California ghost town that was born and died because of the American gold rush, stars in this thorough visual and informational installment in the Abandoned! Towns without People series. The Wild West setting is appealing enough, but the dramatic rise and fall of Bodie, particularly the incendiary loss of the majority of its buildings—thanks to a petulant Depression-era schoolboy—makes for an engaging story. The spare but substantive text in accessible language is well matched by the many photos of Bodie’s past and present, as well as sketches and historical drawings, and the layout, heavy with graphics and sidebars that make for easy browsing, is a real draw. A side-by-side “Then and Now” spread helps visualize the passage of time, and comprehensive back matter provides resources for additional research.
