The Children's Ghost Story in America

This book offers a compelling exploration of the American children's ghost story, tracing its evolution from oral folklore shared on playgrounds to a distinct literary genre. Ferrier-Watson delves into the social and historical forces that shaped these spooky tales over two centuries, providing the first scholarly examination of a cultural phenomenon that has been largely overlooked. The work uncovers the fascinating origins of stories that have been whispered at slumber parties and passed between generations of young readers, establishing a crucial framework for understanding this unique branch of supernatural fiction.

What makes this study particularly valuable is its focus on how these chilling narratives reflect changing American attitudes toward childhood, fear, and the supernatural across different eras. The analysis will appeal to both scholars of children's literature and general readers who grew up with these tales, offering new insights into familiar ghostlore and urban legends. By documenting the development of these stories from oral tradition to published works, the book provides an essential cultural history that illuminates why certain spectral tales continue to haunt the American imagination.