Whispers in the Graveyard by Theresa Breslin

Summary of the plot

The novel is about a twelve year old boy called Salomon. Salomon has a learning disability called dyslexia. His life is not easy, his mom left the house when he was younger and his dad is an alcoholic. He also has a hard time in school, when he wants to be alone he spends the time on the local graveyard. One day when he´s at the graveyard he hears men talk. Its a man called Professor Miller and a council official, they are talking about the graveyard. Salomon understands that it´s gonna be a construction site.

When the workmen starts to take down the trees that night Salomon has some bad dreams. Driven by his fathers bad behaviour when he drinks, Salomon decides to spend the night at the graveyard. When he sits there hidden in his special place he hears a man screaming. The workmen is being swallowed up by the ground. The man had touched a chest with the name "Malefice". Later on in the book Salomon finds out that "Malefice" means witchcraft.

He also finds out that the one who was burried in that chest was a person who had been a victim of the scottish witch hunt. It seemed as she was awake and wanted to take revenge for what happened to her. Professor Miller has a daughter, Amy. She and Salomon becomes good friends after he discovered her also being a lot in the graveyard. Salomon feels that the bas spirit wants to hurt her so he follows her and protects her.

After this nightmare Salomon takes the decision that he want to change his life. He gets a lot of help and support from his teacher Ms Talmur. Salomons father also tries to change, he attends an Alcoholics Anonymous class.

Helena S