Ophie's Ghosts

Ophie’s Ghosts is a coming-of-age novel that traces Ophie’s journey toward self-actualization. At 12 years old, she finds her world upturned when her father is killed and she and her mother are forced to relocate to Pennsylvania. These tragedies and changes challenge Ophie as she tries to find a new home and a sense of stability and belonging amid the injustices of the Jim Crow era. In Pittsburgh, she lives with her difficult extended family, is forced to drop out of school to help her mother earn a living, and has no friends her age. Although Ophie’s circumstances impede her independence, Ophie finds ways to explore her world and activate her curious mind. In particular, Ophie’s interest in the ghosts at Daffodil Manor (where she works) help her to withstand her entrapment.

Ophie’s investment in solving the mystery of the ghost Clara’s murder ignites her childlike wonder and curiosity and offers her a sense of purpose. Her internal monologues throughout the narrative convey her attachment to Clara’s fate; as the narrative asserts, “She couldn’t shake the feeling that untangling the truth around what had happened to