Megan K's blog

I have been reading the book Ruined by Paula Morris.  For my blog post, I have written a eulogy for the main character, Rebecca.  In this eulogy, I have expressed the struggles she faced as she started her new life in New Orleans.

Rebecca Brown was a normal teenage girl who grew up in the heart of New York City.  She had lots of friends and did well at school.  Her life changed when she had to go live with her aunt in New Orleans, Louisiana while her dad was on a business trip for six months.  There she found a friend in a ghost named Lisette she met in the grave yard.  Lisette told her of how she was killed in1853 and that she was stuck here because of the curse that was put on her murderer’s family, the Bowmans.  This curse said that every Bowman daughter would die before they turn seventeen and the seventh daughter to die would lift the curse.  Rebecca helped Lisette figure out when this was to happen.

Although it was it was meant to be covered up, I think it is an honor to Rebecca’s life to let you know how she died.  Rebecca was murdered!  On the night of the Septimus parade during Mardi Gras, Rebecca got ready with Marianne Sutton, a family friend of the Bowmans, for the Septimus float.  When the parade was over, the float didn’t stop on Jackson Street like what was planned, but went straight into Lafayette Cemetery.  There they ripped her of the float and throw her into a circle of masked men.  The Bowman daughter, Helena, was there too.  Rebecca then realized that she was also a Bowman.  Her father was there and their eyes met one last time as a bullet went straight threw her head.  She was the seventh Bowman daughter to die.  Because of her the curse had been lifted.  Because of her Lisette can now rest in peace.  She will be dearly missed

Glamorous- by Fergie:

This song describes Helena Bowman, a snobby, rich girl that goes to Rebecca’s school.  On Rebecca’s first day of school, Helena walked in late with a personal umbrella holder and looked like she owned the place.  Her family is one of the oldest and richest in New Orleans, so she gets whatever she wants, when she wants it.

When The Saints Go Marching In- by Louis Armstrong:

Rebecca has to live in New Orleans for six months while her dad is on a business trip in China.  This song reminds me of New Orleans.  When I was reading the beginning, this song was going through my mind.

Graveyard- by Lucy Shwarts:

Lisette, a ghost, takes Rebecca for a walk to see what is left of the place she lived when she was alive.  When Rebecca is holding Lisette’s hand, she can see all the ghosts along the way.  If this book would ever become a movie, I would pick this song to play while they are taking this walk because it mentions spirits and graveyards a lot.

Outside Looking In- by Jordan Pruitt:

When Rebecca goes to school on the first day, she feels like an outsider.  Temple Mead Academy is different than her school in New York where everyone fit in.  Even the people who were assigned to make her feel welcomed call her an outsider.  Through out the whole book she knows that she will never fit into the prestigious class system of the Garden District.

Haunted- by Taylor Swift:

Anton Grey, a popular, rich guy, and Rebecca get into a fight because when Rebecca went back to New York, he wouldn’t answer her calls or text messages.  When she asks him why, he blames it on the fact that Helena is very ill.  This song kind of goes with that, and the way it sounds goes with the feeling of the book.

The book I’m reading is Ruined, by Paula Morris.  For my genre piece, I wrote an advice column to demonstrate the many conflicts the main character, Rebecca, faces throughout the book.

Dear Abby,

I have just moved from New York to New Orleans, and I feel like I’m in a completely different time.  Everyone here is only worried about what parties they get invited to or how old your family is.  In my new school, Temple Mead Academy, I don’t fit in at all. The principle had two other girls eat lunch with me, and they even said I was “an outsider”.  My only friend here is a girl I met in the cemetery across the street from our house named Lisette.  The only problem is Lisette is a ghost, and I’m the only one who can see her.  She said that “ghosts can be seen by other ghosts, but… [they] can make our presence known to the living as well” (77).  Apparently when the living can see ghosts, it means they are trying to send them a message, but Lisette doesn’t know why I can see her.  I don’t even know how she died, but I’m afraid to ask her.  I also don’t want to tell Aunt Claudia because of so many reasons.  First of all, she was the one who told that it’s “not a safe place… [I] should keep away” (13).  Secondly, she would probably think I’m a crazy person if I told her I can see ghosts.  I feel alone and confused.  What should I do?

- Rebecca B.

Dear Rebecca B.

It sounds like you have a lot of problems, but I think I can help you.  Going to a new school is always hard, but you just have to be yourself.  If you just do that, you will find some true friends.  Now I’ve never met a ghost before, but I think that you should at least talk to your aunt or at least someone about it because they can help.  You should know that you can trust your aunt.  If you are too scared to talk to Lisette, then you should look up the history of New Orleans so you can find out what was happening around the time she died.  If that doesn’t work you could always ask the local people about it; someone should have heard something about her.  And remember, you are never alone.