What was it like to attend a Victorian séance? Join Anderson’s Bookshop on Wednesday, October 22nd at 6:00 pm in our Downers Grove store, for this live demonstration and Halloween book party in celebration of Barb Rosenstock’s highly praised book, American Spirits: The Famous Fox Sisters and the Mysterious Fad that Haunted a Nation. Come meet the author and Necromanser Neil Tobin, who will involve you in interactive demonstrations of the magical and psychic.

If conditions are right, this may include the spirit world! The book (and this program) are recommended for ages 12 and up. 

Event Format

We will begin checking you in approximately 30 minutes before the start time. After a presentation and Q&A with the author, the line will form in numbered order with the following guidelines:

• Posed photo with your camera taken by our staff
• There is a limit of 2 books from home to be signed (unless otherwise stated)
• There is a limit of 1 personalization of the new book only (unless otherwise stated)

All events have open seating. The “Order Line Number” on your pdf ticket is your reserved place in the signing line. You will line up to meet the author based on that number.

If you cannot attend, you must pick up your book (if included with ticket) at the hosting store within 30 days of the event.  We can ship that book to you for an additional charge of $9.99; please call the store to arrange that.

Pre-registration is required for this event because space is limited.

More about American Spirits:  

CAN THE DEAD TALK TO THE LIVING? Discover the astonishingly true story of Maggie, Kate, and Leah Fox—the Civil War-era sisters and teen mediums who created the American séance.

A real-life ghost story for young adult readers interested in the supernatural, American history, and women’s rights!

Rap. Rap. Rap. The eerie sound was first heard in March of 1848 at the home of the Fox family in Hydesville, New York. The family’s two daughters, Kate and Maggie, soon discovered that they could communicate with the spirit that was making these uncanny noises; he told them he had been a traveling peddler who had been murdered. This strange incident, and the ones that followed, generated a media frenzy beyond anything the Fox sisters could have imagined. Kate and Maggie, managed (or perhaps manipulated) by their elder sister Leah, became famous spirit mediums, giving public exhibitions, and advising other celebrities of their day.

But were the Fox sisters legitimate? In the years that followed their rise, the Civil War killed roughly 1 in 4 soldiers, increasing the demand for contacting the dead. However, media campaigns against the sisters gathered steam as well…

This thrilling and mysterious true story from veteran author Barb Rosenstock (Caldecott Honor winner) will spark teens’ interest in American history, encourage media literacy, and reveal insights into the Civil War era, fake news, and women’s rights.

About the Author:

Barb Rosenstock is the author of many nonfiction books for young people, including Mornings With Monet, Fight of the Century, Prairie Boy, and Dorothea’s Eyes. Her picture book on Vasily Kandinsky, The Noisy Paint Box, won the Caldecott Honor. Visit barbrosenstock.com.