The Man Who Tricked a Ghost / Laurence Yep and Isadore Seltzer

Laurence Yep retells an ancient Chinese ghost story from the third century A.D. in The Man Who Tricked a Ghost. Yep shares the story that follows the protagonist Sung, a brave young man who is scared of nothing. On his way home from a friend's house, Sung runs into a ghost. Not scared at all, he befriends the ghost who eventually reveals to him that he is on his way to find a man by the name of Sung because he has heard that Sung has been bragging that nothing scares him. Sung tricks the ghost into believing that he is a ghost as well, and he also gets him to reveal that human spit is the ghost's greatest weakness. After several tactics and trickery, the ghost eventually transforms into a ram, and Sung spits on him, sells him to local farmers, and reaps the benefits of not being afraid of ghosts.

Yep does a wonderful job of bringing this ancient Chinese folktale to life for children of today's generation. In addition to his wonderful storytelling, Seltzer's bold illustrations complement the story perfectly. The illustrations keep the Chinese tradition and flair in mind, being remindful of ancient Chinese prints; however, they are bold, using brilliant colors and dynamic shapes to help tell Yep's story.

Yep's story would be extremely useful for children who are perhaps afraid of what lies beneath their beds because it showcases how good things can happen to someone who is not afraid. In addition, the story's main character, Sung, epitomizes how a young man who uses his intelligence to his advantage can overcome many obstacles. So, whether a parent wants to use Yep's story as a lesson in overcoming fears or as a lesson on how intelligence can be beneficial, children can definitely reap the rewards of this ancient Chinese folktale re-told in a dynamic, fun, modern way.

Laurence Yep's novels have many times focused on Chinese Americans, and they have won numerous awards, including the Newbery Honor, the ALA Notable, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book. These books include The Starfisher, The Rainbow People, Dragonwings, and Child of the Owl (Yep, 1993).


Nate Smith

Resource:
Yep, L. (1993). The man who tricked a ghost. Mexico: BridgeWater Books.