This was a good story learning about spiritualism and the history of it and the story of the fox sisters I'm not sure what to believe about Wether or not spirits exist but I do know that sometimes unexplainable things do happen

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not normally huge on history books but the topic of the Fox sisters has always intrigued me. This book is really well written and feels much more like reading fiction than a history book, though I also feel it kept true to fact and recorded quotes. The take on the “truth” of the sisters is delightfully balanced and pushes for a more subtle theme of “who knows, but it’s fascinating to imagine!” The background provided to set the events in history was good as well though a bit lopsided and more focused on I. The second half of the book. The narrator is fabulous- I can only imagine how tough it is to repeat the ghostly “rap rap rap” as many times as she had to.

a must read for anyone interested in spiritualism and its origin, i thought i’d heard/read everything there was to know about the Fox sisters but i was so wrong. this book captivated me as the Fox sisters captivated their 19th century audiences, it was a fascinating listen. Barb Rosenstock has very clearly poured a lot of time & energy into her research, her care and attention to detail is evident in every chapter

“like many celebrities today, the Fox sisters broke social norms. the séance format they developed, allowed 3 working class, barely educated women to advise higher class, well educated men who never would’ve listened otherwise.” this particular section of the last chapter stuck out to me as it wasn’t something i’d considered about the sisters previously. the way Barb humanizes her subjects really reminded me of how Aaron Mahnke (host of Lore podcast) does the same which is the highest compliment i can give!

The occult finds its way into almost every era and to learn about the rise of spiritualism in the US was a fascinating read. We often hear about these fraudulent psychics of the 19th century with their prior tricks and sleight of hand but we never really learn about who they were as people. Rosenstock researches, not just the seances of the Fox sisters, but their lives as well and how their careers influenced every facet of their lives. This was a deeply human deep dive into the lives of these three spiritualists that treated them with grace and compassion without sugarcoating who they were.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy of American Spirits!

As someone who does not read a lot of non-fiction, I was a little afraid for how this novel would read about the Fox Sisters. American Spirits is a book I would recommend to those who are new to the genre or who want something to easily follow. We seamlessly switch from being an active participant in the conversations to addressing historical aspects of their lives. Often times it would feel like you were listening to a fiction novel with how Barb wrote about the sisters.

American Spirits by Barb Rosenstock totally surprised me—in the best way. I usually approach nonfiction like I do a lukewarm cup of tea: politely, skeptically, and ready to abandon it for something more exciting. But I got an advanced audiobook copy through NetGalley and Astra Publishing, and after reading the blurb about séances and spiritualism, I figured I’d give it a shot. By chapter three, I was in. Like, fully in. I may have even Googled “Fox sisters real?” halfway through.

I’d never heard of the Fox sisters before, which is wild considering they basically sparked an entire movement of table-knocking, ghost-whispering spiritualists in 1800s America. The book starts a little cluttered—lots of names and people flying at you—but once the dust settles, it becomes a fascinating, fast-paced ride. The chapters are bite-sized and super easy to listen to (or read, if that’s your thing). And while it’s technically marketed toward teens, it’s got enough depth and grit for adults too—especially those of us who appreciate a good “girls just trying to hustle while the 1800s aggressively 1800s at them” story.

There’s a lot packed in here: class struggles, questionable romance, addiction, heartbreak, ambition, and the blurred line between belief and performance. I loved the portrayal of Maggie, especially her complicated love life with Elijah and the very relatable theme of “ugh, men.” The sisters’ rise and fall is tragic but told with sharpness and care, and it never feels preachy or dry. It’s more like listening to a smart friend who knows how to gossip historically.

All in all, American Spirits is perfect for readers who like a dash of the supernatural in their history, or anyone curious about the strange, scrappy women who made waves in Civil War-era America. Highly recommend—even if you think nonfiction isn’t your thing. Turns out, sometimes the ghost stories are real. Or are they?

So the bits you can cite were good, though over all the book could stand to be more unbiased. Also author makes a couple of weird contradictory comments in the afterword. Either she doesn't believe the girls could become talented magicians before becoming famous (has she ever MET a kid in their tweens / early teens? and aren't young readers going to be insulted by that? They should be!), or "magicians are scientists". This leads to "these girls couldn't have been scientists" and... I may be an adult but I am insulted by that, actually.

Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
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American Spirit by Barb, in my opinion, reads like historical fiction with paranormal elements. This is about two daughters, Kate and Maggie, who soon discovered they could communicate with a spirit that was making uncanny noises; he told them he had been a traveling peddler who had been murdered. This strange incident, and those that followed, generated a media frenzy beyond anything the Fox sisters could have imagined. Kate and Maggie, managed (or perhaps manipulated) by their older sister, Leah, became famous spirit mediums, giving public exhibitions and advising other celebrities of their day.

This was just an okay read for me; it kind of dragged a little. But it's a good read for teens and young adults, which is how the book is advertised. It just wasn't for me.

The audiobook was good; the narrator did a good job. It was easy to listen to and understand. I listened at 2x speed, increasing to 2.5x speed at about the 60% mark.

Thank you, NetGalley, and RB Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.