# Another "What Was That Book" thread (kids / YA, 70s or early 80s)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-was-that-book-thread-kids-ya-70s-or-early-80s/814168>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 14, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-was-that-book-thread-kids-ya-70s-or-early-80s/814168 "2018-05-14T23:03:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-was-that-book-thread-kids-ya-70s-or-early-80s/814168/1 "2018-05-14T23:03:41Z")

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So all I remember is that the main character was psychic, specifically with the gift of psychometry. I believe she was called Susan, and spent a summer? with an aunt or great-aunt. Two of the objects read were a pocket watch, I think, and a rocking chair, I’m pretty sure.

I know this is vague, but there can’t be that many pre-1990 books featuring psychometry. Perhaps a little TOO vague for google, though, as I’m not having any luck. Any help?

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**Author:** ![Athabasca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Athabasca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athabasca)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-was-that-book-thread-kids-ya-70s-or-early-80s/814168/2 "2018-05-15T01:22:27Z")

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Handful of Time, by Kit Pearson?

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**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-was-that-book-thread-kids-ya-70s-or-early-80s/814168/3 "2018-05-15T02:08:38Z")

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Yes! That’s it! Thank you.

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**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-was-that-book-thread-kids-ya-70s-or-early-80s/814168/4 "2018-05-15T15:36:49Z")

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What is psychometry?

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**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-was-that-book-thread-kids-ya-70s-or-early-80s/814168/5 "2018-05-15T15:46:25Z")

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You hold an object, and “read” it psychically, and then learn all about its owner’s history. It used to be a staple of the vaudeville circuit, I think, though in that case no psychic ability need apply.