Mystery on October Road (A Puffin Book) - Softcover

Grade 4-5-- This writing team returns to the "mysterious neighbor" motif they used in A Season of Secrets (Little, 1982; o.p.). A few days before Halloween, ten-year-old Casey and classmates Cats and Benny spy on the newest residents of October Road, John Smith and his two large dogs. Mr. Smith wears an old, wilted hat and a bandanna across his face during the day. The trio investigate Smith's basement; Casey sprains her ankle as they try to make a getaway when the man returns. After confronting her, Smith shows Casey his face, which was disfigured in a fire. He wraps her ankle, thus befriending her; she later explains her findings to Cats and Benny. This slight mystery has several flaws. The plot develops too quickly, thereby squelching the mood. It has weak characterizations; readers are told only that Casey and Cats, best friends, are alike in almost every way but for those in which they are opposites. Benny is described only as "horrible," but does nothing to substantiate this description. Casey's parents and everyone else who appears in the story are left undeveloped. For two writers who hit their stride with Sam and the Moon Queen (Clarion, 1990), this book is a disappointing follow-up. --Andrew W. Hunter, Queens Borough Public Library, NY
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Cats and Casey are best friends; together with Benny, they are trying to learn more about a new resident on their street, John Smith, who wears a slouchy hat and a bandanna over his face. Casey sneaks into Smith's cellar and comes face to face with the man himself. He shows her his ``mask''; actually, he's the victim of terrible burns inflicted when he went into a blaze to rescue his carving tools. To make amends for her intrusion, Casey delivers a jack-o-'lantern to Smith; in return, he lights up his yard with a magical, massive display of beautifully carved pumpkins, including one that looks just like Casey. Written in simple language, this is a more easily read version of the Scout/Boo Radley relationship in To Kill a Mockingbird. The mystery is a bit perfunctory, but the Halloween atmosphere is well realized and the sentiments are all in the right places. (Fiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.