"Have you ever seen a window break?
No, Robert! Don't!
I don't think Robert really wanted to
break the glass. The rock just tapped
the window and skipped into the
gutter. Suddenly ...
A ghost!"
Summer adventure leads to misconceptions, fear, and new learning. Two cousins are last to arrive at Grandma's house for an annual visit. Robert is there already; Patrick and his sister, our narrator, join him. Exploring the area on bikes that Grandma keeps just for such an occasion leads them to an old house that looks deserted, and is a tad frightening. Robert is their heedless leader. He is quick to make trouble, throwing a rock at a window. In quick time, they see a face at that window ... a ghost!
Acknowledging that they have left a bike behind means they must share their story with their grandmother. She tells them the house belongs to Mr. Peterson, and they will soon be off to apologize. All the while Robert is doing his best to make himself invisible, wanting to avoid admitting what he did. Nervous about the visit, the children are embarrassed victims of Mr. Peterson's wicked sense of humor.
He invites them in, and is willing to share old films, toys, pressed flowers, and photos. The children each leave with a special gift, and a new attitude toward the old man. They visit often throughout their vacation, enjoying all he has to tell them. When Mr. Peterson is forced to move to a retirement home because the house itself is in such bad shape, the children don't have the opportunity to visit him before they leave. With Robert's ingenuity they find a way to keep the memories of his home alive for him.
Kari Rust's movie-like panels change color from bright to faded gray, and move the story forward in keeping with the emotions felt. The first-person narrative makes for a very personal telling, and their story is packed with suspense, detail and warmth.
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