Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Closed for the Season
    Closed for the Season
    Closed for the Season
    Ebook194 pages2 hours

    Closed for the Season

    By Mary Downing Hahn

    4.5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery

    Two friends set out to solve the years-old mystery of a murder, testing their friendship and placing them in danger, in this creepy thriller by suspense master Mary Downing Hahn.

    A pair of thirteen-year-old boys investigate the unsolved theft and murder that took place in the old house one boy's family has just moved into. Their quest takes them to the highest and lowest levels of society in their small Maryland town, and eventually to a dark and derelict amusement park where someone will go to any length to shut down their investigation for good.

    Themes of adjusting to a new town, navigating complex friendships, and resisting a bully are deftly explored in this eerie page-turner.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateSep 6, 2010
    ISBN9780547394138
    Closed for the Season
    Author

    Mary Downing Hahn

    Mary Downing Hahn’s many acclaimed novels include such beloved ghost stories as Wait Till Helen Comes, Deep and Dark and Dangerous, and Took. A former librarian, she has received more than fifty child-voted state awards for her work. She lives in Columbia, Maryland, with a cat named Nixi.

    Read more from Mary Downing Hahn

    Related to Closed for the Season

    Related ebooks

    Children's Mysteries & Detective Stories For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Like 'Goosebumps?' Here's Another 30 Years' Worth Of Horror For Kids

      Aug 12, 2018

      From the late '60s to the rise of Harry Potter in the late '90s, horror fiction had a hold on young readers, and there was something to scare everyone, from realistic thrillers to possessed dummies.

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Ruins

      Aug 5, 2021

      The Ruins
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Family Plot

      May 7, 2020

      The Family Plot
      10 min read

    • Article

      Life After Death

      May 27, 2022

      Life After Death
      14 min read

    • Article

      Happy Endings

      Sep 1, 2023

      Happy Endings
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Postmenopausal Fairy Tale

      Feb 4, 2019

      The Postmenopausal Fairy Tale
      9 min read

    • Article

      A Southern Christmas

      Nov 1, 2023

      A Southern Christmas
      7 min read

    • Article

      Cricket League

      Jan 1, 2022

      It was an unusual birthday. Colorful banners blanketed the backyard. Kids chased each other through the grass. Adults talked. It all went downhill from there. My little sister was turning five. On her birthday cake, painted in frosting, was a fat, pi

      7 min read

    • Article

      Hauntings

      Jul 5, 2023

      Hauntings
      11 min read

    • Article

      Begin Again

      Jun 14, 2022

      My grandfather came to live with me. There was nowhere else for him to go. What had happened to all his children? Death, decay, exile—I hardly know. My own parents died of pain. But I must not be too gloomy, at the beginning, or you will leave me, an

      6 min read

    • Article

      In Dogs We Trust

      Jan 18, 2022

      In Dogs We Trust
      6 min read

    • Article

      Cricket League

      Sep 1, 2022

      First prize 10 and under Tang Li, age 9 Palmetto Bay, FL My name is Anisa. I was in Hawaii on vacation. I enjoyed sipping refreshing drinks, overlooking the turquoise ocean, and dancing with others, before I overheard that the priceless Fire Ring wa

      10 min read

    • Article

      Trouble in Strange Places

      May 1, 2022

      Growing up in a small town has got to be different from growing up in the city, but I don’t know exactly how. I’ve never lived anywhere else but this small town, and I’m eleven years old. The rest of the family is fine with living in Luverne, Minneso

      6 min read

    • Article

      Mom’s Bible

      May 26, 2020

      Mom’s Bible
      3 min read

    • Article

      A Hampstead MYSTERY

      Oct 12, 2022

      A Hampstead MYSTERY
      9 min read

    • Article

      AN EXCERPT FROM The First Line of Dante’s ‘Inferno’

      Dec 1, 2020

      Early forties, tall, self-possessed. Hiking in the woods in search of her missing sister. A young park ranger, late twenties. Pretty. Slim. Strong. The play is formatted like prose; however, it is intended for performance. If actors simply perform th

      15 min read

    • Article

      Ribs, Muscle, Bone

      Jan 7, 2020

      Ribs, Muscle, Bone
      10 min read

    • Article

      The Library of Gromma

      Jul 10, 2023

      Zac was sweating and panting as he reached the top of the hill. The crooked beams of the library loomed over him. He dropped the buckets of water, swore at the few drops that spilled, and escaped the piercing morning sun in the shade of the library.

      22 min read

    • Article

      The Library Of Gromma

      Feb 10, 2021

      Zac was sweating and panting as he reached the top of the hill. The crooked beams of the library loomed over him. He dropped the buckets of water, swore at the few drops that spilt, and escaped the piercing morning sun in the shade of the library. He

      22 min read

    • Article

      The New Arrival

      Oct 1, 2020

      Maya had never visited the public library before, and at this rate it looked like she never would. She knew it was around here somewhere, but the fog was so thick she could barely see her sneakers. Putting off her homework had been a mistake, but get

      6 min read

    • Article

      AUNT MAUD’S SECRET Part 1

      Sep 1, 2021

      “WHAT! SERIOUSLY?” “Settle down, Martin,” said Ms. Phelps as she poured herself a second mug of coffee that morning. She sat down at the kitchen table, gently blowing on the steam. “Aunt Maud is so excited about her visit and really looking forward

      6 min read

    • Article

      The Spook House

      May 1, 2024

      The Spook House
      6 min read

    • Article

      ‘In the Country of Women’: Featured Nonfiction from Susan Straight

      Nov 19, 2019

      In our latest edition of featured nonfiction, we present an excerpt from National Book Award finalist Susan Straight’s new novel, In the Country of Women, out now from Catapult. The post ‘In the Country of Women’: Featured Nonfiction from Susan Strai

      8 min read

    • Article

      A Kitchen, A Sunroom, And A Thousand Days

      Aug 5, 2019

      I was young, maybe 8 or 9. My mother was going through a time: The couple she cleaned for and whom we lived with had broken up and left us lingering in their abandoned home. She had cancer, my mother, so her head was where it was, but sometimes she w

      3 min read

    • Article

      Always Someone Leaving

      Jul 6, 2023

      Always Someone Leaving
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Hampstead MYSTERY

      Oct 19, 2022

      A Hampstead MYSTERY
      9 min read

    • Article

      One Look Back

      Jun 1, 2023

      One Look Back
      20 min read

    • Article

      Little House

      Jun 5, 2023

      On Monday nights our mother made popcorn and served it to us in mugs with milk poured over. My younger sister and I carried our mugs into the family room and ate the popcorn with spoons, like cereal. We were five and seven. Until we were allowed to s

      21 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Closed for the Season

    4.5/5

    425 ratings39 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      An engaging middle grade mystery.
    • 4/5
      Logan’s family moves in to a strange, spooky house that gives him the creeps even before he is told by his new neighbor, Arthur, that someone was murdered in the house three years earlier. Not only is he worried about his new house, but right off the bat Logan can’t stand Arthur, who seems quirky and odd in a way that isn’t a compliment. Unfortunately, because they are both about to start 7th grade and live next door to each other Arthur assumes they will be best friends. With summer vacation already in full swing, Logan doesn’t have many opportunities to meet other friends. So, with some reluctance he agrees to help Arthur try to solve the case of how the former owner, Mrs. Donaldson, died. Will Logan be able to stand Arthur long enough to make a dent in the case? Are the two boys getting involved in something that is way too dangerous? When clues lead them to an old, abandoned amusement park thing just get weirder. Of course, you will be on the edge of your seat waiting to find out how everything turns out.

      Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn is a chilling mystery that will give you goose bumps. I think anyone in 4th grade and up that likes frightening stories will enjoy this book. My heart was racing at different points in the book. I liked Logan because he seemed very down to earth. I could understand why he found Arthur to be annoying, but I also liked seeing how their relationship developed. I think Logan is braver and kinder than he knows. I think the cover is awesome and it drew me in and made me want to read the book.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book and it kept my suspense going. After Logan learns that his new home was a murder house, he does not want to live there any more. His annoying neighbor Logan ends up being his best friend and they seem to stay in trouble because of their curiosity.
    • 4/5
      Closed for the Season is about two boys who go on an adventure that leads them to finding the reason the local amusement park is closed. Logan moves to the town, next door to Arthur. Arthur and his grandmother know everything about everything in the town. Arthur tells Logan about the lady that died in his house, and he tells him she was murdered. This leads Logan to want to know more about the house his parents just bought, and before long he has a new friend, Arthur. They go on a hunt for multiple people. Ultimately the find Silas, and he leads them to the answer to their original questions. Was all of this linking to the amusement park?Why did the amusement park close? Was she murdered or was it actually an accident?This book won the Edgar Award which is presented to the Best Mystery Writers of the year. This is an accurate award because this is a suspenseful and engaging read all about mystery and murder. This book is one that I think everyone should read, even adults. This book is well written and goes into plenty of detail. Lastly I think that it is a good read and I would recommend it to everyone who enjoys mystery books.
    • 5/5
      This is an adventure filled book that I am sure that any student would love to read. A book that could very well stick with them and they would like to go back and reread it at times. Logan and Arthur are mystery solvers in this book and help to get to the bottom of Mrs. Donaldson's murder. The bravery that the young boy's show and initiative to get to the bottom of the real story of Mrs. Donaldson's death will engage the students.
    • 4/5
      Thirteen year-old Logan has just moved from Richmond to small, rural Bealesville. As soon as his family begins moving into their new house, the kid next door comes over and explains that the house has been sitting empty because the last owner was murdered there and found at the bottom of the cellar stairs. The boy, Arthur, is known as the weirdo of the neighborhood, but it turns out that everything he says is true, and soon Arthur enlists Logan in investigating the murder.The cover looks dark and scary, but this is a straight-up mystery, and is a winner of the Edgar Award for best Juvenile Mystery. Just as much of the story involves the friendship between Arthur and Logan, and what part labels and peer pressure plays in their friendship.
    • 5/5
      Closed for the Season is a wonderful mystery book for children. It captures the attention of the readers from beginning to the end with some pretty intense closing moments. Along with the mystery, there is just enough humor to keep the book balanced. Really good read!
    • 5/5
      The weather-beaten sign on the gate of the Magic Forest says closed for the season. But when the boys ride up to the gate on their bikes, Arthur tells his new friend, Logan, that the old amusement park hasn't been open for years. Kudzu vines have grown over everything, making the park look sinister even in broad daylight, so Logan is reluctant to go inside, but Arthur urges him on. He's sure they'll discover important clues to the mystery they're trying to solve: Who killed Myrtle Donaldson? And what happened to the money she handled as head bookkeeper at the Magic Forest? Arthur and Logan's quest takes them to the lowest -- and highest -- levels of society in their small Virginia town. The boys must pay another visit to the Magic Forest, this time in the middle of the night. And this time they find the killer waiting for them among the shadowy kudzu vines.
    • 5/5
      This is an excellent book full of mystery and excitement. Also in this book are valuable lessons, such as staying true to who you are, knowing what a true friend is, and not allowing what others think of you to become an issue. Learning valuable lessons as well as an intense murder mystery make for a great story!
    • 5/5
      Closed for the season is a myserious book about 2 young boys that are trying to find a clue. The clue is to see who killed the older women who once lived in logan's house. Arthur informed logan and his parents about the murder and how it happen. Logan and Arthur went around trying to find out about the murder. Personally I love this book because it gives the reader a chance to think about what could happen next without letting the text give it away.This book could be used for elementary to middle school. An activity that could be used in the classroom is to create a scavenger hunt. The students would have to answer questions about the story in order to get a clue. The student would have to find things such as suitcases,a hole, a dog and etc...
    • 5/5
      Closed For the Season was a great children's mystey book. Although I am older I still enjoyed the book beccause it kept me anxious the whole time to find out what was going to happen next. This book shows in the end that who you think to be the good person does not always turn out to be the type of person that you think they truly are. This book also shows how when people work together they can find solve a problem. This book also showed the two boys that no matter what came between the boys, they would always be friends in the end because they were true friends and stood up for each other when needed. I would recommend this book to any child ages 8-13.
    • 5/5
      This book is very suspenseful and holds the reader's attention the entire time. Never once did I get bored while reading this book; it easily became one of my favorites. For those who love suspense and mystery books, this one is great. This is a book that you will not want to put down once you begin reading. I was questioning the events in the story the entire time I was reading. It was fun to try to solve the mystery and see whether you were right in the end. I love that the author uses the innocence of children in the book as characters to solve this mystery. I highly recommend this book, not only to students, but to adults as well. This book held my attention and kept me interested.
    • 4/5
      Logan's family moves into a rundown old house and Logan is immediately befriended by their weird next door neighbor, Arthur, who informs him that the old lady who used to live there was murdered. Logan and Arthur decide that they need to discover the truth about her murder before the old Magic Forest Amusement Park (where she worked) is closed down. They run into trouble when some of the town's most prominent men figure out what they are up to -- and don't want them to discover any more. Not the scary book that the cover (and author) suggest, but a good mystery with plenty of quirky characters, a fantastic setting (that I wish actually existed) and a satisfying end.
    • 5/5
      This book is a good mystery book. A family move to a new town for work and discover that the house that they are living in has a mystery murder case that needs to be solved. I want go into many details if you read the book then you will find out the rest.
    • 5/5
      Hard to put down. It is an interesting read and very suspenseful for young children. You are always wondering what is going to happen. Closed for the season is full of interesting twists and turns of events and you never know what is going to happen next. I highly recommend it to read in your class.
    • 5/5
      About the Author: The author of this book is Mary Downing Hahn. She writes all kinds of mystery and spooky novels. She was actually a former children's librarian. She has been writing books for over third years now. Character: Arthur, Logan, and their dog Bear are the main characters in this book. Arthur lives with his grandmother and Logan is the new kid in town that is trying to change his geeky image to someone popular. In the beginning Logan does not really like Arthur. He thinks that Arthur is making him look like a loser and doesn't want to be aquatinted with him at first. Plot: The plot of this book is trying to figure out who murdered Mrs. Myrtle Donaldson. Summary:His family has moved into a house known as the “murder house,” he’s made friends with nerdy outcast Arthur Jenkins and the boys have teamed up to help solve a murder and find embezzled money hidden in the nearby Magic Forest, a theme park now bankrupt and fallen into nightmarish disrepair. Though the murder mystery is the hook, this is really a story of two outsiders becoming friends played out in the small Virginia town of Bealesville, as Hahn capably dissects social strata of the town and school. The first-person voice serves the story well, though Logan occasionally seems too young for his observations. As always, the author is brilliant at establishing tone—eerie, creepy and surreal. The “cold case” mystery, the over-the-top fun of the Magic Forest scenes and the even darker mysteries of friendship and school life will make this a sure hit. (Mystery. 10-14)Theme: the theme of tis book is the mystery. It is very suspenseful and really grabs the readers attention.Setting: The setting of this book takes place in the boys neighborhood and at the old abandoned theme park.Two Direct Quotes from the novel: "Im goin g to show Logan the town," Arthur said. pg. 15"I wish Mom and Dad hadn't bought this house," I said. pg. 15Recommendations: I would definitely recommend this book to students. It was a great read and kept me guessing every time I put it down. It was very suspenseful. I believe it would be appealing to bot male and females.
    • 4/5
      This book is about a young boy named Logan who moves to a new town into an old house, which he later learns is the place of the murder of the previous owner, an elderly lady named Mrs. Donaldson. Logan's new neighbor, Arthur, befriends him, and the two go on an adventure of a lifetime to solve the mystery of who murdered Mrs. Donaldson.I would recommend this book to boys and girls because many people love mysteries. This book is suspenseful and, of course, mysterious! It will definitely keep you guessing. A young boy of about middle school age would likely really like this book because they would probably connect really well with Logan.
    • 4/5
      Closed for the Season is a realistic fiction mystery book about an amusement park that is closed down. Mary Downing Hahn is the author of the book, and created an unexpected plot for this book. The Magic Forest is an amusement park that has been shut down, but there is foul playing going on involving a murder and people of the town who have become involved. This is a great book for children to read.
    • 4/5
      CLosed for the season was written by Mary Downing Hahn and is classified as a realistic fiction and mystery book. It is about two unexpected friends that go on adventures and work together to solve a mystery. This book was so good I could barely put it down. Although it is a Children's book, some parts are a little scary so I would suggest no one younger that fourth grade should probably read it. This book teaches lessons and motivates kids to think outside of the box. If you are a mystery lover I would strongly recommend reading this book.
    • 3/5
      This book was hard to put down once I started reading. Although it may be a little scary for some younger kids, it's a great book for middle school age range. It is hands down a great mystery story. When two unlikely friends meet, they begin the adventure of their lifetimes and try to solve a murder case. They get themselves into a lot of trouble, but it doesn't stop them. Together, they have a wild imagination and are determined to solve the case. They end up being town heroes, but it takes a lot of sneaking around and troublemaking to get the job done.
    • 5/5
      This story was very unexpected but so worth it. It has so many great themes and ideas that relate to children and too adults. The two main characters become the most unlikely of friends and that friendship takes them on a whirlwind adventure filled with ups and downs along with mischief and success. They face and conquer many things that children in today's schools also deal with such as moving, bullying, parents/society forcing certain peer groups on them, and even tough family situations like abandonment, abuse,and etc. The author writes these themes in such away that the reader comprehends the depth of what is happening but also it keeps it light. This a versatile book that can easily be introduced into a classroom, to a young child who may not like to read, or even keep the attention of an avid reader.
    • 5/5
      This book is hands down one of the best chapter children's book I have read. It keeps the reader on his or her toes and can't wait to flip the next page. The book is about a woman who was murdered and everyone thought she stole money. Two courageous boys take a stand and solve the mystery of the missing money. I would tell anyone of any age to read this book because it is so much fun to read. I really enjoyed this book.
    • 5/5
      Author: Mary Downing Hahn Theme: investigation, friendship, mysteryCharacters: Arthur is talkative, opinionated, and can be obnoxious. Logan is more of a follower, but is curious, well-mannered, and brave boy. Nina is a private investigator who is attractive and secretive Mrs. Donaldson is the lady who died, but has a hidden briefcase somewhere in Magic Forest. Summary: Arthur is a boy who has just moved into a new town with unfamiliar people. His first and only friend, Arthur, keeps Logan entertained with new schemes and adventures due to their curiosity. They began to investigate the hidden brief case that has been told many rumors about. Even though their sneaking around leads to trouble most of the time, they figure out where the brief case is and how to find it. They get Violet to help them solve the mystery, but Silas gets in their way. Nina with the help of the two little boys find out who the bad guys are and solve the mystery after all!
    • 4/5
      This is a great mystery story. It isn't too scary either. It keeps you wanting to read more and more, it is defiantly hard to put down. This would be a great book for older children and teens. It is a great murder mystery, but there is also so much other stuff that the reader is dying to find out besides that as they read along. I feel that it would be hard for a child to get bored with this story. As the story starts unfolding you still get caught off guard and surprised by all the different outcomes. It also had a friendship building between the two boys which is nice to read in a children's book. Overall, this is a great story and I would recommend it to any child, boy or girl.
    • 5/5
      Closed for the season was one of the most mysterious and mischevious books that I have ever read. This book could definitely be recommended to children/teens at the age of 10-12. This jaw dropping mystery book includes things that you would never think of. As in who embezzled the money, or who even killed the fragile grandmother. The clues in the book will have you interested in knowing WHY. Without giving too much away , Closed for the season is book that I will probably remember forever. This book not only involves mysteries, but life long messages for students who are in middle school. It focuses on bullying, domestic violence and crime scene/murder as a whole. Mary Downing Hahn (Author) as a child did not like to write, but she loved drawing pictures. Her books were based on telling stories through pictures. She is also a recipient of the Scott O'dell and Edgar Awards.
    • 4/5
      This book is a great mystery book! I loved reading this book. From the very start of the book it was a mystery and it kept me wanting to read more. It was a very easy read for kids. It started with a boy and his family moving into a house where somebody was found dead months before. The young boy found this very mysterious and creepy. The story is revolved around him and his new friend trying to get to the bottom of what exactly happened to the lady who used to live in his house.
    • 5/5
      Logan, the main character is on an adventure with his next door neighbor buddy Arthur. Both of them want to find out who murdered Miss. Donaldson who lived in Logan's house before he had moved in. The story focuses on 'solving' the murder story. The antagonist of this story is a friend called Silas who is a violent man in the family. I would recommenced this story to fifth and sixth graders because the ages of Logan and Arthur are in the pre-teen years. A very fat and fun read. You really want to know what fun happens next. Its set in the traditional american residential area where the people are all close together and to get out of this neighborhood you have to drive or bike. The sitting is described very well in the book, gives you a sinister view of the book.
    • 3/5
      Good mystery story and a good friendship book. The ending would make a great movie.
    • 3/5
      I couldn't help but to think I was reading a Scooby Doo script when I first started this book: abandoned amusement park, a mysterty to be solved. But Hahn's characters are believable and interesting enough to make this a fun read.
    • 2/5
      IM kinda disapointed with Mary. usually I get into her books as soon as I pick it up i read this on and off for a year.

    Book preview

    Closed for the Season - Mary Downing Hahn

    Clarion Books

    3 Park Avenue

    New York, NY 10016

    Copyright © 2009 by Mary Downing Hahn

    All rights reserved. For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to [email protected] or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

    Clarion Books is an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

    hmhbooks.com

    The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

    Hahn, Mary Downing.

    Closed for the season : a mystery / by Mary Downing Hahn.

    p. cm.

    Summary: When thirteen-year-old Logan and his family move into a run-down old house in rural Virginia, he discovers that a woman was murdered there and becomes involved with his neighbor Arthur in a dangerous investigation to try to uncover the killer.

    [1. Mystery and detective stories. 2. Murder—Fiction. 3. Neighbors—Fiction. 4. Friendship—Fiction. 5. Virginia—Fiction.] I. Title.

    PZ7.H1256Cl 2009

    [Fic]—dc22

    2008046846

    ISBN 978-0-547-08451-0 hardcover

    ISBN 978-0-547-39853-2 paperback

    eISBN 978-0-547-39413-8

    v4.0820

    FOR JAMES CROSS GIBLIN

    Editor, mentor, and friend for thirty years

    1

    By the time Dad pulled into the driveway of our new house, all I wanted was to go inside and jump in the shower. If we had a shower, that is. Or even any water. Dad had warned us the house needed a lot of work, but the place was in worse shape than I’d imagined, old and run-down, paint peeling and flaking, a broken downspout dangling from the eaves, old papers littering the porch. The grass was at least two feet high, choked with towering thistles and milkweed. The bushes and trees had a wild, shaggy look. Mom, who’d described it as a quaint Victorian cottage with tons of potential, grew strangely quiet at the sight of it.

    Dad took one look, sighed, and opened the car door. It seems the realtor forgot to have someone mow the lawn. He shook his head and sighed again. It’s a good thing I don’t start teaching until fall. We have some time to get this place in shape.

    Please don’t tell me this is our house, I said to Mom. "We aren’t really going to live here. It’s Dad’s idea of a joke—right?"

    Making a big effort to infuse her voice with enthusiasm, Mom said, For heaven’s sake, Logan, wait till it’s painted and the lawn’s cut. It will be adorable.

    With a cynical sigh, I followed my parents toward the front door. A black mutt about the size of a German shepherd watched us from the porch. Mom edged behind Dad, but there was no need to be scared. The dog got to his feet and wagged his tail as if he was greeting old friends.

    Does he come with the house? I asked.

    Mom eyed the dog as if she suspected his friendliness was an act. I think he belongs to the people next door.

    As if on cue, a boy appeared at the hedge separating his yard from ours. His name’s Bear, he said. Part rottweiler, part lab. He used to belong to the lady who lived in your house, but now he’s mine and Grandma’s.

    The boy and I stared at each other over the low hedge. He was shorter than I was—younger, too. Probably no more than eleven. His straight yellow hair hung in his eyes and straggled down the back of his neck, his glasses were held together with tape, and he wore a faded T-shirt big enough for Dad that said, MENZER’S HARDWARE—IF WE DON’T HAVE IT, YOU DON’T NEED IT.

    I’ve been waiting all day for you. The boy frowned as if he expected me to apologize for inconveniencing him. Grandma was sure you’d be here by noon, and it’s almost six o’clock. He held up a skinny arm to show me the time on an enormous watch that was way too big for his bony wrist.

    I’d been trapped in the back seat of an un-air-conditioned car for almost two hours. The temperature was over ninety. I was hot, I was tired, I was in a really bad mood. I definitely did not feel like being friendly. Especially with such a weird-looking kid.

    My name’s Arthur Jenkins, the boy went on. What’s yours?

    Logan Forbes. I glanced over my shoulder, hoping to see Mom or Dad beckoning me to come inside and help unpack or something. But no one was in sight. Now, if I’d wanted to stay outside and talk to Arthur Jenkins, you can bet my parents would have been hollering at me to get my butt in the house.

    How old are you? Arthur asked. Without giving me a chance to answer, he said, I’m almost twelve. Next fall I’ll be in sixth grade at Oak View Middle School. You can’t really see any oaks from there because they cut them all down to build a bunch of big expensive houses. Fair Oaks, it’s called, in memory of the trees, I guess. Mostly everyone our age lives there. They’re all snobs.

    I turned thirteen last month, I said. I’ll be in seventh grade, a whole year ahead of you.

    Arthur shrugged. We can be friends anyway. Living so close—that’s propinquity. He paused to see if I knew what propinquity meant. In case I didn’t, he added, That means proximity or nearness. Also kinship and similarity in nature. He flashed a crooked grin. I have the biggest vocabulary in my grade. I’m also the best speller and the best reader. I read five hundred and three books for last year’s read-a-thon. Not Dr. Seuss, either—thick ones, like the Harry Potter books. I won so much free pizza, I don’t even like the way it smells anymore.

    While Arthur bragged, I looked longingly at the house. I could hear Dad hammering, but no one came to the door to call me inside.

    Arthur pulled a stick of gum out of his pocket. Without offering me any, he stuffed it in his mouth. I watched him chew with lip-smacking relish, blow a big bubble, and suck it slowly back inside his mouth.

    When he was ready to talk again, he said, You’ve got some nice furniture. Expensive, Grandma says. We watched the moving men carry it in yesterday. How big is your TV screen? I’ve never seen one that size except in a store down at Peckham Mall.

    I shrugged and glanced at the house, still hoping someone would rescue me from Arthur.

    Grandma and I didn’t think anybody was ever going to buy old Mrs. Donaldson’s place, Arthur went on. It’s been empty for almost three years. I guess the real estate company was hoping some folks from out of town like you-all would buy it without knowing what happened in it.

    He paused to blow another bubble.

    What do you mean? I asked, curious in spite of myself. What happened in our house?

    He leaned across the hedge, his face so close I could smell his gum. "Mrs. Donaldson died there. . . . She was murdered."

    Murdered? I stared at Arthur, shocked. No way.

    Ask Grandma. She’s the one who found her. His eyes widened behind the smeared lenses of his glasses. In a low voice, he went on with what I hoped was a story he’d concocted to scare me.

    One night, Bear woke up Grandma and me, barking like he’d gone crazy or something. We both kept hoping he’d shut up so we could go back to sleep, but he didn’t stop. Finally, Grandma went downstairs, and I followed her. Bear was at our back door, making a horrible fuss. Arthur paused and glanced at the dog, who’d raised his head at the mention of his name.

    Mrs. Donaldson never let him out unless he was on a leash, Arthur went on. Not only that, his head was bleeding, like somebody had whacked him hard enough to kill an ordinary dog. He paused again, and I found myself staring at Bear, who was now scratching his ear.

    Arthur sighed. Grandma and I knew something was wrong. It was one of those weird feelings—you know what I mean?

    I nodded. Like in a movie, when the music gets scary and you can tell something bad is going to happen?

    Exactly. Arthur crossed his arms across his skinny chest and took a deep breath. Grandma told me to stay inside while she ran to Mrs. Donaldson’s house. The back door was wide open, and the kitchen was a wreck. Drawers emptied out, stuff strewn everywhere, furniture turned over. Bear ran down the cellar steps, whining and crying, and Grandma followed him. Mrs. Donaldson was lying on the floor. Dead.

    Despite the warm summer sun, goose bumps raced up and down my arms. Maybe she just fell down the steps, maybe—

    Even the police said it was murder, Arthur interrupted. Somebody broke in and killed her. Then they tore the whole house apart—not just the kitchen, but every room, including the attic. They were looking for money, I guess.

    I glanced at Bear, who’d gone back to sleep on our porch. Is he really her dog?

    Mrs. Donaldson loved that dog, and he loved her. He must have done his best to protect her. But . . . Arthur shrugged. The cops were going to take him to the pound, but Grandma said we’d keep him. The sad thing is he spends more time at your house than ours. I guess he’s hoping Mrs. Donaldson will come back someday.

    While Arthur talked, I found myself staring at my new home. Before I’d learned its gruesome secret, it had seemed like an ordinary little house, kind of homely and run-down. Now it had a sinister look, as if it were hiding behind the overgrown trees and bushes, keeping dark, scary secrets.

    Our back door opened then, and Mom leaned out. Logan, how about giving us some help in here?

    At the same moment, a woman appeared on Arthur’s porch. Like him, she was skinny as a stick. Her hair was blond or white, I wasn’t sure which, and it stuck up like a cockatoo’s crest. Her eyebrows were black, drawn on a little too high, which gave her face a startled look. I didn’t have any idea how old she was—anywhere from middle-aged to ancient was the closest I could guess.

    Hello, there, she called to me. Welcome to Bealesville. I’m Arthur’s granny, Darla Jenkins. Tell your folks I’ll come on over for a visit after they get settled.

    To Arthur she said, Dinner’s ready, Artie. Come in and wash up.

    See you later. Without another word, Arthur ran to his house, which was smaller and in worse need of paint than ours. Taking the sagging steps two at a time, he yanked open the screen door and disappeared.

    In the sudden silence, I heard his grandmother say, Arthur Jenkins, how often must I tell you not to slam that door!

    I headed for our house, eager to confront Mom and Dad with the truth about our new home.

    2

    As soon as I entered the kitchen, I blurted out, Why didn’t you tell me the old woman who used to live in this house was murdered here?

    Mom looked up from the pots and pans she was trying to organize. What are you talking about?

    Who told you that? Dad asked at the same time.

    The boy next door. Arthur. His grandmother found the body. Down there. I pointed to the cellar door. At the bottom of the steps.

    Mrs. Donaldson did die of a fall down those steps, Dad said slowly. But she wasn’t murdered, Logan.

    We thought it might worry you to know someone died here, Mom put in. We should have known you’d hear it from somebody else—with embellishments.

    Worry me? I repeated. "It’s bad enough she died, but she was murdered, Mom. K-I-L-L-E-D. That definitely worries me!"

    She wasn’t— Mom began, but the doorbell interrupted her.

    That must be the pizza I ordered, Dad said.

    We followed him to the front door, and, sure enough, a guy holding a pizza box stood on the porch. While Dad went through the business end of the delivery, the pizza guy said, I’m glad to see somebody’s finally moved into poor old Mrs. Donaldson’s house. It’s been empty for a long time. I guess it was hard to sell, considering what happened—

    Yes, the place has really been neglected, Dad broke in before the delivery guy could finish. I’ve got my work cut out for me.

    If you need any help, just let me know, the pizza guy said. My name’s Johnny O’Neil. He scribbled something on a card from the pizza place and handed it to Dad. Here’s my phone number. I work nights at Golden Joe’s Pizza Go-Go, so I’m free in the daytime.

    How are you with a lawn mower? Dad gestured at the weedy yard.

    No problem, Johnny answered. I can cut the grass tomorrow, if you like. Twenty dollars front and back, guaranteed neat job. I used to do it for Mrs. Donaldson before—

    Great. Dad grinned. How about ten A.M.?

    It’s a deal.

    We watched Johnny run to his car, which sported a big pizza sign on the roof, and drive away fast. No doubt some hungry family was wondering where their pizza was.

    Why do you think Johnny said ‘poor old Mrs. Donaldson?’ I asked Mom.

    She handed me a slice of pizza loaded with all the things I love—mushrooms, sausage, pepperoni, and extra cheese—and shrugged. "Probably because she died,

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1