Overview
These original ghost stories, linked by the characters of Hank and Clifford, reflect a common heritage of rural America--a land dotted with small farmhouses, old gristmills, run-down barns, and, of course, cemeteries. In "The Fresh Grave" Hank and Clifford foil grave robbers, meet a ghostly Civil War widow, encounter a long-gone religious sect, and tiptoe through a deserted hotel.Hank and his 'fraidy-cat sidekick Clifford explore old buildings and cemeteries around the central midwestern town of Myrtleville and encounter a number of ghosts.
Synopsis
These original ghost stories, linked by the characters of Hank and Clifford, reflect a common heritage of rural America--a land dotted with small farmhouses, old gristmills, run-down barns, and, of course, cemeteries. In "The Fresh Grave" Hank and Clifford foil grave robbers, meet a ghostly Civil War widow, encounter a long-gone religious sect, and tiptoe through a deserted hotel.
School Library Journal
Gr 5-7--Teenagers Hank Cantrell and his friend Cliff meet a ghostly cast of characters in this collection of stories set in a small Midwestern town. The motifs of the 10 tales are familiar--being buried alive, sacred Indian burial grounds, inability to give up a child, etc. Bial tells these stories in a straightforward manner and often with a touch of humor. In each selection, Hank becomes aware of cultural and moral values surrounding the ghosts and periods of history. Cliff, on the other hand, provides the comic relief while defending his cowardly attitude. The dialogue is a strength of this book and moves the plots forward; description is used to embellish the scenes and the two elements combine well for silent reading. The amount of conversation, however, does make reading aloud a bit more difficult. A worthy purchase for those who have read Alvin Schwartz's and Daniel Cohen's books and are ready to move on to something else.--Molly S. Kinney, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh