Closed for the Season

Hahn, Mary Downing. (2009) Boston: Clarion Books. 978-0-547-08541-0

PLOT SUMMARY

Thirteen year old Logan Garner just moved to Bealesville, a tiny town that seems to hold nothing to interest a city boy. His new neighbor Arthur Jenkins is the strangest kid in town. Together they unravel the mystery of the woman murdered three years ago in Logan's rundown house.

CRITICAL EVALUATION

The main character Logan is the embodiment of tween angst. He struggles with being accepted in a new town where his only friend Arthur is the strange neighbor who apparently is picked on and made fun of by all the other kids. He also has conflicts with his mother who wants him to fit in better with the popular kids, at the expense of losing Arthur. Readers can identify with his anger and frustration, his feelings of being treated unfairly by the adults in the story, and his need to fit in. Logan shows growth in the end when he realizes that he does not need to change who he is or who he hangs around in order to have people like him.

The story moves quickly, and involves a variety of interesting and sometimes unsavory characters.

READER'S ANNOTATION

Moving to a new town can never be easy for a thirteen year old boy, but moving to a new town where his only friend is the town weirdo, and his house was the site of an unsolved murder can only make it harder. Logan and Arthur quickly become unlikely friends and embark upon an end of the summer quest to discover who killed the old woman who previously lived in Logan's house, but not until they run into a reporter also investigating the crime, the town bully's, and a violent criminal offender, and explore the rundown theme park that is soon to be demolished.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born December 9, 1937, Mary Downing Hahn did not publish her first book until 1979 when she was 41. Before becoming an author she was a children's librarian and has since written over twenty novels for teens/young adults. She has received numerous awards for her work.

GENRE

Mystery

CURRICULUM TIES

The boys in the story utilize research skills at the library. The reporter on the other hand, who should have proper research skills, is fed information that Logan knows is untrue. Have students discuss the importance of truth and accuracy in the media. What sort of consequences could result from false information? How is the media different in other countries?

BOOKTALKING IDEAS

How would you feel about living in a house where an unsolved murder took place? Discuss some of the difficulties of being a new person in a situation (new town, new school, new job, etc.) Discuss how the hardships of Danny's life (one of the bullys in town) affect how he treats other people, and how he looks at himself.

READING LEVEL/INTEREST AGE

10-15

CHALLENGE ISSUES

Domestic violence is involved, mother and son beaten by father.

WHY INCLUDE THIS BOOK?

While Logan at times seemed somewhat weak, as opposed to Arthur's more adventurous spirit, I admired the way he stuck up for his friend, even when his mother tried to split them apart. Because of their heroism, a result of them not bowing down to the adults who tried to stand in their way, they were stars at the beginning of the school year, which is something most kids their age would appreciate.