GHOST STORY: A Cape Cod Story

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. New/New. Wendell Minor. CONDITION: NEW 2007 Simon & Schuster hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Beautiful color illustrations by Wendell Minor. Title and Author's name embossed lettering on DJ cover. Decorated end pages. Interesting story. CONTENT: In her first children's book, a popular writer of adult thrillers and a familiar illustrator pair up to create a picture book that blends past and present. While visiting his grandmother in a 300-year-old house built by Andrew Hallett, a great sea captain, nine-year-old Thomas loves hearing the exciting stories of sailing ships that were sometimes wrecked on the rocks. One day after a heavy storm he finds an old belt buckle on the beach, and the ghost of Silas, the boy who owned the buckle in 1690, appears. Silas, who was Hallett's cabin boy, explains how he used a raging fire to save the captain's ship from the local mooncussers (thieves). The scenarios with the boys and Grandma are too idyllic, and kids may wonder how the fire was put out. The time-travel scenario is intriguing, however, as are the heroics, and children will like Minor's sturdy, richly colored artwork, which depicts raging fires, ghosts, and sun-dappled beaches with equal facility. Ages 8+.