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Closed for the Season

by Mary Downing Hahn (Goodreads Author)

3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 · rating details · 1,871 ratings · 309 reviews

A contemporary thriller by the bestselling author of THE OLD WILLIS PLACE.

Two 13-year-old boys, Arthur and Logan, set out to solve the mystery of a murder that took place some years ago in the old house Logan's family has just moved into. The boys' quest takes them to the highest and lowest levels of society in their small Maryland town, and eventually to a derelict amusem...more

Hardcover, 192 pages

Published June 15th 2009 by Clarion Books (first published 2009)

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Mar 11, 2010 Alejandro Hernandez rated it 3 of 5 stars

Closed for the season is a very interresting book is a very fast read and you just get hook on it its a mistory book about a kid named Logan and his family who just move to this old house and he meet another kid named Arthur and he tell him that the oldlady that owned that house before him was muter in that house and then at first he thought that Arthur was this lame kid and he used to by a nerd boy in his old school so LOgan wanted to started a new life and get friend but the they started to lo...more

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Apr 21, 2011 Moe rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5th-grade

Are you looking for a bone-chilling story? Well, this is not for you. The cover may look scary, but it really is not. The only really scary part about this book is the cover itself, and how come the author put such a goth picture on a book that didn't even give me goosebumps? Well thinking back, I do remember where I got it, it was the school's book fair. No wonder, because that is public school for you, always trying to order preschool-friendly chapter books for 5th graders.

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May 22, 2013 Everett Cortes rated it 3 of 5 stars

For Goodreads in the fourth quarter I read the book Closed For the Season, by Mary Downing Hahn. It is a mystery book. It is about a 12 year old named Logan. He moves into a house that is beaten up and run down. He lives with his mother and father. The book didn’t say anything about a sibling. He finds out from his neighbor, Arthur, that in his house a murder of an elderly woman happened, the woman’s name was Mrs. Donaldson. She worked at an amusement park called The Magic Forest. A short time...more

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May 21, 2013 Pleggmel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would rate the book Closed For The Season by Mary Downing Hahn a 4 out of 5 stars.
This book is about a kid named Logan and Arthur trying to solve the mystery to a murder. Logan is the new kid who just moved in next to Arthur, Logan’s parents did not know that a woman was murdered there a couple years ago. Logan and Arthur find a lot of trouble trying to find who killed Mrs. Donaldson. They narrow it down all the way to an abandoned amusement park that makes the book have a scary edge. (Beside...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Jon Huber rated it 3 of 5 stars

In the novel, Closed for the Season, Logan Forbes, a 13 year old boy realizes that his new house in Richmond, Virginia was where someone was murdered. His next door neighbor, Arthur Jenkins helps him on this mystery novel to find out who the murderer was. But it isn't easy. They have to make numerous trips to the Magic Forest,an amusement park that hasnt been open for decades,risking their life and tracking down clues. Then one night, they have to take a secret trip to the Magic Forest, meeting...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Megan added it

Summary: In this book, Logan and his family move to a new town for his dad’s job. Before even moving all their stuff inside Logan discovers some interesting news from his new neighbor, Authur, that the old woman who used to live in the house was murdered and her killer was never caught. The story follows the two boys on their adventure to solving the mystery. It includes a run-down amusement park, a bully, the best dog ever and 2 million dollars!

Audience: This is a chapter book with no pictures....more

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Jul 10, 2012 Jackie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, murder, friendship, children-fiction, edgar-award-nominee, criminals

When Logan and his parents move to a run-down, ramshackle house in rural Virginia, they have no idea that their house was the scene of a recent crime...a murder! Arthur, the boy next door is a loner, bookworm, and has no friends. Arthur and Logan strike up a friendship more out of loneliness and necessity, rather than mutual respect.

However, after finding an ominous note in the attic from the murder victim, the boys set out to try to solve the mystery and implicate the murderer. It has somethin...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars

The book Closed For the Season by Mary Downing Hahn is not only an award winning mystery, it also shows a true meaning of friendship. The story starts out with the main character Logan moving to a new town, and a new house, and a new life. When Logan meets Arthur, the kid next door. Logan finds out more than he wants to know about his new house. Arthur tells Logan the story of how the murder of Myrtle Donaldson took place in the house. However no one has ever found out the murderer. This makes...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Corinne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade

When Logan arrives at his new home, saying that he felt "disappointed" would be an understatement. The house is a royal dump and his neighbor Arthur seems to be exactly the kind of nerdy kid Logan would like to avoid at his new middle school. Not only that, but the first thing Arthur tells him is that the previous owner of Logan's new house was murdered - right in that very dumpy house.

But the murder was never solved and Arthur is convinced that it has something to do with a bunch of money that...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Allela Ortin rated it 4 of 5 stars

I decided to read this book mainly because the title and the cover of the book intrigued me. The story is about Logan and his family and how they move into a house which people claim to be where an old woman was murdered. Logan and his neighbor, Arthur, try to uncover the mysteries of her death, revealing more mysteries to solve, and more danger. My favorite quote from the entire book was, "Grandma and I knew there was something wrong. It was one of those weird feelings-you know what I mean?" by...more

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Oct 15, 2011 Alma rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-2010-11

Downing Hahn, Mary. Closed for the Season. Clarion Books. 2009. 192 pp. ISBN: 054708451X. Genre: Mystery, Fiction
Rating: 3.74 Stars. A new boy in town tries to solve a murder that was committed in the house he now lives in.

Summary: Logan and his family move to Virginia when his dad takes a teaching job. Little did Logan know that he was moving into a rundown house where the late Myrtle Donaldson was supposedly murdered. Logan and Arthur spend the summer becoming friends and trying to get to the...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Amy Ramsey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Here is the blurb from the back of the book.

Closed for the Season
by Mary Downing Hahn
Sandpiper Publishing
978-0-547-39853-2
YA Mystery/Suspense
$5.99
Rating 4 Blood Drops

The weather-beaten sign on the gate of the Magic Forest says:

CLOSED FOR THE SEASON

But when the boys ride up to it on their bikes, Arthur tells his new friend, Logan, that the old amusement park hasn't been open for years. The overgrown park looks sinister even in broad daylight, so Logan is reluctant to go inside, but Arthur urges h...more

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Oct 20, 2009 Kristian added it

Shelves: grade-8-reading-betts-grant

this book is about a boy named logan and him and his family move into a house but no one knows the story bhind this old fashion manshion. logan meets his new neighboors and he meets a very skinny boney boy named aurther, and he tells him about the house. a lady used to live there until some one brokeinto her house and murdered her in the celler and then they hit her dog on the head with something because he ran to the house next door( aurthers house) and called them over in a very doggy like fas...more this book is about a boy named logan and him and his family move into a house but no one knows the story bhind this old fashion manshion. logan meets his new neighboors and he meets a very skinny boney boy named aurther, and he tells him about the house. a lady used to live there until some one brokeinto her house and murdered her in the celler and then they hit her dog on the head with something because he ran to the house next door( aurthers house) and called them over in a very doggy like fashion, now the dog is aurthers dog. after all of this got out of the way. aurther and logan where in the magic forest, and these guys game out, they had dannys mom right on his arm and this man was beating her. until danny came out and hit him with a tree branch but i guess this man was on steroroids because he did not feel it. until he was hit like 5 times and then aurthers dog bear jumped on him and teared him apart then cop sirens lit up and arrested this man, the last words he said was " when i get out of jail im coming after you." then the cop said you wont be out of jail until your body rots. then they got on there bikes a rode off but aurthors dog wanted to be with danny so they lt him be free, logans house got fixed up and it looks very nice as they discribbed it.
i can connect this book to my life because when m family bought a house upstate out neighboor had a dog and it was always on our property barking and i remember my mom saying where gunna get a gate ad keep it out. while we where fixing up our house, it got into our house and right behind my mom i will never forget that scream then i took the dog out and got to meat the neighbors.
i give this book a 5 because it explained its details in everything and it kep me hooked. unlike some books, this book was like made for me because every page of this book was full of interesting funny or serious things. i would reccomend this book to a y level kid because in this book there are some challenging workds that i didnt know at first until i used a dictionary. (less)

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Aug 03, 2009 Peg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kids_fiction

Hahn retains her magic for writing mysteries for young readers. Logan's not happy about his family's move from Richmond to a small town where his father will teach. He's even less happy when Arthur, the kid next door, decides he is Logan's new best friend! Arthur, who lives with his grandmother, quickly makes himself at home at Logan's, walking in without knocking, arriving most day in time for breakfast, and quickly learning where snacks and cookies are stashed in the cupboards. He informs Loga...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Julia R rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Julia Ragusa
Ms. Hayes
Period 2
19 January 2013

Closed for the Season Book Review

The novel, Closed For the Season by Mary Downing Hahn, is about a boy named Logan who moved from Richmond into a new house. Logan has the usual sadness and nervousness about moving, but there’s something especially nerve racking about the house he moved into. The woman who lived in the house before him, Mrs. Donaldson, was murdered, and the man who killed her was looking for the money he embezzled from the Magic Forest...more Julia Ragusa
Ms. Hayes
Period 2
19 January 2013

Closed for the Season Book Review

The novel, Closed For the Season by Mary Downing Hahn, is about a boy named Logan who moved from Richmond into a new house. Logan has the usual sadness and nervousness about moving, but there’s something especially nerve racking about the house he moved into. The woman who lived in the house before him, Mrs. Donaldson, was murdered, and the man who killed her was looking for the money he embezzled from the Magic Forest, the town theme park. The mystery behind Mrs. Donaldson’s death started to intrigue and involve Logan the minute he walked in the door, and with the help of his new found friend Arthur Jenkins, Logan tries to unravel this mind boggling mystery. However, the two friends encounter many life threatening dangers when figuring out the mystery, who the killer was, a venture into the long closed, vine covered, and run down Magic Forest, and an attempt to find the money and Mrs. Donaldson’s killer without being caught by the murderer or the police. After all, the Magic Forest is closed for the season.

My favorite character in the novel, Closed For the Season by Mary Downing Hahn, would have to be the main character Logan. Logan was the boy in the story who moved into the house where Mrs. Donaldson was murdered. He was the one who with the help of his friend tried to figure out the mystery of Mrs. Donaldson’s death and where the embezzled money was. I liked him because he was trying to clear the name of Mrs. Donaldson because he knew she was innocent. Logan truly had courage to try and prove Mrs. Donaldson’s innocence even though it meant putting him and his friend Arthur’s life in danger. I connected with this character because he wanted to do the right thing and solve the mystery and have a good adventure. I would have wanted to do the same thing. Logan evolved throughout the story because at first he didn’t really want to get involved with the case or Arthur Jenkins, his neighbor, for that matter. He thought Arthur was weird and the mystery was dangerous. He thought Arthur was a little crazy. For example on page 19, Logan thinks to himself, “Arthur took off down another steep hill, and I pedaled after him, hoping to see the rest of the town before he killed himself in a spectacular bike crash.” Logan thought Arthur was clumsy too. Logan would rather try to fit in with the popular kids than solve the mystery with weird Arthur. However, throughout the story Logan learns that the popular kids were acting fake towards him, and they didn’t really like him at all. He also realized that Arthur was his true loyal friend. Logan realized what was really important in life, and he grew and matured as the story came to a close. I think that the author meant for me to react this way towards Logan.

The novel, Closed For the Season by Mary Downing Hahn, overall is a great book. It is an intriguing page turner mystery. I liked when the author used foreshadowing so that I could try to figure out what would happen next. I also liked how very realistic the author made Logan’s life. The author did not try to make Logan’s life surreal or unbelievable. The life of Logan was very believable which made the mystery very exciting and realistic. This brought an element of suspense to the book because I always genuinely wanted to know what happened next. There is nothing bad the author did in this book, I thought the book was phenomenal. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery with a lot of suspense and drama. Some books make people not want to finish them, but this book makes people want the book to never end. I read the book very quickly because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Jul 07, 2012 Leigh (Little Book Star) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 012, a-d, mystery

Written in 1st person point of view, Closed for the Season is about a thirteen year old boy named Logan who moves to a house whose previous owner (Mrs. Donaldson) was thought to be murdered or died by accident. There, he meets Arthur Jenkins (who was a nerdy, weird, didn't-fit-in 12 year old kid) and they both set on a quest to find the truth about Mrs. Donaldson's death.

For the first chapters, I got really bored and I was about to just drop this book. It was very straightforward and was too ea...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Sherri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit-2011-12, harding-11-12

Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Fiction

Rating: ***This is a fun mystery with some suspense as the story unfolds. It is a little slow starting, but it becomes more exciting as it goes along.

Summary: Logan and his family move to a small town in Virginia, and Logan is immediately befriended by the boy next door, Authur. Authur doesn't waste any time telling Logan about the woman who was murdered in the house Logan just moved into, as well as showing him the deserted amusement park the murdered woman suppo...more

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May 10, 2013 Aayala2 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Closed for the seson for me must have been the best thriller story ever. I am personaly a fan of Mary Downing Hahn. She has written many wonderfull horror and suspense stories. When I was reading Closed For The Season I felt as if I were with Logan solving the mystery of who murdered Mrs. Donaldson. All through the story I sometimes felt scared or I would be shivering in the slightest noise I heard. I never wanted to put the book because I was so interested to see who the murderer was. She used...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Erin Forson rated it 2 of 5 stars

Closed for the Season
by Mary Downing Hahn
What would you do if you moved into a new house and you found out that an old lady was found murdered inside? That's what happens to Logan when he and his parents move to a new house in a small town. The good part about this mystery is that Logan's new friend, Arthur (who he really doesn't want to be friends with), is a very strong character. He's funny (without knowing it), gutsy (he stands up to bullies), has no manners (as evidenced by his tendency to...more

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Jan 02, 2011 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-books

I like Mary Downing Hahn's books. I would guess they are written on about a 5th grade level.

This one is about a 12-year-old boy, Logan, who moves with his family into a house where an elderly lady was murdered--and the murderer has never been found. Logan and his next-door-neighbor Arthur try to solve the mystery and put themselves into a lot of danger. It's a good mystery, although I figured out who the killer was when he was first introduced. However, one of the characters was a total surprise...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 al...more

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Jan 05, 2010 Brenda rated it 3 of 5 stars

On the day that Logan and his parents move into the small little town, he notices a scrawny kid waiting for them. His name is Arthur and he quickly tells them that Logan is moving into the infamous "murder house." He explains that the old woman who use to live in his house was found murdered three years ago after being accused of embezzling money from the closed theme part called Magic Forest. Soon, Logan finds himself drawn into the story and along with Arthur begins to true to uncover the myst...more

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May 02, 2013 Haley rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this book, Logan and his family move to a new town, Virginia town, for his dads job. when there moving there furniture in Logan's finds out some news about the house. he learns this from there neighbor Aurthur, there there was a murder in the house. he said that she was murdered by being pushed down the stares. Logan and Aurthur become good friends ad Aurthur takes him to the library and they find a news paper talking about the murder. that's when they started to get facts about it an wanting...more

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Oct 14, 2009 Amy added it

Shelves: 2009, fiction_j, mystery

Logan Forbes and his family have just moved to Bealesville, a tiny town in rural Virginia. His new next-door-neighbor is a precocious yet tactless boy named Arthur, who unceremoniously informs Logan that the previous owner was murdered in the house where he now lives. The murder seems to be linked to money that was embezzled from the Magic Forest, an amusement park that is now abandoned and run down. Logan and Arthur take an interest in the crime, which has remained unsolved. They are determined...more

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May 02, 2013 Cassandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

*Spoiler alert*

Logan, a twelve year old boy who likes to read, and his family have just moved. They moved into a small, rundown house in a tiny town from Richmond. Their neighbor, Arthur who is the same age as Logan and everyone thinks he is a geek, tells them they live in the murder house. Mrs. Donaldson got murdered there. Her dog Bear still stays there waiting for her. They found out that she may have hid a lot of money at the Magic Forest, an amusement park. They are pretty sure Mrs. Donalds...more

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Sep 11, 2009 xXxDyingxinside83xXx rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone

Recommended to xXxDyingxinside83xXx by: noone

Shelves: books-i-have-reviews-on

The Book Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hawn(one
of my favorite authors) is about Logan moving to a house
in which someone was murdered.His next door neighbor Arthur
(a nerd,geek good friend)joins him on a journey to find the
murderer who killed Mrs. Donaldson. The story has many settings.
The story is taking place in a small town in Maryland, and
all around Magic Forest(supposed to have been closed down).
This book is en excellent read for all mystery loving readers.
This story has some pain...more

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Dec 02, 2010 Stefano rated it 3 of 5 stars

CLOSED FOR THE SEASON
By Mary Downing Hahn

Have you ever been scared to find out if a rumor is true? If so Mary Downing Hahn “closed for the season” the story of a boy and his family they move to a new house. This book may be right for you that’s if you like a good mystery.

Logan Reese and Arthur his friendly neighbor are trying to look up information on the person that died in his house. They are trying to figure out why the person was murdered. But they cant get in contact with the person the n...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Christy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, popular

Two 13-year-old boys, Arthur and Logan, set out to solve the mystery of a murder that took place some years ago in the old house Logan's family has just moved into. The boys' quest takes them to the highest and lowest levels of society in their small Maryland town, and eventually to a derelict amusem...more A contemporary thriller by the bestselling author of THE OLD WILLIS PLACE.

Two 13-year-old boys, Arthur and Logan, set out to solve the mystery of a murder that took place some years ago in th...more

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Oct 22, 2011 Anna Vizzini added it

Closed for the Season
Mary Downing Hahn
Publication date: 2009
Genre: Mystery

"Closed for the Season" is an amazing book. It takes place in a small town called Bealesville. It's about a boy named Logan Forbes and his family. They move to a house where a women, named Myrtle Donaldson, was murdered. She worked at a place called the Magic Forest, an amuzement park that is run down and very creepy. It is now closed and going to be torn down. People believed that Mrs. Donaldson embezzled money from the...more Closed for the Season
Mary Downing Hahn
Publication date: 2009
Genre: Mystery

"Closed for the Season" is an amazing book. It takes place in a small town called Bealesville. It's about a boy named Logan Forbes and his family. They move to a house where a women, named Myrtle Donaldson, was murdered. She worked at a place called the Magic Forest, an amuzement park that is run down and very creepy. It is now closed and going to be torn down. People believed that Mrs. Donaldson embezzled money from the Magic Forest and hid it in her house. Whoever murdered her was searching for the stolen money. Mrs. Donaldson's daughter, Violet, also plays an important role in this story. She is married to Silas, a criminal who has been in jail many times. Many thought he murdered Mrs. Donaldson and took the money. Especially a women named Mrs. Jenkins. She and her grandson Arthur Jenkins, live in the house that was next door to Mrs. Donaldson and is now Logan and his family's. Arthur and Logan become great friends throughout the story. They go through many challenges on their hunt to find the stolen money. They face criminals, night time at the magic forest, and Silas and his gang. The one who stole the money and killed Mrs. Donaldson is not who is expected, but i don't want to give everything away.
The theme of this book is that finding justice for someone can bring relief to a family, and even a community. In the end Violet was so happy to find answers about what happened to her mother. She was crying and hugging everyone. Also two days later, the first day of school for Arthur and Logan, everyone was talking about the news. They were talking about how long they've waited for answers, and how they never suspected who the murder was. Lastly Danny Phelps, Silas and Violet's son, used to be a major bully. Though now, he started to clean up his act. He didn't have that much hate knowing that his grandmothers killer was gone. He could live without being scared.
People who enjoy a suspenseful mystery story would be interested in this book. There's suspense around every corner. It makes you wonder the whole time. Compared to other books I've read it has to be my second or third favorite. I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved how Arthur and Logan are the weirdest friends. Arthur is a nerd and people don't like him, and Logans new and has more of a laid back personality and doesn't brag about his intelegance like Arthur does. Though somehow, they make their friendship work.
"Outside, the voices came closer.
"If you draged me out here on a wild goose chase," a man said, "I won't be paying a lawyer to get you out of jail."
"Don't worry," Silas said. "She knows where it's at."
"I don't know where it is," Violet said. "And even if i did, I wouldn't tell you."
"This ain't no game," Sialas said. "Quit messing with us and show us where it's at."
Danny crept a little closer to the open door and peered around the witch's ragged skirt.
"He'd better not hurt her," he whispered." This quote is on page 154. It's from when the boys were at the Magic Forest trying to find the money.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It kept me guessing the whole time. I have a good relationship to the author, Mary Downing Hahn. She wrote my favorite book, "The Old Willis Place". I really like her writing style. She describes things very well, and creates fully developed characters. This book has affected me in many ways. I still think about it even though im done reading it. I like all of the things i stated above beacause that's what makes a good story. Reading things that are really descriptive and well put together make a better picture in your head. I would definitely reccomend this book book to everyone, younger and older. It's an amazing book that everyone should read at least once.
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Jun 27, 2011 Tina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-summer

Hahn hands us another great mystery for the young reader. Logan and his mother and father move to a very small town, purchase a home and are working on starting a new life. Not long after moving in, Logan meets the boy next door, Arthur, who informs them they bought the "Murder House". The owner was murdered by being pushed down the cellar steps. Logan & Arthur decide that they are going to find her killer and solve the mystery. During their investigation, they discover facts about the town...more

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About Mary Downing Hahn

I grew up in a small shingled house down at the end of Guilford Road in College Park, Maryland. Our block was loaded with kids my age. We spent hours outdoors playing "Kick the Can" and "Mother, May I" as well as cowboy and outlaw games that usually ended in quarrels about who shot whom. In the summer, we went on day long expeditions into forbidden territory -- the woods on the other side of the t...more I grew up in a small shingled house down at the end of Guilford Road in College Park, Maryland. Our block was loaded with kids my age. We spent hours outdoors playing "Kick the Can" and "Mother, May I" as well as cowboy and outlaw games that usually ended in quarrels about who shot whom. In the summer, we went on day long expeditions into forbidden territory -- the woods on the other side of the train tracks, the creek that wound its way through College Park, and the experimental farm run by the University of Maryland.

In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.

Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.

When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.

In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.

By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.

Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.(less)

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6242978-closed-for-the-season?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344670948l/6242978.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6242978-closed-for-the-season?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn[/url]

Closed for the Season

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