The Light on Hogback Hill

by Cynthia C. DeFelice

Hadley's friend Josh is new in town and curious to know what is behind the terrible songs the kids sing. According to the creepy stories, an old hunchback lives on the hill with hundreds of black cats, and if you go up there, she'll turn you into a cat! Hadley can see the light on the hill from her bedroom window and the stories often give her nightmares.

But one dark Halloween night Josh talks Hadley into making one terrifying trip up Hogback Hill to solve the mystery. And what they discover is a very old secret that someone wants to make sure is kept.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Fiction, School

139 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1993

About the author

Cynthia DeFelice is the author of many bestselling titles for young readers, including the novels Wild Life, The Ghost of Cutler Creek, Signal, and The Missing Manatee, as well as the picture books, One Potato, Two Potato, and Casey in the Bath. Her books have been nominated for an Edgar Allen Poe Award and listed as American Library Association Notable Children's Books and Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, among numerous other honors.

Cynthia was born in Philadelphia in 1951. As a child, she was always reading. Summer vacations began with a trip to the bookstore, where she and her sister and brothers were allowed to pick out books for their summer reading. “To me,” she says, “those trips to the bookstore were even better than the rare occasions when we were given a quarter and turned loose at the penny-candy store on the boardwalk.” Cynthia has worked as a bookseller, a barn painter, a storyteller, and a school librarian.

When asked what she loves best about being an author, she can’t pick just one answer: “I love the feeling of being caught up in the lives of the characters I am writing about. I enjoy the challenge of trying to write as honestly as I can, and I find enormous satisfaction in hearing from readers that something I wrote touched them, delighted them, made them shiver with fear or shake with laughter, or think about something new.” Cynthia and her husband live in Geneva, New York.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/cynthi...

Reviews

[Rico · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s a nice story, if a little dated

[Lovely Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

When Hadley befriends the new kid in school, Josh, she must quickly adapt to his adventuresome ways. Hadley tells Josh about the mysterious house on Hogback Hill on the outskirts of town and about the spooky stories that are told about the ‘hogback hag’ who lives alone and turns nosey kids into black cats.
Of course, this intrigues Josh and on halloween night, convinces an uncertain Hadley to sneak up the hill and see if the rumours are true.
What they find on hogback hill is not only a shock, but the discovery will create a domino effect of change in the children’s personal lives.

A surprising story of true friendship and belonging.

*2 uses of language

[Lyndsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this book on my shelf since I was an adolescent and didn't remember much about it, so I decided to read it before I gave it away. Its a cute little story about acceptance and friendship. I'm glad I read it again.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story and written well

[Lindsey Dykema · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put down this great mystery. This story is about 2 kids named Hadley and Josh. Hadley has always wondered if someone lives on Hogback Hill. When Josh Turner a new kid comes to town he is so interested in this mystery. Hadley and Josh figure out who lives up there(if there is anyone) but that leaves more mysteries. This is a great mystery!

[Elizabeth Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Hadley is an only child living with her mother, who loves her but has little time to spend with her due to work, while her friend Josh is feeling a little stifled by his family. During their free time they attempt to solve the mystery of the light on the hill.

[Thalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's a great book! you should read it sometime

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

New kid in town befriends local and they solve mystery of mysterious little house with unusual person living there.

[Lucinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was going back through my shelves (dusting!) and found some more books that I hadn't posted on here.

Anyway, I liked this one, the story quite is good.

[Marsha Necessary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading this to the kids. A fast paced juvenile mystery. We all enjoyed it!!

[Easton Tingey · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked it it teaches you to find out about good people and be good friends

[Kim]

great nice mystery