ABANDONED. A novel where two kids find an abandoned castle and meet a boy with no shoes. They give him a gift of shoes and he wears them around his neck.

[Robin]

Alright so I read this book back in grade 4 or 5, back when I first read a Wrinkle in Time. It was on the same shelf as that in our library at Denlow Public School. I remember in the story that two of the characters, I think it was a boy and a girl, discover an abandoned castle. I'm pretty sure it's overgrown and flooded in parts and they make it their new hideout.

And at one point they encounter a wild boy who doesn't wear any shoes. The kid runs through the forest all the time without shoes, and his feet are tough as leather. They decide to give him a gift of a new pair of running shoes. The boy treasures the shoes but never puts them on. Instead, he ties the laces together and wears them around his neck.

I never finished reading the book but I've always wanted to find it again. Please help!!!

[Trixie]

"Grade 4 or 5" really gives no clue as to when you read this. Was this the 1980s or 2000s?

[Robin]

I think it was somewhere around '99-2000.

[Tab]

Was this a mystery, adventure, fantasy or something else?

[Andria]

The Trespassers?

[Justine]

Although its 4 children and the character who wears shoes around the neck is a girl - possibly The Castle of Adventure

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Robin, are you still looking for this? Was it anything suggested in #5-6?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

No response in 2+ years. Moving to Abandoned.