Robin M. (robinmy) - , reviewed on 12/9/2023 + 2106 more book reviews

On Halloween Night, eight boys led by thirteen-year-old Tom Skelton, put on their costumes and ready for trick-or-treating. Their friend Pipkin said he would meet them at the haunted house. When they arrive, the boys find a Halloween Tree with hundreds of lit jack-o-lanterns. Pipkin finally shows up, only to be whisked away by a black figure. Using the tail of a kite, the home's owner, the mysterious Mr. Moundshroud, leads the boys back through time to learn the history of Halloween, and find the missing boy Pipkin.

This is a short story I didn't have time to read at Halloween, so I'm fitting it in now. The first part of the short story was very atmospheric. We were introduced to Tom Skelton and his friend Pipkin. The other boys were eventually named during the story; but seemed just like a nameless group with no discerning characteristics.

Mr. Moundshroud leads the boys through the years to various points in history. In Ancient Egypt they view a funeral procession where the person is found in bandages and entombed. In Europe they witness the persecution of witches. At each stop I learned something new about the holiday. My rating: 4 Stars.

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