For readers who enjoy a good mystery with a touch of the supernatural, this poignant tale explores the lingering effects of past tragedies on the present.
A parent might reach for this book when their mature middle-grade reader is ready for a sophisticated, atmospheric ghost story that delves into complex emotions. The story follows Tom, a boy who becomes obsessed with a local pond where two teenagers drowned decades ago. As he investigates, he finds himself drawn into a supernatural replaying of the past, forced to confront the powerful emotions of love, jealousy, and fear that still haunt the place. It's a poignant and unsettling tale that uses a supernatural mystery to explore the long shadow of historical tragedy and the nature of grief. This book is ideal for a thoughtful child who enjoys spooky stories with emotional depth and is not easily frightened by intense themes or scenes.
Deals with the lasting impact of a historical tragedy and unresolved grief.
Mild PerilModerate
The protagonist experiences a terrifying, near-death event supernaturally.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with the deaths of two teenagers by drowning. The approach is secular and supernatural. The descriptions of the drowning are vivid and intense, focusing on the character's terror and physical experience. The resolution is ambiguous and poignant rather than strictly hopeful. It's about bearing witness to a past tragedy, not changing it. Grief is a central, lingering theme.
Ideal Reader
A mature, emotionally resilient reader aged 11-14 who loves atmospheric ghost stories, local history, and mysteries. This is for a child who is moving beyond simple scares and is ready for a story with deep emotional resonance, moral complexity, and a touch of melancholy. It's not for a child easily frightened by intense scenes or themes of death.
Parent Prep
Parents should definitely preview the climax (Chapters 10 and 11). The drowning scene is described in first-person, present-tense detail and is very intense and potentially traumatizing for a sensitive reader. Context about the post-WWII setting in England might be helpful but isn't strictly necessary. A child mentions being fascinated by a local "haunted" place or a historical tragedy. They might be asking questions about ghosts, death, or why bad things happen, showing a readiness for a more nuanced exploration of these themes.
Age Experience
A 10 or 11-year-old will likely focus on the ghost story and the mystery: the scariness of the pond and the thrill of Tom's supernatural experiences. A 13 or 14-year-old is more likely to grasp the deeper themes of lingering grief, the weight of the past, the intensity of first love, and the complex nature of the drowned teens' relationship.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many middle-grade ghost stories that focus on solving a mystery to bring peace to a spirit, this book is about the act of bearing witness. Tom doesn't "fix" the past. Instead, the past violently imposes itself on him. Its uniqueness lies in its intense, first-person immersion into the tragedy and its poignant, melancholic tone.
Read plot summary
Tom moves to a new town and becomes fascinated by Wheatstone Pond, the site of a tragic drowning of two teenagers, Bob and Kath, decades earlier. He befriends a local girl, Kerry, and together they uncover the story. Tom starts experiencing vivid, ghostly replays of the events leading to the teens' deaths, seeing the world through Bob's eyes. He is pulled deeper into the past, feeling Bob's passion, jealousy, and despair, culminating in a terrifying, immersive reliving of the drowning itself. The story is a supernatural mystery exploring how tragic events imprint themselves on a place.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Why do you think the ghosts of Bob and Kath chose Tom to witness their story? What did they need from him?
2
At the end of the book, Tom feels changed by his experience at the pond. In what ways do you think he is different after reliving the drowning?
3
Kerry tells Tom that the ghost is just 'a memory stuck in a groove.' Do you agree with her, or do you think the presence at the pond was something more? Explain your reasoning.
4
The author describes the drowning scene in intense detail from a first-person perspective. Why do you think he chose to write it that way instead of describing it from the outside?
