March 29, 1993
When Martin and Peter encounter the lonely ghosts of a farmer and a sheepdog, they try to reunite the pair. At the same time, the boys begin to appreciate the companionship and loving nature of Rosie, their own dog. Wright's eerie, frequently somber details will easily beguile readers: ``Moonlight shone right through the mournful face, the raggedy trousers held up with red suspenders, and the tattered shirt. He looked like a ghostly scarecrow.'' Forthright descriptions of the novel's picturesque setting create a marked contrast to the dim and haunting images. ``From the top of Popcorn Hill you could see for miles. Fruit trees, with blossoms that looked like popcorn, dotted the hillside. Beyond were meadows and a creek, and there were woods everywhere.'' These youngsters are flesh-and-blood creations (unlike some of their encounters); the most reluctant readers will be cheering them on every step of the way. With a skill and style somewhat unusual for this genre, Ritz's handsomely shaded, full-page drawings add considerable atmosphere. Ages 8-12.
February 15, 1993
Gr. 2-4. The author of "The Dollhouse Murders" (1983) turns her attention to a slightly younger audience in this beginning chapter book. The Tracys like living in their rustic cabin on Popcorn Hill, but brothers Martin and Peter are frightened by the lonely ghost who visits their bedroom late at night looking for company. The boys are pleased that their parents agree to let them have a dog, but wish she were a bit bigger, like the mysterious stray sheep dog they keep running into. When the boys discover that the sheep dog is actually a ghost, they devise a plan to unite the two lonely specters so both will leave Popcorn Hill for good. In the process, they begin to appreciate their real dog, Rosie, for her many fine qualities. The combination of ghosts and dogs is an appealing one, and Wright wisely tempers her usually eerie writing style for a younger audience. A step up, both in plot and suspense, from such easy-to-read mysteries as those of Patricia Reilly Giff, this will appeal to a wide range of developing readers. ((Reviewed FEb. 15, 1993))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1993, American Library Association.)
May 1, 1993
Gr 3-5- -Peter and Martin want a big dog like the stray sheepdog that is roaming around their new cabin, but have to settle for a small but lively mutt from the animal shelter instead. The brothers hear mysterious laughter at night, and discover that the cabin is haunted by a lonely ghost. When the sheepdog also proves to be a ghost, they decide to solve the problem by getting the two together. The combination of supernatural and pet themes works well. The excellent full-page pencil drawings are realistically rendered and appropriately spooky when they should be. The scary parts are much milder than many of Wright's previous books, making this gentle story suitable for younger children.- Elaine Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
January 1, 1993
Brothers Martin and Peter Tracy spend their days following a mysterious sheepdog they see wandering on Popcorn Hill; their evenings are spent listening to an invisible, laughing ghost. The revelation that the dog is also a ghost is paralleled with scenes in which the brothers become increasingly attached to their own new dog. The boys are likable characters, and the genuinely spooky sequences are nicely balanced by warm scenes featuring the Tracy family. Appealing black-and-white illustrations add atmosphere to an accessible story.
(Copyright 1993 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)