The House on Stone's Throw Island

June 1, 2015
Poblocki returns with another eerie vision of lingering spirits (The Book of Bad Things, 2014, etc.). Josie and Eli, both about to start seventh grade, meet each other for the first time on a dock in Maine, boarding the ferry that will take them and their families to far-off Stone's Throw Island, where their siblings are to be married. As the only teenagers among the pre-wedding guests, it's natural that they decide to explore the island, first separately, then together. Caught up in the wedding plans, the adults don't notice anything amiss-they're focused on the approaching weather; a storm is brewing that threatens the festivities. But Josie and Eli notice strange cries from a crypt that's submerged at high tide, a girl who appears and then disappears from Josie's room, and the strange way that the island's caretakers are behaving. At first disturbing, then frightening, Poblocki's tale plays on stories about the German U-boats that plied the coastal waters during World War II. 1942 diary entries written by a local girl flesh out the history and add to the suspense. Twining history, speculation, and atmospheric writing, the author delivers a good old-fashioned ghost story. (Suspense. 10-14)

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September 1, 2015

Gr 6 Up-Even before the wedding party reaches remote and isolated Stone's Throw Island, peculiar things begin to happen. Once there, the appearance-and disappearance-of a girl, followed by disembodied words whispered in German, quickly convinces Josie Sandoval and Eli Barker, strangers before meeting on the way to the island, that something about Stone's Throw is odd. When a storm unexpectedly blows in, cutting off all connection to the mainland, it isn't just Josie and Eli who are uneasy; the entire wedding party is on edge. Eli has a theory about the island, but Josie is determined to ignore anything extraordinary. Her resolve weakens, however, when she stumbles upon a hidden room and a long-forgotten diary, which may contain an explanation for the increasingly dangerous phenomena. This latest in a string of paranormal mysteries from Poblocki is as well written as it is eerie. As the realistic setting slowly morphs into something more nightmarish, the main characters are fleshed out through inner dialogue and snap decisions, sustaining the tense mood while progressing the plot. Short chapters divided into sections and peppered with plot twists drive the pace, vivid descriptions clearly depict even the strangest occurrence, and start-to-finish suspense keeps readers on edge for the entirety of the work. VERDICT Perfect for readers who enjoy mysteries with a paranormal twist.-Maggie Mason Smith, Clemson University R. M. Cooper Library, South Carolina

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