Wednesday, January 6, 2021

The Haunted Lake by P.J. Lynch - ESSENTIAL

The Haunted Lake
by P.J. Lynch
PICTURE BOOK Candlewick, 2020 $18 9781536200133 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE    EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

The small village of Spetzia is now underwater. Most of the villagers moved to the bigger town when the village was flooded to make a reservoir. Now all that can be seen of the village is the bell tower that sticks out of the water. But Jacob and his father didn't move. Their home was above the village, and their mother is buried in the village cemetery, so now they are fishermen instead of farmers. When they take their fish to the marketplace, they meet a woman and her daughter, who eventually helps Jacob and his father fish. Ellen - the daughter - is in love with Jacob, but he's 19 and she only 14 - he thinks she's too young to marry, she doesn't. But when Jacob disappears during the night into the lake, Ellen won't give up looking for him. Jacob has been lured to an underwater world inhabited by the ghosts of the drowned town. 

This was the best ghost story! The perfect amount of creepy, scary, danger and romance. P.J. Lynch's illustrations are beautiful and haunting, his text tells a gripping story. I was enthralled, looking forward to reading this with kids. Loved it! 

Lisa Librarian

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