Ollie hasn’t been much of a people-person, but since her mother died the only solace she can seem to find is in books. On a bike ride home from school, she comes across a woman sobbing by the lake, trying to talk herself into throwing an old black book into the water. On a whim, Ollie steals the book and discovers within its pages a strange and spooky old story about the Webster family and their tragedy brought on by a sinister “smiling man.” The subjects of the novel appear to be very similar to the family who owns Misty Valley Farm, and on a field trip to the farm the next day, Ollie discovers the current owner is none other than the woman by the lake. The farm proves to have other spooky surprises in store — a creepy bus driver, a history of ghost stories, and an abundance of scarecrows lurking in every corner. As Ollie finds further evidence that the story in her book is the story of the farm, she and her classmates find themselves drawn into the danger that has haunted the Webster family, and the only way she and her classmates might survive is by observing the opening words of her book: “When the mist rises, and the smiling man comes walking, you must avoid large places at night.”
This book was a lot of fun and perfect for young readers who want a good scare without the gore. It’s very reminiscent of Coraline with some shades of Doctor Who “Blink.” Ollie’s school drama builds some extra tension as she finds herself having to trust the schoolmates she’s spurned in the last year as she recovers from the grief of her family tragedy. The book had some loose ends I would have preferred tied up a bit more but a sequel is forthcoming, so I suppose that’s why things were left unfinished.