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Closed for the Season
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Closed for the Season
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Closed for the Season
Audiobook5 hours

Closed for the Season

Written by Mary Downing Hahn

Narrated by MacLeod Andrews

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Mary Downing Hahn combines powerful characters, dark secrets, and breathtaking suspense in a compelling Civil War-era story readers won't soon forget. Aiding and abetting an escaped slave is against the law, and it goes against everything Jesse Sherman has been taught. But he has promised a dying runaway slave that he will take her seven-year-old son, Perry, to safety in Baltimore. He can't break a promise made to the dead, no matter what the risks. More important, he must follow what he knows to be true in his heart. When the journey turns out to be far more difficult and dangerous than he anticipated, and he loses Perry on the riot-torn streets of Baltimore, Jesse comes face to face with the worst humanity has to offer. But he also witnesses examples of love, compassion, and courage unlike anything he's experienced before.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateFeb 20, 2011
ISBN9781611061444
Author

Mary Downing Hahn

Mary Downing Hahn’s many acclaimed novels include such beloved ghost stories as Wait Till Helen Comes, Deep and Dark and Dangerous, and Took. A former librarian, she has received more than fifty child-voted state awards for her work. She lives in Columbia, Maryland, with a cat named Nixi.

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Reviews for Closed for the Season

Rating: 4.287878853146854 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

429 ratings41 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Two 13-year-old boys, Arthur and Logan, set out to solve the mystery of a murder that took place some years ago in the old house Logan's family has just moved into. The boys' quest takes them to the highest and lowest levels of society in their small Maryland town, and eventually to a derelict amusement park that is supposedly closed for the season.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Was very entraining and well written. Highly recommend to listen to
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The audiobook is excellent, although the plots a bit predictable but the story is very engaging
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Logan’s family moves in to a strange, spooky house that gives him the creeps even before he is told by his new neighbor, Arthur, that someone was murdered in the house three years earlier. Not only is he worried about his new house, but right off the bat Logan can’t stand Arthur, who seems quirky and odd in a way that isn’t a compliment. Unfortunately, because they are both about to start 7th grade and live next door to each other Arthur assumes they will be best friends. With summer vacation already in full swing, Logan doesn’t have many opportunities to meet other friends. So, with some reluctance he agrees to help Arthur try to solve the case of how the former owner, Mrs. Donaldson, died. Will Logan be able to stand Arthur long enough to make a dent in the case? Are the two boys getting involved in something that is way too dangerous? When clues lead them to an old, abandoned amusement park thing just get weirder. Of course, you will be on the edge of your seat waiting to find out how everything turns out.

    Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn is a chilling mystery that will give you goose bumps. I think anyone in 4th grade and up that likes frightening stories will enjoy this book. My heart was racing at different points in the book. I liked Logan because he seemed very down to earth. I could understand why he found Arthur to be annoying, but I also liked seeing how their relationship developed. I think Logan is braver and kinder than he knows. I think the cover is awesome and it drew me in and made me want to read the book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book and it kept my suspense going. After Logan learns that his new home was a murder house, he does not want to live there any more. His annoying neighbor Logan ends up being his best friend and they seem to stay in trouble because of their curiosity.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Closed for the Season is about two boys who go on an adventure that leads them to finding the reason the local amusement park is closed. Logan moves to the town, next door to Arthur. Arthur and his grandmother know everything about everything in the town. Arthur tells Logan about the lady that died in his house, and he tells him she was murdered. This leads Logan to want to know more about the house his parents just bought, and before long he has a new friend, Arthur. They go on a hunt for multiple people. Ultimately the find Silas, and he leads them to the answer to their original questions. Was all of this linking to the amusement park?Why did the amusement park close? Was she murdered or was it actually an accident?This book won the Edgar Award which is presented to the Best Mystery Writers of the year. This is an accurate award because this is a suspenseful and engaging read all about mystery and murder. This book is one that I think everyone should read, even adults. This book is well written and goes into plenty of detail. Lastly I think that it is a good read and I would recommend it to everyone who enjoys mystery books.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is an adventure filled book that I am sure that any student would love to read. A book that could very well stick with them and they would like to go back and reread it at times. Logan and Arthur are mystery solvers in this book and help to get to the bottom of Mrs. Donaldson's murder. The bravery that the young boy's show and initiative to get to the bottom of the real story of Mrs. Donaldson's death will engage the students.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Thirteen year-old Logan has just moved from Richmond to small, rural Bealesville. As soon as his family begins moving into their new house, the kid next door comes over and explains that the house has been sitting empty because the last owner was murdered there and found at the bottom of the cellar stairs. The boy, Arthur, is known as the weirdo of the neighborhood, but it turns out that everything he says is true, and soon Arthur enlists Logan in investigating the murder.The cover looks dark and scary, but this is a straight-up mystery, and is a winner of the Edgar Award for best Juvenile Mystery. Just as much of the story involves the friendship between Arthur and Logan, and what part labels and peer pressure plays in their friendship.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Closed for the Season is a wonderful mystery book for children. It captures the attention of the readers from beginning to the end with some pretty intense closing moments. Along with the mystery, there is just enough humor to keep the book balanced. Really good read!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The weather-beaten sign on the gate of the Magic Forest says closed for the season. But when the boys ride up to the gate on their bikes, Arthur tells his new friend, Logan, that the old amusement park hasn't been open for years. Kudzu vines have grown over everything, making the park look sinister even in broad daylight, so Logan is reluctant to go inside, but Arthur urges him on. He's sure they'll discover important clues to the mystery they're trying to solve: Who killed Myrtle Donaldson? And what happened to the money she handled as head bookkeeper at the Magic Forest? Arthur and Logan's quest takes them to the lowest -- and highest -- levels of society in their small Virginia town. The boys must pay another visit to the Magic Forest, this time in the middle of the night. And this time they find the killer waiting for them among the shadowy kudzu vines.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is an excellent book full of mystery and excitement. Also in this book are valuable lessons, such as staying true to who you are, knowing what a true friend is, and not allowing what others think of you to become an issue. Learning valuable lessons as well as an intense murder mystery make for a great story!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Closed for the season is a myserious book about 2 young boys that are trying to find a clue. The clue is to see who killed the older women who once lived in logan's house. Arthur informed logan and his parents about the murder and how it happen. Logan and Arthur went around trying to find out about the murder. Personally I love this book because it gives the reader a chance to think about what could happen next without letting the text give it away.This book could be used for elementary to middle school. An activity that could be used in the classroom is to create a scavenger hunt. The students would have to answer questions about the story in order to get a clue. The student would have to find things such as suitcases,a hole, a dog and etc...
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Closed For the Season was a great children's mystey book. Although I am older I still enjoyed the book beccause it kept me anxious the whole time to find out what was going to happen next. This book shows in the end that who you think to be the good person does not always turn out to be the type of person that you think they truly are. This book also shows how when people work together they can find solve a problem. This book also showed the two boys that no matter what came between the boys, they would always be friends in the end because they were true friends and stood up for each other when needed. I would recommend this book to any child ages 8-13.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is very suspenseful and holds the reader's attention the entire time. Never once did I get bored while reading this book; it easily became one of my favorites. For those who love suspense and mystery books, this one is great. This is a book that you will not want to put down once you begin reading. I was questioning the events in the story the entire time I was reading. It was fun to try to solve the mystery and see whether you were right in the end. I love that the author uses the innocence of children in the book as characters to solve this mystery. I highly recommend this book, not only to students, but to adults as well. This book held my attention and kept me interested.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Logan's family moves into a rundown old house and Logan is immediately befriended by their weird next door neighbor, Arthur, who informs him that the old lady who used to live there was murdered. Logan and Arthur decide that they need to discover the truth about her murder before the old Magic Forest Amusement Park (where she worked) is closed down. They run into trouble when some of the town's most prominent men figure out what they are up to -- and don't want them to discover any more. Not the scary book that the cover (and author) suggest, but a good mystery with plenty of quirky characters, a fantastic setting (that I wish actually existed) and a satisfying end.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is a good mystery book. A family move to a new town for work and discover that the house that they are living in has a mystery murder case that needs to be solved. I want go into many details if you read the book then you will find out the rest.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Hard to put down. It is an interesting read and very suspenseful for young children. You are always wondering what is going to happen. Closed for the season is full of interesting twists and turns of events and you never know what is going to happen next. I highly recommend it to read in your class.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    About the Author: The author of this book is Mary Downing Hahn. She writes all kinds of mystery and spooky novels. She was actually a former children's librarian. She has been writing books for over third years now. Character: Arthur, Logan, and their dog Bear are the main characters in this book. Arthur lives with his grandmother and Logan is the new kid in town that is trying to change his geeky image to someone popular. In the beginning Logan does not really like Arthur. He thinks that Arthur is making him look like a loser and doesn't want to be aquatinted with him at first. Plot: The plot of this book is trying to figure out who murdered Mrs. Myrtle Donaldson. Summary:His family has moved into a house known as the “murder house,” he’s made friends with nerdy outcast Arthur Jenkins and the boys have teamed up to help solve a murder and find embezzled money hidden in the nearby Magic Forest, a theme park now bankrupt and fallen into nightmarish disrepair. Though the murder mystery is the hook, this is really a story of two outsiders becoming friends played out in the small Virginia town of Bealesville, as Hahn capably dissects social strata of the town and school. The first-person voice serves the story well, though Logan occasionally seems too young for his observations. As always, the author is brilliant at establishing tone—eerie, creepy and surreal. The “cold case” mystery, the over-the-top fun of the Magic Forest scenes and the even darker mysteries of friendship and school life will make this a sure hit. (Mystery. 10-14)Theme: the theme of tis book is the mystery. It is very suspenseful and really grabs the readers attention.Setting: The setting of this book takes place in the boys neighborhood and at the old abandoned theme park.Two Direct Quotes from the novel: "Im goin g to show Logan the town," Arthur said. pg. 15"I wish Mom and Dad hadn't bought this house," I said. pg. 15Recommendations: I would definitely recommend this book to students. It was a great read and kept me guessing every time I put it down. It was very suspenseful. I believe it would be appealing to bot male and females.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book is about a young boy named Logan who moves to a new town into an old house, which he later learns is the place of the murder of the previous owner, an elderly lady named Mrs. Donaldson. Logan's new neighbor, Arthur, befriends him, and the two go on an adventure of a lifetime to solve the mystery of who murdered Mrs. Donaldson.I would recommend this book to boys and girls because many people love mysteries. This book is suspenseful and, of course, mysterious! It will definitely keep you guessing. A young boy of about middle school age would likely really like this book because they would probably connect really well with Logan.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Closed for the Season is a realistic fiction mystery book about an amusement park that is closed down. Mary Downing Hahn is the author of the book, and created an unexpected plot for this book. The Magic Forest is an amusement park that has been shut down, but there is foul playing going on involving a murder and people of the town who have become involved. This is a great book for children to read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    CLosed for the season was written by Mary Downing Hahn and is classified as a realistic fiction and mystery book. It is about two unexpected friends that go on adventures and work together to solve a mystery. This book was so good I could barely put it down. Although it is a Children's book, some parts are a little scary so I would suggest no one younger that fourth grade should probably read it. This book teaches lessons and motivates kids to think outside of the box. If you are a mystery lover I would strongly recommend reading this book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book was hard to put down once I started reading. Although it may be a little scary for some younger kids, it's a great book for middle school age range. It is hands down a great mystery story. When two unlikely friends meet, they begin the adventure of their lifetimes and try to solve a murder case. They get themselves into a lot of trouble, but it doesn't stop them. Together, they have a wild imagination and are determined to solve the case. They end up being town heroes, but it takes a lot of sneaking around and troublemaking to get the job done.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This story was very unexpected but so worth it. It has so many great themes and ideas that relate to children and too adults. The two main characters become the most unlikely of friends and that friendship takes them on a whirlwind adventure filled with ups and downs along with mischief and success. They face and conquer many things that children in today's schools also deal with such as moving, bullying, parents/society forcing certain peer groups on them, and even tough family situations like abandonment, abuse,and etc. The author writes these themes in such away that the reader comprehends the depth of what is happening but also it keeps it light. This a versatile book that can easily be introduced into a classroom, to a young child who may not like to read, or even keep the attention of an avid reader.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is hands down one of the best chapter children's book I have read. It keeps the reader on his or her toes and can't wait to flip the next page. The book is about a woman who was murdered and everyone thought she stole money. Two courageous boys take a stand and solve the mystery of the missing money. I would tell anyone of any age to read this book because it is so much fun to read. I really enjoyed this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Author: Mary Downing Hahn Theme: investigation, friendship, mysteryCharacters: Arthur is talkative, opinionated, and can be obnoxious. Logan is more of a follower, but is curious, well-mannered, and brave boy. Nina is a private investigator who is attractive and secretive Mrs. Donaldson is the lady who died, but has a hidden briefcase somewhere in Magic Forest. Summary: Arthur is a boy who has just moved into a new town with unfamiliar people. His first and only friend, Arthur, keeps Logan entertained with new schemes and adventures due to their curiosity. They began to investigate the hidden brief case that has been told many rumors about. Even though their sneaking around leads to trouble most of the time, they figure out where the brief case is and how to find it. They get Violet to help them solve the mystery, but Silas gets in their way. Nina with the help of the two little boys find out who the bad guys are and solve the mystery after all!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a great mystery story. It isn't too scary either. It keeps you wanting to read more and more, it is defiantly hard to put down. This would be a great book for older children and teens. It is a great murder mystery, but there is also so much other stuff that the reader is dying to find out besides that as they read along. I feel that it would be hard for a child to get bored with this story. As the story starts unfolding you still get caught off guard and surprised by all the different outcomes. It also had a friendship building between the two boys which is nice to read in a children's book. Overall, this is a great story and I would recommend it to any child, boy or girl.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Closed for the season was one of the most mysterious and mischevious books that I have ever read. This book could definitely be recommended to children/teens at the age of 10-12. This jaw dropping mystery book includes things that you would never think of. As in who embezzled the money, or who even killed the fragile grandmother. The clues in the book will have you interested in knowing WHY. Without giving too much away , Closed for the season is book that I will probably remember forever. This book not only involves mysteries, but life long messages for students who are in middle school. It focuses on bullying, domestic violence and crime scene/murder as a whole. Mary Downing Hahn (Author) as a child did not like to write, but she loved drawing pictures. Her books were based on telling stories through pictures. She is also a recipient of the Scott O'dell and Edgar Awards.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book is a great mystery book! I loved reading this book. From the very start of the book it was a mystery and it kept me wanting to read more. It was a very easy read for kids. It started with a boy and his family moving into a house where somebody was found dead months before. The young boy found this very mysterious and creepy. The story is revolved around him and his new friend trying to get to the bottom of what exactly happened to the lady who used to live in his house.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Logan, the main character is on an adventure with his next door neighbor buddy Arthur. Both of them want to find out who murdered Miss. Donaldson who lived in Logan's house before he had moved in. The story focuses on 'solving' the murder story. The antagonist of this story is a friend called Silas who is a violent man in the family. I would recommenced this story to fifth and sixth graders because the ages of Logan and Arthur are in the pre-teen years. A very fat and fun read. You really want to know what fun happens next. Its set in the traditional american residential area where the people are all close together and to get out of this neighborhood you have to drive or bike. The sitting is described very well in the book, gives you a sinister view of the book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Good mystery story and a good friendship book. The ending would make a great movie.