64 pages • 2 hours read
Mary Downing HahnA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.
Short Answer
1. What elements commonly contribute to a story’s sense of atmosphere (or mood)? What genres rely strongly on this literary quality?
Teaching Suggestion: Logan, the novel’s protagonist, is intrigued by the news of an unsolved crime when he learns that his new home’s former owner was murdered; this establishes an aura of secrets and mystery early in the novel. The small town and a nearby abandoned amusement park contribute further to the ominous atmosphere. It may be beneficial to introduce or review atmosphere as a literary trait before reading; once readers attempt the prompt independently, they might work in small groups to brainstorm and list 5-6 examples of other stories or films with a perilous, haunting atmosphere. The larger group might then discuss other genre elements common to mysteries, thrillers, or horror. Information from these or similar resources can help students develop additional context on the topic.
By Mary Downing Hahn
All The Lovely Bad Ones
Mary Downing Hahn
December Stillness
Mary Downing Hahn
Deep and Dark and Dangerous
Mary Downing Hahn
Stepping on the Cracks
Mary Downing Hahn
The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story
Mary Downing Hahn
Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story
Mary Downing Hahn
Took: A Ghost Story
Mary Downing Hahn
Wait Till Helen Comes
Mary Downing Hahn