Hazel lives with her parents in small town in Vermont. She is considered an outcast by her classmates . . . her high intelligence and her parents' occupation -caretakers for the town cemetery-count against her in their eyes. She is always looking for a mystery and finds several that fall in this seemingly sleepy town. She also learns the value of friendship and to not to jump to conclusions. I liked how the story takes place during the Cold War and how it reveals how people were reacting to it. Not many children's books are written about this time in history (as far as I know).
Lots of points to discuss: . . .the author does not elaborate on some items-they are mentioned and may require explanation to younger readers-
*Communism
*Cold War (a brief history overview is included in the "author's note")
*out of wedlock birth
*divorce
*seance (Hazel and her friend Samuel stubble upon one in the cemetery-not much is said about it but it is mentioned)
*a statement that Communists perform satanic rituals/worship the devil.
*Unions (a bit about them are also included in the "author's note"
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