_Gone-Away Lake_
_Return to Gone-Away Lake_
by Elizabeth Enright
A couple of weeks ago during a visit to the local Goodwill store, I found these
two books together in the young adult section, noted one had received
acknowledgment from the Newberry Awards, and bought them both.
Portia and Foster Blake have been staying with their Aunt Hilda and Uncle Jake
for some years during summer vacations. This year they are being allowed to
take the train unaccompanied to Attica where they'll be met by the family, and
Portia is looking forward to exploring the region around their relatives' new
country home with her cousin Julian, who's a year older than she is. What might
they find in the area?
What they find is a swamp that used to be a lake, Lake Tarrigo. Fifty years
earlier, however, a new dam caused Tarrigo to fill up with silt, and the small
community of once opulent summer homes lining the lake's shore was abandoned.
Only two of those who'd spent their childhood summers in the community had
returned as older adults to resume residence, brother and sister Pinard Payton
and Minnehaha Cheevers, him taking up residence in a smaller home on one end of
the line and her the one on the other end. The discovery of this community will
change the lives of Portia, Foster, and Julian completely as, with the
encouragement of Uncle Pin and Aunt Minnehaha, the children explore the
abandoned homes and learn the histories of those who used to live along what is
now called Gone-Away Lake.
A fun pair of books, definitely recommended for those who appreciate good
children's literature. Ms. Enright has accurately caught the attributes that
make nice children fascinating to readers of children's books. I got the two
books in paperback editions, and have learned they are both available from
Audible, so they are available in accessible media. A bit dated (they were
released in the sixties), but nevertheless enjoyable.
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large
"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very
wise cannot see all ends." LOTR
"Don't go where I can't follow."
We gave the Goblin King control of our nation!
