The Ghost of Gracie Mansion (Mysteries in Time)

Gr 3-5-This title is sure to remind readers of old series like the "Boxcar Children" (Albert Whitman); the characters are predictable and one-dimensional, but fun to read about-for awhile. In 1803, Esther and Archibald Gracie move their family to a new country home to escape the yellow fever epidemic raging around their townhouse in Manhattan. William, 16, is reluctant to leave the excitement of the city. He has recently started working as a clerk for his father, a commission merchant and shipowner. While packing up their household, Esther tells the children about a secret passageway from the mansion's basement to a river cove. The previous owners of the site, Loyalists during the American Revolution, had constructed the passageway in case they needed to make a speedy escape. The pace picks up when the family arrives at Gracie Mansion. They see someone lurking in a hallway and all sorts of objects disappear. When the children find the entrance to the passageway, they discover a former Hessian mercenary who wanted to start a new life as a farmer. The historical significance of these events is explained to the children by characters such as Alexander Hamilton, who seems to be introduced just for this purpose. A brief historical note explains the background of the story, but no sources are listed. The book will be of most interest to residents of New York City.-Judith Everitt, Orchard Hill Elementary School, Skillman, NJ

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