Plot Summaries Part Two

"When eight children who have a long summer in the country before them learn that their favorite playground, Invisible Island, may contain a real buried treasure, a treasure buried back in the seventeenth century, they naturally lose no time in idle dreaming. Even Sweet William, the enormous yellow cat, pricks up his ears."

"Everyone has a theory. No sooner is one perfect clue proved useless than three other reasonably good ones pop up. Yet, if one of the intrepid searchers had not sat down very hard in a briar patch, this fascinating story might have had a very different ending and the foresight of a little girl back in 1650 might never have been proved. Though a sequel to The Invisible Island, the present story is thrillingly complete in itself as new characters join the original group on Invisible Island and help launch their latest adventure." (from the dust jacket)

"Actually it was an island! Right in the middle of the wooded acres surrounding their new home up in Connecticut! On one side was the pond, on another a wide brook, and running from that to the pond, another, narrower brook. So here the four young Guthries were, 'castaway on a desert island' which they promptly named Invisible."

"Mother sent 'rations' from 'the wreck' which was the name they gave the house beyond the orchard; David discovered a cave; Winkie who still believed in fairies, caught a glimpse of a dryad (with freckles); and a pleasant shivery mystery hung over the island from the very beginning. Solved, it put the happiest possible ending to a story already bursting with all the things children love. Here are summertime and the out of doors and make believe all woven into a story of exceptional beauty." (from the dust jacket)

The Invisible Island and the last two novels share the same characters and setting. Dean's writing seemed to have matured greatly in these last three novels, and I consider them to be her best, easily the equal of Newbery Medal books of the same era. As a result they are best for a slightly more mature audience. The characters are much more complex and fully realized, and include older characters. Admittedly, however, the last three lack the charming -- almost naïve -- innocence of the first two novels. Invisible Island follows the same timeless theme as in A House for Elizabeth, a family crowded into a dingy city apartment finding joy and freedom in a rural lifestyle. Younger modern readers may well be unaware of the terrible housing shortage in the U.S. after World War II. One can also imagine that Dean Marshall's experiences working with children in dingy apartments in Hartford during the war influenced the her writing. The resulting novels, however, are pure joy.

The last three books follow the seasons. The Invisible Island is set in the late spring, early summer. Dig for a Treasure is set in mid-summer. Wish on the Moon is set in the fall, and early part of winter. As a result, the children reluctantly must go back to school. We are introduced to a teacher, Miss Albright, as well as a minor adult character, John Leigh, a cousin of Pete & Prudence. Cousin John is a forester, and helps the kids with a forestry project for school. The children plan a special Halloween party for themselves and their parents, and the boys and girls plan scary surprises for each other. Miss Albright is invited, but no one knows whether she will attend. The party is a huge success, and the children get a delightful surprise visitor to the party, the Moon Witch! There are several mysteries to be solved, including what appears to be a real ghost living in the cave behind the stone playhouse. The author evenhandedly takes on the theme of hunter safety, as a reckless young neighborhood boy shoots Sweet William the cat! Sweet William recovers, and the boy makes amends. A new illustrator for this, Dean's last book, provides nice illustrations. The Halloween theme is fun, and the book is a delicious treat, but a little flat in comparison to the previous two.