The full title of this 1996 Caudill nominee is Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story. I am not alone in arguing that this is not a ghost story. There are no ghosts in this story. It would be more aptly called a Time Travel Story. Rest assured Mary Downing Hahn does not disappoint. The book is frightening in its own right, but you won’t be haunted.
Drew, short for Andrew, is going to spend a portion of his summer vacation with his Great Aunt Blythe while his parents travel to France for his father’s job. Drew adores his aunt, but he has never been to her home, the family home where Aunt Blythe lives with her elderly father. The house is ancient in Drew’s opinion and full of antiques. It is easy to imagine that ghosts walk the halls.
Drew is a timid, shy boy with a vivid imagination. Part of the reason he is staying with Blythe is so that he doesn’t have to face the school bully at summer camp. But there is a new bully to meet – Drew’s great grandfather. Every time they are put into the same room, the elderly gentleman calls Drew Andrew and tells him he doesn’t belong there and should leave. Blythe assumes that her father is senile and is very apologetic.
Drew finds comfort in the attic that can be reached from his bedroom. It is full of treasures. There are pictures of his ancestors and his aunt can tell stories to go with each. Quite accidentally, he discovers a loose floorboard and underneath he finds a bag of marbles. Instinctively, Drew knows they should be returned to their secret compartment. As if to back him up, a message warns “These marbles belong to ANDREW JOSEPH TYLER. If you take them you will be sorry.” But Aunt Blythe sees rare marbles that can be sold to maintain the property.
Then one evening, Drew finds another boy in his room – a very sick boy – who happens to be his doppelganger. It is Andrew. Not only does he dress differently, but he speaks differently as well. And he won’t last the night. He has diphtheria. Drew switches places with him hoping that modern medicine can save him. Before he hides in the attic, they switch clothes and Drew summons Blythe. Drew retreats to the attic only to return and discover himself in 1910 – remarkably, to Andrew’s family, recovered from a deathly illness.
Andrew and Drew may look identical, but that is where the similarities end. Andrew is rough and tough and mischievous to boot. Drew is uncertain how long he can pull off the charade. Luckily, Andrew’s family blames his absentmindedness on his recent illness. Drew is relieved to return to the present to switch with a healthy Andrew. Unfortunately, Andrew is scared to return to his own time. He’s afraid he will still die.
Andrew devises a plan. He will stay in the present until Drew can beat him at a game of marbles – Ringer to be exact. Since Drew has never played marbles, this seems an impossible bargain. But Andrew’s older sister, Hannah, taught Andrew to be a champion. She is happy to reteach/teach Drew. But time is running out. Drew is beginning to think and act like Andrew. And Cousin Edward has challenged him to jump off of the train trestle. Can he beat Andrew at his own game before he jumps to his likely death?
The ending is sweet. The book is warm. I hope Hahn’s fans have embraced this novel despite its misnomer. Excellent “spooky” story for kids 4th to 6th grade.
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