From: Vanston <jvanston>
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 13:15:07 -0500 (EST)

I did enjoy of how the Aunt tricks them (Tom Sawyer style) into eating their green beans. However, I felt the layers of the story didn't meshone level was the fun stories and doings of the aunt. But underneath there was a layer that gave a sense of dread, of something dark. I was kept in an anxious state, waiting for something horrible to happen, and that is never resolved or really dealt with. I guess you could argue that it is left unresolved, just as the relationship of aunt and father is left unresolved. But it seemed like too much of an omnious presence to be summed up with "The End" Did anyone else get this sense?

(Also, and this is me reading from an adult perspective, but I was nervous for the children because the Aunt seemed to be teetering on the edge of sanity)

Jen Vanston jvanston at suffolk.lib.ny.us South Country Library, Children's Librarian Bellport, NY
Received on Thu 13 Jan 2000 12:15:07 PM CST