THE SHADOW ON THE DIAL

by Anne Lindbergh ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 1987

An interesting, easy-to-read fantasy, stronger than the author's earlier books. On a trip to Florida to visit old ""Uncle Doe,"" the Foster family keeps passing the same huge truck, with ""20th CENTURY BROS REMOVERS Est. 1901 Your Heart's Desire JUST DIAL"" written on the side. They speculate on the meaning of the sign; and when both vehicles pause at the same rest stop, Dawn's little brother, Marcus, pinches a coupon he finds sitting on the seat of the truck cab. It turns out that the coupon is indeed good for one heart's desire, as long as one can obtain it by going back and shifting personal history (1901 being the earliest time possible to visit). Marcus and Dawn decide to use this coupon to help Uncle Doe fulfill an old dream of playing the flute. It takes several trips to the past to accomplish this; along the way, Dawn learns how important it is to get started on an ambition early. This would make a good book-talk contrast to Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting: it advocates meddling with fate, while Tuck decides against it. Recommended for school and public libraries.

Pub Date: July 1, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 160

Publisher: Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1987

Categories: CHILDREN'S