Closed for the Season

Mary Downing Hahn published her 29th book for young readers, Closed for the Season, in 2010. Closed for the Season is a young adult mystery novel that received the coveted Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award. Hahn, an American author, has received a great number of accolades for her work in young adult fiction, among which includes the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction and a series of state awards.

Logan Forbes is the 13 year old protagonist of Closed for the Season. The novel follows him on his adventures as he moves into a new town and ancient home in Bealesville. There, Logan meets his next-door neighbor, 12 year old Arthur Jenkins, who immediately tries to befriend Logan by telling him everything he knows about Bealesville. Arthur tells Logan that the home’s former owner, an old woman by the name of Myrtle Donaldson, was killed in the basement and that the crime still remains unsolved. Arthur goes on to tell Logan that Mrs. Donaldson had been the police’s prime suspect in a case of stolen money at the now closed amusement park where she used to work, Magic Forest.

Logan shares everything he has learned with his parents, and though he is glad to know it, still wishes that they will all move into another house.