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Gone-Away Lake #2
Return to Gone-Away: Restored Classics to Go Edition
Summer has a magic all its own in Elizabeth Enright's beloved stories about two children and their discovery of a ghostly lakeside resort. These two modern classics are once again available in Odyssey/Harcourt Young Classic editions, but now with handsome new cover art by Mary GrandPré to complement Beth and Joe Krush's original interior illustrations.
A wish come true. That's what Portia thinks when her parents buy Villa Caprice, a tumbledown Victorian house along the swampy edge of Gone-Away Lake. A new house is always full of surprises, but Porcia is completely unprepared for the extraordinary things that happen when her family moves into a new old house.
Empty for half a century, ugly as a horned toad, Villa Caprice is a mildewy, cobwebby, boarded-up, junk-cluttered museum to a way of life long forgotten. But it is also a wonderland, filled to the rafters with fifty years' worth of treasures and secrets - small mysteries that Portia and Julian must solve to uncover the greatest secret of all....
A wish come true. That's what Portia thinks when her parents buy Villa Caprice, a tumbledown Victorian house along the swampy edge of Gone-Away Lake. A new house is always full of surprises, but Porcia is completely unprepared for the extraordinary things that happen when her family moves into a new old house.
Empty for half a century, ugly as a horned toad, Villa Caprice is a mildewy, cobwebby, boarded-up, junk-cluttered museum to a way of life long forgotten. But it is also a wonderland, filled to the rafters with fifty years' worth of treasures and secrets - small mysteries that Portia and Julian must solve to uncover the greatest secret of all....
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1961
38 people are currently reading
1412 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Enright
42 books278 followersElizabeth Wright Enright Gillham was an American writer of children's books, an illustrator, writer of short stories for adults, literary critic and teacher of creative writing. Perhaps best known as the Newbery Medal-winning author of Thimble Summer (1938) and the Newbery runner-up Gone-Away Lake (1957), she also wrote the popular Melendy quartet (1941 to 1951). A Newbery Medal laureate and a multiple winner of the O. Henry Award, her short stories and articles for adults appeared in many popular magazines and have been reprinted in anthologies and textbooks.
In 2012 Gone-Away Lake was ranked number 42 among all-time children's novels in a survey published by School Library Journal, a monthly with primarily U.S. audience. The first two Melendy books also made the Top 100, The Saturdays and The Four-Story Mistake.
In 2012 Gone-Away Lake was ranked number 42 among all-time children's novels in a survey published by School Library Journal, a monthly with primarily U.S. audience. The first two Melendy books also made the Top 100, The Saturdays and The Four-Story Mistake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
April 7, 2023
The return to Gone-Away is an adventure for the entire Blake family. They are fixing up Villa Caprice, once owned by the legendary Mrs. Brace-Gideon. Closed up tight for decades, the house is full or surprises--both good and bad. One mystery that eludes them is the location of her hidden safe. Some rainy day soon the kids are determined to uncover it. Along the way the house and grounds get some much-needed renovations while Portia and Foster revel in another Gone-Away summer.
March 15, 2019
Although Elizabeth Enright's sequel to her Newbery Honour winning Gone-Away Lake does indeed recapture some of the charm of the former (and also features the same set of characters), the entire premise of Portia and Foster's parents purchasing and then renovating the decrepit, dilapidated Villa Caprice and discovering and exploring its many nooks, crannies and wealth of strange but at times also very expensive objects and furnishings (and finally, at the end of Return to Gone-Away, finding Mrs. Brace-Gideon's safe containing all of her family's jewelry) has in fact been a bit tedious and not all that adventuresome a reading experience for me. Yes, I do indeed appreciate how the Blakes, the Jarmans, Aunt Minnehaha, Uncle Pin et al go about tiding up and renovating the Villa Caprice and finding out its many often delightful, at times even monetarily fortuitous hidden secrets (such as an attic filled with not only expensive but also very highly collectible and sellable antique furniture) and how especially Portia, Julian, Foster and Foster's chum Henry do seem to heartily enjoy their many explorations (and sometimes get themselves into rather sticky situations). However, much too much of Return to Gone-Away really does seem to have the minute details of how the Villa Caprice is being renovated and fixed up as its general and all encompassing theme. And while I certainly would have found a few pages or a couple of choice episodes of Return to Gone-Away being devoted to this both interesting and readable, that almost the entire novel deals rather exclusively with the renovation process, and that therefore, aside from a few and only rather mildly exciting and possibly dangerous choice scenarios, such as when Foster and David get stuck in the Villa Caprice's Dumbwaiter or when Julian and his friend Tom are stranded in Judge Carter's house with Uncle Pin's goat during a lightning storm because the stairs have collapsed, not all that much truly ever really happens during the course of Return to Gone-Away, and indeed, this has made Return to Gone-Away a generally nice and sweet but ultimately also rather monotonous and mildly personally disappointing and not really all that engaging and intriguing reading experience (not in any manner a bad or a problematic novel, but yes, Return to Gone-Away has also most definitely not been in any fashion a great or a wonderful, spectacular read, or yes, a story I would thus consider as possible rereading material, while with the first novel, while with Gone-Away Lake rereading is most definitely in the cards).
January 13, 2009
Gosh, for a big fancy legal professional, I have sure read a lot of children’s books lately, hmmm? Darn you Powells! I go out and buy these books to collect and then I end up putting all my serious grown-up reading aside until I am thoroughly soaked in nostalgia.
Anyway, this is by the same author as Spiderweb for Two, but seems to be set in the ‘50’s rather than the ‘40’s. It is a sequel to a book called Gone-Away Lake which tells the story of some children who come across a collection of abandoned summer homes in the woods (since the lake the houses used to be on had disappeared), and two lovely old people who make their homes there. Return To Gone-Away is about how the children’s parents buy one of the old homes and fix it up. The books basically tells the tale of the children exploring their new-old home and learning its secrets. I loved these books growing up, since living in an old home filled with mysterious antiques and hidden treasures was just about my number-one dream. Of course, now that I actually live in an old home we have found more peeling plaster and drafty windows than attics full of antiques and safes full of jewels, but I keep the dream alive.
Anyway, this is by the same author as Spiderweb for Two, but seems to be set in the ‘50’s rather than the ‘40’s. It is a sequel to a book called Gone-Away Lake which tells the story of some children who come across a collection of abandoned summer homes in the woods (since the lake the houses used to be on had disappeared), and two lovely old people who make their homes there. Return To Gone-Away is about how the children’s parents buy one of the old homes and fix it up. The books basically tells the tale of the children exploring their new-old home and learning its secrets. I loved these books growing up, since living in an old home filled with mysterious antiques and hidden treasures was just about my number-one dream. Of course, now that I actually live in an old home we have found more peeling plaster and drafty windows than attics full of antiques and safes full of jewels, but I keep the dream alive.
July 12, 2025
2025 Review
Summertime reading doesn't get better than finding a safe, listening to St Francis' Canticle, "There goes the Hepplewhite breakfront," the shell, and Miss McCurdy.
2022 Review
I still love this book so, so, so much. The perfect read for a long, hot summer day. No matter how many times I read and re-read these books, I will always think of Julian's "test" and the discussion of the St Francis canticle as belonging in Gone-Away Lake. No idea why. That's just where I always think they are, even after multiple re-reads.
2020 Review
Still a complete and utter delight after all these years.
Summertime reading doesn't get better than finding a safe, listening to St Francis' Canticle, "There goes the Hepplewhite breakfront," the shell, and Miss McCurdy.
2022 Review
I still love this book so, so, so much. The perfect read for a long, hot summer day. No matter how many times I read and re-read these books, I will always think of Julian's "test" and the discussion of the St Francis canticle as belonging in Gone-Away Lake. No idea why. That's just where I always think they are, even after multiple re-reads.
2020 Review
Still a complete and utter delight after all these years.
March 2, 2018
Oh the innocence of that time and place! The Gone-Away Lake books are so enchanting! I can feel the children's excitement exploring the lake and bog areas and the "treasure" filled attic on rainy days; the mother's joy in cleaning and renovating an old abandoned house. A wonderful light and easy read, take joy!
December 22, 2023
5+ stars (7/10 hearts). You know those books that end and you're left going “AWWWWWW…”? Yeah. This is one of those. From the first page to the last page it is just so quaint and lovely! Enright has a marvellous talent for describing or saying how you feel in certain situations or certain seasons. I loved seeing all the characters again. I fell in love with Gone-Away Lake all over again. I enjoyed the humour so much--I laughed out loud so often!! This story just was so realistic and happy and heart-warming and... blissful. I just love this duology so much and this book finished it off perfectly. <33
Content: There are a handful or two of euphemisms, also a couple recurring mentions of ghosts (nobody really believes in them though) and a scene where Lucy and Portia read a book by a fortune-teller and discuss astrological signs and what they mean, etc etc etc. Not really important at all and easy to skip over.
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: Just under the curving open window a giant rhododendron had put out hundreds of bouquets of flowers, delicately tinted: not quite white, less definite than pink.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: It was a peculiar gathering to assemble in anybody's bathroom: two pretty women, five biggish children, assorted; five smallish ones, boys, wearing [Indian] war feathers; one elderly lady dressed in the fashion of the Gay Nineties; one elderly gentleman with a distinguished beard and clothes not much more recent. Also two dogs and one small kitten. Though the room was large, it wasn't really large enough. The Indians obligingly removed their shoes and stood in the bathtub.
Content: There are a handful or two of euphemisms, also a couple recurring mentions of ghosts (nobody really believes in them though) and a scene where Lucy and Portia read a book by a fortune-teller and discuss astrological signs and what they mean, etc etc etc. Not really important at all and easy to skip over.
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: Just under the curving open window a giant rhododendron had put out hundreds of bouquets of flowers, delicately tinted: not quite white, less definite than pink.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: It was a peculiar gathering to assemble in anybody's bathroom: two pretty women, five biggish children, assorted; five smallish ones, boys, wearing [Indian] war feathers; one elderly lady dressed in the fashion of the Gay Nineties; one elderly gentleman with a distinguished beard and clothes not much more recent. Also two dogs and one small kitten. Though the room was large, it wasn't really large enough. The Indians obligingly removed their shoes and stood in the bathtub.
April 10, 2024
2024 Reread
A fun conclusion to the stories about Gone-Away. Not a favorite because of some things, but it had moments that made me chuckle. And I do think it would be fun to explore an old house like this one.
This book picks up several months after “Gone-Away Lake” ends, and it’s just as delightful as the first.
Reading this book made me want to buy an old forgotten house filled with who knows what, and explore it, remake it, and live in it. Once again the characters are unique and fun, There is more about the house than Gone-Away, but that was okay. Uncle Pin and Aunt Minnehaha were still in the story, still ready to tell tales of long ago, and still up for fun.
Julian had me grinning with his plan for “self discipline” and what came of it.
There were not nearly as many euphemisms in this book, and only a few slang words, so I enjoyed it more. This is not a Christian book, and there is a small scene of Portia and her friend Lucy reading an old book titled “Mme. Vavasour’s Gypsy-Witch Fortune Teller” but they quickly realize that it’s all a bunch of nonsense.
A fun conclusion to the stories about Gone-Away. Not a favorite because of some things, but it had moments that made me chuckle. And I do think it would be fun to explore an old house like this one.
This book picks up several months after “Gone-Away Lake” ends, and it’s just as delightful as the first.
Reading this book made me want to buy an old forgotten house filled with who knows what, and explore it, remake it, and live in it. Once again the characters are unique and fun, There is more about the house than Gone-Away, but that was okay. Uncle Pin and Aunt Minnehaha were still in the story, still ready to tell tales of long ago, and still up for fun.
Julian had me grinning with his plan for “self discipline” and what came of it.
There were not nearly as many euphemisms in this book, and only a few slang words, so I enjoyed it more. This is not a Christian book, and there is a small scene of Portia and her friend Lucy reading an old book titled “Mme. Vavasour’s Gypsy-Witch Fortune Teller” but they quickly realize that it’s all a bunch of nonsense.
March 30, 2020
After finishing Gone-Away Lake, I was so excited to discover that there is a second book!! I immediately checked out the audio version of Return to Gone-Away because I was eager to find out what happened next!
Portia and her little brother Foster are so excited when their parents purchase an old house they found while on summer adventures with their cousin, Julian. The house, located near an abandoned former lake resort, is filled with treasures from a by-gone era (and lots of dust and cobwebs). In this sequel to Gone-Away Lake, the family spend spring break and summer vacation fixing up the old house and discovering lots of hidden secrets.
I loved both books! The characters are colorful. The setting is perfect for adventures! And the story is heart-warming and entertaining. Just what I needed! I listened to this book during my commute to work, while working in the garden, doing housework, etc. The magical story was just incredibly entertaining. It's definitely a little bit dated (story was published in 1961). A lovely old house like this (even if boarded up) would not stay unmolested by explorers or thieves/vandals in this day and age. But it was lovely to read such a fun kids' adventure story!
The Gone-Away books are the first books by Elizabeth Enright that I've read. I will definitely be reading more! I already have the first book in her Melendy Quartet, The Saturdays, checked out from my local library! :)
Portia and her little brother Foster are so excited when their parents purchase an old house they found while on summer adventures with their cousin, Julian. The house, located near an abandoned former lake resort, is filled with treasures from a by-gone era (and lots of dust and cobwebs). In this sequel to Gone-Away Lake, the family spend spring break and summer vacation fixing up the old house and discovering lots of hidden secrets.
I loved both books! The characters are colorful. The setting is perfect for adventures! And the story is heart-warming and entertaining. Just what I needed! I listened to this book during my commute to work, while working in the garden, doing housework, etc. The magical story was just incredibly entertaining. It's definitely a little bit dated (story was published in 1961). A lovely old house like this (even if boarded up) would not stay unmolested by explorers or thieves/vandals in this day and age. But it was lovely to read such a fun kids' adventure story!
The Gone-Away books are the first books by Elizabeth Enright that I've read. I will definitely be reading more! I already have the first book in her Melendy Quartet, The Saturdays, checked out from my local library! :)
December 31, 2009
I loved this book all over again. I found that reading it with the internet close at hand was a boon, too. F'rinstance:
"The air rang with the energetic, joyful clamor of the birds. Only one, whose song came sweetly through the others, sounded meditative and solitary: three minor notes ascending...
'What's that bird, Jule? That sort of sad one?'
Julian listened. 'White-throated sparrow,' he told her."
And I found that it does sound exactly as described:
White-throated Sparrow.
There is also this, which I would like to have painted on the wall of my library:
"Sometimes a story can open a world for you: you step into it and forget the real one you live in."
That's how these books are.
"The air rang with the energetic, joyful clamor of the birds. Only one, whose song came sweetly through the others, sounded meditative and solitary: three minor notes ascending...
'What's that bird, Jule? That sort of sad one?'
Julian listened. 'White-throated sparrow,' he told her."
And I found that it does sound exactly as described:
White-throated Sparrow.
There is also this, which I would like to have painted on the wall of my library:
"Sometimes a story can open a world for you: you step into it and forget the real one you live in."
That's how these books are.
August 16, 2015
The perfect read-aloud to close out the summer for my 6- and 9-year-olds. Portia and Foster return to Gone-Away Lake, this time to live in the abandoned mansion their parents have bought. Lots of discovering and fixing up are done and a few adventures are had. Favorite moments: the swimming hole, the safe, the dumbwaiter.
March 2, 2015
OH. I liked this more than the first one. I don't even know why, really. I supposed I liked the established setting and character. The house was great and it did such a good job of showing childhood friendships and the sibling/cousin relationships!
August 6, 2015
I just love Elizabeth Enright's books. All of them, but the Gone-Away books have always been some of my favorites. Well, honestly, it's hard to pick a favorite when it comes to Elizabeth Enright. I'm just sorry that these books are all but forgotten on library shelves because they are "old-fashioned". So much childhood fantasy of summer adventures and discovering hidden rooms, and houses, and people and safes and attics full of treasures. Elizabeth Enright must have been my kind of person. :)
December 12, 2025
remains a solid comfort read, even though the medicine cabinet in my own 19th century house has no safe with jewels hidden behind it (unless I still haven't pulled hard enough....)
August 25, 2023
If the first book was the kind that gave me unrealistic expectations for summer vacations, this was the kind that gave me unrealistic expectations for buying houses. If you know of an old house chock full of magic with eccentric darlings for neighbors, and will pay for itself with Queen Anne furniture in the attic, let me know.
September 7, 2011
My favorite line in the whole book: "He closed the door and tiptoed to the kitchen; he decided to have a little practice breakfast before his real breakfast."
This from a little boy--and it so perfectly described what I have seen of little boys!
This from a little boy--and it so perfectly described what I have seen of little boys!
January 14, 2016
We loved this as a read aloud!
September 19, 2022
Another great "Gone Away Lake" book! We love their sense of fun, adventure, celebration of the past, and a little bit of mystery.
March 15, 2025
I love this series more & more with each read and listen! Enjoyed introducing the kids.
February 14, 2020
Absolutely loved it! Just as good as the first book and definitely a great choice for a family read-aloud. Parents and kiddos alike will laugh at the wonderful characters Enright has created!
Cleanliness:
Children's Bad Words
Mild Obscenities & Substitutions - 15 Incidents: Heck, stupid, Holy crow, for Pete's sake, I don't give a hang, pooh (Great Scott, By Jupiter, by Jove, thank fortune-used several times throughout the book).
Religious Profanities - 16 Incidents: The Lord knows, heavens, good heavens, Thank the Lord, Goodness, good gracious, doggone, for heaven's sake
Religious & Supernatural - 3 Incidents: Mentions a witch and ghosts when children think a house looks spooky. Two girls have the same sign of the zodiac, Libra, and discover their fortune for the day warns them about making decisions. They later discredit the fortune. A few kids think a house might be haunted with ghosts.(There are none).
Attitudes/Disobedience - 5 Incidents: A boy lies, in order to look tough, when his friend scares him.
And old woman recounts what she told a friend when they were young girls: "'Oh, no, Baby-Belle, you must never hate anybody that much!' I was a dreadfully goody-goody child in those days (but I got over it, thank fortune.)' 'And Baby-Belle stuck her tongue out at me and said: "I don't give a hang. I hate her, I hate her, I hate her! I wish she [a nanny] was dead. So there!"' A girl sneaks away from her nanny to visit a friend at her home. "She resented the poor judgment Fate had shown in making her a girl instead of a boy in the first place." Boys decide to sleep in an abandoned house one night and agree not to tell any of their parents.
Romance Related - 2 Incidents: Mentions a portrait of a well-corseted lady. Mentions the “fair sex.”
Conversation Topics - 3 Incidents: An old man smokes a pipe. Mentions a cigar. A side character has a tattoo. Mentions wines.
Parent Takeaway
A delightful story that holds old time charm and the warmth of family unity. While the children might not always do things right the first time, they repent and learn by them.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
Cleanliness:
Children's Bad Words
Mild Obscenities & Substitutions - 15 Incidents: Heck, stupid, Holy crow, for Pete's sake, I don't give a hang, pooh (Great Scott, By Jupiter, by Jove, thank fortune-used several times throughout the book).
Religious Profanities - 16 Incidents: The Lord knows, heavens, good heavens, Thank the Lord, Goodness, good gracious, doggone, for heaven's sake
Religious & Supernatural - 3 Incidents: Mentions a witch and ghosts when children think a house looks spooky. Two girls have the same sign of the zodiac, Libra, and discover their fortune for the day warns them about making decisions. They later discredit the fortune. A few kids think a house might be haunted with ghosts.(There are none).
Attitudes/Disobedience - 5 Incidents: A boy lies, in order to look tough, when his friend scares him.
And old woman recounts what she told a friend when they were young girls: "'Oh, no, Baby-Belle, you must never hate anybody that much!' I was a dreadfully goody-goody child in those days (but I got over it, thank fortune.)' 'And Baby-Belle stuck her tongue out at me and said: "I don't give a hang. I hate her, I hate her, I hate her! I wish she [a nanny] was dead. So there!"' A girl sneaks away from her nanny to visit a friend at her home. "She resented the poor judgment Fate had shown in making her a girl instead of a boy in the first place." Boys decide to sleep in an abandoned house one night and agree not to tell any of their parents.
Romance Related - 2 Incidents: Mentions a portrait of a well-corseted lady. Mentions the “fair sex.”
Conversation Topics - 3 Incidents: An old man smokes a pipe. Mentions a cigar. A side character has a tattoo. Mentions wines.
Parent Takeaway
A delightful story that holds old time charm and the warmth of family unity. While the children might not always do things right the first time, they repent and learn by them.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
October 8, 2014
2014 Balm. Hilarity and balm, that's what this book is. Plus the stellar writing. And the white-throated sparrow.
2013 "Sometimes a story can open a world for you: you step into it and forget the real one you live in."
I love these books. Not least because these two books were in the vanishingly small number of books that my son would deign to read. Not least because Enright understood boys right down to the bone. Not least because of the botanizing. Certainly because of the quality of the prose, which is unequalled. Certainly because of the characters.
Seriously, if you haven't read any Enright? Stop trolling Goodreads and go read as much of her stuff as you can find.
2013 "Sometimes a story can open a world for you: you step into it and forget the real one you live in."
I love these books. Not least because these two books were in the vanishingly small number of books that my son would deign to read. Not least because Enright understood boys right down to the bone. Not least because of the botanizing. Certainly because of the quality of the prose, which is unequalled. Certainly because of the characters.
Seriously, if you haven't read any Enright? Stop trolling Goodreads and go read as much of her stuff as you can find.
August 1, 2015
I think I enjoyed this book even more than the first in the series. Elizabeth Enright has such a way with words. The adventures of Portia and her cousin Julian continue as Portia and her family return to Gone-Away Lake for the second summer. They excitedly explore the old house that they found the previous summer looking for treasure. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves stories of children being children in an age when they were free to roam the countryside without fear. It is a children's book, but I think that I enjoyed it much more than I would have as a child.
January 22, 2019
Though a charming continuation of the first book, this one did not contain as much Aunt Minnie and Uncle Pinn, both of whom I dearly esteemed in the first. I did enjoy the adventures and excitement of opening up and discovering what lay inside the magnificent Villa Caprese; the closed off attics, the secret dumbwaiter, and the continuous search for the hidden safe. Portia, Julian and Foster were able to further their explorations and find additional delights all around them at Gone-Away Lake.
April 1, 2022
4.5 stars. Just as delightful as the first book, though with more of a focus on the old house and all the secrets it contains than on the natural wonders of Gone-Away. Just the sort of story I'd have loved as a kid, but it's one that can appeal to adults, too. I also enjoy how all the characters get along in this series. It shows you can have a good story without parents and kids or siblings being at odds with each other.
August 11, 2015
The Return is as good if not better than the first. The kids are just as real and interesting. The story was more fast paced but not as deep. We listened to the audio version with the kids on a road trip, and they would move to Gone Away lake tomorrow if we could. They would get downright mad when we had to pause the audio. I recommend it for long trips or out-loud reading with kids.
July 21, 2019
Return To Gone Away Lake has everything I loved about its predecessor plus the charm of a before-and-after house transformation. If you’re looking for a classically great middle grade read, don’t miss this two-book series.
June 17, 2020
Elizabeth Enright is a timeless author, in my opinion. She has written stories that I would have enjoyed as a child, still enjoy now, will read multiple times with my kids, and hope to pass on to others for generations. Her wholesome nature of writing kept me engaged, and I know my kids will love both of the Gone Away books.
August 3, 2021
Fantastic
I love this story. This duology is one that sticks with you. It is like getting to step back in time, both to the 1950-1960s as well as the 1890s. The characters are excellent. Portia and Julian and Foster and Aunt Minnehaha and Uncle Pin... It's a Lovely book to read in the summer, because it describes the summer so well. Reread and oh so worth it.
I love this story. This duology is one that sticks with you. It is like getting to step back in time, both to the 1950-1960s as well as the 1890s. The characters are excellent. Portia and Julian and Foster and Aunt Minnehaha and Uncle Pin... It's a Lovely book to read in the summer, because it describes the summer so well. Reread and oh so worth it.
September 6, 2025
A charming conclusion to this little duology! This story is a nice, low-stakes cap to the late summer, a good bridge to fall reading. While there's less plot than the first book, Return to Gone-Away is a cozy return to beloved characters and a memorable setting. Between this and Mandy, I believe I must be into stories about folks fixing up old houses into the homes of their dreams.
May 12, 2021
Gone-away Lake was one of my two favorite books of childhood. I found it such a great adventure and wished it was one I could have. I've read it many times but the sequel, Return to Gone-away, only a couple. This was is charming but hasn't aged well. There is a section describing the Chinese servants who worked at one of the grand houses decades earlier which is very stereotypical and would offend in this age of anti-Asian hate and violence.
June 1, 2022
Fun care-free childhood story with many interesting words like alacrity and pulchritude. Toward the end there is a book found called the Gypsy-witch fortune teller which is totally unnecessary and out of line.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews