Customer Reviews

Deep and Dark and Dangerous

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have loved Mary Downing Hahn's ghost stories since I was a child, which is why I was disappointed with Deep and Dark and Dangerous: it is almost exactly the same as Wait Till Helen Comes, the book she wrote 22 years ago. The books are SO similar that I was confused and frustrated while reading Deep and Dark and Dangerous - nothing was a surprise. I don't understand why Hahn would basically re-write an earlier book.

****REVIEW CONTAINS PLOT SPOILERS****

In Wait Till Helen Comes (WTHC), pre-teen Molly moves to the countryside with her dad and stepmom and must take care of her 5-yr-old stepsister Heather for the summer.
In Deep and Dark and Dangerous (DDD), 13-yr-old Ali spends the summer at her aunt's lakeside cabin, taking care of her 4-yr-old niece, Emma.
In WTHC, Molly's stepmom is a distracted artist who holes up in her studio. So is Ali's aunt in DDD.
In WTHC, Heather befriends a local girl (ghost) who's mean, and possessive of Heather, and behaves dangerously and tries to separate her from Molly. In DDD, Emma, too, meets a similar local girl (ghost) who is dangerous/mean and tries to seperate her from Ali. Even the dialogue is annoyingly similar.
In WTHC, the ghost girl breaks into the stepmom's studio and destroys her artwork, and the stepmom doesn't believe in ghosts and insists it must have been local teenage vandals. The EXACT SAME THING happens in DDD.
In WTHC, the ghost girl tries to drown Heather. In DDD, the ghost girl tries to drown Emma.

Etc., etc.! My recommendation is to read Wait Till Helen Comes instead. It's the original and the best.

Deep and Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story, by Mary Downing Hahn, pulled me in from my first glimpse of the cover, which shows a girl under water, her hair floating around her white face. And it did not disappoint. Deliciously creepy, this book reminded me of the Lois Duncan stories that I loved as an early teen (my favorite, and one I still re-read periodically, is Down A Dark Hall).

13-year-old Ali finds an photograph in one of her mother's old Nancy Drew books. The picture shows Ali's mother, Claire, and her mother's sister, Dulcie, outside of an old family cottage in Maine. A third girl has apparently been torn out of the photograph, leaving only an arm, a shoulder, and some strands of long hair. Her initial, according to the torn back of the photo, is T. When Ali asks her mother about the photo, however, Claire denies any knowledge of a girl whose name starts with T, or any memory of the photo. Claire retreats into her own emotional fragility, and gives Ali no information about the mysterious photo.

Dulcie, however, soon appears on the scene, and invites Ali to spend the summer with her up at the old cottage, babysitting Ali's four-year-old daughter Emma. Ali jumps at the chance to get away from her over-protective mother, and stay with her beloved aunt and cousin. Besides, she's never been to the cottage, her mother having stopped visiting it as a child. Despite Claire's apparently irrational misgivings, Ali, Dulcie, and Emma head to Maine for the summer.

Things start out idyllic, but soon Ali and Emma meet a mysterious little girl, Sissy, out on the shore of the lake. Sissy both fascinates and torments Emma, and creates conflict between Ali and Emma, and, indirectly, between Ali and Dulcie. Sissy hints at a tragedy that occurred in the lake thirty years earlier, the reason that Ali's mother and aunt have never been back to the cottage. A long-ago crime is brought to light. And that's when things start to get deep and dark and dangerous.

This is a highly atmospheric story. Even when describing sunny days at the lake, Hahn never lets the storm clouds get far away. Certain creepy images recur through the story, most notably a bundle of bones below the surface of the lake, appearing in paintings by both Emma and Dulcie. Emma and Ali both have nightmares, and Ali is drenched by more than one storm, literally and metaphorically.

Much of the book is about the relationships between Ali, Emma, and Dulcie, and the wrench that Sissy's presence throws into their peaceful existence. Dulcie, in particular, gradually morphs from cool, beloved aunt to a strained, unjustly snappish creature who reminds Ali of Claire. Hahn's expert hands keep things from ever getting too dark to bear, however. She alternates dangerous escapades with afternoons playing Candyland, and introduces a kindly neighbor to gives Ali some perspective. Hahn's writing is straightforward, creating strong impressions through nouns and verbs, without needing much description. Here's an example:

"I was thinking so hard, I almost walked right past Emma. To my surprise, she was standing beside a stranger, a girl who appeared to be nine or ten years old, but small for her age. Her hair was white blond, her eyes were the same gray as the lake, and her skin was a deep tan. Despite the chilly weather, she wore a faded blue bathing suit.

"This is Sissy," Emma said. "I just met her, but she wants to be friends."

Sissy looked at me slantwise, as if she were sizing me up. Would I be good to know? Was I nice? Was I bossy? I gave her the same look. There was something about her I disliked on sight -- a sharpness in her eyes, a mean set to her mouth. She was the type who'd lie and get you in trouble." (Chapter 7)"

Re-reading this makes me think: "Ali, you have no idea, in Chapter 7, of the trouble Sissy is going to cause for you." But readers, especially middle schoolers, will enjoy every step of the way. Although most of the characters are female, I think that the story is creepy enough to engage boys as well as girls. Deep and Dark and Dangerous is a quick and compelling read, sure to be a hit with fans of ghost stories.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on June 7, 2007.

I've always enjoyed Hahn's stories since I was in grade school. The first ghost story I read of hers, Wait Till Helen Comes, is truly chilling and amazing. While Deep and Dark and Dangerous doesn't live up to "Helen's" legacy, it's still a good ghost story. I found it to be a tad predictable, but for a teen novel that's completely excusable. The characters were still well written with lots of depth (though I thought that the dialogue for the 4 year old character was a little unbelievable). All in all, an enjoyable read...couldn't really put it down. Despite it's being predictable, it was truly written in a way to keep the reader engaged. I recommend this for 9 to 15 year olds...and for those adults who have either been a fan of Hahn's or who want to read a good ghost story.

As a mother who screens everything her 11-year-old daughter reads, and who knows writing a truly GOOD ghost story is as difficult as filming a truly GOOD comedy, I started tracking Mary Downing Hahn since reading "Closed for the Season" (previously reviewed) and "Witch Catcher" (sweet story, but I usually prefer not to review an author more than once) because of how well she manipulates words and sentences to produce just the right atmosphere. I am now a confirmed fan - and, me eating my own words, "Deep, Dark and Dangerous" is now our second review of Mary Downing Hahn's work. I have to say that it is possibly the best ghost story I've read myself (and I have read MANY) since "The Woman in Black." While said daughter is not a fan, as I am, of (good) ghost stories, Mary Downing Hahn kept her completely riveted. In her own words,

"The book, 'Deep and Dark and Dangerous' by Mary Downing Hahn is the best ghost story I have ever read in my entire life. I thought the characters in the book were perfect for their roles, and the characters and wording made the book come alive for me. I also thought that the cover for the book was perfect: it set the mood and told the story in its own way. I also liked how the font for the title made me think about seaweed floating around in the deep parts of the lake.

"When Ali's over-protective mum finally lets her go with her Aunt Dulcie and her four-year-old cousin Emma to an old cottage in Maine, she plans for a nice, relaxing summer until Sissy shows up. Sissy is mean, nasty and a bad influence on Emma. However, as Ali searches for clues to a photograph with someone torn out of it, she finds out her family's secret and how it and Sissy all connect to a drowning nore then thirty years ago...

"My favorite character was Ali even though I would not have done the same things she did, like run after Sissi and go into a stranger's house. I liked how Ali managed to read 'To Kill A Mockingbird' even with the crazy things that were happening to her and how she was brave enough to let Sissi sleep in her bed at night even when she knew what Sissi was.

"I did not really like Emma even when she was being nice because she was whiny and annoying. When she was being mean and Sissi-like, it was really hard to like her because then she was whiny, annoying, mean and sly.

"At first I disliked Sissi because of how she tried to drown Emma and how nasty she was. However, when I found out what had happened to her, I felt sorry for her and sort of understood why she was so mean and sad all the time.

"I thought the book was fantastic: spooky and suspenseful, and I would recommend the book to anyone who loves ghost stories with happy endings.

"I would give the book five GOLD stars: two stars for the characters, two stars for the creepiest plot and wording I have ever read and one star for the happy ending that made me love it even more than I did before!"

Okay, first things first: do not read this book at night. Deep and Dark and Dangerous is one of the greatest ghost stories I've ever read, one that gave me the chills when I tried to read it at ten o'clock at night (Of course, reading this while you're camping next to a lake [like I did] probably isn't a great idea, unless you crave the whole spine-chilling-someone's-watching-you-feeling in your book. [like I do]). I think that night was the only time I ever put the book down. The next morning I was up and reading again, since I just couldn't get enough of this book!

I think that the only problem I had with this book was Sissy. I couldn't stand her AT ALL. The fact that she was such a BRAT to the main character really irked me. What bothered me more was that main character didn't really fight back that much, except whine to Aunt Dulcie. However, as the story went on and I learned more about Sissy, I really began to feel bad for Sissy, even though she said that she didn't want others pitying her. That just shows how great Mary Hahn's writing is: she can make you hate a character one moment, and like them the next.

Although this was a short read, it was a good read. This was the first time I read a book from Mary Hahn, but I plan to be reading plenty more from her.

This is Kindle Obsession, signing off.

Enough chills combined with some simple pragmatism ("People do stupid things all the time", she says to the dead girl!) and remorse to make this a perfectly readable ghost story for older children and younger teens. Except...

Except I kinda grew up on Mary Downing Hahn. I read Wait Til Helen Comes easily a dozen times. A year.

And this book has... actually, all the same elements.

A bratty younger sister with a mysterious friend (who is a ghost, natch.) A vengeful ghost who's really scared, alone, and misunderstood. Real and potential drownings. Various unhappy children, some of whom are dead. Guilt over childish mishaps that shouldn't be your fault except that somebody died. An understanding older sibling who helps the ghost move on and stop being a pain. A rejoining with the (ghostly) family. Generic chills and meanspirited pranks.

I read this book, and every page seemed overlaid with another from the original. This would be bad enough except, of course, that the same author wrote both. It was kinda creepy, and not in the spiders-down-your-back sense that you WANT when you're reading a ghost story at midnight. (Okay, it wasn't midnight, that's lost its appeal now that I'm *allowed* to stay up as late as I like, but you get my drift here.)

Truthfully, I don't know if Wait Til Helen Comes is superior to this one. I re-read it recently and was surprised at how fast it went by! Contrary to all expectation, I think they're actually writing meatier books for the YA and kidlit crowd lately :P

But if you did read Helen, you may want to pass on this one, at least for yourself. Get your nostalgia kick with the original, one-and-only. Otherwise, it's just going to be too weird. (And if you're a kid? I'm inclined to say to go with the original anyway. If you have to pick one, might as well pick up the one you can get at a yard sale for a quarter.)

If you're looking for a good mystery/ghost story, then look no further. DEEP AND DARK AND DANGEROUS by Mary Downing Hahn offers mystery, suspense, and some great ghost action.

Recently, Ali stumbled across an old photo of her mother and aunt when they were young girls. There was something odd about the photo. It appeared that another girl had been part of the picture but her part was torn away, leaving only the letter `T' to give any hint to her identity. Ali's mother swears she has no idea who was in the picture, but she isn't very convincing - which leaves Ali full of questions.

Ali is surprised when her Aunt Dulcie and cousin Emma come to visit. Aunt Dulcie is her mother's older sister, but she's entirely different. Ali's mom suffers from chronic migraines and periodic depression while Aunt Dulcie is the strong, independent type. There have been numerous times in Ali's life when she has wished her mother was more like Aunt Dulcie. Ali shows Aunt Dulcie the old photo and is surprised that her reaction is much the same as her mother's. How could they both not remember a picture taken at their family's vacation spot in Maine?

Dulcie is an artist with a big show coming up in the fall in Washington, D.C. She has decided to renovate the old family lake house and work on her paintings there. However, the lake and her almost five-year-old daughter make a dangerous combination, so Dulcie is hoping to take along her thirteen-year-old niece, Ali, as a babysitter. Ali's mother tries to put her foot down and says absolutely not, but she is outvoted and Ali packs her things for a summer at the lake.

Arriving at the cabin during a typical Maine rainstorm doesn't dampen Ali's spirits. She's looking forward to playing and swimming with Emma in the lake and sort of being her own boss. Ali's mother has always been a bit overprotective, and her bizarre reaction to Ali spending the summer at the lake house just convinces Ali that her mother has a problem. How can a beautiful lake, a cozy cabin, and the great outdoors be a bad place to spend the summer? Ali also secretly hopes to uncover the mystery of the photo and the missing girl whose name might have begun with `T'.

It doesn't take long for some strange things to begin happening. The most unnerving is the presence of a slim, young girl in a faded blue bathing suit who introduces herself to Ali and Emma. At first she appears to be a possible companion for the girls, but then she starts acting irritable and mean. She refuses to reveal her last name or where she lives, and she seems to be developing an unnatural hold on little Emma. Emma wants to do everything this strange girl named Sissy does, but at the same time Sissy treats Emma with cruelty.

When Ali attempts to seek out more information about Sissy and the mysterious girl from her mother's and aunt's past, she is met with one obstacle after another. Could this rude little girl have some connection to the mystery of why her mother refuses to return to the family cabin?

Mary Downing Hahn offers readers stormy weather, a deep, dark lake, and many unanswered questions to keep mystery and ghost story fans turning pages right up to the end.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

As the coach for Reader's Rally in Georgia at the Middle School level, I have started reading all of the novels expected of my students. I can honestly say that Deep and Dark and Dangerous was a joy to read. I plan to purchase several copies for my classroom, and as the School-wide Language Arts Chair, I plan on sharing my response to this book with our Media Center as well as other teachers. Hahn's novel is tightly written and moves well with vivid description and tight development of the central character. Although the plot may be a bit predictable, the character development and the relationships are not. In addition, I truly enjoyed the "adult" theme in the secondary plotline. Parents who choose to read this book with their student will find an interesting lesson for them as well. We all hold secrets from our past, and this text asks us about our willingness to let these "skeletons" control our present. This is a must read for those interested in mysteries and the supernatural.

My 8yo daughter has loved spooky stories since she was 3 and insisted on getting this from her school book fair. I read the first 7 chapters to her and when she went to bed, I HAD to finish the book! It's got just the perfect amount of chill and a terrific storyline that keeps you reading. No gore, just one of the best ghost stories I've ever read! This is our first book by this author but definitely not our last. We can't wait to read more Hahn!!!

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn is another of the LYRC books for 2010. Ali, a 13-year-old girl, finds an old picture shoved into a book. The picture is of her mother and her aunt Dulcie when they were children. The rest of the picture has been torn off, but it is obvious that there was another little girl in the picture, who is only identified on the back of the photo as "T." When Ali asks her mother who T was, her mom freaks out, won't tell her, and takes to her bed with a headache. A couple of months later, Aunt Dulcie and her 5-year-old daughter Emma come for a visit, and Dulcie asks if Ali wants to come to the lake with them for the summer and watch after Emma while Dulcie, who is an artist, works on her latest project. Ali really, really wants to go, but her mom, who is always seriously overprotective, doesn't want her to go. Her mom can't handle the thought of the lake, and even though her family stills owns a cottage there, no one has been back there since she and Dulcie were children, so Ali can tell that something happened there once, though no one will tell her what. Does it have anything to do with T? Ali's mom finally agrees to let her go to the lake cabin with Dulcie and Emma. Everything goes well for the first several days: Ali and Emma have a lot of fun and Dulcie gets a lot of work done on her paintings. Then a little girl names Sissy shows up. Sissy is mean and hateful, but Emma is so impressed by her and so desperate for a friend that she will do anything to be friends with her, despite Ali's objections. There is just something weird about Sissy. And she seems to know who T is.

The book was pretty good and fairly creepy, and a decent ghost story and mystery, but ridiculously obvious, in my opinion.