Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story [Paperback]

Mary Downing Hahn (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Aunt Blythe's house gives Andrew the creeps -- full of dark rooms, creaky noises, and the sound of a woman sobbing somewhere in the shadows. Then, in the middle of the night, Andrew awakens to find a boy standing in his room...a boy who is Andrew's double, except he looks as if he's come from the grave. He wants to follow him -- to a place where he will meet the spirits of long-dead ancestors...a place from which Andrew may never return.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-This is more a time-travel fantasy than a ghost story. Andrew, 12, is about to die from diphtheria when he accidentally falls through a hole in his own time (1910) and finds himself in 1990, in his own room, now occupied by his great-great-nephew Drew. The boys, identical look-alikes, then change places. Modern medicine saves Andrew's life, and the boys try to settle into their new and different roles. The story becomes one of coming-of-age for both of them. Shy, timid Drew hasn't bargained on filling the shoes of the wild Andrew, and Andrew is equally uncomfortable in "pantywaist" Drew's shoes. However, Andrew is reluctant to switch back, fearing he will die if his body returns to 1910. The boys strike a bargain-when Drew wins at marbles, they will change places. Suspense mounts as the story progresses. Will the families notice that something is awry? Will the boys mess up family history by meddling with past events? Will Andrew survive when he gets back home? These questions keep the story moving until all comes clear in a humorous but somewhat contrived ending. There isn't the intense foreboding found in Hahn's ghost story Wait Till Helen Comes (Clarion, 1986), but there is enough tension to keep readers engaged. Instructions for the marble game are appended.
Virginia Golodetz, St. Michael's College, Winooski, VT
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. Shy, insecure, and an only child, Drew adores his great-aunt Blythe. There's something odd about the ancestral house she lives in, though--the house where Drew is to spend the summer while his parents are in Europe. It isn't long before he finds out what. By removing a bag of marbles from beneath an attic floorboard, he and Blythe unwittingly open a door to the past and clear the way for the visitation of the boy Andrew Tyler, a distant relative who looks just like Drew. When the boys change places, Drew travels back to 1910, where he finds two new caring parents and the brother and sister he's always wanted. In trying to live up to Andrew's brash, mischievous reputation, polite, quiet Drew also discovers how to assert and to trust himself. There's plenty to enjoy in this delightful time-slip fantasy: a fascinating premise, a dastardly cousin, some good suspense, and a roundup of characters to care about. And although kids may long for more than the glimpse given of Andrew's handling of modern times, they'll still love the story, which comes full circle when Drew, back home with Blythe, meets Andrew, all grown up and an old, old man. Stephanie Zvirin --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380724693
• ISBN-13: 978-0380724697
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #993,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Downing Hahn, a former children's librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories, including Deep and Dark and Dangerous and The Old Willis Place. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her two cats, Oscar and Rufus.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Time for Andrew, December 12, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Time for Andrew : A Ghost Story (Hardcover)

Time for Andrew written by Mary Downing Hahn is an enjoyable book about two boys -Drew and Andrew- who switch times and lives. I loved this book because the author added so much description that it painted beautiful pictures in my mind.
The characters in the story are well developed and are described extremely well. The author used the technique of describing characters by what other characters say about them. The main characters are Drew and Andrew...two boys who look exactly alike.
The setting is in the late 1950's and 1910 and the main setting is Aunt Bylthe's house. A few backdrop settings are France and the train track.
I would rate this book a 10 for its extremely amazing description.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Plot, April 4, 2002

By 

Alan J. Janicek "chuckmaniscool" (Morrison) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story (Hardcover)

Drew travels to his aunt's creepy old house to stay for the summer. One night he discovers Andrew his long dead, distant cousin, who has diptheria. Because they are almost identical in appearance they switch places in order for Andrew to get modern medical attention. So once Andrew is healthy again he doesn't want to switch back, so Andrew says when Drew can beat him in marbles he will switch back.
I like the plot of the story because it keeps you wondering what will happen next, especialy when Drew gets dared to jump off a high trustle, by a bully.. It is a good book, I suggest you read it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TIME FOR A GOOD STORY!, February 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story (Hardcover)

I loved this book it kept me reading and reading! but when Drew's parents go to "dig" in France Drew is suppose to stay with his very nice and understanding Great Aunt Blythe. But when Great Aunt Blythe brings Drew up in the attic Drew stepped on a loose board and found marbles that they could sell and fix the house up but then Drew finds a note that says:"WARNING THEESE MARBLES BELONG TO ANDREW JOSEPH TYLER IF YOU TAKE THEM YOU WILL BE SORRY. 7 JUNE 1910." But Aunt Blythe takes them anyway and in the night a boy comes into Drews room he is identicle to Drew but has Diptheria. The boys decide to switch places but when they do they seem to forget things from there own times. But Drew falls in love with Andrews sister Hannah. A tomboy that only acts like a lady when Jhon Larkin is around. Drew also adores Andrews brother Theo. Theo is a troublemaker that likes when Andrew gets in trouble with him. Drew also loves Andrews parents and finds himself calling them Mama and Papa. But Andrew did not tell Drew one thing Papa whips the kids with a belt instead of talking about it like his real Dad would when they get in trouble. Then Andrew and Drew make an agreement when Drew wins a game of marbles they will switch back to there own times. Andrews cousin Edward is a real idiot and at the end of the story Drew gives Edward a punch in the nose but does ot know who hit Edward him or Andrew.