Gone-Away Lake facts for kids
First edition cover with Krush artwork
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| Author | Elizabeth Enright |
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| Illustrator | Beth and Joe Krush |
| Cover artist | Krush |
| Country | United States |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Harcourt, Brace & Co. |
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Publication date
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1957 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover, paperback), audiobook |
| Pages | 192 pp. |
| OCLC | 42736382 |
| LC Class | PZ7.E724 Go |
| Followed by | Return to Gone-Away |
Gone-Away Lake is an exciting children's book written by Elizabeth Enright. It was published in 1957 and features wonderful drawings by Beth and Joe Krush. This book was a runner-up for the famous Newbery Medal, a big award for children's literature.
The story is about two cousins who have an amazing summer adventure. They discover a hidden lake and meet two unique people who live there. There is also a second book, Return to Gone-Away, where the story continues.
Discovering Gone-Away Lake
The story begins with ten-year-old Portia Blake and her six-year-old brother, Foster. They are traveling by train to visit their cousin, Julian Jarman, in the countryside of western New York. Julian is an enthusiastic boy who loves nature.
Portia and Julian spend their days exploring the area around Julian's new country home. One day, they stumble upon a surprising place. It's an old, forgotten resort community next to a bog.
Meeting New Friends
This abandoned place used to be a lively vacation spot. Now, only two elderly siblings, Mr. Payton and Mrs. Cheever, still live there. They are the last residents of this quiet, forgotten town.
Portia and Julian quickly become friends with Mr. Payton and Mrs. Cheever. The children even set up a secret club in one of the empty houses. They love exploring the old buildings and learning about the past.
Secrets and Surprises
As Portia and Julian explore, they learn about the history of the bog. It was once a beautiful lake called Tarrigo. The book shares stories from the past, mixed with the children's modern-day adventures.
At first, Portia and Julian keep their discovery of Gone-Away Lake and their new friends a secret. But soon, Foster finds out about their hidden world. Eventually, the rest of the Jarman and Blake families also learn about the charm of Gone-Away and its unique residents.
The Story Continues
The adventures at Gone-Away Lake don't end with this book. A sequel, Return to Gone-Away, was published in 1961. In the second book, the Blake family decides to buy and fix up a house at Gone-Away. This means even more adventures for Portia, Julian, and Foster!
