This book is a joy to read. The writing style is something between Beverly Cleary and C.S. Lewis and it perfectly captures both the magic of childhood and the wonder of country adventuring. The plot is fairly simple and meandering, steeped in atmosphere and some really great characters. Two cousins (Portia and Julian) are out hunting for additions to Julian's insect collection one day whenever they come across a huge swamp and a mostly-abandoned resort community.
As they explore this ghost town, they find that it is not so empty after all. Not only are there a plethora of creatures (insects, goats, and other wildlife) living there, but two old-timers have returned to the lake of their youth and set up housekeeping with all of the things left behind. This elderly brother and sister duo quickly take the cousins (and Portia's little brother) into their heart, making the lake a get-away from the stresses of everyday life and teaching them about both the past and the small pleasures of life. Through this relationship, Portia get the opportunity to achieve one of her greatest wishes: to live away from the bustle of city life.
I love revisiting this classic from my childhood. There is just something about this book that gets better every time I read it, despite the fact that the initial first-read mystery is gone. A sequel exists in Return to Gone-Away and, while it is quite good, it never manages to fully re-capture the wonder and masterpiece of the original (few sequels can), but I recommend that you check it out anyway as it is quite an excellent read.
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