Published by Medallion Press Genres: coming of age, Crime, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, young adult
Format: eBook
1993
A coming-of-age story that centers around the mystery of children and teens vanishing in Harting Farms. Their bodies often being found near December Park. Everyone in town is on edge. The kids dub the killer the Piper and for one group of teenage friends, finding the piper and solving the mystery consumes their free time and shapes their summer and relationships.
I enjoyed the group of friends Angelo, Michael, Scott, Adrian and Peter and their quest to find the truth. Angelo’s (Angie) family was wonderfully drawn and who would not want to come over and have some of his grandmother’s cooking?
I agree with other reviewers who have mentioned that this book reminded them of Stephen King’s The Body (i.e. Stand By Me in movie form). I enjoyed the sense of nostalgia that seeped from the pages of December Park. I also enjoyed the camaraderie between the group of friends. As they hunt down clues and come face to face with bullies, I found myself wanting to warn them, hug them, scold them, and cheer them on.
This book was a bit of a slow burn, and I struggle with slow burns. December Parkdid feel long at times. But I hung in there and I am glad that I did. I did not see the HUGE twist/reveal that came at the end. That was a shocker.
Overall, an enjoyable, nostalgic but long book that follows a group of teenage boys as they hunt down clues, face challenges, make friends, and face the harshness of life.
