The ghost of a drowned fisherman rows his boat across the moonpath by night, leaving it waterlogged among the lake weeds by day... Or was it only imagination that propelled the boat? The four RIchards children and their friend Kenny frighten themselves nearly out of their wits trying to find the answer to this question. They also have a very good time, as will the reader who stays with them right through the Chamber of Horrors, featuring a set of pickled tonsils (taken from inside of book)

I read this book about 30 years ago. I enjoyed the tale of this group of friends and their storytelling gatherings. I recommended this to my stepson when he couldn't find something to interest him, (he doesn't like to read), and he truly enjoyed this story too. Great tale for 4-6 grade readers.

I found myself reading this book through in two sittings. If you like history, personal stories, diaries or the like, you will enjoy this book. I compare it to Jimmy Carter's An Hour Before Daylight in that it gives a picture of rural life in the early part of the century. It is human, candid, and lean in its verbage. It captures all of the emotions and leaves you with mental images that will last a lifetime. Try it.

In an era of urban sprawl and corporate farming, this is a gentle reminder of a world of small towns and kind people. Jackie's experiences growing up on the dairy farm range from laugh-out-loud humorous to tears rolling. "The Round Barn" illustrates what family values truly were before the demogogues got hold of the term: integrity, caring and principles put before profit. The Dougans were--and are--intelligent, hard-working people who have a tremendous joy in living.

The stories are brief enough to read aloud---and deep enough to read again and again with pleasure.

I read this book for the first time in Junior High. It was an answer to everything about writing I was looking for. It assured me that EVERYTHING I put on paper was, in some form, a piece of art. Suddenly, a pen on paper moved easily from line to line, never wondering if the words were "creative" enough. I highly reccomend this book for all ages. It is out of print, but is worth every penny if you can find it!