Just Tell Me When We're Dead

A child's imagination can expose the bumbled world of adults in ironic ways, and Eth Clifford continues to show the wistful seriousness of writing for the younger readers. Speaking for no other person, I immediately identified with the young people in this story. Two dastardly bank robbers buried stolen money on an island which operated carnival rides. Caught by kids.

An orphaned Jeff, with abandonment issues and a fascination with ant colonies, is taken in by his cousin's family. He row-boats away, heading straight for the island. Jeff leaves a cryptic note. Jo-Beth, and her older sister, Mary Rose, read the note, and head off to find him. Did I mention the dastardly bank robbers?

An energetic and suspenseful story about two young girls who go looking for their cousin on an island that with an off-season amusement park and other touristy stuff after he runs away from home in his rowboat. The kids also foil some bank robbers.
I'm not sure what this story was doing in the ghosts and secrets mystery pack, but I don't feel it belongs there. This is a short juvenile caper with no ghosts and very little mystery. I'm sure younger children, ages 7-9, would find it a nice diversion.

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