Danny and Life on Bluff Point: Lost in the Dark
Mary Ellen Lee
Four Seasons Publisher
ISBN: 1-891929-87-9
Historical Fiction, Children, Middle Grades
Reviewed by Dr. Tami Brady

Danny and Life on Bluff Point: Lost in the Dark is the third book of the Danny and Life on Bluff Point series. This fictional series is based upon the real journals of the author’s grandfather. The main character of the story is the author’s father Danny. Danny is ten years old and dreams about becoming tall and strong like his father. The boy has an older sister Ruthie who used to be a lot of fun but is now more interested in girly stuff and two younger sisters Mary and Carolyn who are still just a little young to be a friend to Danny. In each book, Danny shares his dreams and adventures as well as his challenges and successes. Thus, each book actually contains several smaller stories that lead up to the main dramatic event.

Lost in the Dark begins immediately after the adventure closes in the second book. Miss Spaulding, the teacher, is still living with the Lee’s but Danny has accepted her presence as a way to gain more responsibility.

This book is full of ice adventures. Danny goes ice fishing. He also works with the men during the annual ice harvesting (driving the horse team no less). His quick wit actually makes him a bit of a hero. The biggest surprise in the story is when Danny’s Dad and Uncle Jerome build another ice sail boat, just for Danny. While using the ice sail boat, Danny starts to daydream, gets distracted, and finds himself is a really frightening situation.