Haunted Horn, The

The Haunted Horn
by Edward Willett
Published by Endless Sky Books
Review by Shelley A. Leedahl
$19.99 ISBN 9781998273706

Wow: Regina’s Edward Willett has done it again. He’s written a book—this time a light-hearted, middle years’ horror—that’s certain to keep young readers transfixed. The longtime multi-genre writer and publisher’s cracked the code to literary success: his plots zoom; his characters are credible and maintain distinctive voices; and he understands literary craft. In The Haunted Horn, the American Civil War meets present day and reality meets the supernatural, and it’s all more fun that a bunch of bugles.

This engaging, republished novel (first edition, 2012) is set in “Oak Bluffs, Arkansas,” where Union soldiers defeated the Confederates in a fiery battle that closed out the Civil War. It revolves around eighth-grader Alex, a creative only child—he fancies himself “a future best-selling novelist”—small for his size, smart in science and English, and a French horn player in the school’s marching band. Willett notably reveals that Alex’s family is upper middle class: antique-obsessed Mom picks Alex up at school in a Lincoln SUV; Dad recently left retail management when elected to town council. Alex is a target for bully Sammy Findlater and his gang, and Sammy’s on the war path more than usual after Alex accidentally knocks over the fiend’s “elaborate toothpick model of the Great Wall of China.”

The aforementioned accident—Alex is clutzy—happens on an already horrid Friday, and after school Alex is forced to go to a country auction with his mom. While digging through “junk,” ie: “rusted horseshoe nails … a German Bible, three marbles, a bedraggled stuffed hummingbird posed rather stiffly on a piece of wire above a carved wooden flower”—Willett’s a master of including fine details— Alex also finds a “horned-toad ugly” Confederate bugle for $20. After two hours of polishing, the bugle “glowed in the soft light as though illuminated from within.” Before he’s even had time to blow it, cruel Sammy et al rough Alex up because the ringleader wants the bugle as retribution for the toothpick fiasco.

Everything’s heating up. Tough-looking Annie Parker sticks up for Alex and becomes a friend, though she’s self-conscious about the fact that her mother’s the mayor’s maid. And why does she want to bring Sammy down? Alex’s dad’s plans to stage a Battle of Oak Bluff’s anniversary re-enactment go haywire because someone (or something) keeps chewing up and burning the town square “battleground.” Even the four historic cannons have been moved. Alex’s band teacher wants him to play the bugle at Friday’s football game. And after a dramatic Chapter Five chase scene (with Chinese food), Alex finally lifts the old bugle to his lips, the “cold metal twisting in his hand as though alive,” and a ghost boy in Civil War garb is awakened. Visceral war nightmares commence, and Alex and Annie collaborate to learn what in the Sam Hill is going on.

Mystery, horror, and self-deprecating humour abound as Alex learns more about the ghost boy—and more about his adolescent self—in this dynamic, entertaining and highly recommended novel.

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR FROM THE SASKATCHEWAN PUBLISHERS GROUP WWW.SKBOOKS.COM