To say The Ghost Under Third Base is just a children's story is like saying Harry Potter is only for children.
It is an amazing story on so many levels - a story about a young boy and his relationships with new friends, a ghost story, a dive into the metaphysical....
Willie, an 11 year old boy, is quite smart, but has trouble relating to others - his books and his computer are easier 'friends' to have...Willie has a special place to go to with his books, an abandonded storm cellar - the only thing left from a fire many years before - an old storm cellar- it was said that a little boy died in that fire, there, in the storm cellar...
Willie finds comfort there, but sometimes feels cold, and hears what may be sighs....
A strange boy appears to Willie - his name is Huby and he says he is visiting his aunt in town - Willie feels comfortable with Huby, and has more confidence around him...Huby seems to be able to guide Willie to the right path - with school, with dealing with and getting friends at school, with helping Willie get along better with his older brother and sister...
Willie's school class has to submit suggestions for projects that would benefit their city - Willie, with Huby's help, creates a plan for a much needed baseball area - the kids have to be bussed to the next town to play ball - The area he proposes this baseball area to be built is the area of the fire long ago - on top of the storm cellar that Willie goes to...Willie is worried that the little boy who died in the fire, Daniel, may be stuck under the baseball diamond - specifically third base - and he must do something to help Daniel -
Huby and Willie feel that Daniel is waiting for his family to come get him and as he waits, he doesn't realize he is dead - he is so lonely - In a way, the same loneliness has 'haunted' Willie too -
Huby and Willie, with the help of Willie's new friends, help Daniel cross over to his family - and at the same time unite the town in this much needed project to get a baseball area for the kids -
Who is Huby? He is a special friend to Willie - and seems to guide Willie in the right direction when Willie really needs it - almost like a guardian angel putting his charge on the right path...
This is such a special story, melding a young boy's struggle to find himself, and deal with problems all kids face, with the metaphysical -
It is a beautifully written novel - and you will believe...
I thought Natchez Mississippi had something in the water there to spawn such wonderful writers...must be the same tap in Florida - because Triad seems to find gifted authors telling amazing stories.
The Ghost Under Third Base is an excellent read.

ellen george
The Ghost Under Third Base
Fran Orenstein ISBN 10: 0-9800103-4-9
Triad Tweens - Triad Publishing Group