Horror on River Road

Sylvia Pantaleo is an assistant professor of education specializing in
children’s literature at Queen’s University. She is the co-author of
Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary Classroom.

Muck insists on no summer hockey, so when the holidays arrive, he and
Mr. Dillinger teach the Screech Owls how to play lacrosse. The game
requires the team to refine existing skills and to develop new ones. In
a short period of time, the players are addicted to the game. Nish
becomes the team’s goalie and excels in his new position.

Muck, who played lacrosse when he was an adolescent, introduces the
players to his former coach, Mr. Fontaine. The players are amazed by Mr.
Fontaine’s skills and Travis learns a few special moves. However, some
of the players are uncomfortable with Mr. Fontaine’s presence because
of the mystery that surrounds the death of his son, Liam.

A subplot of the story has Nish planning to film a horror movie. When
he discovers that his hometown of Tamarack has its own unsolved
mystery—the death of Liam—Nish is determined to uncover the truth.
Using information gathered from various sources, Nish and Travis set out
to film the events that supposedly led to the Liam’s death. The
filming plans go awry but result in the discovery of the truth about
Liam’s death.

Intertwined with the researching of Liam’s death is the Screech Owls
pursuit of the Provincial PeeWee Lacrosse Championship. Thirty years
after it should have happened, Muck and Mr. Fontaine finally achieve
their goal.

The author adeptly weaves the connected subplots of lacrosse, Nish’s
horror film, and the death of Mr. Fontaine’s son. The mystery element
of the book is particularly engaging. The descriptions of the lacrosse
games are detailed and entertaining. Highly recommended.