Secret Ravens

In 1963, the same year that the Beatles went on their first American tour, Castro went to Moscow, Bonecrusher Blackwell beat Ox Bunyan to become the American Wrestling League champion, and a stardust storm hit Fountain Square, was the year the big Victorian house that occupied the corner of Spann Avenue and Spruce Street was finally sold. Harry J Hoople, retired chemist, shop owner, Auschwitz survivor and keeper of an ancient wish machine wondered if the stardust would bring something good…or something very, very bad. When Harry saw the green station wagon with Kentucky license plates roll by, he braced himself because he knew this meant the something had arrived. Eleven year-old Will saw the station wagon too. He hoped it meant there were new kids moving into Fountain Square. Will was right. The station wagon carried the Avery family, including a strange kid named Mott and his beautiful older sister. Stardust can do peculiar things to a neighborhood.

In 1963, the same year that the Beatles went on their first American tour, Castro went to Moscow, Bonecrusher Blackwell beat Ox Bunyan to become the American Wrestling League champion, was the year a stardust storm hit Fountain Square. Harry J Hoople, retired chemist, shop owner, Auschwitz survivor and keeper of an ancient wish machine, wondered if the stardust would bring something good…or something very, very bad. When Harry saw the green station wagon with Kentucky license plates roll by, he braced himself, because he knew this meant the something had arrived. Eleven year-old Will saw the station wagon too. He hoped it meant there were new kids moving into Fountain Square. Will was right. The station wagon carried the Avery family, including a strange kid named Mott and his beautiful older sister named Selma. Mott and Will and their two friends Dallas and Kevin, soon embark on a summer filled with magic wishes and un-intended consequences. From finding hidden treasure to witnessing a murder, to receiving an enchanted bean brought all the way from Bombay, the boys face a lot of problems. Selma falls into some problems too. She must decide if she wants to marry into a life of privilege or run away to New York with her true love. Like Will’s father says, Selma is playing with fire. Only Hoople and his wish machine could help. But Hoople gives out wishes sparingly. Would he grant the boys one more chance to make things right? Stardust can do peculiar things to a neighborhood.

Robin Lovelace grew up in an old Victorian house at the edge of the Fountain Square district, on the inner south side of Indianapolis. She now lives in the suburbs with her husband Dan. Robin usually writes short stories. This is her first novel.