Mystery at Round Island Light (Mackinac Passage (Unnumbered))
Grade 6-9-Pete and his friends on Michigan's Mackinac Island find  themselves fascinated by the legends and rumors about an old  lighthouse on nearby Round Island and about its former keeper,  who may or may not still be a presence there. Intrigued, the  four teens pack a lunch, borrow a dinghy, ride over, and  explore-and then find their belongings scattered and a note  telling them to go away. Instead of being scared off, they  decide to find out what is going on and, in so doing, become  involved in a dangerous robbery plot. Readers who are unfamiliar  with the area will probably miss some of the subtleties, but  will still be able to follow the rather simplistic story line.  Written in the style of a Hardy Boys mystery, the plot moves  forward at an even pace; at the end, the ghost of the lighthouse  keeper intervenes to help save the teens from a fire set by the  thieves, a device that seems contrived. None of the characters  is particularly well developed, and the author seems to assume  that readers are familiar with them from previous books.  Sketches of island landmarks decorate chapter openings. Not a  first purchase, but an adequate mystery that might have regional  interest.Janet Hilbun, formerly at Sam Houston Middle School,  Garland, TXCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.