Ghost Town at Sundown

by Mary Pope Osborne

Part of Magic Tree House, book 10

First published 1997

Jack and Annie tumble out of the Magic Tree House into a dusty western town that seems eerily empty. The siblings quickly discover they've landed in the middle of the Wild West, where danger lurks around every corner. Horse thieves roam the area, a young colt has gone missing, and deadly rattlesnakes slither through the desert landscape. The children meet Slim, a local cowboy who becomes their guide in this unfamiliar territory. As they navigate these perils, Jack and Annie must also work to solve another riddle from the Tree House. Their quest becomes increasingly urgent as mysterious elements suggest supernatural forces may be at work in this abandoned settlement. The brother and sister team must use their wits and courage to help recover the lost animal while avoiding the criminals and natural hazards that threaten them. Their success in unraveling the Tree House mystery might depend on encountering something otherworldly before their western adventure concludes.

Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy

Vibes: suspenseful, whimsical

Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family

Setting: Wild West, Dusty Western Town

Period: 19th-Century

96 pages · Paperback · Random House Books for Young Readers

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