A nostalgic, heart-thumping holiday fantasy for upper middle grade, teens, and adults who still remember what magic felt like.
The Crypt Beneath Gauntlet Bridge is a heart-forward story that stretches from Halloween to Christmas 1963. The tale rekindles memories of cold, snowy childhood winters: the thrill of secrets, spooky houses, and the quiet bravery of growing up. It's a story about family, imagination, the bond between brothers, and the small acts of courage that shape us long after childhood ends.
Jonesy and Mikey think Halloween will be the usual mix of hand-me-downs, schoolyard teasing, and trying to stay out of trouble. Then a hooded boy with glowing red eyes appears at school, an odd elf of questionable intentions hands out enchanted snow globes, and a warning is left on their doorstep:
Stay away from the As Is Mercantile.
But childhood rarely obeys warnings.
Inside Mr. Spiegelman's dusty thrift shoplies a secret passage to Elsewhere, where hundreds of doors lead to strange, mythical lands. The boys enter the village of Spiegelville, a realm of elves who build their lives oncheer and hope. Yet beneath its shimmering surface, something ancient isstirring. The Sandman, keeper of dreams and nightmares, unleashes his SandPuppies, monstrous creatures that tear through Elsewhere's desert borders. Asthe boys step deeper into Spiegelville, they find themselves caught betweenwonder and danger, innocence and responsibility.
Then, The Sandman follows Jonesy and Mikey back into the real world of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Their bond and courage become the fragile thread holding their family together and the shield that keeps darkness at bay. Their journey reminds readers, young and old, what it means to believe in something bigger than yourself.