The last time we met on the blog, I described the fear factor in Zackary Richards' YA novel Frostie the Deadman.  But there is more to the story. 

 Behind the mask of Frostie's chilling tale exists the inspiration and a moral.

Without giving too much of Frostie away, 

(because after all I really want you to enjoy the book if you win it,  borrow it from the library once we catalog it, or support Mr. Richards by purchasing a copy of your very own), 

in addition to the characters of Lucas and Walks, there exists another element of the story that is crucial.

     In the mid 1940's, fictional Adirondack town of Sparks experienced one of those winters that we Upstate New Yorker's know all too well-the kind that keeps even the bravest children inside.  To chase the winter blues away the town people hold a snowman building contest, with a $10 cash prize and a free meal at the local restaurant, "which at the time was considered quite generous (Chapter 2, 2nd page)." 

     Just how generous?  I did some research on Dave Manuel's Inflation Calculator (http://www.davemanuel.com/inflation-calculator.php) and apparently Richards was correct.  $10 in 1945 would be like $128.21 today and since everyone knows you can't go out to a nice restaurant for less than $25/person plus tax and tip, minus beverages, that was indeed a nice prize!  

     By the way, that our $10.00 today would have only been about 78 cents.  Wow!  But I digress.

Back to Frostie . . .

So fast forward some years and the people of Spark's are trying to think of a way to attract tourists and since the snowman contest was fun, they decide to build their tourism around building and displaying the best of the best snowmen and arranging them on the lake in the form of a huge marching band.  Apparently it worked because 30 years later, Spark's is famous for this frozen wonder.

_________________

     How Richards tells the story is that one day his two daughters made this fantastic looking snowman and they couldn't wait until Daddy got home to show off their "creation," but by the time he got home it was way to dark to venture way out back of their Glens Falls home.  

     A couple of days went by before he had the chance to make the trek.  By that time, as is typical of Upstate NY winter days, the temperature had fluctuated in a wide range of highs and lows and the magnificent creature was no more.  What stood before Richards was a distorted pile of snow and ice that was no longer handsome and noble, but "grotesque and evil." 

At that very moment, Frosty the Snowman was gone forever, but Frostie the Deadman took on a life of his own in Richards' mind.

     But I can assure you that "grotesque and evil" doesn't have a long life either and Richards' cleverly weaves an endearing story about how two young boys overcome the evil through the power of friendship and develops into an important moral with an anti-bullying message.

     I can't tell you anymore.  Well, I could, but I won't.  It just wouldn't be fair.  You really should read the book.  I promise you'll love it! Plus, remember-it's guaranteed! 

Next time . . . Mr. Richards' shares advice for budding authors.

Until then . . .

Remember . . .

                                     (Figment.com, retrieved 10/24/12)