Greta had always loved the fog; she loved being in the mist as it rolled in from the sea and hung over her village. It always made her happy. Then one day, Greta discovered the secret hidden in the gray mist. The magic in the fog launched Greta on an adventure that took her back into the past and revealed secrets in her own life.

Loser was read by Veronica Lopez
Veronica 'Ronni' Lopez moved to Vermont from her native Texas where she was a featured actress with the resident professional company of The Dallas Theater Center. She is a strong advocate for Vermont Theatre and is also Producing Artistic Director of Catalyst Theatre Company. Ronni's reading covers a wide variety — from biographies to poetry written by children. She's especially fond of stories with hope as its central theme.

When Camel's Hump Radio asked Veronica what her favorite book was as a child she answered: "To Kill a Mockingbird came into my life 40 years ago, I used to enjoy the stories of American legends — Paul Bunyon and Babe The Blue Ox, John Henry, Alamo guys (I'm from San Antone). But that one summer when my older and wiser sister Judy passed her copy of Mockingbird to me, it has never been replaced as my all time favorite. Judy reads it often. I've probably read it 5-6 times all the way through. I still pick it up, open it up anywhere and just start reading. Delicious."

What do you think?

What year do you think the story is set in? What makes you think that?

Why do some many of the villagers dislike the fog?

What is the magic Greta discovers in the fog?

If you were Greta, would you seek out the magic in the fog? Give the reasoning behind your answer.

Which character do you find the most intriguing? Greta? Retha? Maybe Laura Morrill? Why?

What do you like best about the book? Do you like the mystery? The historical aspects of the story? Or do you like that it's fantasy?

Author Julia L. Sauer's words and rhythms capture the feel of fog and mystery. Find a passage that provides a good example of this imagery.

The fact Greta is about to celebrate her 12th birthday is important to the plot. Why is that?

What message do you think the author is trying to convey?

Why do you think each generation of Addingtons has a time traveler?

How do you feel when there is foggy weather?

Fun & Adventure Beyond the Book

The old fishing village, "Blue Cove," that Greta travels back in time to visit is based on a real place: White Cove in Little River village on Digby Neck in northwestern Novia Scotia, Canada. Author Julia L. Sauer used to summer in the area before WWII. Greta's last name, Addington, as well as some of the other names used in the book (Stantons, Dentons, Frosts), are the names of families that originally settled in the area and still live there. There are other little touches, like the stray cow Greta had to round up was named Rosie - Sauer kept a cow named Rosie. This website lets you see the village and learn more about Sauer's life there; while this link and this one explore Digby Neck.

Hmm...maybe there's more to fog than we thought. Here's a link so you can learn more about this magical weather phenomenon.

Greta loved to explore the cellar holes of old houses...and she's not the only one. Seems there are lots of people that like to explore cellar holes, often to find old coins or bottles. Here's some advice on searching cellar hole; with tips on what to look for to spot a cellar hole; an article on the lure of cellar holes; and comments regarding the joy of searching for old cellar holes. Just what is a cellar hole? Here's the answer along with a description of what you'd find in a working one.

Ever hear a fog horn? You can now. The fog horn is an important tool; here are some other tips in the event you have to navigate a ship in a fog.



If You Like This Book, Check Out...

Grace Greene, from the Vermont Department of Libraries, says if you liked Fog Magic, you’ll probably enjoy these books as well:

Boston, Lucy M. The Stones of Green Knowe. Atheneum, 1976.
While eagerly following each stage of the new stone manor house his father is building to replace their old wooden Saxon hall, a young boy, part Saxon and part Norman, becomes involved with ancient magic that carries him through time.

Griffin, Peni. Switching Well. McElderry, 1993.
Two twelve-year-old girls in San Antonio, Texas, Ada in 1891 and Amber in 1991, switch places through a magic well and try desperately to return to their own times.

Hahn, Mary Downing. The Doll in the Garden. Clarion, 1989.
After Ashley and Kristi find an antique doll buried in old Miss Cooper's garden, they discover that they can enter a ghostly turn-of-the- century world by going through a hole in the hedge.

Park, Ruth. Playing Beatie Bow. Atheneum, 1982.
A lonely Australian girl from a divided family is transported back to the 1880's and an immigrant family from the Orkney Islands.

Scieszka, Jon. The Time Warp Trio. (series)
A book from his magician uncle transports Joe and his friends, Fred and Sam, back in time to swashbuckling adventures fraught with danger at every turn.