Title: Uncle Bob Visits
Author: Caroline Stevermer
In: The Coyote Road (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Tricksters
Dates read: 5th May 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Firebird Fantasy
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: “Now is the winter of our discontent,” said Miss Lillegren stiffly.

A classroom is always full of mischief. But when Uncle Bob decides to visit, the mischief and mayhem crank up a notch.

It fits that a trickster story would take place in a children’s classroom. After all, children are really good vessels of chaos. So having a bunch of the little darlings all crowded into one classroom would surely attract some kind of poltergeist to wreak a little havoc on our daily lives. Although I enjoyed this story, I did feel incredibly sympathetic towards the teacher. Not only does she have to try and corral a bunch of children who just aren’t interested in grammar. But she also has to contend with a poltergeist who is definitely not interested in grammar.

I really like the idea of a grumpy, old man as the poltergeist. Or at least, that’s how I’m picturing him as the story unfolds. Somebody who loves to be around the school and the children but is a bit fussy about what he wants to learn. And not all that great at understanding discipline of any kind…

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Image source: Amazon