The Riddle of the Gnome

I'm always glad when the story I read with my son is interesting to me as well. This story, as with all of Mr. Catanese's "Further Tales", is well-crafted and compelling. Tom, a boy forced to live in isolation because he causes bad luck to those around him, is given an opportunity from a beastly little gnome to finally break the curse he has endured. The question is, what are the gnome's motives, and what will he require of Tom? The story has some nice underlying messages about appearances not being the most reliable way to judge others, and even about adoption. I recommend this and all of the "Further Tales".