The back ground of these stories, is 'The Gates Farm'. The stories begin in what appears to be a normal summer, for Mary Ryan and her playmates Charles, and Rebecca. But a mysterious visitor shows up, and the summer takes on an added dimension of adventure and mystery. Mary Ryan is an eight year old girl who, if you let her, will take you into her world. Mary's world is a world of games and of tricks, a world of fun and of much to learn, and of course there are the mysteries. Each story builds on the preceding story. They connect, and they progress through Mary Ryan's summer. Then there is a mysterious Halloween story and a magical Christmas story. Mary Ryan would not exist if it was not for my five year old grand daughter named Hannah. Hannah knows Mary Ryan. Hannah once asked me if Mary was real. To Hannah, Mary Ryan had become a friend and she wanted Mary to be real. Hannah's mother Linda, also my daughter, took Hannah into Mary's world, every night at bedtime. And Hannah in her play has brought Mary Ryan and her playmates back into her world. Besides the fun and the mysteries, there is a substance here that says life is good, and that life is an adventure with many things to learn.