The Sandman's Eyes by Patricia Windsor

First published: 1985

Type of work: Thriller

Themes: Crime, emotions, family, friendship, and sexual issues

Time of work: The last half of the twentieth century

Recommended Ages: 13-15

Locale: Kornkill, a mythical town in the United States

Principal Characters:

• Michael Thorn, a sensitive adolescent who was involved in the circumstances surrounding a murder
• Gary Longman, a journalist who rents a room in Michael’s home and purports to be writing a book that will show Michael to be innocent
• Grandpop, Michael’s grandfather, who is troubled by family secrets
• Rosie, Grandpop’s wife—the only mother Michael had known
• Lindsay Johnson, a special friend of Michael whose mother is disturbed by their relationship
• Aunt Heva, Lindsay’s aunt, who befriends Michael and helps him get a job
• Mary Ann, a school acquaintance of Michael, whose friendship aids Michael’s search for a solution to the mystery

The Story

The plot of The Sandman’s Eyes is that of a psychological thriller. The reader is introduced to Michael Thorn as he is returning to his home in Kornkill, a small town that could be located almost anywhere in the United States, after spending two years in an institution. He returns to the town apprehensively: He left amidst suspicions that he was the killer in a murder case not fully explained to this conservative town. Michael wonders if he can find answers that will prove to everyone that he is truly innocent.

Michael is not filled with confidence in himself, because some aspects of his behavior during the investigation of the murder baffled him too. On several occasions he had gone into homes in Kornkill for no apparent reason. He never broke into a home, but he found doors unlocked and seemed to find some satisfaction in entering the houses, at times just looking at the furnishings, other times moving things around, but never taking anything or damaging the premises. During the investigation, he had also developed speech problems: Sometimes he could not speak at all. Upon returning home, Michael is troubled about how he will be received by his family and friends.

Michael reflects on his time at the institution as he faces the problems of adjusting to normal living again. He will never forget Freegull, who inflicted a variety of tortures on Michael and added to his misery of being institutionalized. Resisting Freegull actually assisted Michael in his adjustment to life at the school, because he was determined not to be defeated by someone like Freegull.

Michael wonders about Lindsay, whose behavior while he was away puzzled him. He had expected her to write, but all during his stay at the school he had received only cards on special occasions. Michael and Lindsay had developed a very special friendship when they were in elementary school. Eventually, however, as they became adolescents, they began to have disturbing feelings caused by their impending puberty. Michael wonders if they will ever resume their former comfortable relationship considering all that has happened. Lindsay’s mother is reported to be very concerned about their friendship and is determined to forestall its resumption. Michael, with Aunt Heva’s help, gets a job as a grave digger working for Lindsay’s Uncle Linny. The job provides him with money and helps him establish some degree of normality in his life.

Gary Longman, a journalist, seeks Michael’s help as he gathers material for his book. The two become friendly: Gary teaches Michael to drive, they go for evening walks together, and they collaborate in finding information related to the murder case in which Michael was involved. A chance encounter on one of their evening walks puts them in contact with Mary Ann, a former classmate of Michael, who expresses her confidence in Michael’s innocence.

As information is revealed from various sources, strange circumstances are made known. Michael learns that Lindsay did indeed write to him while he was away, but somehow the letters never reached him. Gary informs Michael that his mother, whom Michael believed to be dead, is alive. Michael determines to find her.

Michael does find and visit his mother. She has been concerned with her own problems and knows nothing of Michael’s problems. She does express concern about Michael’s friendship with Lindsay Johnson and seems pleased that Michael is developing a relationship with someone else.

After returning to Kornkill following his visit with his mother, Michael establishes a more positive relationship with Grandpop and Rosie by talking frankly about his feelings in regard to his mother. Things also come to a head concerning Michael’s proving the truth about the murder. Michael receives an anonymous note asking him to come to the scene of the murder at midnight if he wants the truth.

The meeting in Monrovia Park reveals to Michael that Iraleen Johnson, Lindsay’s mother, was the murderer, and she intends to kill Michael also. Although he receives a serious cut, Michael manages to keep Iraleen from stabbing him. Her ravings indicate that her husband, Boyd, has been quite a philanderer and that the girl Michael saw killed had been in Monrovia Park to meet Boyd Johnson. Boyd had seen Michael discover the body but had kept quiet to protect his wife.

Michael is quite relieved to be proven innocent and determines through learning most of the facts related to the case that Boyd Johnson must be his father. Michael decides that he does not want to remain in Kornkill. Gary helps him get a job in a nearby town, and he says goodbye to Kornkill. He anticipates continuing happy relationships with Grandpop and Rosie and hopes to develop a deeper relationship with Mary Ann, but he is not unhappy to depart from Kornkill.

Context

The Sandman’s Eyes is one of several books by Patricia Windsor to win accolades; it received the Edgar Allan Poe Award for the best juvenile mystery of the year. Her The Summer Before (1973) and Diving for Roses (1978) were both included on prestigious listings of outstanding books for young adults. Windsor expressed approval early in her writing career that writings for young adults are realistic and deal with social problems facing all of them. Her writings fit into that pattern.

Some critics commented that several plot lines went undeveloped in The Sandman’s Eyes. This is a valid criticism, but characterization is the prime concern in this novel. The plot is developed sufficiently to give believable substance to the story. The characterizations are carefully worked out by the author to achieve her purpose.