The Night Tourist

The Night Tourist
by Katherine Marsh
2007

I don’t want to give away too much of this book, but let’s say that it’s fantasy, sci-fi, and a story of a real boy dealing with tragedy. Jack is sent into the city from New Haven to see a mysterious doctor. He meets a strange girl, Euri, at Grand Central Station. That begins his adventure with NYC history, spirits, and understanding his own family history.

Truly an absorbing story, and of course all the spots (except maybe a few in Grand Central Station) are real places. And a walk in Central Park allows you to visit the Fountain that plays a key role in the story plus enjoy the park. (It’s on the original cover of this book as well.) 

You should visit Central Park if you are in New York City. Find your way to the Mall — right in the center East to West around 68th Street and walk north along it to Bethesda Fountain. There are usually lots of street vendors selling paintings and souvenirs, plus jugglers and dancers and so on.

The Mall    The fountain 

Just north of the fountain is the Lake, where you can rent boats. You might also want to visit Strawberry Fields, the memorial to John Lennon.

If you go to Grand Central Station, you can’t explore where Jack goes, but the station is interesting. Be sure to visit the Transit Museum. You can get an audio tour of the station on your phone.