The story is about a group of eight boys who set out to go
trick-or-treating on Halloween, only to discover that a
ninth
friend,
Pipkin, has been whisked away on a journey that could determine whether
he lives or dies. Through the help of a mysterious character named
Moundshroud, they pursue their friend across time and space through
ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures, Celtic Druidism, Notre
Dame Cathedral in Medieval Paris, and The Day of the Dead in Mexico.
Along the way, they learn the origins of the holiday that they
celebrate, and the role that the fear of death has played in shaping
civilization. The Halloween Tree itself, with its many branches laden
with jack-o''-lanterns, serves as a metaphor for the historical
confluence of these traditions.