horror – creatures – One Chapter

The Haunted Scavenger Hunt by Steve Patschke

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Super fun and funny story. My grandson wanted to read this book repeatedly. It’s not so much a scary story as the front cover suggests but it’s the anticipation of what each turn of the page will bring that makes this story so fun. The ending brings it all together making it a funny story.
Friends Sammy, Jenny, Sara, and Pete are out on Halloween. It’s interesting but looking at the illustrations, none of the children have costumes on nor is there any mention of trick-or-treating. It’s a spooky night nevertheless and they discover a strange box. There are words written across the top of the box which draw their attention. “Don’t look at it! Don’t touch it! Don’t open it!” The friends talk amongst themselves about what they are going to do with the box. The author then, asks the reader, “So what did the friends do?”

Turning the page, you discover that YES! They looked, they touched, and they opened the box! HA! So much for listening to what the box said. Now, what did the friends find inside that box? A key. A key with a message that again tells them what NOT to do. So, “what did the friends do?”

Yup, they did exactly what you think they would do. If this wasn’t funny enough, the characters in this story start to disappear. Yes, they are here in the story and then, suddenly they’re gone. The grandkids enjoyed the laugh when the characters weren’t listening to what they were supposed to do and they loved chiming in when the author asked them questions. So, where does this all lead them to? A great ending, where again…….”Don’t look at them! Don’t touch them! Don’t open them!”

I think this a great for a first and second read through. I would then put the book away for a while and then bring it back out, so it’s entertaining again. I can see this story becoming boring if read repeatedly as the anticipation could be memorized and not so much fun. We loved the illustrations and the text was simple yet, entertaining. I loved the facial expressions on the characters and the anticipation that grew throughout the book. Fun story. 5 stars

Boo the Library Ghost by Becky Paige

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Stay away from this library! This library is haunted by a ghost who likes to scare all who enter while causing chaos inside the walls of this structure. Children are his favorite, frightening them so much that they run out of the library and head home. Boo does it all, from throwing books to ripping out the pages of the books, to making spooky scary faces on the walls. You have been warned.

Boo meets his match when Poppy walks into the library. After all of Boo antics, Poppy remains in the library. Poppy even asks Boo to calm down as she’s reading a book and he’s distracting her. This makes Boo mad, so he becomes more destructive. Wow, Boo is really tearing up the library! Poppy tries to stop Boo’s behavior and that’s when she realizes why Boo is really acting out.

Boo is reluctant to warm up to Poppy as she talks to him. He’s listening but he’s scared. Poppy’s patience and loving words warm Boo’s heart and they connect. Poppy is the perfect advocate for the library and soon she has Boo on board.

It’s a great story and I liked Boo’s transformation. Boo’s behavior was caused by something deeper and Poppy discovered it and helped Boo. I liked how she became friends with Boo. The illustrations were busy, colorful and they complimented the text. I enjoyed the text, but it did get a bit too long for my 3-year-old grandson. A fun book about books and the power of reading. 5 stars

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason

4.5 stars Children’s

Cute book with the premise that it’s okay to be different. Little Ghose didn’t like being different as he didn’t fit in with the other ghosts that were just like him. Little Ghost wasn’t white like a sheet, he was a patterned quilt. A heavy patterned quilt that could not fly carefree in the sky, like the other ghosts. When Little Ghost attempted such a feat, it would end in disaster.

Playing in the park with his friends one day, Little Ghost couldn’t hide fast like his friends, when they heard someone approaching. What happened at the park that day would change the life of Little Ghost. It would soon be Halloween, Little Ghost favorite day of the year, and he decided that he would do something different this year. No longer would he watch the trick-or-treaters from afar, Little Ghost wants to see them up close.

Little Ghost wants to be brave yet it’s scary doing something different. Little Ghost goes on a new adventure filled with uncertainty and unease, but the experience is well worth it.

I really enjoyed this book and how the story plays out. I liked how Little Ghost wants to try something new and how he attempts it, but he doesn’t go how he anticipated it would. Rather than getting upset or discouraged, he goes with it and waits to see how things play out. It’s a great story for children, I think.

“Everything that had happened was because he was a little bit different. Everything had happened because he was a quilt.”

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo

4 stars Children’s Fiction

Blended, that’s what it is. When I think about this book, blended comes to mind as this word describes exactly how the characters are. They’re a group of individuals whose stories need to be told, for they each are different, yet they all need each other. It’s a story that you won’t forget, one that will leave you smiling and one that might have you grabbing the tissue box.

It’s the end of fifth grade and Emma, a.k.a. Ferris, is about to have the most memorable summer she’s ever had. Emma house is full. It houses her immediate family and other members of her extended family. Grandma Charisse lives with them and according to grandma, there’s also a ghost that’s a resident in the house. Ferris claims she hasn’t seen the ghost, but Boomer seems to have as the dog’s behavior has been questionable when grandma states the ghost is present. Her Uncle Ted lives in the basement where he is working on his painting. Ted has split up with his wife and this “painting’ is consuming his life. Like everyone else, as Ted talks about this world history painting, I’m visualizing an amazing masterpiece. When we’re finally able to gaze upon his work, my expectations fell. Pinky, is Ferris’ little sister and she is just hilarious. Her spunk and demeanor made me LOL, as she acts mature, but her ambitions and desires are not typical for a six-year-old child. With a desire to be an outlaw, Pinky language and tactics are comical and get her into some difficult situations. Ferris’ best friend Billy loves music, which is great, but he plays the same song over and over. It becomes comforting and he fits right in with the rest of Ferris’ unique family.

I found that I liked Mrs. Mielk, she was one of Ferris’ teachers who had them memorize words and the different parts of them. Ferris frequently uses “Mrs. Mielk words” in his daily life, as he finds them useful and helpful in his life. Little did Mrs. Mielk know how much of an impact she was making on the future lives of her students. Life is what happens inside this book. Ferris wants to help his grandma with the ghost and he’s also trying to understand what is going on with his uncle in the basement. The little outlaw in his family and his best friend, the talented musician, adds excitement and drama to the household. It’s a family affair, comical at times but always with love. Does anyone have 40 candles? Ha.

“I think that’s where the music from. From her singing to me. And that’s why I don’t feel lonely for her. Because she’s here all the time. In the music.”

Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates

4.5 stars Suspense

I’m not a winter person. I lived in a state that experiences four different seasons and winter is the one that I detest the most. It amazes me why individuals would board a bus in winter, for a getaway and not be more prepared in case something went wrong. It’s just plain crazy, in my world! I also wonder how these individuals got together. Did they find a great deal? It must have been a great price, as a VRBO could have been a better option and more isolation. Think about this next time you plan a vacation.

There are eight strangers on the bus. On the road ahead, a tree has fallen, and it has blocked the road. No problem, Brian the guide has a chainsaw, and he will move it. This has eliminated problem #1. The vacationers were supposed to stay close to the bus while Brian removed the tree but nope, two individuals decided to take a walk and they haven’t returned. Problem #2 Problem #3 is the precipitation which amounts to a snowstorm and when they return to the bus after searching for the couple, they discover that the bus won’t start. I can’t even keep up with all the problems this group of travelers encounter as this should be Problem #4 but as the remaining individuals locate a boarded-up cabin to take refuge in, they discover that the shelter has some issues of its own. Keep your wits about you as things are about to get crazy.

This cabin is rustic, and I mean, rustic. It does provide them with shelter, but it doesn’t have running water, food, or electricity. As one of the missing individuals returns to the group, there’s still one unaccounted for out in the snowstorm. Resuming their search for this person, it doesn’t take long to discover why they never made it back. They never could have made it back in the condition they were in. Who did this to them and why? I guess I better start paying attention as I thought everyone was accounted for, so did one of the vacationers sneak off and do this evil act?

This was the first victim, the first of many. The vacationers start disappearing one-by-one and when the others find them, they think they discover a pattern. What can the remaining individuals do to stop this? Keeping watch over each other, they’re like hawks, but the dead bodies keep popping up. Are they missing something?

What a fun and entertaining read. This book definitely had my attention, and I felt as if I was watching each character waiting for them to slip up so I could catch them in the act. The cabin carried a vibe of its own and the weather helped create a feeling of isolation and despair. This book reminded me of another book that I had read but that was okay. 4.5 stars.

All Hallows by Christopher Golden

5 stars Thriller

Now, that was creepy good! I enjoyed the intensity of the two storylines as they slowly built-up steams and I loved the intensity that swelled within this book once the festivities began. I fell back in time as I read this book, back to the day when everyone living on your block was on a first name basis and most neighborhoods were safe as help was just a few feet away. As one father and his daughter finished up preparations for their annual Halloween haunted woods, the rest of the neighborhood is getting ready for the annual Halloween block party. Candy is stocked at the door for the trick-or-treaters and it seems like everyone has their night planned out, so they won’t miss a thing.

Enthusiasm and excitement filled the air as this was a big night. The haunted woods grew more extravagant every year and they were eager to see what awaited them this year. The block party was a time for the neighborhood to come together and enjoy each other’s company, or at least that’s what this party had been in the past. As the children start the night with their trick-or-treating, they encounter some costumed children they don’t recognize. Could it just be the costumes that throw off who these individuals are or are these children not from around there? It’s when these children start asking the neighborhood children for help that warning flags when off in my head.

Sorry folks, your fun evening with your neighbors just got interesting. What a thrilling read! I loved so much about this book – 5 stars

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

Who’s pointing the finger now? Mallory has a shadow over her and she can’t seem to shake it. See, Mallory’s been in rehab and although, she’s been clean for some time, that doesn’t really matter. For Mallory, the label alone wasn’t the issue, it was all the adjectives that came trailing along with that classification that she’s having to confront. Mallory needs room to breathe. Mallory’s big chance came when she landed a job being a babysitter for five-year-old, Teddy. Mallory is given her own cottage to live in, separate from the families, and the only individuals who know about Mallory’s past are the parents.

Mallory’s job is to entertain Teddy while the parents’ work. Swimming in the family’s pool, going to the park, and drawing together are just some of the activities that they enjoy together. It’s not every day that you get some illustrations in a fiction book while you read but soon the book begins to show some of Terry’s drawings which are disturbing. For being five, Teddy sure could draw! These drawings began very basic and later evolved but the details and the symmetry in which Teddy was able to create his pictures was amazing for a five-year-old. Red flags immediately went up in my head, as there was no way Teddy drew these. It doesn’t stop there as Teddy’s drawings started to take on more meaning and I was hoping it would be dark.

Mallory was enjoying her own private quarters, away from the family, when she was not working. She was alone in her cottage yet it felt as if someone was watching her. Then, came the sound. The scratching sounds. Where was that coming from and why? So much for the quiet life that she had hoped to obtain.

As Mallory tends to Teddy, she finds him talking to, no-one. He was carrying on this great conversation and when asked about it, he says he was his imaginary friend, Anya. At first, she doesn’t think much about it but when she learns some history about this residence that she’s living on, she changes her mind. This Anya might not be a made-up individual. Is it really possible that this Anya could be someone from the past? Mallory is all over the place mentally, as she contemplates what this all could mean and the excitement builds until I realize that Mallory needs to stop and consider her own life. It’s Mallory. The Mallory in Rehab. With their foggy glasses on, people see her as unstable, not able to think straight, and just a bit off. So, can she really address this issue with anyone? Can she afford to remain quiet with Teddy in the picture?

I liked the idea behind the story but I do think there were too many drawings in the book, as it connected too many dots in the story. I would have liked less dots connected and more of a mysterious element to the story at the end, than having them all connected. Perhaps leave out why some of the items were in the pictures and not explain everything just explain the main events. I liked Mallory and Teddy and I thought their friendship was important to the story, as it provided comfort and it stability. I enjoyed this book. 4 stars

Took (graphic novel): a Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn

Holy macaroni! You move your family into this neighborhood?!? What was you thinking? I got caught up inside the drama of this children’s graphic novel when I realized that the kids had no one looking out for them. Well, that’s not totally true. There was first the creepy house with the spooky forest next to it then, the two children start getting picked on at school. I read that a few of the area children have been disappearing over the years and how a witch might be connected with that. A witch? Erica starts talking to her doll ALL THE TIME and I was just waiting for that doll to start talking back to her and then, I don’t know what I would have done. Daniel has to go into the forest to look for his little sister as she has disappeared in there. Yep, why she went in there he has no idea but after she did some quiet talking with her doll, she got up and headed off into the woods.

Where is their mom and dad in all of this? Good question. They’re looking for jobs and they’re busy doing other things. Isn’t that how it always is. Now, what Daniel finds in the woods, when he’s looking for his little sister, has me reading this book into the early morning hours. What a great middle school read.

This is a gripping children’s graphic novel which I feel is good for upper elementary readers or middle schoolers. The illustrations are colorful and I liked the variety of sizes that they used for text boxes. It’s a book that will definitely grab your attention. 4.5 stars

The Sleepover by Michael Regina

**4.5 Stars Middle School Graphic Novel**

This graphic novel was quite the surprise. With a great mix of characters and a storyline that lead me down different roads, this middle school graphic novel is great for those who enjoy a chilling read. This story had its share of emotions as the characters become involved in their own mystery.

When the family of three returned home from vacation, they realized their beloved Nanny Ruby, would not be returning which broke their hearts. Mom needed to return to work so she starts looking for another nanny for her children. Matt has taken the news of Ruby’s death the hardest and his friends have arrived to have a sleepover with him. Armed with food and scary movies, the boys have made plans to make this a fun night for Matt. I really enjoyed this mixed bunch of boys which made up Matt’s friends. Forced to return to work, Mom hires Miss Swan as their nanny, to watch Matt and his sister Judy. Miss Swan’s first night will be the night of the sleepover.

Judy is such a great character to have in this book, as she’s the youngest of the bunch which could mean that she’s immature but it could mean that she’s fearless, especially around all these boys. When I read that the new nanny was “Miss Swan”, I immediately thought The Black Lagoon books, as I thought something creepy was bound to happen surrounding her. It’s funny how a name can trigger an image and get your head going. Miss Swan surpassed what I had thought or what I could have even imaged. Mother had to get back to work or lose her job and Miss Swan was her only option, what an option!

This book was a great adventure and I liked the wide variety of characters. The graphics in the book were easy to follow although at times, I had to look back at the previous textboxes to help me distinguish between the different characters. I thought that by looking at just their faces in some of the textboxes, I couldn’t tell them apart. I can see individuals who like their middle school books a little on the spooky side loving this book. 4.5 stars

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Courtney is one of my favorite writers and I admit I was hesitating to read a book about a zombie apocalypse and a suicidal girl. I mean, if you think about it, it’s a sad situation really and a strange combination. Yet, Courtney pulled it off and the book was engaging, sensitive, and entertaining.

Sloane was relieved when she was distracted from eating her breakfast. Now, she wouldn’t get in trouble for not eating but what are they going to do with the woman that her father stabbed with the shard of glass? As Sloane looks out their door, she sees the neighbor with the heart condition, lying on the grass, with individuals hunched over him. As Sloane watches, she notices that his chest is being pulled open by their fingers.

If those images don’t want you to board-up your house, I don’t know what would? I don’t know much about zombie apocalypses but I know, I’m not ready for one after reading this book.

It is now a week later and I find Sloane in a high school, barricaded with a handful of teenagers. There are the typical teen power and relationship issues with these survivors which I’m glad the author included as it makes this drama more realistic. The high school is a great fortress, as it has a lot of amnesties except its BIG. Big means lots of places to keep secure and lots of places for problems. THUD! THUD! Someone is pounding on a door and now, what are they going to do?

Sloane doesn’t know why she is with these teens. She has wondered this from the beginning as she doesn’t share the same feelings as the other teens. While the others want to survive and get to where other humans are, Sloane feels just the opposite. Her feelings all started six months ago when her family started to have problems and they have only escalated. Sloane’s character was perfect for his book.

I enjoyed reading this book and was glad that I picked it up.