IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY

A review by Theresa: 

Daniel and his sister Erica are moving to a new home in West Virginia.  This is not their choice, as it seldom is with kids. Their parents have moved them into an old farmhouse surrounded by a forest and miles from town. The family does not flourish in this new environment, the parents have trouble finding jobs, Daniel can’t make friends and Erica withdraws further into herself having long conversations with her doll. The local kids don’t want much to do with these outsiders except to fill them in on the local legends about their old house and a child who disappeared. 

Of course there are also ghosts and very spooky critters rumored to actually eat folks appearing in these tales. Daniel doesn’t want to believe any of what they tell but when his sister suddenly disappears, he knows that he must do something. In the very exciting and spooky book TOOK by Mary Downing Hahn the author tells this tale from Daniel’s perspective with the occasional voice of the ghost of the old conjure woman. 

This one will have you on the edge of your seat at times and is a good choice for the lover of “scary stories.” Best for readers in grades 5 and older.

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN

When is it time to put away the toys and stop playing make believe? What happens when the game you thought you were playing turns out not to be a game after all, but is terrifyingly real? Middle schoolers, Zach, Alice, and Poppy, are confronted by these very questions in Doll Bones by Holly Black. The three have been friends for a long time and one of their favorite games is to create elaborate scenarios and quests for their dolls and action figures to act out. They know that they’re getting a little too old to play with dolls, but their stories and games are central to their friendship with each other, especially now, since it seems the changes that come with middle school are starting to drive a wedge between their group.

One night, Poppy has a dream about the antique bone china doll that acts as the Queen in their adventures. The doll is haunted by a ghost of a little girl who suffered a horrific fate and needs Poppy’s help putting her spirit to rest. Suspecting that it might be more than a dream, Poppy finds evidence that the ghost’s story is true and convinces Zach and Alice to help her. Together they embark on a real life quest to uncover the mystery behind the Queen and see if their friendship can stand the test of time even after the games are over.

A fantastic, slightly spooky read by the creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles!

For grades 5 and up.

PULSE-POUNDING STORIES

Have you ever wished for a wishing machine?  Something to grant you your heart's desire?  Benny's friend Ray draws him a wish machine on a piece of paper and encourages him to start making wishes and they'll all come true.  Benny looks at Ray like he's bonkers and throws the drawing to the side.  That is, until Benny's wishes start coming true - sort of.  Like when he wishes for ear plugs at night and ends up with head phones.  Is Ray playing a trick on Benny or is there a bigger surprise in store?

Ghosts, Cryptids, Kidnappings, and more can be found in this thrilling collection of short stories called Thriller, edited by Jon Scieszka, the man who brought you The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and Time Warp Trio.  Don't let the series title "Guys Read" fool you, these stories are great for all kids, guy or gal, in grades 5 and up.

DON'T LET THE GHOST FOLLOW YOU HOME

In a small town, secrets are hard to keep.  So when Neil and his sister, Bree visit their aunts for the summer, they are almost immediately introduced to Graylock Hall, the abandoned asylum where three children mysteriously died.  People say that the Children's Ward nurse, Nurse Janet, killed them all, but the ghost that follows Neil and Bree home after their visit to Graylock Hall sure doesn't look like a nurse.  And she doesn't seem too friendly towards Neil and Bree, either.  Who is this ghost and what does she want?  

Readers in Grades 6 and up can find out in Dan Poblocki's ghost story, The Ghost of Graylock.

SUPER SCARY CHINESE GHOST STORIES

This book is so scary, it's going to put you off eating Chinese food for months. Banquet for Hungry Ghosts: A Collection of Deliciously Frightening Tales by Ying Chang Compestine is a grisly yet compelling group of short supernatural tales not for the faint of heart. All the stories have an element of food, Chinese culture and each ends with a recipe related to the story.



The stories are set up as if the reader were enjoying a Chinese banquet, beginning with appetizers, main courses of meat dish, noodle, rice and of course desserts. Recommended for readers 6th & up with strong stomachs.

IF YOU LIKE A GOOD SCARE...

Moving back to his dad's hometown in Connecticut to get a new start was a great idea, or so Zach's family had thought. No one could have predicted the evil that would be unleashed on the town when lightning struck the tree at the crossroads of a fifty year old bus accident. All but one had died that night. And now the ghosts have all converged toward one boy who has the ability to change things.

If you like R. L. Stine or a good scare then read The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein, but not at night and definitely not under the covers by flashlight. For readers in 4th and up.

For readers in 4th and up.

GHOSTLY DOINGS

A summer visit to Grandma’s is usually pretty ordinary—good food, a change of scenery and doting Grandmother, sound’s normal doesn’t it? For the most part it is but when your Grandmother owns a haunted bed-and-breakfast that might not be the case. 12-year old Travis and his younger sister Corey go off to spend the summer with their Grandmother in Vermont and are delighted when they discover that the inn is supposed to be haunted by at least one ghost. Deciding to help the ghostly reputation along and boost business they create a few ghostly effects for the guests but in the process set off a rather creepy chain of events. This one is the perfect choice for lovers of the spooky and supernatural.

A GHOST STORY

All Sissy wanted was to have friends to play with and for the girls to tell the truth about what happened that day long long ago. It's been years since her drowning. Everyone has grown up but her. But now she has new playmates, Ali and Emma, the daughters of her old summer playmates.

Deep and Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn is for readers in 4th and older who enjoy a good suspenseful story.

A SCARY GHOST STORY

If you liked the movies The Others or The Sixth Sense, then this is the book for you. Breathe: A Ghost Story by Cliff McNish.

Jack is still recovering from his most recent asthma attack and the loss of his father when his mother moves them to an old farm house. Jack loves things with a history, just touching them allows him to see glimpses of the past of the previous owners.

But there are also spirits trapped in this house. A malevolent spirit of a dead mother who wants him, a child to love and one who will love her back. She wants a child to replace her dead daughter.

A good scare for readers in 5th grade and older.