September 1, 2008
Gr 6-8-A delicious collection of nine funny, frightening, and thoughtful short stories. Coville has a true gift for creating characters and setting, such as the creepy pond at her Auntie Alma's that Margaret is mysteriously drawn to, or the haunted mansion where young ghost communicators Nine and Chris find themselves stranded on a stormy evening. There is something for most readersa bit of fantasy, a smattering of humorous reality, a dose of science fiction, and a dash of mystery. An author's note explains the origins of the stories. Teens are sure to find the author's insights entertaining and will certainly gobble up these eerie tales."Shari Fesko, Southfield Public Library, MI"
Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 15, 2008
All the stories in this collection feature encounters with the supernatural, but they vary greatly in tone and content. A few of the selections, such asa tale about aboy who is genetically related to the Frog Prince, are ironic and funny; others fit more neatly into the supernatural-horror genre, such as The Mask of Eamonn Tiyado, which features creepy descriptions of peeling faces. A storyabout a boy with silver eyes who has beentouched by a unicorns magic captures the mood and feel of a folktale. Characters Nine and Cara, who appearedin Covilles previous works, return in a story about a ghostwho returnsto the grave. All of the stories are well paced, and most furnish a surprise at the end. Because of the diversity among the entries, most readers will be able to find something to their liking.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2009
Nine short stories (six previously published and three brand-new ones) showcase Coville's versatility in writing engaging stories about subjects odd and eerie. By turns creepy, funny, and thought-provoking, these atmospheric tales run the gamut from mystery and sci-fi to fantasy and horror. This volume has broad appeal for middle-grade readers; the stories would also make fine read-alouds.
(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)