MORGAN ROEHMER’S BOYS takes the haunted hayride ghost story and gives it a twist.
then twists it sharply again in a nasty, vicious direction
NOW AND WHEN What happens when five teens are allowed one question each from a backwood’s psychic. Even though I could see where the story was going, I was completely sucker punched by the epilogue. It still haunts and eats at me.
BEST FRIENDS Told in two voices. One friend tells a story through rose colored glasses, the other tells the bitter truth.and the ending is a bitter one indeed.
MY REAL MOTHER Our heroine searches for her “real” mother when her adoptive mother is less than sympathetic to her demands. You just KNOW that the “real” mother is going to be someone our heroine won’t want to know. And the ending holds a breathtaking shock for the reader.
These are the four that stand out in my mind, but all all well written, shivery and a good choice for a spooky night at home or even for a read aloud among teens. Lots of fun.
I have been a fan of Vivian Vande Velde ever since I read CURSES, INC. AND OTHER STORIES. I quickly followed that up by reading several of her other books, including NOW YOU SEE IT. and COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT. Ms. Vande Velde is the master of spooky stories, whether they be contemporary, paranormal, or fantasy. What she’s even better at, though, is writing short stories that have a way of staying with you long after you finish reading them.
With ALL HALLOWS’ EVE, the author has brought us thirteen original short stories that, as a whole, scared the bejesus out
of me. Whether the story is two pages long or ten, you find yourself immersed in the life of whatever tale the author is telling and find yourself coming out, at the end of it, glad you’re reading with the lights on.
The stories in this collection include:
COME IN AND REST A SPELL
MARIAN
MORGAN ROEHMAR’S BOYS
ONLY ON ALL HALLOWS’ EVE
CEMETERY FIELD TRIP
BEST FRIENDS
PRETENDING
I WANT TO THANK YOU
WHEN AND HOW
WHEN MY PARENTS COME TO VISIT
EDWARD, LOST AND FAR FROM HOME
MY REAL MOTHER
HOLDING ON
There is nothing timid about this collection. I have always loved Halloween; it is, in fact, my second favorite holiday, beat out only by Christmas. After reading these short stories, though, I will never look at hay rides, cemeteries, school trips, cackling old ladies, or scarecrows on front porches in the same way. I read, on a regular basis, the stories of horror/paranormal authors Dean Koontz and Stephen King, and these halloween stories by Vivian Vande Velde freaked me out just as much as those by my horror heroes. Be warned, though.
Read MORGAN ROEHMAR’S BOYS, CEMETERY FIELD TRIP, and MY REAL MOTHER at your own risk and with those lights on.
I love this Halloween pop up book as well as the other “Bugs In a Box” books. If you don’t know what to be for Halloween buy this book. There are many spooky pop ups, such as Dracubug, Frankenbug shouldn’t there be a glow in the dark feature in this book? , and for the finale there’s a free surprise on the last page. I won’t ruin the surprise for you, but when you get the prize, it will help you decide what to be for Halloween you’ll be able to look “buggy”, too! .
This is a very nice pop up book with spooky illustrations. My children want it read to them over and over again. Definitely worth the money. However, my toddler has ripped the pop ups several times, probably better for kids over 3.