Tag Archives: supernatural

Living Ghosts & Mischievous Monsters by Dan Sasuweh Jones

Posted on by

This is a collection of 32 scary stories, collected and shared by Dan Sasuweh Jones, Ponca Nation. Each story is one to six pages in length with illustrations by Weshoyot Alvitre, Tongva. Stories are prefaced by their origin information (tribe, extra details) and are shared with the permission of those entities. Some stories are mildly creepy and others are downright shiver-inducing. They are a mixture of generations-old stories handed down to more contemporary experiences as told by individuals Mr. Jones has interviewed while traveling across the country in his research.

Readers who are fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark will enjoy this book, as will students of Native American culture. This is a great introduction to the horror genre and will not stay on the shelves very long.

The author’s introduction provides his insight as well as detailing his respectful omission of stories that are not to be shared outside particular tribes. Other sources and further reading are helpful for those looking for more information. Highly recommended.

Mystery Club

Posted on by

This graphic novel has two stories set in London. Four kids (Tyler, Zoey, Kyle and Ashley) are part of the Mystery Club and are dedicated to solving mysteries involving monsters. In Wild Werewolves, the group solves the sudden appearance of numerous werewolves that roam the city. Mummy Mischief involves a lovelorn mummy roaming the subways. Both stories have an enemy named Harnak that is thwarted by the kids each time.

The stories are light and flow smoothly. The colors are bright and and the illustrations are not overdone. This is a fun, “safe” graphic novel for younger readers and won’t shock anyone. The reading level is set at a 2.8 and interest level at 3-6. But, younger students will certainly understand and enjoy it and your hi-lo readers will appreciate it.

Loch Ness Monster

Posted on by

This book describes the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster. Illustrations and text explain the history of sightings, searches, hoaxes and hopes for finding this seemingly elusive creature. The reader learns where the Loch is located, what kind of tools are used to search for it and possible alternative animals that it might actually be. Extra tidbits of information are included in text boxes throughout and there are the typical nonfiction features – index, glossary and resource lists in the back of the book. Add this book to your collection if you want to update your section on supernatural creatures. It’s actually kind of fun!

Deadly Flowers

Posted on by

Deadly Flowers is a historical fiction adventure. Sako has trained since she was three years old to be a ninja.  She receives her first mission and she will no longer be in training when finished. If successful, she will be a useful tool for hire.  If she fails, she will be nothing, have no home, and have no one to rely on for help. Her first mission is to make a kill in the sleeping hour. For this first mission, Sako is assigned a compatriot, a mysterious puzzle of a girl who recently arrived at the ninja school and clearly has never trained in her life. The mission goes sideways, and Sako must devise a plan to save her life and is fruitful for Madame else suffer the consequences of a failed mission. Sako takes the only course open to her, she kidnaps the intended young victim and compatriot. Together, this trio embark on an adventure that requires intellect and skill to outwit a warlord’s samurai as well as unexpected bakemono.

Thomson’s skill with descriptive language propels the plot and paints a vivid picture that changes with characters, events and mystical beings.  

This story that is part action, part adventure, part fantasy, and all intrigue will satisfy readers and leave them wanting more.  A must purchase to round a library collection and bring a female protagonist to ninja readers.

Diary of a Haunting Possession

Posted on by

Possession is the second in the Diary of a Haunting series, and is similar in that the main character is a teenaged girl who experiences an onslaught of paranormal activities. In Possession, Laetitia, a 15 year old girl African American girl, has dreams of being a famous pop star signing to adoring fans. She wants to sing, sing, sing. But she is haunted by nightmares and visions, including images of race riots near her home.

Possession differs significantly from Diary of a Haunting in its religious overtones. Without spoiling the plot, let me just say that religion plays a fundamental part in the plot line and character development. A comparison that came to mind, although significantly different, is The Exorcist.

Fans of the horror genre will enjoy the frightening scenes in this novel. A drawback is that the reader learns the source of Laetitia’s nightmares in the prelude, and that ruins it for me. It is the opening of this book that I didn’t like, as it was the ending of Diary of a Haunting that weakened that book.

Rocks Fall Everyone Dies

Posted on by

For those who enjoy the supernatural and magic, Rocks Fall Everyone Dies is a page turning, suspenseful mystery about a teenaged boy who can reach inside people and steal their memories, fears, sadness, and even their love.

The lead character, Aspen Quick, comes from a family who also has these powers, and who have used them for centuries to hold back the cliffs above their village from falling down into the valley. But as is often the case with power, it can be misused, and is in this story.

A coming of age novel that deals with addiction, handling power, and deciding what kind of a person one should be, complicated by the magical power his family welds, Rocks Fall Everyone Dies is best suited for high school aged readers, rather than middle school, due to swearing and sexual scenes (mostly making out).

The Path of Names

Posted on by

 

 

 

 

 

Thirteen year old Dahlia has a summer camp experience like no other.

As part of a bargaining agreement with her parents, she must attend Camp Arava for two weeks.  In trade she will then get to go to magic camp at the end of summer.  Dahlia wants more than anything to improve her magic skills, so she accepts the deal.  From the moment she arrives at Camp Arava unusual things begin to happen.  She sees ghost children and she suddenly has inexplicably mad skills for  understanding Hebrew.  She begins to have visions and dreams of a man that lived seventy years ago.  And then there’s the hedge maze; off limits and overgrown, but so enticing.

As the plot thickens so do the supernatural occurrences. A book of Kabala that mysteriously keeps finding its way back into Dahlia’s possesion, voices from the dead and a golem play key roles in unraveling this tale of mystery, spirituality, mysticism and adventure.

The author, Ari Goelman, has created a novel that fills a niche.  Religion, mystery and adventure is a combination that is not often seen in children’s books.  A component of the story revolves around spirituality and Kabala (Jewish mysticism) but Goelman handles the topic with finesse.   He does not overwhelm the reader with in-depth information about the subject.  He gives just enough information for a novice to understand and be engaged.  Goelman deftly weaves several story lines into one engaging tale.

I found myself caring for the characters and was left wanting more when the story ended.  This story might appeal to children who like mysteries, ghost stories, adventure or spirituality.  The story is strong enough that if a child did not care for one aspect, it would not be enough to make them walk away.  I feel this story could have a wider audience if certain items had not been included.  I believe upper elementary students could have enjoyed this book if the following was left out:

In the girls cabin, the girls were to choose between a song or a story, but they wanted “S.O.S.” (sessions on sex). It was quickly overruled by a counselor in training.  (p.173)  This brief episode added nothing to the story, seemed a bit forced and could easily have been left out.

When a girl gets disturbed while sleeping she blurts out an expletive that some my find offensive. (p. 237)

These two items may seem minor, but when I consider my community’s culture I know this would not be a good choice as it stands.  It is a shame too, because this well written, layered tale is one that upper elementary would also enjoy.