This is a very different story from Polacco, who usually writes realistic stories, often from her own experience. The Graves family moves into a normal, suburban neighborhood. They paint their house blood red. No one in the neighborhood wants to visit them after that! Finally, Seth and Sara, who live across the street, decide to try to make friends with the Graves children. They are successful, but are never invited into the Graves' house, until one day when the oldest Graves, Hieronymus, invites Seth and Sara to help him babysit his quadruplet sisters. The walls of the house appear to be painted dull black, but they turn out to be covered with spiders (his father's pets)! In the kitchen is the family's 'baby' Venus flytrap, which is growing all the time. Mrs. Graves takes her Venus flytrap to the local Garden club meeting, where the plant not only eats all the food for the tea, but all the other ladies' hats, as well. Due to this incident, the rest of the neighbors have a difficult time accepting the Graves, until the local television host of a home decorating show comes to town looking to give away the 'Best Decorated House Award.' Whose house will win? This is a funny choice for the Halloween season, or just for children who like to laugh at their fears.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 0399240349

ISBN-13: 9780399240348

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Bod, short for Nobody, Owens has lived in the graveyard for as long as he can remember. Due to a frantic plea from his recently dead (murdered) mother, Bod was given a home in the graveyard, as well as the protection of its ghosts, werewolves, and other residents until he is old enough to protect himself. Growing up in a cemetery leads to many adventures from making friends with visitors to getting kidnapped by ghouls. Most dangerous of all, he attends school briefly with other living, breathing children. Along with this is the ever-present danger lurking outside. Bod wonders how he will manage to survive amongst the living with only the lessons he has learned from the dead.

Awards nominated: 2013 Rebecca Caudill Nominee

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: mec

Date read: 6/22/2009

ISBN-10: 0060530936

ISBN-13: 9780060530938

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Commenter: Valerie, grade 54

Summer starts on three bad notes for nine-year-old Abby; her best friend leaves for vacation, their new live-in babysitter, Hannah, is as scared and timid as she is, and her aunt sends another box of clothes that won't fit and a broken music box. When the music box starts to play by itself, and Abby and Hannah both see the ghost of an angry girl, things go from boring to frightening. Abby's eleven-year-old brother David makes things worse by playing tricks on Hannah and scaring her with his pet iguana. Hannah shows surprising resilience by refusing to be run off by mysterious happenings, and Abby might even impress her brother when she confronts the ghost. Don't read this one in the dark!

Similar authors: Mary Downing Hahn

Similar books: The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn; A Murder for Her Majesty by Beth Hilgartner

Reviewed by: Donna

Date read: 8/16/2011

ISBN-10: 0590473557

ISBN-13: 9780590473552

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Did you ever wonder how prolific horror author Stine comes up with his bone chilling scenarios? Each of these ten tales comes with an introduction that describes an event from the author's own experience to make him wonder 'what if?' What if you found out your babysitter was practicing voodoo? Or what if you were in a cemetery on Halloween and the bodies came alive? Or what if you were at the Egyptian exhibit at the museum and time traveled back to when people, namely you, were about to be mummified? Or what if you read this book when you're home all alone...at night?

Reviewed by: ewl

Date read: 8/12/2011

ISBN-10: 0066236045

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The classic story of 'The Headless Horseman' is adapted by Natalie Standiford for the beginning reader. Sleep Hollow is a pleasant and peaceful town during the day but at night, it is full of stories of the Headless Horseman. Ichabod Crane, the town's school teacher, wishes to marry the squire's daughter. Brom Bones also wants to marry the beautiful lady. Read all about Brom's creative and scary way of keeping Icabod out of the picture.

Similar authors: Peter Roop

Similar books: Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter Roop; The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto by Natalie Standiford

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/3/2009

ISBN-10: 067991241X

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