February 1, 2008
Gr 5-8-Ghosts, demons, jinns, and deadly trees populate these 10 chilly short stories set in the late 19th century, with the language and black-and-white illustrations capturing the feel of Victorian times. Young Edgar hears these tales while visiting his eccentric Uncle Montague, and each one is connected to a strange object in his uncle's study. Trees are at the center of "Climb Not" and "Winter Pruning," the former featuring an elm with a murderous occupant, the latter a blind old woman and badly behaved boys who are transformed into trees that need painful pruning. "The Un-Door" is the passage to a life trapped inside a doll's house for fake spiritualist Harriet. In the particularly scary "The Demon Bench End," Thomas steals part of an old church bench that he is drawn to, only to find it possessed by a demon. "Jinn," the only story not set in England, tells the story of Francis, who ignores the children in a small Turkish village and ventures too close to what he thinks is a girl in rags. The mirror inside "The Gilt Frame" exposes Christina's horrible deeds, and in "Offerings" and "A Ghost Story" readers learn to pay attention to haunted-house tales. The last story reveals why Uncle Montague must stay in his house guarding the stories, objects, and ghosts he has accumulated. An enjoyable collection with enough creepy atmosphere (and some gruesome action) to hold readers' attention."Terrie Dorio, Santa Monica Public Library, CA"
Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2008
Edgar visits his creepy Uncle Montague, who tells him scary stories. Despite a few run-on sentences and too-flowery descriptions, this collection contains some original and quite frightening tales. Some are absorbing and entertaining, others are weak, but they are appropriately gruesome in a polite Victorian way. Black-and-white line drawings enhance the mood by channeling Edward Gorey.
(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)