The Dead Fathers Club

Amazon.com

The story of Hamlet is not usually thought of as one meant for laughter. But Matt Haig's able retelling of the tale in The Dead Fathers Club will make you laugh, though it might also evoke a tear. Eleven-year-old Philip Noble is at his father's funeral when who should appear but his father's ghost, who wastes no time in telling Philip that his Uncle Alan, an auto mechanic, tampered with his car, causing the accident that killed him. He warns Philip that Uncle Alan will shortly be tampering with his mother too, because Unctuous Uncle Alan wants the pub that Philip's father owned.

The solution to this problem, according to Philip's dad, is that he must kill Uncle Alan. If he doesn't do it before Dad's next birthday, 11 weeks away, Dad will be consigned to the Terrors for all eternity. Philip agrees, in principle, but killing someone, especially without getting caught, isn't easy. But a promise is a promise, so Philip gives it a whirl, in fact, several whirls. Real life interferes in the persons of two school bullies, truly nasty and perverse thugs, who seem ready to kill Philip because they think it's funny that his father died. Philip also falls in love, and his Ophelia (named Leah) thinks that shoplifting is tons of fun. Poor Philip is in over his head in every way possible. There are many encounters with other Dead Fathers in a great sendup of ghostly dealings, Hamlet-like, on the moors, and several sly references to the play. There is even a character named Dane. The ending is not pure Shakespeare, but it is pure Haig and that is very good indeed. --Valerie Ryan

Book Description

A ghost story with a twist—a suspenseful and poignantly funny update of the Hamlet story

Eleven-year-old Philip Noble has a big problem: His dad, who was killed in a car accident, appears as a bloodstained ghost at his own funeral and introduces Philip to the Dead Fathers Club. The club, whose members were all murdered, gathers outside the Castle and Falcon, the local pub that Philip's family owns and lives above. Philip's father tells him that Uncle Alan killed him and he must avenge his death. When Philip realizes that Uncle Alan has designs on his mom and the family pub, Philip decides that something must be done. But it's a much bigger job than he anticipated, especially when he is caught up by the usual distractions of childhood—a pretty girl, wayward friends, school bullies, and his own self-doubt. The Dead Fathers Club is a riveting, imaginative, and quirky update of Shakespeare's great tragedy that will establish Matt Haig as a young writer of great talent and imagination.

Customer Reviews:

Hamlet by any other name..........2007-09-03

The main idea for this book is inherently an interesting one: take Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and turn it into a modern day tale of a ghost urging his son to take revenge against his murderer. There are so many parallels to the Bard's play that anyone reasonably familiar with the play can immediately decide which characters in the book are like the characters in the play. That's one of the interesting parts of the book, and perhaps the only one, at times. The action follows, to a great extent, the play, and there are some scenes lifted almost directly from Shakespeare. I did enjoy the book, but it kind of left me with an unfulfilled feeling at the end, which is why I gave it 4 stars. Read it, and judge it, for yourself.

BIG DISAPPOINTMENT.......2007-08-18

So i got the book after reading all the good reviews...what a disappointment. The book is painful, one bad thing after another, just unrelenting, it's almost like the author just put all the bad things that could happen to you in childhood into one book and think that's enough to make a sotry. Worst yet, there's no resolution of any kind at the end... so even if you sit through the whole book waiting to see if the ghost is telling the truth, you don't find out anything.

Pure voice in a boldly written tale sparks magic.......2007-07-29

Loved it! Once started, it was one of those books I really looked forward to the time I could spend enjoying it. Haig's way of letting Philip tell his tale is bold and refreshing. I found the writing style intuitive rather than bothersome (and I'm an editor); it was an easy, quick read.

Haig has an incredible knack for resurging in us the bittersweet feelings and perspective of being a preteen--life's general confusion, uncertainty, anxiety, innocence and wonder--even if you didn't have to deal with deaths at that age!

While there were funny parts throughout, the chapter toward the end with the grandmother Nan and Philip was brilliantly hilarious. I would like to read that chapter again and again just for the kicks it gives on its own. Anyone who's had an elder family member in their midst can relate.

Big thanks and kudos to Matt Haig for writing this one--and doing it just the way he did.

Fun Take on a Classic.......2007-06-02

An interesting and enjoyable modern day riff on 'Hamlet', the young tortured protagonist in ' ...Club' feels very reminiscent of the young boy in 'The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time'. Young Phillip's tale moves at quite a clip with his Father returning from the dead to tell the boy he must avenge his wrongful death at the hands of his brother, the boy's Uncle. The book isn't nearly as maudlin as it sounds, and is in fact quite funny, and part of the fun is seeing how Haig manages to update the story.

Didn't quite work .......2007-05-27

I saw a reference to this book somewhere on the Web, and it sounded intriguing, so I ordered it. It was, at best, ok. The child's voice, particularly the lack of apostrophes and the addition of capitals for emphasis appeared authentic but distracting - as were all the Shakespearian references.

In some ways, I think it would have been a better story if those had all been left out, so we could focus on the kid and his situation rather than continually harking back to the indecisive 30-year-old Dane. As a result, I couldn't engage with the story.

Of course, since I bought the book because it was a recreation of Hamlet, my suggestion might be self-defeating...

Average customer rating:

WOW, I am really surprised!!!
i LOVE this book!
I <3 Vampire Books!!
Magnus can bite me anytime.
Something To Sink Your Teeth Into

Boys that Bite
Mari Mancusi
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Twins | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Horror | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Being a Teen | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Horror | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0425209423

Book Description

This is not your typical boybites-girl love story.

Technically Sunshine can't get killed-because she's immortal. Well, not quite yet. Due to the worst case of mistaken identity with her dark-side-loving twin sister at a Goth club called Club Fang, Magnus, a vampire hottie, went for Sunshine's innocent neck. Now if she doesn't reverse it in time, Magnus will be her blood mate forever and she's doomed to be a blood-gulping, pasty, daylight-hating vampire. That would seriously bite.

And now, after the unfortunate slaying of the vampire leader, Sunshine, her sister Rayne, and Magnus must find the one thing that can solve her problem: the Holy Grail. They wish it were a joke but it's not. It's absolutely necessary that Sunshine gets out of this in time, because somehow she scored the hottest prom date in her school, the mouth-watering Jake Wilder. So she just can't be a vampire for the prom-let alone the rest of eternity.

Customer Reviews:

WOW, I am really surprised!!!.......2007-08-28

Ok im 26 years old and have to admit that i love reading books made for teens they are just soo much fun. I saw this one and thought it might be a fun easy read. Well I was surprised just how fun it was. I read the whole book in less then a day. Then I read Stake That even faster, now i have Girls that Growl in my cart already im looking forward to seeing how this extremely fun series goes. Thank you for the fun, (oh i do have to admit i didnt know what IMO ment, i guess i am too old for that, i had to look it up)I look forward to reading many more books from this Author.

i LOVE this book!.......2007-08-21

Boys That Bite is a fantastic example of vampire fiction!
It is full of romance, humor, and of course, hot vampires!
I would DEFINATELY recommend this book for anyone who wants
a great fast-paced and hilarious vampire book!
It's one of my favorites!

I <3 Vampire Books!!.......2007-08-21

I have read a lot of vampire books in my short life and all of them have been really good. From the Sookie Stackhouse series (that is being turned into a tv series) to even an Anne Rice novel or two I have read them all (well not all really but i am darn close). This series by Mari Mancusi is a really good young adult read. I am a 17 year old girl and i can tell that this series is targeted more towards people of my age group and sex and it deffinately hit its mark. Sunny and Rayne are two very good examples of girls in this day and age. I for one don't know which one i identify with more!

Magnus can bite me anytime........2007-08-15

Sunshine and Rayne are twins, but absolutely nothing alike. Where Sunshine is exactly like her name implies, blond, beautiful, and full of life, Rayne is dark, mysterious, and goth. The sisters are extremely close despite their differences. Sunshine's life is about to become a lot more like Rayne's very soon.

One night Sunshine is "attacked" by Magnus and she soon begins to transform into a vampire. It turns out that Rayne had set the whole thing up, but for HER. Rayne went through vampire education classes and waited for her soulmate blood match to be picked for her after testing her blood. Magnus was meant to be Rayne's soulmate. Sunshine isn't happy with this new development in her life. She doesn't want to become a vampire. She learns about her sister's educational developments after Rayne sends her to her blog where she documented everything she learned.

In order for Sunshine to remain human and reverse the vampire transformation, she and Magnus must take on some dangerous enemies. Is it worth it to remain human? Once she is ONLY human, can she and Magnus have a life together? Read Boys That Bite in order to find out. Be sure to check out Stake That!, the sequel which shares Rayne's story. You won't be disappointed.

Something To Sink Your Teeth Into.......2007-08-14

Mari Mancusi's Boys That Bite is about two identical sisters.
Rayne, is the know it all Goth, and Sunny, is the innocent girl next door.
In this book , Boys That Bite, the two girls's lives are flipped upside down!
Told from the view of Sunny.
Rayne, has been on a list to come an immortal vampire, while Sunny thinks its sick.
But Sunny may not be thinking along those lines when she is accidently bit by her sister's soul mate!

This book features all the drama of being in high school. the jealousy, betrayal. Mixed with modern day Suprenatural creatures. Mari Mancusi is brilliant to have written this! its a must read!

xXx

Average customer rating:

Brian Selznick Creates Masterpieces!
The man of a thousand faces and the boy of a thousand faces
The boy if a thousand faces
Turn out the lights and read by ... flashlight!

The Boy of a Thousand Faces

Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Monsters | Obsessions | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0064410803
Release Date: 2001-08-21

Amazon.com

Alonzo King dreams of being known as The Boy of a Thousand Faces after his hero, Lon Chaney, late star of horror films. Alone in his room he transforms his face with makeup and tape, and then takes pictures with a Polaroid. In a town of nonbelievers, Alonzo is an expert on monsters, vampires, and assorted ghouls. One year, as Halloween approaches (as does Alonzo's 10th birthday), rumors of a mysterious beast start circulating, and suddenly Alonzo's grisly expertise is in great demand. But who--or what--is this horrible beast that crushes gladiolas in the night and leaves claw prints on cars? And will Alonzo's wish for fame and understanding from his friends and neighbors ever come true?

Brian Selznick's black-and-white pencil drawings set a spooky stage for this story of intrigue and imagination. Although the plot is convoluted and faintly perplexing, the overall effect is pleasingly sinister. Close-ups of Mr. Blake, Alonzo's seemingly mild-mannered neighbor and cohort in all things macabre, inspire speculation about skeletons he may be harboring in his own closet. Readers will want to run right out and read The Lost City of Atlantis, or rent the old classic versions of Frankenstein, The Phantom of the Opera, and Dracula. Perfect Halloween fare from the illustrator of Andrew Clements's Frindle and Pam Munoz Ryan's Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride. (Ages 7 to 11) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Because Alonzo King was born on Halloween, he has always loved monsters. But no one would ever guess that he lives in a haunted house with a graveyard out back, communicates with the dead, turns into a six-armed, slime-covered creature, or is a walking encyclopedia on horror films! However, when The Beast arrives, not even Alonzo can track it down. Will he be able to solve the mystery of the creature stalking his town and make his dream of becoming The Boy of a Thousand Faces come true?

01-02 TX Bluebonnet Award Masterlist

Customer Reviews:

Brian Selznick Creates Masterpieces! .......2007-10-17

This is a fun book about the magic movies have over people and their memories. A 10 year old boy is obsessed with having a thousand faces just like Lon Chaney. He watches many films and tries to recall all the faces that Lon Chaney had in different films. No one can really capture in their mind what Lon Chaney really looked like because he preferred to appear in character and the films are what lives on. I am a teacher and I defintely want to read this book and show The Phantom of the Opera to them. It is a great introduction to popular culture, and silent films. Lon Chaney was a very gifted actor and he was a pioneer in movie makeup. It's nice that Brian Selznick, a member of the Selznick family of movie fame, remembers him so fondly. I also remember taking out 8mm movies out of the library and showing them on our Super 8 projector. They were edited versions of The Mummy, Phantom of the Opera, The Wolf Man etc. without sound or music. We loved them, and borrowed them again and again. What memories they have for me.

The man of a thousand faces and the boy of a thousand faces.......2002-11-16

The story is about a boy and his movie make-up. He lives in a town where no one believes in Halloween and monsters....except for him...
In the beginning he was "alone" in a town of non-beleivers. Until the beast arrived, everyone beleived....
~Erin
Age 11

The boy if a thousand faces.......2002-03-14

I thought this was a wonderful book. It had everything a kids book should have, mystery, adventure and best of all it dealt with Halloween, every kids delight, even at 43!

Turn out the lights and read by ... flashlight!.......2000-10-13

Brian Selznick has created a perfect Halloween story book for the younger school age set. They will ask to see "Frankenstein", "Dracula", and "The Wolf Man" after reading and seeing the pictures in this little book of "horrors". The beginning was a little fragmented and slow to grow but once the story was moving to the main problem as to who "the beast" was, you really wanted to know more and why. The ending was very cute; maybe too cute for me, but I'm not 10 years old. The telling of this tale will help parents in getting their kids to talk about their fears, their dreams for the future, their secret desires! The boy hero is a real kid with hidden dreams who is able to finally show those dreams to his friends and family!

Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The: Room of Doom - Chapter Book #3 (Suite Life of Zack and Cody)

Average customer rating:

Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The: Room of Doom - Chapter Book #3 (Suite Life of Zack and Cody)
M. C. King
Manufacturer: Disney Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Twins | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0786849371
Release Date: 2006-07-18

Book Description

When Zack and Cody hear the legend of the hotels haunted room, they decide to spend the night there to see if the rumors are true. Soon their hotel friends drop by and a lonely night of ghost-watching turns into a full-on sance. Will the twins and their friends ever see the light of day again or will the ghost of room 613 haunt them forever?

Average customer rating:

Are two stories better than one?
Is it fantasy? historical fiction? time travel fiction? Yep
Almost 5 Stars
A fast-paced adventure
A bully, a mystery, time travel, and redemption

London Calling
Edward Bloor
Manufacturer: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0375836357
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Book Description

Martin Conway comes from a family filled with heroes and disgraces. His grandfather was a statesman who worked at the US Embassy in London during WWII. His father is an alcoholic who left his family. His sister is an overachieving Ivy League graduate. And Martin? Martin is stuck in between--floundering.

But during the summer after 7th grade, Martin meets a boy who will change his life forever. Jimmy Harker appears one night with a deceptively simple question: Will you help?

Where did this boy come from, with his strange accent and urgent request? Is he a dream? It's the most vivid dream Martin's ever had. And he meets Jimmy again and again--but how can his dreams be set in London during the Blitz? How can he see his own grandather, standing outside the Embassy? How can he wake up with a head full of people and facts and events that he certainly didn't know when he went to sleep--but which turn out to be verifiably real?

The people and the scenes Martin witnesses have a profound effect on him. They become almost more real to him than his waking companions. And he begins to believe that maybe he can help Jimmy. Or maybe that he must help Jimmy, precisely because all logic and reason argue against it.

This is a truly remarkable and deeply affecting novel about fathers and sons, heroes and scapegoats. About finding a way to live with faith and honor and integrity. And about having an answer to the question: What did you do to help?

Customer Reviews:

Are two stories better than one?.......2007-10-03

Other reviewers observe that London Calling is part problem novel, part historical fiction, and part time-travel adventure. Despite the author's skill at creating vivid locations, as a whole, I think the story suffers from this mixture of stories more than it benefits.

Martin hates his school and his life, but the revenge he seeks against classmate Lowery, grandson of the WWII hero, seems small and unsatisfying. That's because the story morphs into that of the relationship between Martin and his alcoholic father. But that's somewhat underwhelming too, because the story also is about helping Jimmy, his time-travel friend from 1940, and Jimmy's father.

I had difficulty hanging in there long enough for Martin to get to the real issues in all three stories-- just past halfway in the book. I think I would have preferred a straight story of any one of the elements rather than all three weaved together. And of them, the story of Jimmy and his father has the most potential for development on its own.

Is it fantasy? historical fiction? time travel fiction? Yep.......2007-08-29

It never fails to surprise me how certain books will turn out. You start a book, and you think you have its number. You say, "Book, I know exactly who you are and where you are going." Many times, you are right. But therein lies the joy of discovering a book that adds to your life. Edward Bloor is one wacky guy. He comes up with original plots, but he is also a very good writer. In Story Time, his protagonists went to a private school where the students sat in windowless rooms, taking standardized tests, and drinking noxious shakes blended to keep the students chained in their educational prisons (Yes, down with standardized tests!). With many authors, they are good at only one aspect of writing (plots, characters, pacing). Bloor has all of these elements of writing nailed down, plus he creates characters that will touch your heart.

In London Calling, Bloor again shares his loathing of private schools. Our protagonist is Martin Conway, a bright, unhappy 12-year old with little drive. He is a self-proclaimed hermit. He lives in the basement, where his crazy uncle once lived, and his dad used to live before he set the place on fire. Martin's nuclear family consists of an alcoholic dad that works for an airport steakhouse chain, an unhappy mother who works as a secretary at the school so that Martin can attend (She thinks he will have better opportunities.), and a sister who is a genius and works at an encyclopedia company as a fact checker. See what I mean? You have to be pretty creative to make this stuff up.

Martin has only two friends at his private Catholic school, which appears to be run by the Lowery family. The Lowery family claims that their ancestor, Hollerin' Hank Lowery, was a World War II hero. They have some money, and so the school kowtows to that family.

The current reigning Lowery loves to pick on the weak, and he makes regular sport of picking on Martin and his friends. On one such occasion, Martin's friend, Manetti, takes a piece of concrete and chucks it at Lowery's head, causing Lowery to whine like a little girl. It also, unfortunately, breaks off a chunk from a statue the school is getting ready to unveil for the Hall of Heroes. The school, in a guise of a fair trial, rules that Martin and his friends are completely responsible, suspending Martin from school.

At the same time, Martin loses a family member. His Grandma Mehan, his mother's mom, passes away. Grandma Mehan is another wacky family member. She believes that she came back from the dead while in hospital. No one really takes her seriously. Martin, however, is quite fond of Grandma Mehan. When she passes away, she gives Martin a vintage radio from the 1940s.

This is where our story elements come together. Martin begs his mom and principal that he be allowed to remain on regular suspension. In lieu of attending school, he asks to do a home study about the radio his Grandma gave him. He gets permission, but Martin has a secret agenda. The radio is actually a time travel device. When he sets it to a frequency that receives static, Martin is transported back to 1940s London, where he meets a Jimmy Harker. Jimmy says Martin has something he needs to do, but he doesn't know what. Martin reluctantly follows Jimmy on several late night adventures, involving blackouts and Germans bombing London. Martin suspects he is going crazy, but this is where his sister comes in. As a fact checker at an encyclopedia, she can verify or deny the facts he records from his travels.

Martin discovers he does have a mission to fulfill, and it will impact not only the Harker family, but his own family as well. Martin is asked repeatedly, "What will you do to help, when the time comes?" Martin finds out that he, yes, even he, a 12-year old boy, can make a difference. He also learns to hope again, and his family receives some healing.

I just loved this book. Any book that causes me to shed a tear is usually a winner for me. There was also a lot of talk of a higher power; that we can't do things on our own without the help of a higher power. In addition, this story had so many elements. It was historical fiction, and it was also fantasy. It had the adventure and purpose that boys crave, and it had relationships that would appeal to girls.

I would recommend this to teens that love historical fiction. I would also give it a fantasy fan that has to read historical fiction.

Almost 5 Stars.......2007-08-15

I picked this up because I loved Tangerine, by the same author. I decided my boys are all going to read Tangerine when they get a bit older because it is a great story and I loved how the main character takes on the bully in his life.

This book will also be on my list of reads for them, but for a different reason. It's also a great story and once again there is an obnoxious bully who needs someone to stand up to him. But there is also a message. I know, kids don't like message books, but it's really just a small part of the story and it's a good message. I think I read a similar sentiment in a Margaret Frazer book, where she wrote something like, "it will be asked how you spent the time you have been given." Here, it's "what did you do to help?" Either way it applies to the hero here. At the beginning he is spending his summer sleeping - he doesn't do anything. No interests, hobbies, nothing. He is very unenthused about life.

And then Martin's grandmother leaves him an old radio that transports him to 1940s London. The story gets sort of Sixth Sense-y, but it is a very satisfying story.

A fast-paced adventure.......2007-02-13

Is time travel really possible? Many people wonder about that. That's also the question this book asks. As for the answer, you'll have to read this book to find out.

Martin Conway is confused. His grandmother has been calling him late at night, telling him he has to help "the boy". At first, he doesn't know what she's talking about. When she dies, however, and leaves him her old antique radio, he's transported to World War Two London, and the adventure begins.

Edward Bloor's fourth book really tells Martin's story in his own voice. This story is about redemption and courage. It's really interesting to see how the whole story comes together, and when it does, you're left with a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Anyone who likes historical fiction will love this book. I know that I did. London Calling is a dramatic journey that you'll want to ride. Trust me.

-Paul Brandt

A bully, a mystery, time travel, and redemption.......2007-01-16

I liked this book and Martin from the very beginning. The story has a religious backdrop without being too denominational, schmaltzy, or preachy. Martin's father is an on-the-edge alcoholic. Martin hates his school, All Souls, where he is treated as a second class citizen. Martin has to deal with the school bully, Hank Lowery. Lowery is not just the bully, but the darling of All Souls whose great grandfather is supposedly a revered WWII hero. After suffering a humiliating run-in with Lowery Martin refuses to return to All Souls and is on his way to developing agoraphobia (literally fear of the marketplace, fear of going out in public) dubbing himself the Basement Dweller. He drifts through his life like a zombie. This all changes when his aunt sends him an antique radio, a Philco 20 Deluxe. He falls asleep listening to the radio and is transported back to World War II where he meets Jimmy who needs his help.

I would have given this book five stars, but I felt it was just a little bit predictable and ...I don't want to give away the ending. Also, I'm not in a medical field, but I'm pretty sure the medical establishment doesn't use the term "petit mal" seizure anymore. All in all it was a very enjoyable read.

Average customer rating:

Werewolves are Cool!

Werewolf Rising
R. L. LaFevers
Manufacturer: Dutton Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0525476652
Release Date: 2006-08-17

Book Description

On the eve of Luc's thirteenth birthday, a man called Ranger offers him a horrifying, enticing truth: Luc is a shapeshifter, a werewolf. It's time to come home to his pack—and to make his first change into wolf form. Luc is thrilled by his new powers and loves the community of the pack. But Luc's uncle wants to see the shapeshifters destroyed. How can Luc save his new family from the danger he has brought them? This spinetingling, accessible read is packed with middle-grade boy appeal and perfect for summer reading.

Customer Reviews:

Werewolves are Cool!.......2006-09-14

This is probably Ms. La Fevers best book to date! "Werewolf Rising" is the story of Luc, a young boy who is being raised by an uncle and aunt after the tragic death of his parents when he was quite small. Luc is on the verge of his 13th birthday, and suddenly his whole life starts to get weird! First he notices that his sense of smell is sharper and he is stronger. He punches out the school bully who has picked on him forever, and doesn't even realize he's hit him until the kid is on the ground! And he can run--fast! He even wins a race at school, something he has never done before! Luc's best friend can't figure it out, and neither can Luc.

Instead of being happy for him his uncle, who has never been very kind in the first place, now begins to act extremely hostile towards Luc, who is confused and angered by it. Luc is also being haunted by a nightmare of a hideous monster that, when he confronts it in his dreams, turns out to be himself.

Enter Ranger, a tall, dark, mysterious man who appears at their front door and literally swoops Luc up and takes him away to go live with his "pack". Luc discovers that he is actually a lycanthian, or werewolf, and that Ranger is his father's brother. He is shocked to discover that his father was a full-blooded shape-shifter and that Luc himself will take wolf-form for the first time on his 13th birthday. There is much to learn before he can do it successfully! Meanwhile, there are those who are afraid of his pack and want to destroy them because they think they are monsters.

Luc must come to grips with not only a complete life-style change but also with the revelation that the death of his parents may not have been an accident after all. How he chooses to deal with this information will prove who is master, boy or beast...

I was sucked into this book from the first page. Luc is a great hero--very real, "I can relate to this guy" sort of character. When he finally gets to be a wolf I wanted to be one too!! Unlike other werewolf stories, these werewolves aren't monsters--they are a community that is held together by their traditions and honor. Luc must learn about submission, loyalty, and truth if he is going to fit in with his new family.

Definitely a "must own" book! You will want to read this one again and again!

Average customer rating:

weird........but REALLY good!!!!!!!
A Roller Coaster Of Events
BEST BOOK EVER
Good Parts and Bad Parts
This book rocks

The Boy Who Couldn't Die
William Sleator
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Horror | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Horror | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0810987902

Amazon.com

Young teens will rejoice at this just-for-fun creepy adventure by William Sleator, one more in a long line of such stories going back to his classic sci-fi novels, House of Stairs, and Interstellar Pig. Here he shifts from science fiction to horror, with a plot based on Hollywood-style voodoo lore. When seventeen-year-old Ken's best friend Roger dies in a plane crash, Ken suddenly realizes that he too could die at any moment. Terrified, he seeks out a plump, middle-aged psychic named Cherie Buttercup, who grants him invulnerability from death in exchange for his soul. Eager to test his new powers, Ken talks his family into a vacation in the Caribbean, where he can swim with sharks. There he is entranced with Sabine, a young scuba instructor, and shares his story with her. When Ken begins to have vivid dreams of secret murders, he and Sabine realize that Cherie Buttercup is using his soul as a zombie to do her will. But the dreams also give clues as to where his soul is hidden--so the pair set out to retrieve it. Breathless action is leavened with the unconscious humor of typical Sleator touches in which preposterous fantasy collides with the details of reality, only adding to the fun. (ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell

Book Description

The "brisk, addictive" thriller, now in paperback!

Sleator, a recognized master of sci-fi and horror and a favorite of reluctant readers, is a paperback powerhouse, with more than 600,000 copies of his novels sold in softcover. Here he gives fans a spin on the classic zombie story, following sixteen-year-old Ken as he bargains with a psychic to gain immortality, only to awaken one night with blood-spattered clothes and the realization that he's sold more than his soul. AUTHOR BIO: For more than thirty years, William Sleator has thrilled readers with his inventive books. His House of Stairs was named one of the best novels of the twentieth century by the Young Adult Library Services Association. He divides his time between homes in Boston and rural Thailand.

Customer Reviews:

weird........but REALLY good!!!!!!!.......2007-06-13

When your best friend dies, life seems to end right then and there. But, Ken doesn't let this happen. He visits a psychic, and for only $50.00, she preformed a "spell" on him that would eventually change his life forever.

I really had a lot of favorite parts in this book. But the best part would have to be when this large guy Toby, tries to beat up Ken after hearing that he is going to take out his ex Kaitlin. But since Ken can't feel pain, to Toby, it feels like punching a brick wall. But soon that night, Ken figures out that his spell in totally not what he expected. And this shows that what you may think is the easy way out, will end up surprising you in the end.

Overall I really liked this book because it shows that everything has its negatives. And either you can chose to handle it or do something about it. Many people, I think, will enjoy this book, especially if you like mystery and thrilling suspense! On a scale from 1-5 stars, I gave I would give this book 4 stars.

A Roller Coaster Of Events.......2007-05-12

This book is about a boy who Goes to see a person who says that she can take away his soul and hide it for a mere $50. Ken wants to do this because his best friend Roger recently died in a plane crash, and he dosen't want the same thing to happen to him. Then he goes to St. Calo to test his new invulnerability against a shark. He meets Sabine who soon becomes his girlfriend. When he tells her what he has done and she tells him that the lady that she went to go see actually turned him into a living breathing zombie. If you want to know what happens then you will have to read the book for yourself. This is one of the best books that I have ever read. Even though I have only read one of his books William Sleator is one of my favorite authors. This is a great book!

BEST BOOK EVER.......2007-03-13

im not the one to usually read books and finish them. but i finished it in two days. it is an amazing book. i never wanted to put it down. with a lot of other books i did read, there would be a good part, and it would just go down hill. thats not what happened here. it started high and just went all the way up. it is an awesome book. read it.

Good Parts and Bad Parts.......2007-03-13

In my opinion, it wasn't the greatest book ever, but it wasn't the worst either. The first few chapters focus on characters that end up not being important. But there is vivid description.
I liked the hidden romance storyline, but it could have ended better. The author ended the story oddly, it left you hanging dry.
I would recommend this book to people who don't mind reading lots of chapters about traveling somewhere.

This book rocks.......2005-09-17

One huge event could change your life or someone else's life in a mere second. Ken, after discovering his best friends Roger's death, feels he could die almost any day, so he wants to become invulnerable. He searches all of Manhattan for someone who could help him, and finds a woman named Cherri Buttercup who offers an extremely low price. To make Ken invulnerable she nearly kills him with blowfish venom, and takes out his soul and hides it. Without his soul he can't get hurt or die. To take advantage of this Ken goes to the Caribbean to try to get bitten by a shark. Once there he meets a local (Sabine) who knows what Cherri really did to him. Ken is harmless during the day, but during the night he may kill whether he wants to or not. She has made him into a mindless zombie when he sleeps. The two go on a desperate and suspenseful attempt to retrieve his soul. In this attempt Ken develops a deep relationship with Sabine. They find out that retreiveing the soul is more complicated than they thought, and they're running out of time, so they'd better act fast.
This book would fit people looking for a thrill and some suspense. William Sleator's every word kept me turning the pages Sleator has been exploring our deepest fears and racing our hearts for more than 30 years by writing over 25 books for young adults. The book captivated me because I could understand what Ken felt when he didn't have his soul. He felt heartless without emotions, and may never be joyful again. The mystery of the story kept me guessing over and over, until the end with a ground breaking-finish. This novel portrays the depths of a somber soul, and if you want to rise from the dismal, you better hold on to what you can.

Average customer rating:

Friendship vs. Acceptance
Beautiful Story
The Big Question
Excellently written (except in one crucial part)
Ghost Boy

Ghost Boy
Iain Lawrence
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Popular Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Book Clubs | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 044041668X
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Amazon.com

Fourteen-year-old Harold Kline is an albino--white from head to toe, even his hair and his eyes that are like drops of water. His life is made unbearable by the other kids, who call him "snow" or "maggot," and ever since his father died and his brother was reported missing in Vietnam, his mother has become angry and withdrawn. And so Harold runs away, although it is a wrench to leave Honey, the elderly dog who has been his only comfort. And where would an albino kid on the run end up? In the circus, of course--in this case a down-at-the-heels road show where he is sheltered by a kindly lady midget and her huge man-beast companion and given hugs and unquestioning acceptance by the other "freaks." There he falls in love with the beautiful but duplicitous trick horseback rider and gains self-respect and the admiration of the other circus folks when he accomplishes the seemingly impossible feat of teaching the elephants to play baseball. But Gypsy Magda forecasts a "great harm" lurking in the future, and it has something to do with Harold's rejection of the "freaks" who have sheltered him as one of their own.

In this strange, moving novel, the author of sea adventures The Wreckers and The Smugglers has built a compelling metaphor for the universal teenage fear of being declared an outsider. With great emotional veracity, Iain Lawrence plays many intriguing variations on the theme of alienation in a work full of fascinating characters, marvelous scenes, and tragic surprises. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell

Book Description

Harold Kline is an albino—an outcast. Folks stare and taunt, calling him Ghost Boy. It’s been that way for all of his 14 years. So when the circus comes to town, Harold runs off to join it.

Full of colorful performers, the circus seems like the answer to Harold’s loneliness. He’s eager to meet the Cannibal King, a sideshow attraction who’s an albino, too. He’s touched that Princess Minikin and the Fossil Man, two other sideshow curiosities, embrace him like a son. He’s in love with Flip, the pretty and beguiling horse trainer, and awed by the all-knowing Gypsy Magda. Most of all, Harold is proud of training the elephants, and of earning respect and a sense of normalcy. Even at the circus, though, two groups exist—the freaks, and everyone else. Harold straddles both groups. But fitting in comes at a price, and Harold must recognize the truth beneath what seems apparent before he can find a place to call home.

Download Description

Harold Kline is an albino -- an outcast. Folks stare and taunt, calling him Ghost Boy. It's been that way all of his 14 years. So when the circus comes to town, Harold runs off to join it.

Full of colorful performers, the circus seems like the answer to Harold's loneliness. He's eager to meet the Cannibal King, a sideshow attraction who's an albino too. He's touched that Princess Minikin and the Fossil Man, two other sideshow curiosities, embrace him like a son. He's in love with Flip, the beguiling horse trainer, and awed by the all-knowing Gypsy Magda. Most of all, Harold is proud of training the elephants, and of earning respect and a sense of normality. Even at the circus, though, two groups exist -- the freaks, and everyone else.

Harold straddles both groups. But fitting in with those who are "normal" comes at a price, and sometimes it's recognizing the truth beneath what's apparent that ultimately leads to happiness... and turns a boy into a man.

Winner 2001 -- New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age

"In his earlier work, Lawrence's characters were colorful and well-defined; now they stand for looking beyond their picturesque or off-beat qualities and into the depths of their real beauty. Memorable in every way."
   KIRKUS REVIEWS (STARRED REVIEW)

Customer Reviews:

Friendship vs. Acceptance.......2007-06-01

Harold is the only albino living in his small town, and, therefore, he is an outcast. He can't see very well and can't tolerate the sun very well, and all of the other kids in town see him as an easy target for their torment. Harold is miserable. The only thing sustaining him is the thought that his brother, missing in action, will come home on the train some Saturday and the two of them will ride off together to Oregon to live happily. His mother doesn't think his brother is ever going to come back, though. She thinks he is dead, just like Harold's father went to war and ended up dead.

One weekend a circus comes to town. Harold speaks with some of the circus freaks who tell him to come along with them when the circus leaves. Harold is torn; he can't decide. Then his mother and her new husband treat him badly at home and Harold finds out that there is another albino in the circus. He is sold. He leaves his home that night and goes to join the circus and to meet this elusive albino who travels alone and leaves before the rest of the group.

Huge storms hit the area and the parts of the circus, formerly traveling in a caravan together, are separated. Harold is in a trailer with the freaks of the circus, struggling to catch up with the rest of the performers. He becomes close with these people who were born with differences and were outcast like him.

But then when the circus comes together again, Harold is given a job training elephants--a job for which he has a real gift. For the first time he is accepted as a normal person, doing a normal job. In the circus there are the normal people and there are the freaks, and the two groups don't mix. Harold is being pulled in two different directions. Will he be true to his first friends, the circus freaks who asked him to join them, or for the first time in his life will he be accepted by the regular people as one of them?

I liked the descriptions of the circus, the way things worked and the way the people interacted with each other. I also liked the journey that Harold went on through this book and how he found himself and became stronger because of it.

I didn't like that Harold just left his home in the middle of the night, and that he left his dog. I also didn't like how there was such prejudice in the circus against the freaks, and how they were treated badly even there.

Beautiful Story.......2006-11-18

I teach special ed with kids with severe behavior disorders. I've read Ghost Boy to or with every class for several years, ages sixth grade through twelfth, and the kids are always very responsive to the story and characters. It's a wonderful book for everyone - engaging, moving, fun and thought-provoking. (And, teachers, there's plenty of material that lends itself to lessons aimed at the visual and kinaesthetic learners- very "sensory" story.)

The Big Question.......2006-06-08

No two people are exactly alike; it is our differences that set us apart and make us unique. This is precisely the topic that author Iain Lawrence addresses in Ghost Boy. Through his use of visual imagery and foreshadowing, Lawrence is able to create an adventuresome tale of a boy who grows up to understand more about the world in which he lives.
Since the story is easy to read, it is the passages of lush imagery that keep the interest of the advanced. The entire story is based around Harold, a teenage albino boy who has no friends. He lives in a small town where his unusual looks are target for the other kids to bully him. His "skin like rich white chocolate" and his "eyes [of] such a pale blue that they [are] almost clear, like raindrops" make Harold extremely self-conscious about himself (1). However, through his growth and development, Harold comes to accept himself, despite his unusual appearance. Lawrence poses the question of who is to decide what makes someone normal in the first place?
Adding to the suspense that moves the story along is foreshadowing. When Harold decides to run away and join the circus, he meets the Gypsy Magda. She reads his tea-leaves one night and predicts three major events to happen in the near future. She mentions a young child that will be on death's door, yet will be saved, she talks about a great danger, and she claims that a devastating tragedy will occur. Around the middle of the book the first two predictions come true. The reader is then left wondering if any of various small occurrences could be the big tragedy that is predicted. However, it is not until the end that the reader realizes exactly what the tragedy is.
Although Ghost Boy is suitable for young adult readers, it is the more mature readers who will be able to pick up on the hidden meanings and lessons in the text. Lawrence encourages one to be more accepting of those who are different, while also writing a story to be remembered.

Excellently written (except in one crucial part).......2006-05-29

First, the story takes place in the 1940s (Harold's brother is MIA in WWII, not in Vietnam, as the Amazon.com review erroneously states). Second, the writing is superb. Mr. Lawrence makes you feel emotions without telling you what to feel. His characters are very real. His setting (a small, struggling circus, traveling the western U.S.) is historically believable, peopled with 'freaks' who suffer as sideshows, unable to find any other way to live because of the bodies they were born with, but peopled also with 'normals' who are either afraid of or cruel to the freaks. Harold, the 14-year-old albino central character, tries to straddle both groups of people. He finds his niche in the circus as an elephant trainer. I am admittedly ignorant about such things, but Mr. Lawrence again makes the storyline with the elephants--crucial to the plot of the novel--seem believable. My only complaint about this otherwise very moving book has to do with the writing at a crucial death scene near the end. I do want you to read this book, so I will try not to give anything away here, but the writing at this important point becomes formulaic in the dying character's last words and even Gomer Pyle-like (People actuallly say "Gosh!"). This did detract from the impact of the death, unfortunately, but I still very strongly recommend this book. Five stars for a book with a major flaw says a lot!

Ghost Boy.......2006-05-01

Well, it all started when Harold ran away. He wanted to go the circus when he met two people named Tina and Samuel. They live in the trailer. Harold met an Indian and they went to a circus. When Harold met Flip, she gave him a job of working with the elephants. He taught them how to play baseball. When they were really good the whole circus played baseball with Harold and the elephants. At the end of the book (the really sad part), Tina told Harold, "Go see your mama, she will miss you kiddo." Harold went home as a different boy.

Average customer rating:

Read it again!
Penetrates The Soul, Probably The Best
The Boy Next Door
Heather's review
Ashley's review

The BOY NEXT DOOR FEAR STREET
R.L. Stine
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Horror | Teens | Subjects | Books

Horror | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0671894323

Customer Reviews:

Read it again!.......2006-08-10

The first time I read it, I didn't like it. The fact I knew who the killer was kinda took all the suspense out of it. But then, when I read it the 2nd time, I ended up actually liking it.

Scott is a weird character. I wear make up and dress up too, and honestly, I would get really freaked out if somebody was trying to kill me because of that.

i liked the characters. I liked how the relationship between Crystal and her sister Melinda is portrayed. And I liked how RL Stine gives us an insight to Scott's twisted mind.

I wouldn't recommend this book if you like suspense, but if you read for the plot and characters, you should definately read it.

Penetrates The Soul, Probably The Best.......2006-03-15

The Boy Next Door, by R.L.Stine, is a very unique book to the Fear Street series.
It describes Scott, the boy next door, who is a mad killer, and three girls who are madly in love with Scott.
Scott is a truly creepy dude. He is a football star, but hates girls who wear makeup or dress skimply. In his mind, it is his duty to kill all the girls who do these rather normal things.
Scott is the whole point of this book, and Stine makes him a truly scary and mad character.

The Boy Next Door .......2005-12-21

This book is about three girls: Lynn, Melinda, and Crystal. After pretty much killing his old girlfriend, Scott moves next door to exiting, make - up wearing Crystal and her plain book reading sister Melinda. You would think that Crystal would be the one for Scott, WRONG! It turns out Scott has killed girls who wear make - up and get really bad. Crystal is that kind of girl! Will Scott get to Lynn ( Crystal's BFF who also likes him) and Crystal before its too late?
The reason I only rate this book 4 stars is because you already know who the bad guy/killer is. The whole book really doesn't have the usual twists and turns like other Fear Street books. Still very good though.

Heather's review.......2005-02-09

I liked this story, just like all the other R.L.Stine stories. It was scary and mysterious. Also I like how he puts them in odd ways. But I must admit that it wasn't one off the greatest R.L.Stine stories.

This story was about three girl named; Melinda, Crystal, and Lynn. It was also about a guy named Scott. Scott was a new boy that just has moved in next door to Crystal and Melinda. Crystal and her best friend Lynn made a deal to have a contest with Melinda in it too. The contest involved Scott and it was to see which one he would ask out first.
But on the way they run into some tragedy. Lynn dies, Melinda gets disappointed, and she also gets threatened with her sister to die. Also Scott thinks Lynn and Crystal are improper but Melinda is perfect as well as he had some trouble with his old girl friend in the last town he lived in. Would Scot have anything to do with the killing and threatening? What had happened in his old town? Read the book its great.

I think everyone should read this wonderful book. Its not just for boys or girls it could be for anyone. But you either have to like mysteries or scary stories. So I would suggest this book to anyone it was great.

Ashley's review.......2005-01-07

The Boy Next Door was a great book. It is a very thrilling book that makes you jump out of your seat. My favorite part in the book was when Crystal and her sister are running and hiding from Scott because he is trying to kill Crystal. You just keep wanting to read more and more to see what happens.

The book is about a girl named Crystal that lives next door to a boy who just moves in. Their rooms are right next to each other so when she looks out, all she can see is his room and him! But Scott has a dangerous secret that cannot be held in any longer! What is his secret and why is he out to kill Crystal?

This book is for people who like mysteries and enjoy a little thrill in their lives because this book gives it to you!

Zack Files 19: The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot (Zack Files)

Average customer rating:

On the trail of Bigfoot
safe fun for kids!
safe fun for kids!

Zack Files 19: The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot (Zack Files)
Dan Greenburg , and Jack E. Davis
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0448420414
Release Date: 2000-06-19

Book Description

Zack's first trip to sleep-away camp gets a little hairy when legends of a mysterious creature lurking in the woods turn out to be more than just campfire tales. Is it the missing link? Yeti? Sasquatch? Bigfoot?!

Customer Reviews:

On the trail of Bigfoot.......2002-03-29

"The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot" is #19 in the "Zack Files" series of short novels for young readers. The fun story by Dan Greenburg is complemented by the cleverly humorous illustrations of Jack E. Davis. In this installment, New York City schoolboy Zack goes to stay at Camp Weno-wanna-getta-wedgee for some summer fun. But he soon finds that the camp is haunted by talk about Bigfoot, the legendary, hulking hairy humanoid. Is Bigfoot real? Will Zack encounter him?

This book is an enjoyable blend of paranormal thrills, humor, and preteen social politics. There is one aspect of the book which, however, didn't work for me. One character describes the camp's ridiculous trivialization of Native American motifs as "politically incorrect." I got the sense that author Greenburg was trying to have it both ways: on one hand, mock the PC watchdogs, and on the other hand, be PC himself by mocking those those who exploit ethnic motifs in a trivial way. The result left me a bit uneasy. But if you can get past that, you may find "Bigfoot" to be an enjoyable romp.

safe fun for kids!.......2000-07-26

Zack and Spencer hit Camp Weno-Wanna-Getta-Wedgee in this fun-filled installment. They enjoy the usual camp things: playing pranks, arts and crafts, looking for Bigfoot... LOOKING FOR BIGFOOT! Yes, the boys go out on the prowl. I won't tell you if they find it - that would ruin the story. Let's just say that not everyone believes Zack and Spencer (when have they?)

This one is fun, fun, fun for kids of all ages. And parents might actually enjoy it, too!

safe fun for kids!.......2000-07-26

This one is fun, fun, fun for kids of all ages. And parents might actually enjoy it, too!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books