(3) 4-6 Illustrated by David Ouimet. From headless ghosts and books that literally come to life to mysterious disappearances and exceedingly creepy characters, these thirteen tales, featuring both male and female protagonists, provide enough page-turning suspense to satisfy intermediate-level thrill-seekers. Occasional dark, brooding black-and-white illustrations (most aren't too scary) enhance this worthy addition to the Dare to Be Scared series.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by David Ouimet. These thirteen short stories provide a mix, from the expected horror staples (in which bad children are punished by supernatural forces) to the most original tale here, a Field of Dreams takeoff about an undead baseball team. Overlooking some broadly sketched characters that verge on stereotypes, this mild horror collection is pleasantly scary fun.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by David Ouimet. A bullied boy exacts revenge on his tormentors after his death; a group of friends visit a haunted house; a girl stays out past her curfew--with catastrophic results. Illustrated with atmospheric art, these eerie tales are individually effective, but there's a sameness to the conclusions (most end with the protagonist dead or about to be killed) that makes the volume seem repetitive.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by David Ouimet. Peter investigates a haunted house. Lindsay gets phone calls from a deceased aunt. The driver of Mark's bus may be a space alien. These thirteen original stories--some containing elements from traditional tales--are well suited for telling around the campfire. Though the characterizations are minimal, the stories are well paced and most end with a clever or shocking twist. The illustrations are appropriately dark and atmospheric.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta