Scary Stories by Barry Moser (Illustrator), Peter Glassman (Introduction)

From the Publisher

Goose bumps along your arms, the hairs rising on the back of your neck, these are the sure signs you're immersed in a great scary story. Featuring classic stories by such timeless authors as Edgar Allan Poe, O. Henry, Bram Stoker, Washington Irving, H. P. Lovecraft, Ambrose Bierce, and H. G. Wells, this spellbinding collection also includes modern masterpieces by contemporary legends like Stephen King, Roald Dahl, Shirley Jackson, Joyce Carol Oates, and Ray Bradbury.

Celebrated artist Barry Moser's twenty unforgettable engravings capture all the suspense and horror in these brilliant stories, making this a deluxe illustrated edition that readers of all ages will want to return to again and again...if they dare!

VOYA

Is there room on the library shelves for yet another scary story compilation? If so, be sure to make room for this new book, which mingles classic and contemporary tales of horror that are guaranteed to chill the blood. Teens picking up the book may be surprised by such unexpected authors as Winston Churchill, whose Man Overboard! is a wonderfully suspenseful tale that will resonate with fans of Jaws. Truman Capote also offers up an unusual and creepy tale about a persistent ghost. Standard horror classics, such as Shirley Jackson's The Lottery and Ray Bradbury's The Man Upstairs, are included here. The only glaringly weak story is Dean Koontz's Kittens. Koontz seems content to load his plot with shock value instead of slowly building suspense. Teens may also have difficulty with the occasionally creaky language of O. Henry's The Furnished Room. Nevertheless this enjoyable collection introduces teens to classic short story writers while enticing them with contemporary horror legends like Stephen King. Moser's black-and-white engravings are startlingly spooky and complement the stories beautifully. This book should appeal to teens who love short story horror collections. They will be drawn like a magnet when they spot the arresting cover illustration of a hand dripping blood. Librarians and teachers will appreciate that teens are being introduced to classic authors. Pair this book with Gothic! Ten Original Dark Tales edited by Deborah Noyes (Candlewick, 2004/VOYA August 2004).

Michele CapozzellaCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal

Gr 6–9
A collection of 20 previously published stories, some by well-known writers of horror such as Stephen King and H. P. Lovecraft, others by authors not generally associated with the genre, like Winston Churchill. Each selection includes a chilling black-and-white engraving, often placed near the end of the story for maximum effect. These tales are easily found elsewhere, whether it be in collections or in single editions, and are more creepy than gory. An additional purchase in libraries where short stories and horror are popular.

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