This illustrated collection by the author of Short and Shivery: Thirty Chilling Tales includes ghost tales, ?jump? stories, dark fantasy, and science fiction, all set in contemporary situations that will seem hauntingly familiar to young readers. Several of the stories draw on the rich heritage of legends, folklore, and cultural traditions as they extend into children?s lives today. With suspense, action, and manageable ?scare level,? these stories will be popular around the campfire and during summertime sleepovers. Grade 4-7-From a horrible dream a boy can't wake up from to an alien-driven bus to an eerie house with an alarming inhabitant, these stories cover the gamut of scary themes. Some are barely shiver inducing, while others, like the Halloween tale of a mean big sister who attracts an evil spirit, are deliciously horrifying. Although they are all original, many of these stories feature themes and plots that are the staples of folklore, making them natural candidates for reading or telling aloud, preferably around a campfire or at midnight during a sleepover. While kids may shrug at the tamer stories, they will marvel at the poignant twist in "Smoke" and shudder at the ominous "Bakotahl." The hilarious and spooky tale of an aunt who contacts her rude niece by cell phone from beyond the grave is destined to be told at summer camps throughout the land. The dark, black-and-white, pen-and-ink drawings add an appropriately menacing touch to the stories. Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. Gr. 4-8. With crisp, straightforward delivery and some intriguing endings, these 13 tales are great fun for young readers who like to be spooked. Some stories tread traditional ghostly ground: nightmares that turn out to be reality, children who take up a dare to visit haunted places, teens pretending to do incantations in the woods on Halloween. Yet the scariest tales use ordinary small things, such as ubiquitous ants or an incessantly ringing cell phone, to thrilling effect. The characters are diverse in race, culture, and personality, and their age range will invite both elementary and middle-grade readers to enjoy the chills. Although never heavy-handed, several tales provide a moral, which makes this a good find for reading aloud and discussing, especially at Halloween gatherings and summer camp, where some stories take place. One black-and-white illustration per story helps heighten the horror, which is never too tense or graphic for the intended audience. Roger Leslie Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Robert San Souci is an award winning author known for his storytelling. His books Cut From the Same Cloth: American Women of Myth, Legend, and Tall Tale and The Hired Hand both won the Aesop Award, and he is the author of two Caldecott Honor Books, The Talking Eggs, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, and The Faithful Friend, illustrated by Brian Pinkney.