middle grade Archives - Page 339 of 363

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Scariest Stories Ever Told
by Roberta Simpson Brown (Author)

Booktalk: This spooky collection of haunting stories from the “Queen of Cold Blooded Tales”, Roberta Simpson Brown, may well be The Scariest Stories Ever Told. These chilling tales are filled with familiar themes to make anyone feel safe – the grouchy old teacher, a family telling one another ghost stories in an old cabin, well meaning yet clueless parents – but jam packed with enough ghouls, ghosts, and menacing spirits to give anyone the chills. The Scariest Stories Ever Told includes over 13 contemporary tales featuring children tackling (and sometimes getting tackled by) their fears. Meet sinister characters like the stick man, the shadows and the feathered thing. Take a peak at the haunted well, check out the school locker portal to the “other side” and buck up your courage to visit the creepy costume party. Children will love seeing characters their age confront sinister creatures and work up the courage to explore supernatural occurrences in everyday life. No one is safe when the “Queen of Cold Blooded Tales” is around so be advised to make sure the lights are on and the doors are locked before opening this book.

Snippet:
Don’t Open that Locker

“What does that have to do with my locker?” asked Nora.

“What they caught on tape was a small ghostly figure that sailed in front of the camera, flew down the hall, and disappeared into this locker!” she said. “Some kids think this locker might be a portal.”

“What’s a portal?” asked Nora.

“It’s an opening between this world and the next,” explained Mia. “Something could be waiting in that locker and pull you right into the next world. Some kids think that’s what happened to that girl who disappeared last year. They think that is her ghost caught on the security camera.”

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Book Uncle and Me
by Uma Krishnaswami (Author) and Julianna Swaney (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Every day, nine-year-old Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle, a retired teacher who has set up a free lending library next to her apartment building. But when the mayor tries to shut down the rickety bookstand, Yasmin has to take her nose out of her book and do something.

But what can she do? The local elections are coming up but she’s just a kid. She can’t even vote!

Snippet: I think about Mrs. Roa’s words all day. Plan. Election. City. Office. And I think of my words too, the words in my letter. I am still thinking about them on the way home from school.