Alvin Schwartz
HarperCollins (2010)
ISBN 9780060835194
Reviewed by Lucia La (age 14) for Reader Views (09/10)
“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” is quite a remarkable collection of scary stories that come from many parts of the world and they include songs and tips on how to present the stories. These stories cause shivers to run up one’s spine as the stories tell the tale of strange and scary things, sure to inspire fear in one’s mind. The magic of this book lies in the fact that though there is a very adequate amount of horror in this collection, it is contained so that it is age appropriate for children as long as their imagination does not run away with them. Some of the stories instill terror in the reader because of the degree of reality they possess, and others give the readers a chill from the unspeakable acts of violence that were committed that result in revenge. The author is brilliant at painting a very vivid picture in your head.
These scary stories have some humor slipped in between the alarm and fear. We are reminded that misunderstandings can cause us to scare ourselves, and thus hilarious situations are created. Moreover, there are poems that rhyme and tell creepy accounts. Bad things happen when regular folk try to outsmart wicked people who have magical powers, and dares go horribly wrong. I really like the fact that this book contains ideas on how you can scare your friends and have physical games incorporated in it. Another interesting feature this book has is that at the end, the historical background of how the stories came to be is included so you can satisfy your curiosity. Supernatural beings are present a lot in this book, and ghosts especially make appearances. Dark premonitions lend the short stories a spooky air, and might even cause you to think your nightmares might have meanings that you should pay attention to. In addition, the dead come back to life, not necessarily to scare the living but to engage with them and then disappear. The reader gets an eerie feeling when the conclusion comes because the truth is really haunting.
These fearsome and terrifying tales and legends hook you in and don’t let go until you finish reading. “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” is perfect for the reader looking for a good spook!
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