Beware the Ninja Weenies

Beware the Ninja Weenies : and other warped and creepy tales by David Lubar

I have been a fan of David Lubar's for years now, our library has the complete collection of his warped and creepy tales, and I think the make the best short story read-alouds. So, I was happy to take this book home and review it. I now have a list of a least 6 more that will make perfect read-alouds for the gang at Lakie.

I'm in touch with this description from the back cover: "These short-story collections really showcase [Lubar's] delightfully twisted imagination. For me, reading Attack of the Vampire Weenies was like watching a bunch of Twilight Zone episodes for kids.... There is no doubt about it - David Lubar is the Rod Serling of middle-grade fiction."

I was a late night watcher of the Twilight Zone and I think Lubar must have been too.

The Stone Child

The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki
This was a book that was recommended by one of our students, I can definately see why he thought it would be a good addition to our library. Scary. - You guys know I don't like scary books, so why did I take it home on a  gloomy, rainy, dark afternoon? Thanks for setting me up to jump at every little noise around me!
Here's the summary.
How cool! Eddie loves scary stories, and he is moving to the small town where his favourite author, Nathaniel Olmstead, used to live. The author vanished without a trace thirteen year ago, like something out of one of his own creepy novels.
But Eddie soon learns that life in Gatesweed isn't as idyllic as he hoped. He keeps seeing strange things, unreal things, horrible things that shoule only exist in Olmstead's books. How have they escaped the pages to terrorize the town?
Soon Eddie realizes that he and his new friends Harris and Maggie must solve the mystery of Olmstead's disappearance before Eddie's mom finishes writing her own scary tale, unleashing the most horrific creature of all.

The Crossroads

The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein

Zack, his dad and new stepmother have just moved back to his fathers hometown in Connecticut, not knowing that their new house has a dark history. Fifty years ago, a crazed killer caused an accident at the near by crossroads that took forty innocent lives. He died when his car hit a tree in a fiery crash, and his malevolent spirit has inhabited the tree ever since. During a huge storm, lightning hits the tree, releasing the spirit, who decides his evil spree isn't over yet, and Zach is directly in his sights.

This one is the winner of the Agatha Award for YA / childrens mystery. And it's no wonder, with its short chapters, friendly and definately unfriendly ghosts, the creepiest tree in history and a plot that wouldn't quit - this one had me hooked.

Here's the booktrailer (unfortunately it doesn't quite grasp how scary and trilling the book is.)