REVIEW: Creepy Schools

Creepy Schools
Author: Kathryn Camisa

Creepy Schools is part of the 16-book Tiptoe into Scary Places series for kids! I came across these books on my library's digital site and just had to read them! I'm a sucker for spooky stories -- even versions for kids -- so I'm glad the library added some of the books in this series.

Each story in this book about spooky happenings at schools is illustrated with full-color photos and artwork. The books are very visually appealing with interesting and varied page layouts. This would be a good series to entice a reluctant reader to enjoy a book! I can also see some great uses in classrooms....writing prompts for students to write their own ghost stories at Halloween time, group reading, or just as fun, supplementary reading. Each book has a glossary of ghostly terms used in the stories, a short bibliography, a suggested reading list and weblink for kids who want to learn more about ghosts and scary places.

Creepy Schools is age appropriate for elementary students or middle grade. The tales are spooky but not overly scary.

I'm definitely going to read more of this series, and purchase a couple of the titles to send to my grand kids at Halloween!

REVIEW: Wild Bill - The True Tale of the American Frontier's First Gunfighter

Wild Bill
Author: Tom Clavin

The Old West generated many tall tales about legendary characters...Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Kit Carson...all larger than life. Their stories are a mix of truth and exaggeration...and I love every single tale! But my favorite by far is Wild Bill Hickok.

Lawman. Gunfighter. Gambler. Showman. He did it all. And his legendary death at a card-table just made his story more spectacular.

I read Tom Clavin's bestselling book on Dodge City when it came out. And loved it. When I saw he was writing a book on Wild Bill, I knew I had to read it. The true story....the real Wild Bill....James Butler Hickok. Yay!

I read this book a little bit at time, not only to savor the experience but to give myself time to let the facts and information settle into my brain. I can binge read fiction....but non fiction about people I find interesting I have to slow down and mosey my way through it. I'm glad I took my time. This book has a lot of information in it...some that I already knew and a lot that was new to me. Clavin separates fact from legend...and presents Hickok as a person, not an exaggerated Old West character. A man...not a tale bigger than life.

Awesome read! As soon as I finished my review copy, I preordered the physical book for my husband. He loves the Old West with a capital L. LOVES it. He has Clavin's earlier book on Dodge City on his western bookshelf...along with Louis L'amour books and framed photos of Marshall Dillon and Festus Haggen. Old West fiction and truth side-by-side, as it has always been.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Hiding Place

The Hiding Place
Author: C.J. Tudor

I really loved C.J. Tudor's debut novel, The Chalk Man, when it came out in 2018. That story really creeped me out, and I eagerly awaited this second novel. There are some similarities, but mostly this new book is different from The Chalk Man.

Both books have flashbacks from present day to the past. And both stories center around a group of kids/adults who went through a horrific event together, only to have a similar event happen when they are adults. But...where The Chalk Man was more of an exciting suspense thriller...The Hiding Place is more subtle. The story is more psychological with the truth drawn out more slowly. Just a bit revealed at a time. The Hiding Place is much more sneaky with its storytelling.

I'm not going to say anything about the plot....because....spoilers. The story is much more interesting going into it with very little prior knowledge. I liked the main character, Joe. He wants answers and is willing to do just about anything to find the information he needs. He is a deeply flawed character with a gambling problem and other deep-set issues, but he's also strong-minded and determined. Joe is the only character in the story that is well-developed. The rest of the cast are really just plot points necessary to the story only in their relation and interactions with Joe. But that's ok....they don't need to be fleshed out. Joe is the one the reader needs to know about. Joe....and The Event. The reason Joe came back to his hometown.

It's just a lovely, slow but steady, descent into creepyville. Several times the story caught me by surprise. I love it when that happens! Great story!

I will definitely be reading more by this author. Can't wait for the next book!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crown Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: One Fatal Mistake

One Fatal Mistake
Author: Tom Hunt

Joshua Mayo is a high school senior. 18 years old. Waiting for his acceptance letter to Clemson. He has his whole life ahead of him. Until a hit and run accident. Until he kills a man. Until he runs from the scene of the accident. Until his parents cover it up. Until......

One Fatal Mistake.

Wow...this book is one crazy ride! Vehicular homicide...then a cover up....and add in bank robbers on the run. Geez....the action and suspense never stopped. I loved the story line....it kept me reading. Total binge read. But....the characters....oh my....I hated them all. The Mayo family doesn't see anything wrong with covering up the death of an innocent person. Lie after lie after lie....because their kid's future is worth more than someone else's life, right? Major S-heads. And the bank robbers....well they are are completely screwed up too. And the universe is just F'd up enough to make them all meet in the middle. It makes for an awesome thriller....with the little voice in my head commenting about how horrid every single person in the story is. Every. Single. Person. Completely horrid. But insanely perfect for this story.

I love my kids. I would do just about anything for my kids. But.....I would NOT cover up a murder, hide bodies or lie to the police for my kids. Or anybody. No, no, no, no....and after that....NO. But....I will totally binge read an entire book in one afternoon that is about parents who will do just that....and more. Great story....twisted and traumatizing....but a great story.

Well-written. Suspenseful. Twisted. Loved it! This book kept my attention from beginning to end. I'm definitely going to read more by this author. Tom Hunt has written one other book -- Killer Choice -- about a man so desperate for money to help his ill wife that he's willing to commit murder-for-hire to get it. Oh my.....another story with completely F'd up characters. I have to read it!!!!! So twisted! Book insta-added to my TBR list!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Berkley via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Holes

Holes
Author: Louis Sachar

I have been wanting to read this book for years, but I never seemed to get around to it! Well, this year I made a pact with myself to read more of the stories I want to read, so this book made it to the top of my TBR list finally!

OMG! I loved this story! I wish I hadn't waited so long!

Stanley Yelnats believes he lives under a curse that finally ran him afoul with the law. He's innocent of the petty crime he is convicted of, but there is no sense arguing with the curse. So, he gets sentenced to Camp Green Lake. The camp is a detention center for boys. They spend all day digging holes in the desert. Stanley is told the work is to build character, but as the story unfolds it seems there is more going on at Camp Green Lake.

Stanley learns so many lessons about friendship and self esteem during his stay at Camp Green Lake. I laughed every time he ranted about his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather who brought the curse down on his head that makes his life miserable. :) Great story! Great characters! Great life lessons!

Holes was made into a movie by Disney in 2003. I can finally watch the movie without breaking my rule about reading the book first! Only took me almost 16 years! Better late than never! I'm hoping Disney stuck close to the book. The story is perfect as it is. I hope the film doesn't disappoint me. Luckily, it's streaming this month on a television channel in our package....I'm watching it tonight!

Even at 50 years old, I love reading children's books. This story was just the feel-good adventure story I needed on a rainy, winter Saturday afternoon. I loved it!

I listened to the audio book version of this story (Penguin Random House Audio). Narrated by Kerry Beyer, the audio is just under 4.5 hours long. Beyer has a nice voice and gave a great performance! I have partial hearing loss but was easily able to hear and understand the entire audio book.

REVIEW: What Makes a Bug a Bug?

What Makes a Bug a Bug?
Author: Andi Cann

I am always looking for great books to send my grand kids. The Animal Classes books by Andi Cann definitely make the list of books Oma has got to send to the little ones!

Not only does this book talk about the differences between "bugs'' and other invertebrates like spiders and worms, but it also has many awesome full-color photographs! The facts are presented in a visually-appealing, age appropriate way. I also liked the fact that Cann points out (in a kid friendly way) that an adult should be involved in any bug-finding missions because some bugs can bite or sting. Also, every bug pictured in the book is named in an index in the back of the book. As every parent and grandparent knows....kids will ask! Saves me frantically searching google to find out the name of the big yellow caterpillar on page 17!

Younger children who might not fully understand the insect facts will still love the full-color photos in this book. Preschool to first graders will also enjoy this book as it presents a great illustrated lesson on how to tell the difference between an insect/bug and a spider or other type of invertebrate. I could definitely see great uses for this series of books in an elementary classroom science class. It easily teaches the facts with common sense and great photos!

There are 3 books in the Animal Classes series so far.....I'm definitely going to get copies of What Makes a Bird a Bird? and What Makes a Mammal a Mammal as well as this awesome book on bugs!

REVIEW: Wylding Hall

Wylding Hall
Author: Elizabeth Hand

In the early 1970s, a British acid folk music group went to stay at Wylding Hall, a remote, crumbling old house in the country. Their agent sent them there to get away from it all so they could plan and work on their first album. The songs they record that summer make an album that nobody will ever forget....but dark things happen as well. Dark and strange things happen, including the disappearance of the band's lead vocalist, Julian Blake. Decades later, members of the band, their agent and others including a photographer and psychic meet with a documentary filmmaker to talk about their memories of that summer. What really happened that summer at Wylding Hall? And where is Julian Blake?

I loved this story! The plot is so creative and creepy cool! I listened to the audio book version of the story. Narrated by Jennifer Woodward and John Telfer, the audio (Blackstone Audio) is about 4 1/2 hours long. The narrators did a superb job of acting! It was a great listening experience.

The plot builds suspense and keeps it up from beginning to end. I wasn't sure what exactly had happened until the very end. The story has supernatural elements, but it's not over-done. Just enough to be really creepy, but not cheesy. As I finished the book, I found myself wishing that the album was real. I would definitely have a copy! Who could resist with such a creepy background story!