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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Zack, his father and new stepmother have just moved to his father's hometown in Connecticut. Haunted by memories of his mother, he finds that this new town is a little bit stranger than NYC. Weird people keep popping up near his house and the old witch woman (a modern-day Miss Haversham) frightens him. His stepmother, Judy, notices the oddities as well and the two set out to find out the real story behind the tragic accident that occurred nearly fifty years ago.
What a great little book! The short chapters and constant suspense made it exciting and a quick read. Interesting and realistic characters (well, aside from the ghosts, that it) make this novel. I couldn't put it down.
What a great little book! The short chapters and constant suspense made it exciting and a quick read. Interesting and realistic characters (well, aside from the ghosts, that it) make this novel. I couldn't put it down.
This story was enough. That’s what I have to say about it. It was engaging enough. It was long enough. It was scary enough. Enough. Enough. Enough.
I particularly liked the short chapters in this book. That, plus the constant POV switching, made for a really quick enjoyable read. I was always motivated to read just oneeeee more chapter, and that allowed me to fly through the book.
Along with this, the variety and quantity of the ghosts kept me entertained throughout. Not every ghost died in the accident at that intersection. Many did, yes, but not all. Some just wanted to help get rid of Clint. Some didn’t even know they were ghosts at all. Seeing the different afterlives being lived was really intriguing for me. There was even a haunted tree! It was definitely very odd, not gonna lie, but still very interesting. I think I liked the uniqueness of the ghost tree more than the actual tree idea overall, so I was glad to see Clint’s soul escape the tree pretty quickly in the book.
If it wasn’t obvious, the horror wasn’t too intense. I mean, a haunted tree can only be so scary. However, it was still entertaining enough and scary enough to engage most middle schoolers and for them to be able to enjoy and give them a slight thrill, which is the real goal of any horror book.
To read more of my review, check out
https://yalitreader.wordpress.com/2022/10/16/the-crossroads-by-chris-grabenstein/
I particularly liked the short chapters in this book. That, plus the constant POV switching, made for a really quick enjoyable read. I was always motivated to read just oneeeee more chapter, and that allowed me to fly through the book.
Along with this, the variety and quantity of the ghosts kept me entertained throughout. Not every ghost died in the accident at that intersection. Many did, yes, but not all. Some just wanted to help get rid of Clint. Some didn’t even know they were ghosts at all. Seeing the different afterlives being lived was really intriguing for me. There was even a haunted tree! It was definitely very odd, not gonna lie, but still very interesting. I think I liked the uniqueness of the ghost tree more than the actual tree idea overall, so I was glad to see Clint’s soul escape the tree pretty quickly in the book.
If it wasn’t obvious, the horror wasn’t too intense. I mean, a haunted tree can only be so scary. However, it was still entertaining enough and scary enough to engage most middle schoolers and for them to be able to enjoy and give them a slight thrill, which is the real goal of any horror book.
To read more of my review, check out
https://yalitreader.wordpress.com/2022/10/16/the-crossroads-by-chris-grabenstein/
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Awards Won: Agatha and Anthony
Have you ever wondered if one action can set off a series of events? This book uses imagination to address such a question. The Crossroads does contain some passages that may not be suitable for younger readers.
Have you ever wondered if one action can set off a series of events? This book uses imagination to address such a question. The Crossroads does contain some passages that may not be suitable for younger readers.
This book was CREEPY! I'm not usually a fan of ghost/scary stories/movie, but I loved this one. There's a 50-year-old mystery spanning three generations at the center of the story's plot, and it unfolds deliciously slowly. Intrigue abounds.
There are a few very violent moments (the whole thing is about death and revenge, after all) that were painful for me to read. These intense scenes should be kept in mind when recommending this book. Probably fine for most who are looking for a good scare, but perhaps not for everyone.
There are a few very violent moments (the whole thing is about death and revenge, after all) that were painful for me to read. These intense scenes should be kept in mind when recommending this book. Probably fine for most who are looking for a good scare, but perhaps not for everyone.
What a great, spooky kids book! Zack is a 10 year old boy who moves to North Chester, Connecticut into a new house just outside of town. His house backs up to an intersection marked with a flashing red light, and a large old oak tree that sits on the corner. Although Zack doesn't know it immediately, he is visited by several ghosts. Several are helpful ghosts, trying to look out for him, and others passing through the intersection. But one is evil, and his soul lives within the oak tree. The tale that spins from there is very interesting, dating back 50 years to an accident that occurred at the intersection.
I highly recommend this book to adults and children alike (although it may be too spooky for some kids.)
I highly recommend this book to adults and children alike (although it may be too spooky for some kids.)
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed most of this book, and at the beginning I felt like it could've been a YA or adult story based on the content, the level of creepiness, and the sophistication of the writing. Also, gotta love awesome stepmom characters. But the denouement was too over the top for me and it lost the creepy feeling from previous chapters. Overall I feel Grabenstein has a lot of potential and I'll probably move on to his Library series next.
Wow! Hard to put down! I read it in one sitting! Then had a difficult time sleeping because I had the story on my mind :0) It would be great for reluctant readers because the chapters are short with tons of action!
I have recommended this book to many students who want a "scary" book, but never read it until now (spurred on because I was getting meet Grabenstein!) I usually don't read this genre, but I appreciated the plotting, and the fact that it could be somewhat spooky without being grisly. This was a Young Hoosier book for us, and students really like it (had to buy more copies)
I read the beginning of the next book to see if they need to be read in order, but don't think it's necessary. I really liked the character Judy, the loving, fun stepmother. What a nice change!
I didn't see one of the plot twists coming, and I think this has enough intricacies to keep kids thinking while letting them use their imaginations.
I read the beginning of the next book to see if they need to be read in order, but don't think it's necessary. I really liked the character Judy, the loving, fun stepmother. What a nice change!
I didn't see one of the plot twists coming, and I think this has enough intricacies to keep kids thinking while letting them use their imaginations.