Scan barcode
Reviews
Double Dare to be Scared: Another Thirteen Chilling Tales (Dare to be Scared) by Robert D. San Souci
shonaningyo's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book back in 2004 when I was in around Middle School. Around 3rd or 4th grade I guess. I had the urge to find the book again but unfortunately couldn't. But just yesterday I had an epiphany: One of the stories in this book is "Mountain Childers" . And so that's how I recalled the name of this book! Yay me.
From what I can remember, this book is full of good dark stories, cruel irony, and enough coincidences and evil to make you shiver a little. The drawings depicting the story were creepy-cute sometimes (Class Cootie) and haunting/down right horrific in others (Half-Past Midnight). Some of the stories bored me at first from reading the title, but in the end I went back and read them all, and I'm glad I did. Each were entertaining without repeating or recycling anything, which is a must when you do a collection of short stories of any genre. The story telling was quick and the characters in each had their own little petty personalities to drive the story and to make it realistic in its own way. Recommend this book for people around 12 or 13 years old, but of course anyone can read an easy spooky compilation like this.
From what I can remember, this book is full of good dark stories, cruel irony, and enough coincidences and evil to make you shiver a little. The drawings depicting the story were creepy-cute sometimes (Class Cootie) and haunting/down right horrific in others (Half-Past Midnight). Some of the stories bored me at first from reading the title, but in the end I went back and read them all, and I'm glad I did. Each were entertaining without repeating or recycling anything, which is a must when you do a collection of short stories of any genre. The story telling was quick and the characters in each had their own little petty personalities to drive the story and to make it realistic in its own way. Recommend this book for people around 12 or 13 years old, but of course anyone can read an easy spooky compilation like this.
inkerly's review against another edition
4.0
riveting. i read and finished on day one. first through 7 mysteries my favorite. the last 6 entailing thrillers didn't jump me at my feet. they made me thirst more. well done author.
endotheline's review against another edition
I wanted to read spooky stories now that it's the spooky season, but I couldn't decide on a book to read so I ended up reading this book I read as a child. I'm not sure why I have the second book in this series and not the first, but I guess it was the only book available when I got it or when it was given to me. Anyway, it's difficult to say whether or not this book is good because I'm not the target audience anymore, but it must've been somewhat good if some of the stories in this book stuck with me since I was a child.
Now that I've read this as an adult, I will say that these stories aren't amazingly written but they seem written well enough for a child. The illustrations certainly helped with making the stories more memorable and a bit scarier. I will also say that these stories aren't necessarily scary but are actually kind of sad. Every child in every story gets in a horrible situation that they have no control over and end up with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. I guess that helplessness works in a horror book for children because I'm sure every child has felt it at some point in their lives. What's scarier than being a helpless child who can't help themselves and can't even get help from the adults who are supposed to protect them?
Before I rank the short stories in this book, like I do with every book of short stories, I want to give a special shout out to the short story "Mountain Childers." That story really fed into my childhood fear and fascination with cannibals and has haunted me ever since.
Stories Ranked
1. Mountain Childers
2. Best Friends
3. Circus Dreams
4. Gulp!
5. Daddy Boogey
6. Half-Past Midnight
7. The Quilt
8. Rosalie
9. Class Cootie
10. Click Clack
11. Laughter
12. Campfire Tale
13. Grey
(Ranking is subject to change)
Now that I've read this as an adult, I will say that these stories aren't amazingly written but they seem written well enough for a child. The illustrations certainly helped with making the stories more memorable and a bit scarier. I will also say that these stories aren't necessarily scary but are actually kind of sad. Every child in every story gets in a horrible situation that they have no control over and end up with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. I guess that helplessness works in a horror book for children because I'm sure every child has felt it at some point in their lives. What's scarier than being a helpless child who can't help themselves and can't even get help from the adults who are supposed to protect them?
Before I rank the short stories in this book, like I do with every book of short stories, I want to give a special shout out to the short story "Mountain Childers." That story really fed into my childhood fear and fascination with cannibals and has haunted me ever since.
Stories Ranked
1. Mountain Childers
2. Best Friends
3. Circus Dreams
4. Gulp!
5. Daddy Boogey
6. Half-Past Midnight
7. The Quilt
8. Rosalie
9. Class Cootie
10. Click Clack
11. Laughter
12. Campfire Tale
13. Grey
(Ranking is subject to change)
moggmogg's review against another edition
3.0
Collection of scary stories for the middle grade crowd.
scottyreadsstuff's review against another edition
3.0
3.59/5 stars
I have no idea why I gave this such a specific rating...............
I have no idea why I gave this such a specific rating...............
christinap's review
5.0
If your students like Alvin Schwartz's "Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark" series, then they will like this book/series.
The only story that I would be concerned about in this book is "The Halloween Spirit". In the story, a Keesha and her sister, onelle are out trick-or-treating. They decide to meet up with some of Keesha's friends in the park on Halloween. Keesha notices that her older friends have "beer, cigarettes, and stuff", but Keesha is too smart to mess with that stuff. The group make a pentogram, and try to summon a Halloween Spirit...by the end of the story, Keesha realizes that the spirit she and her friends summon found its' way to onelle.
Overall, the book is great..Some parents' religious beliefs may conflict with the book, and espeically with the story, "The Halloween Spirit"..I would still buy the book because most students love ghost stories, have done Bloody Mary at sleepovers. Who hasn't done Bloody Mary as a child??? I did, and I turned out normal!!! Know your students and population..and whether certain students should take out the book based on family and religious beliefs...
The only story that I would be concerned about in this book is "The Halloween Spirit". In the story, a Keesha and her sister, onelle are out trick-or-treating. They decide to meet up with some of Keesha's friends in the park on Halloween. Keesha notices that her older friends have "beer, cigarettes, and stuff", but Keesha is too smart to mess with that stuff. The group make a pentogram, and try to summon a Halloween Spirit...by the end of the story, Keesha realizes that the spirit she and her friends summon found its' way to onelle.
Overall, the book is great..Some parents' religious beliefs may conflict with the book, and espeically with the story, "The Halloween Spirit"..I would still buy the book because most students love ghost stories, have done Bloody Mary at sleepovers. Who hasn't done Bloody Mary as a child??? I did, and I turned out normal!!! Know your students and population..and whether certain students should take out the book based on family and religious beliefs...
More...