Do you wish to add to the list of banned books you have read? Or, perhaps you want to revisit classic horror tales you enjoyed as a child? Maybe you are a young reader or middle-grade reader seeking short-story thrills and horror? If so, this is a great book for you. It is a fast-paced, low- to moderate tier, Short-Story Horror featuring fantastic and macabre illustrations by artist Stephen Gemmell. These famous drawings and creepy tales are what brought this book to be banned in the 1980's upon release. I revisited these great tales by reading it to my son who has a fascination with short story horror featuring paranormal creatures and cryptids. His reactions were priceless and made revisiting this classic tale I read as a child well worth it. I provided this book with a 3.25 rating.
Though I read this book as a child and remember the tales being scarier at that time, I enjoyed my sons’ reactions to hearing the tales for the first time. Our favorite story was titled "The White Wolf" which is a paranormal revenge-based horror about a man who is stalked and hunted by a White Wolf. Though this tale rated 5 on the horror rating scale and is one of the most terrifying stories in this collection, most tales rate at level 2. This is a low to mid-level horror with scary themes and situations but brief to little description best for young children or middle grade readers.
There are several different versions of this story. Many readers are upset that the new release by Harper Collins has changed the content of the original, in regards to the famous creepy artwork done by Stephen Gemmell. These readers are upset that this contributes to the sanitization of books and censorship of media.
NOTE ON CONTENT WARNING | I have noted a few content warnings that do appear in this collection of short stories. These are all minor in nature, in the essence that none of the listed warning, are contained within 15% of the story content. These are brief incidences or occurrences and rate on average at a Tier 2. Meaning that the details and descriptions are brief and non-descriptive.
Incidents of cursing or vulgar language use is scattered, and uses non-vulgar terms. Cursing or use of vulgar language is the intent of the language used. Typically isn't a reason to avoid the Comic, but is noted as being present. Bullying is often experienced by the target audience and this story represents it in an appropriate manner. Stalking occurs but is mild but is present. Violence is present but no graphic depictions within comic.