Current & previous staff reviews (by year):
October 2004
Halloween!
Gothic! Ten Original Dark Tales (Candlewick Press, $15.99)
This collection ranges from spooky to humorous and features such authors as Joan Aiken (The Wolves of Willoughby Chase), Neil Gaiman (Coraline), Gregory Maguire (Wicked), Garth Nix (Sabriel) and Vivian Vande Velde (Heir Apparent). Vivian Vande Velde's offering Morgan Roehmar's Boys, set during a Halloween haunted hayride, made me want to turn on all the lights in the house. Watch and Wake by M.T. Anderson is set in the same world as his novel Thirsty, "a world where Americana has become occult and the suburbs are full of rituals." While Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Night of Dread Desire has quite a surprising twist. This is a perfect book to enjoy on a windy autumn night while curled up under the blankets (or any other time as well). (Ages 10+)
Grandy Thaxter's Helper (Atheneum, $15.95)
When Mister Death shows up at Grandy Thaxter's door and tells her he's come to take her away, Grandy informs Mister Death that she can't leave until she's finished her work and if he gives her a hand, then she'll be able to leave sooner. Grandy Thaxter is an extremely busy woman and she puts Mister Death to work sweeping the house (including the closets and ceilings) and then washing the windows, and that's only the first day. After days of hard labor helping Grandy with all of her tasks, Mister Death decides he's done enough work and he'll come back when Grandy isn't quite so busy. The folk-like pen and ink with colorwash illustrations suit the story fabulously and capture Mister Death's experience quite humorously. This picture book is great fun and a perfect fall read.
Pumpkin Cat (Hyperion, $15.99)
When a ginger stray cat hides in the library return box and is found by the librarians in the morning, she becomes the library cat. Because of her coloring, she is named Pumpkin. Pumpkin likes her new home in the library but she feels that something is missing, especially at night time when the library is empty of people. On Halloween Night, someone leaves a basket containing a black kitten and a note that reads: "My name is Halloween Cat, and I need a home. I like to purr, and tuna is my favorite food. I hear this library likes cats." Pumpkin Cat adopts the little Halloween Cat and realizes what has been missing from her home. This is a sweet story with a Halloween setting, a cat theme, and cute illustrations.