Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales

A chilling collection of ghost stories features an unforgettable cast of characters, including Henry Mawdsley, who lies too much, Gilly Bodkin, who risks her life for her sweet tooth, and Allie Alma, a girl with a penchant for theft

From Publishers Weekly

Ghost story aficionados may add yet another title to their increasingly crowded reading lists. This collection features seven original stories about the requisite apparitions, vampires and satanic incarnations, all spun with a distinctly English flair. Jacques's ( Redwall ; Mattimeo ) ethereal creations are tame when compared with the violence and gore often found in the genre. Despite a lack of blood, mysterious deaths and hauntings abound: Gilly Bodkin's soul will not rest until he gets some sweets; Thomas P. Kanne is embalmed and mummified while still alive. Chills and thrills are fewer than the book's title might suggest, and the author has infused his own brand of humor into tales about a vampire with a nagging mother and a compulsive liar who dares to tell a whopper to the devil. A few lengthy descriptive passages slow the pace, and a story focusing on an older woman's experience during WW II may be too sophisticated for younger readers, but this is still a good choice for flashlight reading under the covers. Ages 8-up. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-- A collection of seven competently told tales set in modern-day Britain, ranging from a funny "pact with the Devil" story to more traditional vampire and ghostly fare. There is a satisfying amount of spookiness in each, even though the conclusions are telegraphed ahead of time. Each story is preceded by an original poem that is intended to pique interest in the tale that follows; as poetry, these selections are mediocre, but they do add a nice balance of humor to what is otherwise the same old stuff. The subject will be popular with a wide audience, although the lack of illustrations and the fairly dense blocks of text may intimidate some readers. Leach's Thing at the Foot of the Bed (Philomel, 1987) and Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Lippincott, 1981), to name only two, will not be eclipsed by this newcomer. --JoAnn Rees, Sunnyvale Public Library, CACopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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