This creepy collection will be a scream for young horror aficionados. Author Wischowski and illustrators Takdanai Kungsavarangkul and Kitnithi Katk have crafted a tome packed with scares and surprises that perfectly capture the mood of spooky season, with a fresh story for each day of the month of October. Eerie woodcuts with ghastly figures complement the high-octane frights,creating a richly evocative mood rooted in the long history of Halloween. The collection is divided into two sections: in the first, File Stories, the tales are loosely organized around an investigation of paranormal happenings across disparate locations. In Fantasies, Legends, and Near Truths, Wischowski offers a selection of fiction, folklore, and strange musings.

Wischowski’s atmospheric writing playfully explores huddled-around-the-campfire storytelling, with an emphasis on the possibilities of the oral tradition—the standout “The Tale of Black Hands” opens with a consideration of how the teller always refreshes the tale, no matter how familiar. Such intimate narration—including clever uses of direct address and unreliable storytellers–conjures the feeling that the reader is being let in on a secret. Standout stories include “The Ghost of John,” where a corpse discovers, rather gruesomely, that he’s not all there. “Grandson” details a scam attempt with devastating consequences; “The Gashadokuro” follows a family stalked by giant skeletons from Japanese folklore; and “Circus Fortune” describes a young boy’s chance encounter with a hypnotist at a county fair.

The only thing that detracts somewhat from an otherwise excellent collection is an essay at the end of the book about “ghost science.” The author posits some scientific theories about ghosts, with a marked tonal shift from the rest of the collection. Although designated a middle-grade YA collection, it holds great appeal for seasoned horror fans. With much original flair but also nods to other nostalgic spook-out hits like Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, this earns its place on the discerning horror reader’s bookshelf.

Takeaway: This spooky collection is full of scares for all ages.

Comparable Titles: Anastasia Garcia and Teo Skaffa’s Ghostly, Ghastly Tales, Christian McKay Heidicker’s Scary Stories for Young Foxes.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-