Despite my best intentions…who am I kidding, I had no best intentions…it has happened again. I have been caught in the web of temptation that is the book cover.
Less than a week ago the cover of Newberry Medalist Avi’s new book Strange Happenings caught my eye and I had to go out today and purchase it. I recognized the artist at once. Greg Swearingen‘s work is featured nearly every year in the Spectrum art book and his work has graced the covers of numerous young adult novels. This one is especially enticing because it is embossed on the matte finish of the dust jacket giving it a more three dimensional look. It is wonderful. It lured me in.
And I must say I am glad that it did. What clinched the sale for me was that I knew I could work this in as a bonus book in the R.I.P Autumn Challenge…and you can too!
Ostensibly written for the 8-12 year old range, these are tales that can be enjoyed by older children, i.e. adults, of any age. Strange Happenings includes 5 short stories centered around the theme of transformation. I will not spoil any of the stories for you but will give you a quick preview:
Bored Tom meets a cat and learns that there are worse things than being bored.
Babette the Beautiful is a fairy tale of sorts, or rather feels like an amalgam of fairy tales, that ponders the nature of beauty. What I found fascinating about this story is that I continually thought I knew what was coming next and was pleasantly surprised as I was repeatedly proven wrong.
Curious centers on America’s past time, small town baseball, and the mystery behind mascots.
The Shoemaker and Old Scratch is a slightly Faustian tale that also involves a cat, though not the same one from the first story.
Simon is a tale about a self-centered boy who learns that always getting what you want is for the birds.
It was a very quick read at 147 pages that I finished as I read off and on throughout the evening. Each story is paced wonderfully, is fun, and teaches a lesson in the entertaining way that one expects the more spooky of old folk tales to do. Not all 5 stories are scary, but they are strange and eerie and one fits firmly in the horror genre. I have not read any of Avi’s other work but I can state unequivocably that he writes a mean short children’s story. I found it heartwarming one instant, delicously creepy the next. I really enjoyed this, was glad it captured my attention, and recommend adding it to your fall reading.
I find that cover very tempting too…and the stories sound rather appealing.
Must…not…buy anymore books until after I’ve moved…
*sigh*
A good read is always a good find.
Yes Quixotic, books are one of the worst things to deal with when moving. They are always so stinking heavy.
I agree Jay.
This sounds like a good one to get for the girls’ reading library!
I think that’s a great idea! It is age appropriate in my opinion.
What a great cover! I’m going to check at work and see if we have or are getting a copy. Regardless, it’s added to my wishlist.
great cover. I see what you were talking about now.
I can’t believe they didn’t have any copies of this at the store we were at the other day so I could show you what I was talking about.
I finished one of my extra ones last night too, Death Splits a Hair.. great creepy, murder mystery!
I love a good whodunnit.
That’s a lovely cover. And it’s Avi! How could you not go for it? Maybe I should try and add it to my list?
(No! No more books until I get back from Japan! I. Am. Saving. Money. Really, I am. 🙂 )
The cover is nicely done. There are really quite a lot of YA books like this aren’t there? I suppose that there are just as many for adults, though, too, if you look for them. Will have to see if my library has this.
Carl, you are going to be jumpy after reading all these creepy novels. I bet by the end
of Fall you’ll have every light on in the house just to go to the bathroom at night!
Love the art, as always. Am now trying to catch up with all of the RIP stuff and see if it is too late to join this cool, cool thing.
Wow. That sounds really groovy. Yet another book to find and read. I love the cover also. You know, I found that my ‘To Read’ list has increased very dramatically since I started blogging.
Awesome cover and I love Avi. You know that means another book for my list. I agree with The Good Girl, my list has tripled, at least, since I’ve been blogging. I’ll never be caught wondering what to read next, only which to read next.
I’ve completed what I think is a thorough list of all the books chosen and recommended throught the various people who signed up for R.I.P. It is around 160 books thus far…so those ‘to read’ lists are gonna go WAAAAAY up! 😉
This is my first Avi, although I know he’s won awards which means that his other books are good as well.
You know Jules, I’ve always felt that a more normal world for me would be Halloween town from Nightmare Before Christmas so I don’t think I’ll be jumping at my own shadow. Its PC games, like Clive Barker’s Undying and F.E.A.R. that creep my out and have me listening to the floors creaking and looking over my shoulder.
This sounds like a great book to read aloud to the family. I have to make a trip to the bookstore tonight anyway…i’ll probably walk out with this one too!
The stories are all fairly short so you could easily get through one a night with the kids…or more.
Mmmm…that is a good book cover!
It is wonderfully done!
i’ve read that book.. it’s great.. i loved it.. i’ve read it to my family.. the kids loved it.. my son was a little spooked.
It was a bit spooky at times! 🙂
This information is the best I’ve seen . I look forward to more like this. Keep up the good work!