Including both original tales and retellings, this collection of seven stories (there's one two-parter) features diverse female protagonists determinedly facing challenges and perils om human bullies to ghosts. More eerie than scary, the tales of bravery, revenge, grief, and redemption share a gothic sensibility that emphasizes that things are not what they seem. In "Rosie Hopewell," for example, a folksy narrative is used to convey the frightening story of a girl who confronts her drunken dad for killing her kitten, after which he mysteriously disappears. In the more traditional, somewhat gory "The Severed Hand," a woman discovers her fiancé's horrifying secret life and acts to save her own. The descriptive narratives relate the extraordinary events with almost casual straightforwardness, occasionally enhanced by repetition and punctuation. The black-and-white illustrations, though somewhat stock, evoke bygone times. Good for reading aloud to older children, the stories will add shivers to storytimes in the library, at home, or by the campfire.

A slim volume of seven stories, ranging from shivery to downright chilling, meant to be told or read aloud. Del Negro uses traditional folklore motifs in these brief tales, but grounds them in precise language. There's a version of "Mr. Fox" called "The Severed Hand" and an inventive use of The Green Man figure in the last story, "Hide and Seek." There, a mean girl called Little Debbie gets her scary comeuppance. In the "Sea Child," a mourning mother rescues a lost babe with the help of its ghostly mother; in "Rosie Hopewell," a drunken and abusive father gets his due, possibly from a drowned kitten. The language is cadenced and carefully chosen, and Natale's black-and-white illustrations are properly spectral and modestly elegant. Teens young and old will enjoy these gothic tales. (Short stories/horror. 12-15)

Gr 3 Up-This collection of eight Gothic tales features strong and resourceful women and girls who take their fates in their own hands and mold their destinies through wit, courage, and intelligence. From the proud housekeeper in "Skulls and Bones, Ghosts, and Gold" to the dedicated sister in "Rubies," these protagonists will stop at nothing to right wrongs and serve justice. With the exception of the final tale, the stories are set in the past, enhancing the mysterious, moody, otherworldly tone that weaves from one selection to the next. Ghosts and spirits play major roles in these tales that are perfect for reading aloud on late, moonless nights. Del Negro's strong storyteller's voice is perfectly pitched; her conversational tone initially sets readers at ease and then delightfully startles them with perfect, sometimes shocking, conclusions. Readers will applaud for Rosie, who outlives her cruel father, and little Jane, who finds sanctuary and fantastical friendship in an enchanted garden. A comprehensive author's note provides information about the traditional tales or folkloric motifs that appear in the selections. Natale's full-page pencil illustrations add to the eerie mood. Gather all grannies, aunts, mothers, sisters, and daughtersand assemble the menfolk, too. This collection is sure to thrill all readers and listeners who appreciate spirited stories. Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI