Copyright Date:
2022
Edition Date:
2022
Release Date:
03/08/22
Illustrator:
Vaughn, Jen,
Pages:
154 pages
ISBN:
Publisher: 0-358-53687-1 Perma-Bound: 0-8000-1613-0
ISBN 13:
Publisher: 978-0-358-53687-1 Perma-Bound: 978-0-8000-1613-5
Dewey:
Fic
Dimensions:
21 cm
Language:
English
Reviews:
School Library Journal
(Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2022)
Gr 48 This eerie graphic novel adaptation brings to life a tale of terror. When Daniel's family moves from Fairfield, CT, to Woodville, WV, they realize there is something off about the small rural town. The residents are a little rough around the edges, and the family's new house is in shambles. In addition to the decay, the property also has a dark pastthe previous family's daughter vanished 50 years ago, and some townspeople say she was "took." Rumors of a long-deceased ghost witch (or "conjure woman") named Old Auntie and her devilish partner Bloody Bones frighten Daniel, yet his parents deny any mention of the tall tales. His younger sister Erica begins to hear voices beckoning her to the woods, and she takes to wandering off with her doll Little Erica. The stories say that Old Auntie kidnaps a child every 50 years, and one evening after a fight with Daniel, Erica goes missing. The narrative flows easily, and text and illustrations work together, resulting in a suspenseful read. Despite the overly digital quality to the artwork, it pairs well with the book, providing dreamlike, haunting, and at times horrifying qualities. Daniel and his family are white. VERDICT Middle grade readers will be thoroughly engaged by this terrifying graphic novel that blends folklore and mystery to create a moody treat for horror fans. Claire Moore
Daniel doesn’t believe the woods behind his new home are haunted by an evil witch and her terrifying beast. But then his little sister disappears . . . and it’s up to him to find her. This chilling graphic-novel version of Mary Downing Hahn’s popular page-turner will thrill readers who love spooky stories.
They say that a ghost witch lives in the woods, up on the hill. They say her companion has a pig skull for a face and stands taller than a man, his skeleton gleaming in the moonlight. They say that the witch takes young girls, and no one ever sees them again.
Daniel doesn’t believe the stories. He figures the kids on the bus are just trying to scare him since he’s new. Still, he wishes his family had never moved here—their house is a wreck, Mom and Dad keep fighting, and his little sister, Erica, spends most of her time talking to her creepy doll.
But when Erica disappears into the woods one day, Daniel knows something is terribly wrong. Has she been “took”?
For more spooky graphic novels from Mary Downing Hahn, check out Wait Till Helen Comes, All the Lovely Bad Ones, and The Old Willis Place!