The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

A co-worker of mine told me that he reads this every year to get ready for Halloween. I decided to read it this year, too, to get me into the spirit of the season. This book is suitable for family reading or reading out loud in a classroom. This a delightful tale about a group of neighborhood friends who go out trick or treating and come upon a spooky house in the neighborhood occupied by a mysterious Mr. Moundshroud. He has an exceptional tree in his yard; it is huge and filled with hundreds of jack-o-lanterns. As they search for their missing friend Pipkin, Moundshroud leads the group on an amazing journey through time and places in the world and they learn about customs relating to the Halloween holiday. They travel to ancient Egypt, to Britain with the Druids, to Rome, to Paris, and to Mexico where they experience a celebration of the Day of the Dead. This book is eerie, informative, and enjoyable, at the same time, a great way to get into the Halloween spirit. ( )

Reviewed by Marie Robinson for TeensReadToo.com

Opening this book is like opening a present. Originally published in 1972, publisher Alfred A. Knopf has printed a new hardcover edition. The dust-jacket is beautifully illustrated, the book is of an unusual size. Everything about it says "special."

Inside, I was not disappointed. Bradbury swept me away with his opening scene:

"It was a small town by a small river and a small lake in a small northern part of a Midwest state. There wasn't so much wilderness around you couldn't see the town. But on the other hand there wasn't so much town you couldn't see and feel and touch and smell the wilderness. The town was full of trees. And dry grass and dead flowers now that autumn was here. And full of fences to walk on and sidewalks to skate on and a large ravine to tumble in and yell across. And the town was full of...

Boys.

And it was the afternoon of Halloween.

And all the houses shut against a cool wind.

And the town was full of cold sunlight.

But suddenly, the day was gone.

Night came out from under each tree and spread."

This scene sets the tone for the entire book. THE HALLOWEEN TREE is as classic a Halloween story as A CHRISTMAS CAROL is for Christmas. It is about a group of boys, all friends, ages 11-12, who dress up for their annual night of Halloween mischief and go trick or treating. The boys find themselves at a particularly spooky mansion in a dark ravine, with a Marley-the-ghost door knocker and a gigantic tree covered with jack-o-lanterns. As the jack-o-lanterns light up one by one, the boys realize they are in the presence of a Halloween Tree, and that something very special is about to happen.

The resident of the house, the mysterious Mr. Moundshroud, takes the boys on a fantastic journey through traditions of Halloween past. This story is part history lesson, but the history is provided in such a compelling way that your average reader won't even realize he or she is learning something.

Perhaps the only downside to this story is that it is so dominantly geared toward a male audience. All of the major characters are male. Though, being female myself, I could get lost in the spookiness of the narrative.

Bradbury uses his trademark short sentences which are short on exposition but long on crafting a mood. The story is spooky without ever being scary, and is sure to delight kids of all ages. ( )

This book absolutely captures the magic, essence, and wonder of a child's Halloween. Bradbury's writing is flawless and flowing; it sends shivers down your spine. Beyond perfect to read during October, and ending on Halloween night! ( )

Bradbury's use of language in this book is my favorite part about this book. He really evokes the feel of Halloween. However, there was just something I didn't love about the plot—eight boys have to rescue their friend, Pipkin, who is lost in time on Halloween. Reading about the different holiday traditions was cool, but I suppose I was expecting something more from this book. It's creepy and worth a read, but I think I'll stick to Poe for my Halloween reading tradition. ( )

"Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve. Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet or gold or orange velvet. Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys like the plumes of funeral parades. From kitchen windows drifted two pumpkin smells: gourds being cut, pies being baked."
-- The Halloween Tree, p. 4

Why do we dress up on Halloween? How did the tradition of trick-or-treating begin? Why are witches, skeletons and ghosts associated with Halloween? The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury takes the reader on an incredible journey through the history of Halloween.

It’s Halloween night, and for 13-year-old Tom Skelton and his friends, it’s the most exciting evening of the year. But when they meet up to go trick-or-treating together, they realize that one of their friends is missing – Joe Pipkin, “the greatest boy who ever lived.” When they arrive at Pipkin’s house, Pip emerges, his face deathly pale. He says that he’s not feeling well but he’ll catch up with his friends at a house at the edge of town.

The boys arrive at the house to find an incredible sight: a giant tree filled with jack-o-lanterns, the Halloween Tree. There they meet the mysterious Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud, the sinister yet genial owner of the home. When he questions the boys about the significance of their costumes, the boys, dressed as a Skeleton, Mummy, Witch, Ghost, Gargoyle, etc. all realize that they don’t know the stories behind their Halloween costumes. Mr. Moundshroud offers to help them discover the history of All Hallows’ Eve, but the boys know they have to wait for Pip. When Pip appears, his friends call to him, but as Pip approaches, he stumbles and vanishes into the darkness. Mr. Moundshroud then takes the boys on an amazing journey through time and space, not only to learn the history of Halloween, but also to save their dear friend, Pipkin.

Mr. Moundshroud takes them to ancient Egypt, England during the time of the Druids, Notre Dame in the Middle Ages, and finally to the cemeteries of Mexico for the Day of the Dead. At each magical stop, they learn something new about how the traditions of Halloween were shaped by different cultures across the centuries, culminating in the holiday we know today.

Bradbury spins an imaginative and haunting tale of friendship and discovery in this remarkable book. While The Halloween Tree was first published in 1972, my first exposure to the story came from the excellent Cartoon Network television special that aired in the 1990’s. If the special is ever made available on DVD, I’ll be first in line to purchase it. Until then, the book will be a treasured yearly tradition for me. ( )