Damien Graves

There are 3 short stories in this book: 1. Blood and Sand, 2: Man's Best Friend & 3: Stranger in the House. This volume was better than the first, and I particularly liked the second story which was creepy about a very mangy parrot that takes over a household after its owner dies in mysterious circumstances. The parrot turns Ben's parents into his slaves and Ben is forced to take drastic measures to free his parents from its spell by releasing the evil within the bird. He succeeds but where show more has this evil gone? (Spoiler : Into Ben's pet alsatian Rex) The first story tells the tale of a boring holiday at a run down beach resort where the only highlight is the sand sculpture competition. A creepy man has managed to create some very life-like sculptures in the past - including one of the town's loveable stray dog (that hasn't been seen since) - what is his sinister secret? Final tale is the standard "there's something wrong with our babysitter" a la "have you checked the children?" mode. When Laura turns up to babysit Jessica, Robbie and Megan; 4 year old Megan asks where Laura is and the older children start to notice some very strange things about their sitter, not the least being she now has green eyes instead of her usual brown and she has become left handed! What will happen to Jessica and her family while in the care of someone or something that looks like Laura but clearly isn't? show less

As a parent, I'm always looking for interesting things for my kids to read...so when I saw The Midnight Library series on display at my local library, I was intrigued. We picked up the first few (Blood and Sand, Voices, & End Game) to see if we'd like them. I have to say, it's an interesting series. Each book appears to hold three short stores revolving around a central theme (in this case, Blood and Sand). We've just wrapped up reading this and boy my daughter (9) and I enjoyed the stores. show more All three are well written, suspenseful, and manage to scare without going over the top, that is to say there is a bit of subtleness to the stories that is refreshing. In this trio of terror, you get eerily real sand sculptures, a possessed parrot looking to toy with his new "owners," and a babysitter who doesn't seem quite like she used to be. The first story has some holes in it in terms of how it ended (the believability of "getting away with it after the accusations), but the second and third were of a better quality...with the third being my favorite by far. Overall, I give Blood and Sand 4 stars, the stores are quick to read (one per night for several nights) and the level of subtle creepiness was just right for the age range of this books audience. I'd recommend them for parents having trouble getting your young readers engaged in longer book over the summer (or the holidays). show less

Three short supernatural novellas for younger readers are contained in this the first volume of Nick Shadow's Midnight Library. The first story Voices deals with a young girl who hears conversations in her head ( much like telephone calls) after she visits a witch's grave. Unfortunately for her, the conversations are a fortelling of the future - and eventually she hears her own death. Second story A Perfect Fit is the best as it pertains to a pair of new runners ( called "trainers" because show more this is an English book) that run amok as if possessed. They start off harmlessly enough - trampled flower beds, etc. But soon progress to arson and then murder! the last story is almost a fairytale - An Apple a Day - like Peter Rabbit - don't go into Mr MacGregor's Garden- Tim is warned by his grandmother not to bother her neighbour Old Bill Cole and do not eat the apples from his trees. Tim learns the hard way as that old wives' tale about eating apple pips comes true! Good scary one for Year 7 or younger. show less

Reviewed by Spreeha for TeensReadToo.com

Once again, Damien Graves has put together a book with three more scary stories! I can't wait to see what others think of it.

John and Sarah have come again to the town where there practically isn't anyone around. Their family comes here every summer to spend time together, but they get so bored because there isn't anything to do except go to the stupid beach, which let me tell you, isn't the best place you want to spend your summer at. On the bright show more side, there is an annual sand sculpture competition which Sarah has finally convinced her brother, John, to attend and participate in like all the times they did it together when they were younger. There is this amazing sand sculptor whose creations are just unbelievable, that just looked like the real thing! But when Sarah and John were snooping around in the sculptor's tent, they found that the creations were real and that he was cheating! They told the judges, who did not believe them; it was probably because the sculptor said that he hadn't even started on his project. Sarah and John went to investigate in his house to find some evidence. What do you think will happen to Sarah and John? What do you think they will discover?

Ben's grandfather has just recently died. While moving all his grandfather's stuff out of his house and into Ben's, he finds an ordinary pocket watch, which he thought was sort of a strange thing to give him but he kept it anyway. While looking through the moving van, Ben discovered this hideous looking bird named Igor that might just change Ben's life for awhile. A couple of days had past and his parents were acting kind of strange. All they did was take care of that stupid bird and started acting like they didn't even have a child. But then something strange occurred; the parrot said "I killed your grandfather, and you're next!" Ben was very scared of the bird now -- it was taking total control over his mom and dad's life, which wasn't very good, and he was afraid he would be killed, too! Over time very, very strange things occurred, and he had to find a way to save himself and his parents before it was too late! What will happen next?

Jessica and Robbie's parents are going out for dinner and Laura, their babysitter, is coming to take care of them. Usually they look forward to spending time with her, but tonight I don't think they would want to do that. Laura is a very responsible person but this time she is very late -- and their parents are not happy about it, either. When she finally gets to the house though, she was nothing like the Laura they knew! The `other' Laura loved boy bands performing on MTV but this supposedly `different' Laura just couldn't stand the music. They knew something was up so they did everything and anything in their power to get themselves and their younger sister out of the house and fast!

This second book in the TALES FROM THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY series has three heart stopping stories which will scare you to death. If you're like me, though, you won't be able to get enough and will have to keep reading. show less