Johnathan Rand

I spent this book alternating between fear, with the horror themes, and nitpicking inaccuracies, since the island is near and dear to my heart, and I've been there a couple times. (There's no porch. And no outside door to the tower...) but the idea of writing about the island is one that has caught my fancy several times, and I'm impressed that Knight followed through with it.

Sandy and her brother are transported to an alternate dimension filled with scary creatures, and they must find the Stone Key if they want to get home. Reading this book is like being told a story by Sandy, as everything is in first person past tense, with some interjections of "You know how it feels? That's how I felt." Chapters are very short, the paragraphs within are very short, and they follow a very predictable pattern. Every chapter ends with a "scary" cliffhanger that is immediately show more resolved at the beginning of the next. The action keeps up, though, pulling readers along. The fantastical creatures accentuate the fact that we aren't on Mackinac Island any more (which makes the title slightly misleading). It doesn't matter how poorly written and predictable this series is, 2nd and 3rd graders will continue to clamor for them, at least until the next big scary series comes along. show less

The American Chillers Series are very popular in our library so it was fun to see what the kids are all so excited about! I think this was a fun story that uses suspense and gruesome descriptions to really hook the reader. Curricular connexions could be developing expressive writing and intense, adjective filled descriptions. Also, building up the suspense through a chapter and then leaving the reader hanging...

Do you enjoy listening to stories told around the campfire? Then gather together, turn out the lights, and be prepared for a good scare with Creepy Campfire Chillers on audio by Jonathan Rand. The tales are just spooky enough to keep you awake for part of the night wondering if they are true or not. Jonathan Rand offers the perfect audio treat with five stories and one poem in this collection of chillers. Rand has the perfect voice for narrating these creepy tales and sets a scene that draws show more the listener right into his vivid imagination.

The first story, The People of the Trees, is a timeless fable of people seeking immortality and the consequences that can come from achieving this dream. A frightening tale that takes place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan about two boys whose curiosity gets the better of them, this story shows how sometimes even the young can get caught up in things best left alone and the consequences that are far more frightening than they could have ever thought.

The Mystery of Coyote Lake, the second story on the audio, is set in northern lower Michigan and is a story that will make you tremble in fear. This is a horrifying tale about a young boy that falls out of his canoe and drowns on the lake during a freak thunderstorm, and a family’s summer vacation becomes a nightmare when they encounter this lonely boy who even in death searches for the best friend he left behind on that fateful day.

The third story, Midnight Train, is a fearful legend that arises from what would seem to be a very normal event. The story is set in the 1800’s in northern Michigan in a small town where residents all come out to greet the train and its passengers with joy and welcome. One night the townfolk encountered a sight that would forever make them fear the sound of the train whistle and the clatter of the wheels on the track. This story brings the fear of death to the fore front and makes us all wonder if there is something after death waiting for us.

The Phone Call is set in Royal Oak, Michigan and is simple story about how something little can become terrifying when we are left alone. A young girl left alone at night lets her imagination overcome her common sense. Her imagination takes her beyond reason when the phone rings, and she hears something that sets her on the course for a frightening night. When the truth of the phone call comes out, she realizes her mistake and has, perhaps, learned a lesson from it.

The House at the End of Gallows Lane is a chilling tale about an unsuspecting family and their new home. The house is perfect for a family, large and sets just outside of the city with a large empty field for a backyard. They soon learn the house is haunted, and the backyard they love so much used to be a cemetery where all the grave stones were removed, and now the “residents” try to find peace. This is a story about what can happen when ghosts are disturbed by a disrespectful act.

The poem, Dark Night, is the final selection on this audio. The poem is about two boys and the frightful sounds they hear one night that leads them to an old abandoned cabin in the woods. Inside the cabin they find the skeleton of an old miner that gives the boys some good advice about greed and the consequences that could be suffered if one succumbs to temptation.

Jonathan Rand is the author of the best selling Michigan Chillers, American Chillers, Adventure Club and Freddie Fernortner Fearless Firstgrader. He is a Michigan resident who was born in Pontiac and now lives in Topinabee with his wife. Rand will be making an appearance at the Three Rivers Public Library on Friday April 24th from 10:30 -11:30 (Kids will be out of school that day). Rand will sign books before and after the program. Copies of his books will also be available for purchase. To learn more about Jonathan Rand visit his web site at , where you can find information about his books, ask him questions and much more. Review by Michele, Three Rivers Public Library show less