The Crossroads

because of GR Amy's review... and because I'm in the mood for something different...
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Well that was a kick. ?áGet this - I don't normally like thrillers, mystery, horror, or dark paranormal. ?áI also seldom read a series beyond the first book (even if it ends incompletely, which this did not). ?áAnd yet, I had trouble putting this down to cook dinner, was sad when it was over, and am seriously considering looking for the sequel.
I don't even generally like fast-paced books that are written by ppl who are fans of/writers for screen media... and this read like that, and I enjoyed it!

I think the strengths of this are that the author knows his characters well. ?áThe story dominates, but even the most iconographic bad show more guys have a bit extra complication in their backstory, and a spark of vibrancy that made me feel like I was at the crossroads with Zack having these adventures. ?áThe author was careful not to take the easy way out, ever. For example, Dad is a lawyer - but he does make time to do fun things with Zack. ?áThe rules of the afterlife were plausible, carefully thought-out, and adhered to consistently. ?áEtc. ?áThere are even a few discuss-able themes here, for example about facing bullies and coping with loss.

Highly recommended to fans of adventure of any age. ?áEven those to young to read it comfortably would probably be ok with listening to you read it to them as a family thing. ?áAnd I'm recommending it to my husband the Dean Koontz fan. show less

This is a spooky story that I expect middle grade kids to really enjoy. In fact, I'm surprised that it isn't more well known, because I know a lot of kids who love scary stories. I personally liked it much better than Grabenstein's Lemoncello books. It kind of a reminded me of those ghost stories from childhood about the ghost who roams the night carrying a lantern trying to avenge it's death.

I have to admit that it's kind of convoluted story. There are many characters to keep up with and how they are all related. Zack, his dad, and his new stepmother have moved back to his dad's hometown. Turns out his dad has a connection to a tragic bus accident that happened back in the 1950s. A bus and truck collided at an intersection known as the show more crossroads, killing the driver of the truck and nearly everyone on the bus. Now there are ghosts that roam the crossroads at night, unable to rest. All the ghosts are harmless except one, the driver of the truck. He was chasing down his wife on the bus to stop her from interfering in his plans to illegally marry a wealthy woman.

Zack's family has bought a new house near that crossroads. In fact the haunted tree that the truck driver hit so many years ago, is on their property. A spiteful, mean old woman brings flowers to the tree every Monday. His dad has the tree cut down, which ignites the fury of the ghost and old woman Spratling. The ghost is out to avenge every descendent of everyone that did him wrong, including Zack's family. Zack and his new friend are determined to help get rid of the tree stump in the hopes that it will send the horrible ghost on its way.

As in many books, the ending gets rushed with a lot of stuff happening, as all the pieces come together. My favorite part is the slow build up as we learn about all the characters and how they are connected. I especially like Zack's friend Davis who calls his Pardner. Hmmm. Not too many people in today's world talking like that. Is that a clue? show less

This is a real page-turner of a ghost story! After an ill-fated event in which many people died at a crossroads, the spirits of all the deceased are left to wander in limbo near the scene until a resolution is found. Zack has just moved into the house which stands at the crossroads and must help the spirits get their due. The mystery and suspense surrounding the accident fuel the story more than the ghosts do, making this not true horror, but more a supernatural suspense story. This, however, makes the book perfect for it's intended middle school audience.

This YA book is a ghost story, and it's fairly spooky.
But it's also a self-realization story, and a very good one, at that.

The town of North Chester has an unhappy history. In 1958, there was a bus accident at the edge of town, and 41 people were killed, including the bus driver, the driver of the car that hit the bus, and a local policeman.

The only bus passenger who survived the accident was Mary O'Claire, who is now in a nursing home in North Chester, and is looked after by her grandson Billy, a plumber.

Gerda Spratling is the last survivor of the family whose business, Spratling Clockworks Factory, supported the town in its infancy.

Zack Jennings is 11 years old. His mother died of cancer, for which she blamed him. She said she had to show more smoke so she wouldn't have to think about what a rotten kid he was.

We meet him just before the wedding of his father, George, to children's book author Judy Magruder. After the wedding and family honeymoon, they move to the small Connecticut town where George grew up. That's right, North Chester.

Zack meets a boy his own age named Davy, and they become good friends. Zack has never really had a close friend before; he always felt he didn't deserve one. Davy, though, keeps complaining about a shrine old Miss Spratling built around a large oak tree in the Jennings' back yard, and tries to convince Zack to destroy it.

Judy encounters Miss Spratling paying a visit to her descanso, becomes intrigued by the story and begins to research it. George Jennings goes away on business.

The 50th anniversary of the bus accident approaches, and all the elements are in place for something big to happen.

Chris Grabenstein was kind enough to send me this book ages ago. I read the first chapter and set it aside, because seemed too scary that evening. I came across it again recently, decided to give it another try (a sunny afternoon helped), and finished it in a couple of hours.
My apologies to Chris for taking so long to read and comment on his very fine book! show less

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

There's a tree that stands watch over the crossroads of County Route 13 and Connecticut State Highway 31. There's a memorial on the tree. Someone leaves a dozen fresh roses there every Monday. And the tree is at the back edge of Zack Jennings's new yard.

Zack, his father, and his new step-mother have left the city and moved to Connecticut. Zack lost his mother to cancer, and now that his father has remarried, the family is making a new start in Zack's father's hometown. They have a brand new house, Zack got a new dog, Zipper, and things with his step-mom might actually be okay.

But there's something strange going on in the town. Zack has a new friend, Davy. They have great adventures together, but it show more always seems like Zack is the one doing the hard work while Davy comes up with the plans. Judy, Zack's step-mom, gets a flat tire on the deserted highway and a Greyhound employee comes to offer aide. Though like with Davy, he can tell her how to fix it but he just can't do the work himself.

At the same time, the 50th-anniversary of a horrific bus accident at the intersection is about to occur. At the heart of the accident is Clint Eberhart. Trying to finish business with his first wife, the bus goes off the road and bursts into flames. The Thunderbird that Clint was driving smashes into the same tree that now holds a memorial dedicated to him.

Through the shrine that is kept at the tree, all the participants of that awful night fifty years ago are kept bound to the earth. It seems Zack has been the one chosen to help them release their souls. The only problem -- Zack doesn't know he's been chosen, nor does he even know that the spirits exist. At least he doesn't in the beginning...

THE CROSSROADS is a heart-pounding, page-turning ghost story that will keep even the strong-willed awake long after the last page has been turned. Clint Eberhart is pure evil, and the spirit and perseverance of one young boy is all it takes to face off against him. The book flows quickly with short chapters to keep the action constantly moving. The book is easy enough for most readers, but because of the ghosts and some of the scary content, I selected the older age group as a recommendation for readers. show less

What a treat! Terrific little ghost story with a couple of engaging subplots, packed with gentle humor, action, and enough creepy moments to satisfy young readers, 9 - 12 years of age.

A real great read! I just started this book because I'm in children's horror phase but man oh man, wasn't it so exciting that I needed and did read it in one sitting. I'm glad I found author Chris Grabenstein. His story telling is easy and engaging, there is not one boring slump in whole book. It's fast-paced and interesting right from the start with right amount of humor. It's ideal for middle-grade but suitable for younger kids too and even adults will find it enjoyable.