The Deadly Catch

The third story, Sticks and Stones, was the best of the three. The first story, Deadly Catch, was a good read too. The second story, The Trap, was great except for the ending. I thought the way Katie handled the situation was out of character and that the story could have continued to a more satisfying end.

Here are three more stories from Damien Graves's TALES FROM THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY. Each story is a mystery/supernatural thriller that will have readers questioning the everyday events around them. THE DEADLY CATCH is the tale of two boys who kayak into danger. Warnings to stay inside the retaining wall and not venture into the open sea fall on deaf ears. The boys are too interested in showing off their skills and possibly seeing real life sharks. What follows is a mysterious fog, what appears to be an abandoned boat, and a gray, slimy residue. It all adds up to much more than the boys bargained for. The second story, titled THE TRAP, will scare the pants off anyone with a fear of mice. After Katie's mother leaves their house in a phobia-induced panic, Katie and her father are left to battle a massive invasion of mice. Just when they think things are under control, the unexpected happens. STICKS AND STONES is the story of Shiny Time lip gloss. Who knew that something as innocent as lip gloss could change the life of a teenager? Strange things begin happening, and Kelly finally begins to accept the fact that her fabulous new purchase might be the cause. These easy-to-read stories are great for middle grade and reluctant readers. Enjoyable separately or as a collection of three, they provide fun entertainment as well as excellent models for student-driven writing. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"