Adirondack Nightmare: A Spooky Tale in the North Country [Paperback]

Rebecca Leonard (Author), Elizabeth Brush (Editor), Nick Leonard (Illustrator)

Book Description

The ghosts of one Adirondack cemetery come alive again in autumn, as teenage Will Durant first collects ghost stories from several residents of Raquette Lake, and then tests out his machismo in the graveyard-and has a ghost exerience of his own! This brief ghost story chapter book is aimed at "middle readers" (third through fifth grade) and firmly rooted in a strong sense of place. Not only the plotline, but also the villages, sights, family names and even local recipes in the book are drawn from Adirondack lore. Extensively researched, the book includes a full bibliography of both books and online reference sources. It also includes three authentic Adirondack recipes: for maple sugar cookies, michigan sauce (the m is not capitalized, really) and candied apples, as well as bits of folklore ranging from a description of the sound of a loon to an actual pattern to make a paper helicopter seed.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the start of this book we are in the unmistakably familiar territory of our Adirondack region, with references to Raquette Lake, Ticonderoga, the Great Camps and others. Rebecca Leonard has captured the flavor of our area and has even paused now and then, allowing us to taste the literal flavor of maple sugar cookies, candied apples and even a local version of...michigan sauce!? This ghostly story is truly one of tricks or treats . Adirondack Nightmare is generously illustrated by young Mr. Leonard with line drawings, two dimensional figures, and darkly shaded artwork that suits the eerie mood of this spooky tale. Happy reading! --Sid Couchey, Illustrator, Richie Rich, The Shadow comics

"I took the dare and I just might have to go to sleep with the light on tonight. It's an Adirondack tale that sends chills up and down my spine every time I read it. I just know it will do the same for you. It is a real recipe for goose bumps. Not only is the story frighteningly delicious, but the recipes are yummy as well. I can't wait to read the next Adirondack Nightmare." --Gordie Little, Radio & TV Personality, Ghost Storyteller

"My daughter fell right into the book and didn't even want to come up for air. She loved that it takes place in the Adirondacks...a place near and dear to her heart even though she's a Southern girl." --Romeyn Rowlson, Falls Church, VA

About the Author

Rebecca (Becky) has two college degrees: An AAS in Business Marketing and Merchandising and a BS in Computer Science. She has owned and operated her own successful video rental business since June of 1990. At one point she owned three stores and now owns two, both called Under One Roof Video. A 10-year-old, playing at Becky's house in Cliff Haven, NY, came upon a manuscript Becky wrote in 1978 for a high school creative writing class. The young lady said excitedly to the author, "Wow, this is great! You should be an author!" This enthusiasm was all Becky needed to begin writing regional children's books. Her 15-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter offer a lot of creative ideas and inspiration. Becky's business sense has helped her in marketing and promoting her books. The author uses her experience with computers to develop her web site. Her computer expertise has also been invaluable to her while she began her own self-publishing company, Leonard Enterprises, Inc. Becky has lived in the Adirondack area most of her life and she loves to share her passion(s) of reading and the Adirondacks with younger children. During book presentations, Rebecca urges kids to follow their dreams, do what they can, and not let put-downs get in their way just as she became first a successful business owner and then an author, even after being ridiculed all through her childhood. If you'd like to contact Becky, she can be reached at [e-mail] or at [phone].

Product Details

• Paperback: 92 pages
• Publisher: LEONARD ENTERPRISES, INC.; 1st edition (February 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934383147
• ISBN-13: 978-1934383148
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,764,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic North Country read!, May 19, 2007

By 

E. B. Nohe (Jarrettsville, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adirondack Nightmare: A Spooky Tale in the North Country (Paperback)

I loved this book and all of the receipe's, especially the michigans! I grew up in the area and this book allowed me to travel back to my roots. Thank you Rebecca and Nick for this wonderful trip down memory lane!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My 10-year old sister thought this was the best present!, May 16, 2007

By 

Finalsatyr (Cliff Haven, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adirondack Nightmare: A Spooky Tale in the North Country (Paperback)

I gave a copy of this book to my sister. She's 10 and is in 5th grade this year. She loved this book so much and now some of her friends own it. She really likes the recipes and made the cookies for our family. They're so good! She also likes that there's lots of illustrations and when she got to the chapter that mentions Ft. Ticonderoga she screamed, "I've been there!". It was pretty cool. The helicopter seed paper pattern is fun, I've never seen that before.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great holiday mood-setting story for reading aloud, July 10, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adirondack Nightmare: A Spooky Tale in the North Country (Paperback)

Written by mother of two Rebecca Leonard and featuring numerous black-and-white computer-generated illustrations by her son Nick Leonard, Adirondack Nightmare: A Spooky Tale in the North Country is a Halloween adventure novel for young people new to chapter books. Enhanced with tasty original Adirondack recipes like "John and Mary's Best Michigan Sauce Recipe Ever" and "Caramel & Chocolate Covered Candied Apple Recipe", Adirondack Nightmare is goosebump-inducing treat from cover to cover. A great holiday mood-setting story for reading aloud chapter by chapter or allowing novice readers to immerse themselves in the spine-chilling joy of words.