The Beast of Noor [Hardcover]

Janet Lee Carey (Author)

Book Description

Late one night,

piercing screams

awake the villages of Noor.

And the next day the bones of a young woman are found deep in the surrounding forests. Terror courses through the hearts of the villagers, along with something else...relief. An attack such as this is not uncommon in Noor.

The Shriker, a massive beast of unimaginable strength and rage, has roamed the dark woods for nearly three hundred years, savaging those unfortunate enough to encounter him. The people of Noor have lived in fear for so long that most have forgotten that the Shriker was once a loyal dog until the day his master betrayed and cursed him, condemning him to life as a monster. But Miles and Hanna Ferrell have never forgotten where the Shriker came from -- how could they? It was, after all, their ancestor who betrayed the dog.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–Miles and Hanna Ferrell live near Shalem Wood where a beast known as the Shriker has been attacking villagers for 300 years. Everyone knows his story–he was once a faithful dog betrayed by his owner, given to an evil master (another Ferrell), and cursed to kill at the time of the dark moon. Miles is determined to break the curse and win the admiration of the town. It doesn't take long for him to get in over his head, and meek, quiet Hanna has to overcome her shyness if she is to save him. Or, will the siblings just become two more of the beast's victims? The story has plenty of intrigue and danger, and the characters are realistically drawn. While well written, the plot is just a tad predictable, which, in fact, adds to its charm as the novel reads almost like a fairy tale, with the same rhythms and the same etiquette. Recommend it to lovers of (very mild) horror and suspense or to those who enjoy old-fashioned fairy tales. All in all, a fun read.–Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. The Sheens have always been considered outsiders because legend has it that a Sheen brought a monstrous dog, the Shriker, to the woods 300 years ago. Although the beast disappeared for a long time, it has begun to return in search of human prey, and when a local girl's bones are found in the woods, the villagers blame the clan. Such is the premise of this story of 15-year-old Miles Sheen and his 13-year-old sister, Hanna, who are determined to break the family curse. The action tracks between two linked worlds, as Miles is drawn into the Otherworld in pursuit of the Shriker, and Hanna follows. Carey delivers an eerie, atmospheric tale, full of terror and courage, set in a convincingly realized magical realm. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (July 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689876440
• ISBN-13: 978-0689876448
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #497,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

~Things are never what they seem. Find the lost inside the dream ~
Janet Lee Carey is the award-winning author of seven Children's and YA novels. School Library Journal starred review says "Verdict: This is quite simply fantasy at its best-original, beautiful, amazing, and deeply moving."
Janet links each new book with a charitable organization empowering readers to make a difference in the world. She tours in US and abroad presenting at schools, children's book festivals, and conferences. http://www.janetleecarey.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, March 7, 2007

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beast of Noor (Hardcover)

Miles and Hanna Ferrell live in the country in Ennes Isle, just outside of Shalm Wood. Miles wants nothing more in life than to go to Othlore and be trained in magic. He's been studying with the Falconer, but he feels like his teacher is holding him back more than he's helping. If only the Falconer would teach Miles a few spells... Hanna just desperately wants to feel normal and safe. But between her different colored eyes, the legend surrounding her family, and especially since the return of the Shriker, it doesn't look like normal or safe are in Hanna's future.

Stranded in a cave to escape a surprise storm, Grandpa tells them again the legend of the Shriker. He tells them how the Shriker used to be a brave and faithful dog, until he ways betrayed by his own master and cursed by death himself. Now, as the Shriker, he hunts human prey every full moon. The master who betrayed him, Rory Sheen, happens to be an ancestor of Miles and Hanna. Now that he's back the brother and sister won't be safe in the village, and no one is safe in the woods once the sun goes down.

When Miles tries to take matters into his own hands, things get more than a little out of control. Suddenly it's up to Hanna to save him. Hanna was always the quiet one. The one who stood back and let Miles handle things. The one who asked for the happy tales by the fire, because the others scared her too much. Now, she's right in the middle of the scariest one of all, and if she ever wants to see her brother again she'll need to find a lot of inner strength, and quickly.

This is a great, creepy, interesting tale. I don't know how comfortable I would be hearing it at a fire on a dark night. Granted, I'm a big wimp, but that's only part of the point. It's scary enough for those who are looking for that, but it's also a great story, which is what good legends are. There's a fair amount of fantasy, a little magic, personal discovery, even a sweet little love story woven in. There's a little bit of something for everyone. Perfect for a stormy, foggy night, curled up with hot chocolate, warm and safe in your house.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Journey to an Enchanted World, on you won't forget., July 22, 2006

By 

Peggy King "Peggy" (Kirkland, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beast of Noor (Hardcover)

Wow! I couldn't put this book down. From the first chilling discovery of Polly's bones after the attack of the Shriker, I was hooked. But even more than the suspense, what rivets me about this book is the beautiful, rich, magical language. It's obvious that Janet Lee Carey is a person of deep truth and rich wisdom. I hope we see many more books about Hanna and Miles and the Lands of Oth and Noor.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book!, December 22, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Beast of Noor (Hardcover)

This book is really suspenseful and exciting, and the same thing never happens more than once. If you like fantasy like me, then you are sure to like this book! A book that is unlike any other that I have read, and a definate thing for any good wish list.