The Beasties [Mass Market Paperback]

William Sleator (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

At first Doug doesn't believe the rumors about bloodthirsty creatures who are said to have left a trail of amputated victims across the northern woods. Then, he and his younger sister find signs of a mysterious presence in the land behind their home. They are about to meet the Beasties, a "family" of beings with war on their minds--war against the human race! Acclaimed science fiction/fantasy author William Sleator has created a fast-paced treat just right for middle-grade Goosebumps fans.

"This gleefully icky horror show may well leave readers with some soul-searching questions...that resonate long after the cover is closed." --Publishers Weekly

"William Sleator is one of my favorite young adult writers." --R.L. Stine

* A Puffin Novel
* 208 pages
* Ages 8-12

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Strange creatures whose existence is threatened by loggers require human donors to survive. PW said that this novel "may well leave readers with some soul-searching questions." Ages 8-12. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-5?Doug and his precocious younger sister move to a deep forest when their botanist father has the opportunity to study a rare fungus. Before they leave, Doug's friend warns him to stay away from the shadowy woods or the "beasties" will get him. It's not long before the siblings are lured into an underground passage and meet up with the creatures. At this point, the hairs on readers' arms will start to rise and the plot takes the bizarre twist so familiar in Sleator's titles. Doug, presented with several dilemmas, is forced to make uncomfortable decisions without really understanding his choices. Using his trademark techniques, Sleator sets the scene within everyday situations, introduces unusual plot elements with vivid description, develops the story line by leading readers though a labyrinth, and builds to an explosive ending with a message. The Beasties follows this format and includes sibling rivalry, forest conservation, respect for those who are less valued or understood, choices and decisions, friendship, and a healthy dose of the creepy. This is a quick read, with lots of suspense, but its real effectiveness lies in the way it introduces and explores issues of human choice and compassion, and the lingering questions after the reading is complete. The Beasties invites discussion as it delves into issues for which there are no easy answers. Sure to be popular with the author's many fans and a good choice to introduce his work to others.?Molly S. Kinney, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (September 13, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141306394
• ISBN-13: 978-0141306391
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jennifer's reveiw for The Beasties., March 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Beasties (Mass Market Paperback)

I think that William Sleator is a very zestfull writer. William Sleator wrote a book about animals that lived underground. These animals are called " Beasties." The Things I like about this book are, the way he discribed the setting and character's. He used some very disciptive words like, "very precocious" as he discribed a character named Colette. I also liked the way the story was well organized. The author did an excellent job of creating suspense. The only things I did not like about this storywas, the ending and the way the loggers treated the beasties. The book is unreal, but the end was not what I thought it was going to be.The loggers cut down trees where the beasties lived. I would recommend this book to any teen, kid, or adult who likes action packed and suspensful books. This book is for all ages. What I learned is " it's not whats on the outside, it's what's on the inside." In this story the kids became friends with these life-forms, then so can we. HAVE FUN READING!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very thirlling, April 19, 2005

By 

D. Seymour (Germany, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Beasties (Mass Market Paperback)

Even as an adult I enjoyed this book. There were parts that got my heart to beating fast and a few times I even jumped when someone started talking to me or I heard a loud noise. Towards the end of the book I thought the book got a bit long and started to trail off a bit differently than I had expected but non-the-less it was a great read. I encouraged my husband to read it too because I found it to be so engrossing. He too really enjoyed it and for years we have both tried to remember the name or author so we could buy it to reread and let our teenager enjoy. Finally I came across it and ordered it right away.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER disappointment in the horror genre, April 12, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Beasties (Mass Market Paperback)

I found this one in the local library where I live. All I can say is thank god I did not buy this at some bookstore! When I was reading the description on the back, it sounded like a good, scary, nasty horror book---just what I like. But no. Just like a lot of horror books, whose authors I won't name---the actual story is waaaaaaaaaay different than the cover or description makes you think. This book turned out to be quite gory at some times, but the plot was one of those look-how-humans-are-ruining-the-world-guilt books. I didn't want a moral, I wanted a monster horror book--which i thought it was in the first place. The ending was bitter sweet to me, but that couldn't save the book much in my opinion. One postive thing i could say is--there was some great detail in the beasties themselves and their homes, and the few gory parts scattered around. Avoid if you want a typical monster horror story. If you don't like that kinda thing, I say, go ahead and rent it out of the library or a discount book store and save your money.