Curses, Inc. and Other Stories [Mass Market Paperback]

Vivian Vande Velde (Author)

Book Description

Series: Laurel-Leaf Books | Publication Date: September 8, 1998

Vivian Vande Velde's spellbinding short stories are filled with magic and mayhem. Witness the boy who breaks his dance date because he's too cheap to spend money on her. He learns about spells the hard way in Curses, Inc. What happens when a woman brings her son back from the dead in "The Witch's Son"? Many folks go to Granny Orilla for remedies. Does a cure or a curse await in "Cypress Swamp Granny"? Beware: These haunting stories will put you under their spell.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up. This compelling collection features confident storytelling and surprise endings. Modern technology merges with fantasy in the title story. Cheapskate Bill Essler dumps Denise Bainbridge as his graduation-dance date so he doesn't have to spend his money on her. Furious when she then humiliates him in front of the entire school, he discovers a new computer web site, Curses, Inc., and chooses from a menu of spells to make Denise's life miserable. However, the curses never seem to have their desired effect and Bill's bank account quickly dwindles. Other selections include a hilarious take on what might happen if humans could understand animals but animals still couldn't understand humans; meditations on vanity; and the moral question of whether or not it is right to take the life of someone who took yours?if you were raised from the dead. A strong theme of morality and making choices runs throughout the book. "Witch-Hunt," a fable about censorship, is sure to promote discussion. Vande Velde skillfully deceives readers into thinking that the story is taking place in the distant past, making the twist at the end all the more relevant. The author writes about her inspiration for each tale in a short afterword, giving teens insight into the perennial question, "Where do you get your ideas?" This will be a hot choice for YAs and can be easily booktalked off the shelves.?Tim Wadham, Dallas Public Library, TX
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

An uneven collection of ten short stories by Vande Velde (Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird, 1995, etc.) that treats spell-casting in modern, historical, and timeless settings. The title story is a breezy computer tale, in which eighth- grader Bill outrages a girl by uninviting her to a dance at the last minute. Her subsequent treatment of him inspires him to order a curse from an on-line service that will cause her dog to be lost for a period of time for a fee. That curse, and each successive one, benefits her more, until a neat twist brings the clever tale to a close. Another ambitious tale, ``The Witch's Son,'' set in the time of the American Revolution, is well drawn and poignant, but suffers a weak ending. ``Remember Me,'' a strong story, presents food for thought about the link between memory and identity, and then backs away from a satisfying conclusion. The stories are least effective when imitating folk tales, and most effective when both plot and setting are vital enough to make an impression. Vande Velde is often amusing, and fans of the previous book will be entertained by this one, but an introduction and afterword about how the book came to be, who gave it a title, and where ideas come from sound superfluous and indulgent. (Short stories. 12+) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (September 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440227674
• ISBN-13: 978-0440227670
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,266,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Magically twisted short stories sure to please 'Potter' fans, May 11, 2002

By 

Jake Stitch (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Curses, Inc. and Other Stories (Hardcover)

These wonderful short stories are twisted, enjoyable fast reads that no Harry Potter fan should miss while waiting for book five to arrive. It has all kinds of witty witch stories, from the truly scary "Lost Soul" and "Past Sunset" to the laugh-out-loud funny "To Converse With the Dumb Beasts" and "Boy Witch." The off-the-wall fantasies engross readers from the beginning and don't let go even after the last page is turned. The forward and afterword from the author explaining her insperation and the collection's title are interesting, but don't add anything to the book and are at times bland, the reason this book only gets four stars. Still, they're not bad and you shouldn't skip them, especially if you become a fan of the book. All in all, a collection of short stories you won't want to pass up. Great, and highly reccomended!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific Collection of Short Stories, December 9, 1998

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Curses, Inc. and Other Stories (Mass Market Paperback)

I am a 13 year old, and Im pretty new to short stories, but after I found this great book at my bookstore, I knew I was hooked. The title story is hilarious, and has a great ending. Vande Velde has a great sense for making funny, spooky, kooky and intelligent short stories, yet doesnt bore you or overdose on gore. I loved this book, and Ill be sure to get other books from Vivian Vabde Velde!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wow., November 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Curses, Inc. and Other Stories (Mass Market Paperback)

At first I couldn't stand how these stories end, but then I realized that if they ended the way I wished they would, they wouldn't be half as interesting or as thought-provoking. It would just be a well told, cliched archetype we've all heard a million times.

Fives points to Vivian Vande Velde for another awesome book!