Darkness Creeping: Twenty Twisted Tales [Paperback]

Neal Shusterman (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Imagine being trapped forever in someone else’s nightmare, with no means of escape. Or caught on one of the most terrifying roller coasters of all time, when suddenly the tracks ahead just disappear. Enter the world of Darkness Creeping, where hollow-eyed skulls arrive in the mail and nothing is as it seems. Boston Globe–Horn Book Award winner and beloved author Neal Shusterman walks on the dark side with this classic collection of masterfully creepy stories so horrifying, you may have to read them twice to remind yourself they’re not real.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

To borrow a phrase from this collection, Shusterman's writing can "scare a gargoyle right off its foundation." And that is precisely why fans of the author, particularly followers of his popular short story series that includes Mindquakes (1996), will reach hungrily for this title, which includes tales both new and newly available (in the case of entries culled from earlier, hard-to-find collections). The best entry, published here for the first time, depicts a teen referee who gradually realizes that "the fate of the world is about to be decided by a suburban peewee soccer game." Another features a character who receives his own skull—postmarked from the future—as a birthday gift. All will further Shusterman's reputation for penning reluctant-reader–friendly stories in which Twilight Zone twists, creepy poetic justice, and normality turned inside-out are the order of the day. New introductions explaining each story's inspiration will fascinate readers and perhaps prompt their own tales in which mundane reality bumps against the scary and the strange. Mattson, Jennifer
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Neal Shusterman lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (February 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142407216
• ISBN-13: 978-0142407219
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Neal Shusterman is the author of many novels for young adults, including Unwind, which was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers, Everlost, and Downsiders, which was nominated for twelve state reading awards. He also writes screenplays for motion pictures and television shows such as Animorphs and Goosebumps. The father of four children, Neal lives in southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Darkness Creeping, August 2, 2009

By 

Sandra K. Stiles (Sarasota, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darkness Creeping: Twenty Twisted Tales (Paperback)

Darkness Creeping is 20 short stories that will creep you out. "Security Blanket" is the story of a "special" quilt that turns into the worst type of security blanket. I may never look at quilts the same again. My favorite was probably the "River Tour". The story of a special guided trip down the River Styx. Have a fear of dentists? Ralphy Sherman's Root Canal is a story you can really sink your teeth into. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes short stories, the creepier the better. If you are a Neal Shusterman fan then I would definitely recommend this book. I gave it a 5 out of 5 rating.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read, Not all Horror Stories, September 22, 2008

By 

C. Espey "austin" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darkness Creeping: Twenty Twisted Tales (Paperback)

This is a very good collection of short stories, by a very good author. A lot of the stories in the book aren't really horror stories but it is still a great read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Scary, December 6, 2011

By 

Jack Fontain - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Darkness Creeping: Twenty Twisted Tales (Kindle Edition)

I am now 21 years old and a junior majoring in physics at a large university. However, to this day the story "Monkeys Tonight" creeps me out. I hadn't read this book since middle school and I didn't even remember the title. I had spent quite some time hunting this book down because it is, in my opinion, one of the scariest scary story books ever written.