Customer Reviews

Halloween Tree, The

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Halloween Tree" recaptures the surreal spookiness of a child's Halloween with the knowledge of an adult. One of Ray Bradbury's relatively few books for children is a wildly imaginative ride, with a strong subtext about friendship and death itself.

Eight young boys congregate to go trick-or-treating on Halloween night; the only one missing is Pipkin, the universal favorite (Bradbury devotes an entire chapter to singing Pip's praises). Pipkin does show up, but he acts strangely and isn't wearing a costume. When they show up at the House, a haunted edifice, they find the sinister, skeletal Mr. Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud and an enormous tree hung with jack-o-lanterns -- a Halloween tree. Pipkin appears nearby, and then is carried off into the darkness.

To save Pip, Moundshroud takes the boys on a strange trip through time and space, through history and across the world. He shows them the death-related rituals that spawned Halloween: Egypt's mummies, the Celtic Samhain and its lord of the dead, the Christian All Hallows Eve, the Mexican El Dia De Muerte, and others. Through time and across the world, they chase Pipkin and try to save him -- but what can they do against death?

Halloween books are generally the realm of the under-eight crowd. At a certain point in life, it's just hard to recapture that magic -- it's like a darker version of Christmas. But Ray Bradbury, who has been captivating people with his dark-edged fantasy for years, presents a uniquely gothic, uplifting story in this book.

Ray Bradbury's deft touch keeps this particular story from becoming too leaden and heavy-handed. Kids will be fascinated by the origins of Halloween, a holiday now relegated to candy and costumes; the descriptions of different cultures and what helped shape the Halloween we know today are handled excellently. He also does not become judgemental about any of the cultures, such as ancient Romans, Celts, and Christians, but merely presents how civilizations rise and fall, and how their traditions linger on.

None of the boys are really developed too intricately, and remain simply young brave boys who are willing to go through the fire for their friend. Mr. Moundshroud is alternately sinister or kindly: considering who he turns out to be, the sinisterness is not surprising, but he also sympathizes with the boys and allays their fears. The writing is excellent, almost dreamlike, with the sort of delightful overkill that characterizes really good spinechillers. The descriptions of the House and the Halloween tree are the best examples of this.

"Halloween Tree" succeeds in being a good fantasy, a good spinechiller, a good glimpse back in history, and an excellent story about friendship all in one. A wonderful read, and not just for Halloween either.

You might want to dismiss this as one of Bradbury's lesser works because of the simplistic plot and writing style but that would be a mistake. What we have here is one of his most important books and one of his best. Taking cues from Dickens, Bradbury writes a timeless tale of Halloween that isn't carried along by dovetailing plottwists or dense knotted prose but simply a quest to save someone and the boundless exuburance of children. I literally finished this while waiting for a class to start and when I had a few pages left and class started I sat there and finished the book. Once you start reading it you can't stop, the momentum of is one of constant motion. And it's not a kids book, sure the themes of innocence are there but also are the more serious topics of death and darkness, as seen through the filters of a child. For all it's length it's a perfect book for the most part and one that deserves to be read every year together with a bunch of people. On Halloween of course

I first tried to read this book when I was around the suggested reading age (about 12 years old). Now that I'm 18 I finally tuly appreciated this masterpiece. Never before have I seen the true essence of Halloween captured on paper so perfectly. Life and death, night and day, Autumn and Summer, courage and friendship, Halloween and all it's components are presented to the reader in fantastic imagery that will transport you back to those Halloween nights that we miss so much. The nights when you could taste the magic in the air. Bradbury is an artist and these 145 pages are his canvas. If you are a true fan of Halloween or want to become one this book is for you.

Halloween is fast approaching. A recent conversation with a stranger in the lands beyond Avalon regarding the holiday and its origins have made me decide to review another old book that some may have overlooked. The book is called THE HALLOWEEN TREE and was written by Ray Bradbury.

This book tells the story of a group of small boys and a dangerous adventure they all share one Halloween with a spooky character named Clarence Clavicle Moundshroud. Much of the tale is taken up by the search for a missing friend. But while the plot is simple and originally aimed at younger readers the book has a second level.

The second level concerns Halloween and its history. But it also touches on similar celebrations in other cultures, such as the Mexican Day of the Dead, and the common origins for these festivals. While the story is entertaining it manages to keep you from realizing just how much you are learning when reading the book.

THE HALLOWEEN TREE was adapted for television at one point but I feel that production just doesn't hold a candle (or jack-o-lantern) to the book.

Every year, every single October, I reread this book which my parents gave to me when I was a young child. It is lyrical and evocative of the time when we were children and thought of Halloween as magical. The streets of the town as Halloween begins, the haunted house where Moundshroud lives, the ancient rituals we are led through by Bradbury, the travel through time and history, the underlying message that death will eventually come for us all -- it is ominous yet strangely comforting to read every time. It is not like his other books, but it is a must-read for all of his fans.

...
THE HALLOWEEN TREE
BOOK REVIEW

..."A Pumpkin tree," cried out a voice
"No" exclaimed Tom.
The wind blew among the high branches
and tossed their bright burdens, softly.
"A halloween tree" said Tom.
...And he was right.

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury is a science fiction classic. The fantastic tale takes you on a wonderful and exciting journey through strange and distant lands on an epic search for a frightened and baffled young boy.
Leading the expedition is a mystical character who goes by the name of Mr. Moundshround. His enchanting and mysterious personality is lifted off the pages by Ray Bradbury's poetic and inventive writing style that keeps you wanting more.The book is full of many emotions and feelings that let the characters come alive and make you feel as though a new world has just opened up to you.
The book is filled with frightening passages, powerful illustrations, and breath taking imagery. The Halloween Tree is a must read science fiction book, that most definitely is for everyone.

Make no mistake- this is not a children's book. Nor is it an adult book. Rather, THE HALLOWEEN TREE is a book for everyone. The writing is simple and swift enough for a child, but complex and engaging for the adult. It's a Halloween tradition that everyone should instill on with their families... as nostalgic as spiced cider, apple bobbing or trick-or-treating on an October afternoon in the smoky pumpkin air.

The Halloween Tree has captivated me since my first reading
of this work when I was only nine years old. (That was 14
years ago for those of you who are wondering.) The book was
a gift from my father, and little did he know at the time,
that he gave me an example of some of the finest writing I
have had the opportuniy to read, and a source of inspriation
for my own writing. Ray Bradbury's command of the Englih
language creates poetry within prose. The story is descriptive
and lyrical, the characters vibrant and fantastic (especially
Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud, but you'll just have to read
the book to find out who he is). I wish you as many happy
readings of the Halloween Tree as I have had over the years.

In one of his finest works, Ray Bradbury explores the origins of Halloween, the imaginative spirit of youth and the strength of friendship in his quick, breathlessly paced Halloween Tree. The story is simple: on Halloween night, eight trick or treaters set out with a dashingly grim Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud (who may or may not be the grim reaper himself) on a journey across time to learn the secrets of Halloween night, and more importantly to save the soul of their dear friend Pipkin, whom they saw snatched up in front of their eyes by a dark shadow of death and blustered away to who knows where. The boys learn about the strange origins of their favorite holiday, and at the great climax discover a courage and selfless love within themselves they never knew they possessed.
This book is at once a chilling supernatural tale, an interesting lesson in Halloween's beginnings, and a glorious exercise in elegant, soaring prose that is nearly poetry in its dark beauty. Moundshroud is a fascinating tour guide, and the boys are all eager listeners. With the exception of the skeleton boy Tom, none of the children are truly fleshed out characters, but that's perfectly fine for this story. Bradbury seems to want his readers to be Moundshroud's sole audience. Moundshroud leads us across a supernatural dreamscape paved with Bradbury's lush, descriptive words, and we should feel his glowing green eyes upon US. Bradbury knows this, and he delivers us a beautiful story, meant especially and solely for us, the readers. For anyone who loves Halloween, or appreciates a touch of magic in everyday life, this is a perfect book for both adults and children.
When asked whether their night was a trick or a treat, the boys answer 'both!' They are entirely right.

I've known this book forwards and backwards since I was twelve, and I use this book in my literature classes around the month of October to spark the interest of my students. For those of you who know Bradbury's work, you will be amply satisfied with his brilliant storytelling and narrative about a group of young friends in search of true meaning of Halloween. This book never fails to amaze, and the look of astonishment on the faces of my students when they read the book is priceless. My caveat is this; the reading level of this book may be listed at 9-12, but the comprehension level is more middle-school to high school; however, I highly recommend this book to all ages. I have enjoyed this book for years, and I still enjoy it to this day.