The Scary States of America [Paperback]

Michael Teitelbaum (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Aliens, ghosts, and monsters haunt the pages of this eerie trip around the Scary States of America. With Jason Specter—the nation's unofficial collector of all things paranormalÑas your guide meet the girl in Illinois who can start fires with her mind, the Skunk Ape of Florida that knocks victims flat with its stench, the mischievous Shadow People of Arkansas, the Jersey Devil, the extraterrestrials who take human organs as a souvenir of their trip to Washington, and the wailing ghost of a teenage girl trapped forever in an Oregon lighthouse. Some of these visitors from other worlds don't mean to hurt anyone . . . and some of them do.Warning: All of these stories are based on true events. Are you ready to face the terror in your state?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The author of numerous series nonfiction and other titles here offers a collection of short stories highlighting all things paranormal. Using the persona of 12-year-old Internet-geek Jason Specter, Teitelbaum presents narratives for each of the 50 states that he says were offered to him by visitors to his blog. Tales range from an Alaska wildlife photographer being chased by an angry Bigfoot, to a young Indiana girl haunting the covered bridge where she lost her life, to a UFO landing in an Iowa crop circle. Some, like "The Hitchhiker," from Alabama, will be familiar to urban-legend aficionados. Many accounts lean toward the grisly (including knife slashings and maggot-filled bodies), but other anecdotes draw attention to gentle apparitions trying to do good deeds for their loved ones. Give this to fans of Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series; computer-savvy readers will also want to check out the book's Web site, which includes excerpts from the text. Weisman, Kay

About the Author

Michael Teitelbaum has always had an interest in the paranormal, despite a rather normal childhood growing up in Brooklyn, New York. These days, Michael and his wife, Sheleigah, split their time between New York City and their (as yet unhaunted) 170-year-old farmhouse in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (July 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385733313
• ISBN-13: 978-0385733311
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.9 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #883,622 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've always had an interest in the paranormal, despite a rather normal childhood in Brooklyn, NY.

I first 'met' Jason Specter a few years ago when I began to read the stories on his website, scarystatesof america.com. I have to admit I was hooked right away.

I challenged Jason to pick his favorites. I told him I'd like him to choose one story from each state. I then used my contacts in the publishing world to help get his stories into print. The result is the book: THE SCARY STATES OF AMERICA.

I hope you enjoy your journey through a world beyond that which we take for granted'the world of undead spirits, unearthly creatures, and unexplained lights in the sky. A world filled with out-of-body experiences and past lives recalled, or, as Jason likes to call this place, The Scary States of America.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, August 23, 2007

By 

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

This review is from: The Scary States of America (Paperback)

THE SCARY STATES OF AMERICA is a collection of 50 short stories, one for each state, about paranormal experiences ranging from ghosts and supernatural creatures to aliens and crop circles. The stories are framed by the narrative of Jason Specter, a 12-year-old collector of all things scary and bizarre. Though presented as "true" stories from readers Jason has reached through his website, both the character of Jason and the stories are fictional, though the cover notes they are "based on true events."

The variety of the stories is what makes them most appealing. Some are standard fare: the hitchhiking ghost, the aliens who kidnap people to run invasive tests on them. Many, however, are unusual takes on the familiar, like the vicious Bigfoot a bear photographer runs into and the heartbroken ghost haunting a toy store, or unique creatures and tales which will be new to most readers, like those of the skunk ape and the shadow people. Part of the enjoyment is in wondering how much of each story might really have happened, and what you would do in similar situations.

Be warned: many of the stories are quite scary, and some rather graphic when it comes to blood and gore. Many times the teller of the tale barely survives to tell about it, and some have come out of it quite a bit worse for wear. The most exciting stories are those in which Jason plays a direct part, often risking life and limb. Readers will appreciate his skeptical yet open-minded approach.

Though those hoping to catch a glimpse into real recorded paranormal events will have to look elsewhere, this book will make a fun read for those who simply like a good scare. Bring it along to your next campfire or sleepover and read a few aloud in the dark. Chills are guaranteed!

Reviewed by: Lynn Crow

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Frightful Fun, August 27, 2007

By 

Dianne Finger - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Scary States of America (Paperback)

Do you remember as a child the heart pounding anticipation with which you sat through an episode of the "Twighlight Zone", or "The Outer Limits"? Remember how you couldn't wait for the next week's show? Reading The Scary States of America recreated for me the same feelings--the unease, the suspense, the tingling sensation that crawls up the back of your neck. I thought I'd read this book by meandering from "state to state" but instead I read it from cover to cover. Sharp and well-written, you'll want to make time for your own Scary States Marathon.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scary & fun!, August 17, 2007

By 

Kate Grube "LittleSis" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Scary States of America (Paperback)

I just loved reading this book! The stories were wonderful. It's a great book to take along on a camping trip and read the stories aloud. I can't wait to share it with my freinds, young and old!