The Young Oxford Book of Nasty Endings [Hardcover]

Dennis Pepper (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Young Oxford Book of | Publication Date: March 26, 1998

This is a collection of 35 stories where the main feature is the ending. Sometimes it's an unpleasant or a nasty end, sometimes there is an unexpected twist, but usually the ending comes as a complete surprise to the people in the story.
You'll meet sinister landladies, deadly coffins, poisonous hats, evil statuettes, murderous monks, and real lions. And you'll find answers to such questions as: what does it feel like to be a ghost? What is living at the bottom of the well? And what should you do if you meet the terrifying Gorgo?
The stories are written by well-known writers such as Roald Dahl, Ray Bradbury, E. Nesbit, T.H. White, John Christopher, and many more. They will thrill, delight, amuse, frighten, and surprise you. But watch out for the end--it could be nasty!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up-Featuring endings that are sometimes gruesome, sometimes wry, and sometimes thoughtful, Pepper's compilation of tales won't disappoint even the most avid readers of short stories or mysteries. The selections are suspenseful, scary, and surprising. But the real strength of the collection is that most of them focus on normal people on normal days doing normal things...then something eerie happens. Often, that doesn't occur until a zinger ending or a sneaky realization that leaves readers wondering, shivering, and, perhaps, laughing. Many of the classic authors of short form fiction are here. Roald Dahl presents a frightful visit for a young tenant in "The Landlady." The title of Robert Scott's one page "The Talking Head" may imply a gory tale, but it is wry humor that creates a nasty ending to this story. The solemn exchange between a man and a mortician takes a macabre, chilling turn in Richard Matheson's "The Near Departed." Young people who are fascinated with movies such as Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer will likewise thrill to these finely crafted stories. Great for sharing on Halloween or around a campfire.
Sharon Korbeck, Waupaca Area Public Library, WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-10. This fine collection of chilling and cerebral thrillers offers a variety of well-crafted, thought-provoking pieces from around the world. These haunting, goosebump-producing scenarios showcase the talents of familiar young adult and adult writers, alternating one-page pieces with longer, more intricately crafted tales. In Ray Bradbury's "The Veldt," kids get revenge on their parents, who want to take away a beloved plaything. Robin Klein's "We'll Look After You" will appeal to fans of Stephen King, particularly of his novel Misery. Geraldine McCaughrean's "Death's Murderers," a retelling from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, exemplifies the timeless appeal of a good, scary story no matter when it was written. Evan Hunter's "On the Sidewalk, Bleeding," is a cautionary, pertinent tale about the violence between gangs, and how individuals tragically become nameless victims. From the subtle to the ironic to the terrifying, the stories in this quality collection prove that the classic macabre effectively transcends time, place, and season. Shelle Rosenfeld

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; First edition. edition (March 26, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192781510
• ISBN-13: 978-0192781512
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,704,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent collection of stories!, December 27, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Young Oxford Book of Nasty Endings (Paperback)

I bought this book on a whim while searching for something new to read. This is a great collection for somebody who's sick of the cheesy and predictable "scary stories" that you will usually find in bookstores. With stories by authors such as Roald Dahl and Ray Bradbury, this is a great book for all ages.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful bedtime reading!, April 7, 2000

By 

Heather (Happy Valley) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Young Oxford Book of Nasty Endings (Paperback)

The mix of stories in this collection was wonderful. A few old familiar favorites that I was glad to find and a lot of stories I had never read before. Each chilling in it's own way. I rationed them out, only one a night right before bed. I found "Sweet Shop" to be delightful, and had to turn the lamp on in the middle of the night to check under the bed after reading "Such a Sweet Little Girl". This book is definitely worth adding to your collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must-read, April 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Young Oxford Book of Nasty Endings (Hardcover)

You will not want to put down this book. These stories can be suspenseful, scary, or just plain wierd, but they all have nasty endings. They include a pathway to another time (paths), an old town rumour come true (loony), flesh eating underground aliens (Hey, you down there), and more. These beautiful stories will keep you on the end of your seat and wanting more.