 | Crossroads at midnight Author: Howard, Abby | |
| Price: $14.76 | ||
Summary:
An old woman living alone on the edge of a bog gets an unexpected--and unsettling--visitor, throwing her quiet life into a long-buried mystery. An isolated backwoods family stumbles into good fortune for a time with a monstrous discovery in the lake behind their house, but that time is running short. And a misfit little girl, struggling to make friends, meets an understanding soul one day at the beach. In graphic novel format.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG+ Reading Level: 2.90 Points: 1.0 Quiz: 518596 |
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 07/01/2020 Gr 7 Up—In this collection of five horror comics, readers' worst fears are hiding in sun-choked stalks of corn, in the longing for rest after a long day, and even in the face of a new friend. Howard relies on a variety of subgenres; in "Mattress Found," she uses body horror to reveal the difficulties and isolation of young adulthood. When a fatigued college student who can barely afford rent, let alone furnish her shared apartment, finds a used mattress on the curb, her happiness is short-lived as the mattress becomes more monster than amenity. "The Boy from the Sea" masterfully blends tragedy and supernatural elements, exploring a sibling relationship that quickly fragments when a mysterious boy promises to be the friend that the younger sister has always hoped for. Howard's illustrations fill the page, plunging readers into her narrative. Dark, monotone etching magnifies the suspense and adds a sense of foreshadowing, though the scares won't be too intense for horror newbies. Final pages include concept art from Howard's early sketches. VERDICT This anthology is immersive but horror lite, making it an excellent introduction to the genre. Recommended for fans of Joe Hill's "Locke & Key" series.—Elise Martinez, Racine, WI - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
School Library Journal - 07/01/2020 Gr 7 Up—In this collection of five horror comics, readers' worst fears are hiding in sun-choked stalks of corn, in the longing for rest after a long day, and even in the face of a new friend. Howard relies on a variety of subgenres; in "Mattress Found," she uses body horror to reveal the difficulties and isolation of young adulthood. When a fatigued college student who can barely afford rent, let alone furnish her shared apartment, finds a used mattress on the curb, her happiness is short-lived as the mattress becomes more monster than amenity. "The Boy from the Sea" masterfully blends tragedy and supernatural elements, exploring a sibling relationship that quickly fragments when a mysterious boy promises to be the friend that the younger sister has always hoped for. Howard's illustrations fill the page, plunging readers into her narrative. Dark, monotone etching magnifies the suspense and adds a sense of foreshadowing, though the scares won't be too intense for horror newbies. Final pages include concept art from Howard's early sketches. VERDICT This anthology is immersive but horror lite, making it an excellent introduction to the genre. Recommended for fans of Joe Hill's "Locke & Key" series.—Elise Martinez, Racine, WI - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
