Barrington Stoke ISBN 9781781129 £5.99
A three-story collection ideal for children who like their stories to be scary but set among familiar surroundings. Three friends share tales about strange happenings in houses in their street – a deserted garden, a spooky cellar which hides a sad story and a message in a dream which leads to the finding of treasure. The short, well-spaced paragraphs make this book an attractive option for emerging readers who are growing in confidence. Anne Fine’s descriptions are deceptively simple but well- executed giving the reader a feeling that they are reading a ‘proper book’. The past and the present are believably mixed up and all three stories contain aspects such as ravens, whispers, creaks and chills down spines that children will recognise as elements of a ghost tale. Back on Weird Street would also make a good book for reading aloud or adapting for drama. Age range: 8 to 12.
Helen Cook, retired Primary School teacher