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The Crossroads

(2008, Fiction - Horror, Written by Chris Grabenstein)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Ghost story offers little you haven't seen before.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The main character steals, but his father makes him pay restitution.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Many deaths, some gruesome though not described; suicide by hanging; impalement; and two old people are frightened to death. An adult threatens a child with a knife.

  • Sex:

    References to making out and a love nest.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Disney, car brands, fast food restaurants.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Adults smoke and drink.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Crossroads

Parents need to know that, while there's no graphic violence here, there are references to lots of deaths, some rather gruesome, such as being impaled by a tree limb. Also, the main character steals, though he later either pays for or returns what he has stolen.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about why horror is so popular. What is the appeal? Why do people enjoy being scared? What is the fascination with ghosts? And why are they so often portrayed as evil?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Aquanaut
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    A good mystery -- with nice and nasty ghosts!

    This is the author's first young adult book, and it is winning major awards. For those familiar with Grabenstein's adult mysteries this will come as no surprise. I thought the plot might be too complex for readers younger than the "young adult" category, but its success says otherwise (which tells me that our young readers are perfectly capable of enjoying a plot with twists and turns. Even though there are some pretty nasty ghosts, the story contains no real gore, and the good definitely outweighs the bad. As a grandparent, I enjoyed the book very much and have bought a copy for my oldest grandson.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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