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Half-Minute Horrors

(2009, Fiction - Horror, Written by Holly Black, Neil Gaiman, M.T. Anderson, Pseudonymous Bosch, Libba Bray, Illustrated by Adam Rex)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Clever, scary collection with big-name authors.

Themes in this book include:   revenge

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

  • Messages:

    It's hard to pinpoint a message in a book of horror stories, except there are some stories that serve as a cautionary tale against misbehaving.

  • Role models:

    Both positive and negative role models pepper the different stories, however they are so short the audience never really gets to know characters before it's on to the next one.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    All the basics of good horror stories are here: creepy, scary scenarios, threats and instances of murder, unexplained disappearances, etc. There are some sightings of blood, but nothing truly gory.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Some mild name calling like "jerk," "stupid" and  "monster."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Half-Minute Horrors

Parents need to know that this is a book designed to creep kids out, but stays clear of adult content (bad language, sex, etc.). While there's no gore, stories are at times scary and unnerving and sometimes involve murder or the attempted murder of people.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about why people like being scared sometimes. What excites you about hearing and sharing scary ghost stories?
  • What's the scariest story in the book? Why is does that story scare you the most?
  • How does violence play a role in some of the stories? Do you think violence on TV, in movies and video games affect you? How?
Tools and tips that can help

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    victor ariza
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Flag as inappropriate

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