Parents' Guide to

Half-Minute Horrors

By Terreece Clarke, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Clever, scary collection with big-name authors.

Book Susan Rich , Holly Black , Libba Bray , M.T. Anderson , Neil Gaiman , Pseudonymous Bosch Horror 2009
Half-Minute Horrors Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

Bumps in the night, playthings made real, bad friendships, wicked babysitters -- it all comes to life in this collection of wicked works by a variety of authors and illustrators. Ever wonder if your babysitter is in cahoots with the monsters under your bed? Ever have the sneaking suspicion someone is watching you? If you didn't before, you may after reading this book.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2 ):

HALF-MINUTE HORRORS is spooky, creepy, disturbing, and hilarious. The book is filled with quick stories and drawings whipped up to scare the pants off of every kid, and a few parents, that have the courage to open it. Readers will be hooked from the first story by Lemony Snicket and will not find a dull moment throughout the book. Each story is so quick that often the brevity is what is scary and startling. Many stories leave readers wondering what happened and it is those lingering questions that will contribute to their uneasiness.

The book does a fantastic job of keeping the fright and tension high. There is no time for the audience to recover from one frightening story before another quickly pops up to inflict more damage. Kids who love creepiness and thrive on wild tales will love this one, kids who are a bit sensitive might do well to avoid. The fast pace and easy to read style makes it a great book for brave reluctant readers.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

Book Details

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