Scarewaves

October 1, 2023
Grades 4-7 True friendships aren't made at the playground or by living next door to someone; they are garnered through paranormal experiences. In the town of Beacon Point, inexplicable activities take place that affect only children. Oblivious to parents and adults, century-old anthropomorphic crows, deer, scarecrows, and more wreak havoc on the innocent. After being repeatedly plagued by the shape-shifting creatures, a motley crew of six kids bands together to stop the malevolence once and for all. Along the journey, they discover a camaraderie among one another. The story incorporates snippets of Bcon Radio Mystery Show, hosted by Alan Graves, who provides history of the spooky town and its ominous woods. Known for his illustrations in horror literature, Henderson makes his writing debut in this chiller for children. Included are images reminiscent of Stephen Gammel's artwork from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Though there are a few abrupt moments to the story that leave some unanswered questions, readers' thirst for horror will surely be satiated in this novel.

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Guided by transmissions from an enigmatic radio host, a group of kids attempt to figure out the mysteries behind the many horrors in their town. Beacon Point is home to more than its fair share of disappearances, as well as strange sightings in the woods, and now it's Mary's home, too, much to her dissatisfaction. On a nearby farm, Lucas is dealing with a scarecrow, Mr. Sackhead, that just won't seem to stay put. Byron, whose friend Beverly's disappearance has been largely ignored by the adults, seems to be Mary's only hope for protecting her family. Though the adults in Beacon Point remain oblivious, more strange and horrible things pile up. Mary, Lucas, Byron, and several other Beacon Point kids are left to take matters into their own hands, following the clues broadcast by Alan Graves, whose radio show is devoted to exploring Beacon Point's dark history. Quick chapters with suspense-inducing transitions and radio-transcript interludes will keep the pages turning in this series opener jam-packed with creepypasta (the bite-size internet version of urban legends). Henderson's thoughtfully laid-out illustrations are interspersed throughout, heightening the fear (especially when it comes to depictions of Mr. Sackhead). Characters' races and ethnicities aren't explicitly mentioned, but some diversity is cued among the cast. A creepypasta feast worth devouring.(Horror. 8-12)

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