Gillian Cross

A middle grade adventure about a girl with above-average smarts moving into a foster home with two boys who can't seem to stay out of trouble at their school. She's skeptical at first at their seemingly wild stories about how wicked the headmaster is, but she soon discovers the truth of it. They finally work together to discover what the evil man is up to and then try to come up with a plan to stop his insane plans.
A fun story with equally fun characters and a plot that would keep even reluctant young readers engaged. I'd definitely recommend this one to all sorts of kiddos.… (more)

I read this in primary school and it's stuck with me ever since; I was delighted a couple of years back to discover there were sequels and even more delighted today to discover my friends' son head-deep reading the original. When he'd finished I got to re-read and was even more delighted to discover that it was just as good (though a much quicker read!) as I remembered.

It was also fascinating to read the "Headmaster is a marvellous man" line which I'd forgotten, and realise I'd written something very similar into a short story just a few years ago. Funny how the brain works!

Now, just as the first time I read it, I'm frustrated that Dinah couldn't have just... turned the tape player on and then taken her hand out of her pocket. But other than that the kid characters make a pretty good job of figuring out things to try, and their failures (and successes) are believable.… (more)

Christmas festivities are not complete without ghost stories. In this collection, we find some of the most nightmarish - borderline horror - children's stories to be read by the fire, in a room lit only by the lights of the Christmas tree. The first time I read this book, I was thirteen. It was the Greek edition, with a foreboding front cover, a gift by my late grandmother, the first person in my life who understood my deep fascination for the supernatural and the dark from an early age.

''The Snapdragon'' by Gillian Cross. A classic Christmas game that proves to be much more.
''In the Bleak Midwinter'' by Robert Swindells. A family of four on their way to grandma's cottage. A heavy snowstorm forces them to seek shelter and accept the hospitality of a strange old man. I remember I had nightmares because of this story. It is dark. Dark and harrowing.
''Christmas Past'' by David Belbin. Sins of the past that need to be atoned.
''The Familiar'' by Susan Price. Α Faustian, tragic ghost story.
''The Old Corpse Road'' by K.M Peyton. A well-known legend of the Marshlands, through the eyes of a girl. Beautiful writing.
''Unseelie Court'' by Tessa Krailing. What is the monster with the green eyes? Is it jealousy or something much more sinister?
''The Road from Rushout Wood'' by Joan Aiken. Another well-known provincial myth, an example of how hatred remains unaffected by the passing of time.
''I'll Be Seeing You'' by Jill Bennet. Remember, this collection was created in 1992. The time when we used to rent video tapes at the weekend, under our parents'watchful eye. Here, Peter's life changed after he buys a video cassette of a tale that doesn't seem to end.
''The Highwayman's Last Ride'' by Malcolm Rose. My favourite story in the collection. A dark Gothic tale of everlasting love and revenge.
''The Megowl'' by Garry Kilworth. A second tale that gave me nightmares. Thankfully, it didn't alter my love for owls.

These tales are chilling, indeed. Written in beautiful language, revisiting old tales and urban legends. Are they suitable for children? Yes, over a certain age, but I believe that grown-ups will appreciate and enjoy them more.… (more)