Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods is age OK scares for middle school

Even before you read a single short story from Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods there are many things that draw you into the book. This is a collection of creepy stories that are squarely aimed at the middle school and up crowd. The vocabulary in the book is good for those ages; but the tales might be too spooky for the younger middle school crowd. I was skeptical about the fright value of the book, but its age appropriate scare, (light) gore and monsters are perfect for ages 10 and up.

The book consists of 20 short stories that revolve around myths, legends and tall tales. Tall tales is the operative word because they are written is such a loose, pseudo-historical fashion you’ll think for an instance that this is true. Then you’ll gather your thoughts, realize that the Wapaloosie is just a fictional critter in Washington, or is it?

It’s the detail in each story that draws you in and makes you believe that these creatures could exist. For example a Wapaloosie is a ferret looking rodent who is harmless enough, yet has a razor sharp tail that enable them to climb virtually anything. They also have meat that’s too sour to eat, but have supple skin that is incredibly strong.

Unfortunately one accidentally gets shot and this person, out of the goodness of her heart, doesn’t want the creature to go to waste. She decides to make a pair of gloves and some scarves, both of which prove to be so popular that he makes dozens of scarves for a church fundraiser. Alas, the Wapaloosie has a strong spirit and the scarves decide to climb the trees on their own accord, with the person wearing the scarf…around their neck.

This is a charming book. How can a book whose short story about 70 some odd people being hung in the forest be so charming? The book is laden with so many details that you expect it to be true. The wide variety of places where the stories happen, the historical details, funny anecdotes and dry humor make the stories feel real.

The presentation of the book is also very reader friendly and takes you to a place where you’re more apt to follow these very tall tales. It’ tall and skinny, which allow you to hold the book easily with one hand. Each story is about six pages long, which is short enough to read in one sitting without allowing you to question the absurdity of what’s happening.

Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods also glows in the dark. The spooky man on the cover, Snow Wasset, destruction caused by the Slide-Rock Bolter and others’ images all glow in the dark. It also works because they easily glow in the dark, you don’t need to put the book directly against the light and then hope for luminescence. When you wake up hours later to use the bathroom at night your book will still be saying hello.

All of the stories involve some element of monster or spook, don’t have any active, ongoing graphic violence, but do contain elements that will frighten some folks. However, it’s done with such humor and grace that anyone who is able to follow and understand the words will know that it’s all done in good fun. It’s more fun than a horror book should be and scarier than a funny book on its best day-and it does it all to a middle school audience and older.