Gr. 4-6 – Students will find well-written accounts that live up to the series title. Short sentences—sometimes not even full sentences, just brief, terse phrases that heighten suspense—grab readers and keep them turning pages. Each atmospheric title opens with a brief introduction that sets the spooky stage for what’s to come. Graphics and book design add to the series’ overall sense of dread: chapter headings are printed in bold red capital letters, creepy inset photos, and occasional scattered “blood droplets” on pages add to the ambiance. Each volume includes a double-page spread related to its topic. For example, Creepy Places features “The Most Haunted Places in the World,” with a world map and thumbnail photos of the locations. Some nods to Indigenous cultural beliefs are included. Sidebars and critical thinking questions add contours to the information, and vocabulary words are printed in a thematic red, with definitions in the glossary.

VERDICT: Intriguing, appealing topics. Recommended for school and public library collections.