App Review: The Castle of Nightmares

THE CASTLE OF NIGHTMARES by Denis Jugo is a creepy interactive ebook about a boy’s experience with scary dreams.

Ten-year-old John becomes immersed in a dream where he tries to save a group of children from the queen of nightmares. Aimed at the lower middle grades, the story is spooky without being scary.

Readers work their way through the linear reading experience by clicking the forward or backward arrows. Interactive elements are found on each page from animating creepy spiders to exploring a castle map. Spooky music and sound effects are woven throughout the story.

The visuals are attractive and the animations contribute to the creepy atmosphere. While the font is generally easy-to-read, there are places where the text color could use more contrast. Some paragraphs are centered rather than left aligned making them a little more difficult to read.

While the writing won’t win any literary awards, it’s fine for budding fans of Alfred Hitchcock or other creepy classics. This ebook is perfect for reading under the bedcovers during a thunderstorm.

Librarians will find this ebook fantasy to be a hit with those who enjoy interactive stories.

To purchase/download the book, go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id633303329?mt=8.

Published by Pixy Interactive.

Book Review: The Night Gardener

What’s your Newbery prediction? THE NIGHT GARDENER by Jonathan Auxier is an eerie dark fantasy sure to make the short-list.

In the vein of horror classics by authors like Edgar Allan Poe and Washington Irving, two Irish orphans are drawn to a spooky house in the woods surrounded by an even creepier tree. As readers become immersed in the story, they’re struck with a foreboding feeling that only an extraordinary author such as Auxier can conceive. The author’s vivid descriptions, fast-paced writing style, and compelling themes make this an unforgettable tale.

Divided into three sections named arrivals, pursuits, and departures, readers are taken on an exciting journey with a satisfying conclusion that keeps the door open for another adventure.

Teacher librarians will find this book perfect for discussions about the role of truth, lies, wishes, and the nature of storytelling. It’s also a great way to introduce youth to gothic tales from the 19th century.

Like Holly Black’s Doll Bones and Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book and Coraline, dark fantasy for the middle grades seems to be increasingly popular.

Many youth start their passion for horror fiction with works by R. L. Stine. Use THE NIGHT GARDENER to provide a transition to more sophisticated themes and storylines.

To learn more about this popular new author, check out his website at http://www.thescop.com/.