Description: The reader chooses their own path through allegedly haunted theaters, facing spooky encounters and paranormal problems.
Brief description: Megan Cooley Peterson is a children's book author and editor. Her book How To Build Hair-Raising Haunted Houses (Capstone Press, 2011) was selected as a Book of Note by the TriState Young Adult Review Committee. When not writing, Megan enjoys movies, books, and all things Halloween. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and daughter.
Review Quotes: According to the publisher, these adventures are based on actual places "inspired by reports from real people." Thus, the venues, historical information, dates, phenomena, persons (except for story characters) are genuine. Each adventure begins with protagonists joining an organized "ghost tour" of a location and concludes with them having encountered paranormal phenomena. The text is designed to be read in short bursts to facilitate fast-paced, atmospheric reading--very suitable for this material and also appropriate for striving readers. Each volume's final chapter is a discussion of whether the locale's phenomena are real, and pits ghost hunters and their equipment (occasionally pictured) against skeptics. The narrative ultimately leaves matters open-ended, asking readers what they think. Some story conclusions are more satisfying than others. VERDICT Recommended for schools and public collections. Spooky but not too terrifying, and readers will glean a few historical tidbits as they go.--Carol Goldman, formerly at Queens PL, NY "School Library Journal"