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Friday, January 16, 2009

Book Review- Skeleton Creek

Skeleton Creek Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

This is the perfect book for the YouTube watching, reluctant reader. What a great concept, mixing the two medias. Before the book has even been released there are websites and YouTube videos available to garner interest in the book. Sites with easter eggs and conspiracy theories can be found just by googling "Skeleton Creek". It is quite amazing.

So, is the book worth all the hype?

Well, that depends on what you are expecting. If you are expecting a fast-paced, entertaining and interactive read to get your kids interested in reading. This is it.

The book is written as a journal by 15 year old Ryan who loves to write and read ghost stories. His best friend, Sarah, loves her video camera and a good mystery to investigate. Since the two have been seperated from each other because of an accident during an investigation late at night on an abandoned Dredge, they are forced to communicate with each other in secret through email and video clips while they continue to investigate.

I really think kids are going to love this mixed media ghost story and they will definitely get hooked with the cliff hanger. It is rather fun going to sarahfincher.com and entering the passwords as they come up in the book. Also, parents, lots of really great literature is mentioned throughout. It just might get some kids interested in checking them out next time they are in the library.

There were a few minor issues I had and they are rather nitpicky so I am not even going to mention them. They mostly have to do with the videos.

Anyway, the book comes out February 10th.

4/5

5 comments:

  1. Hi Mari,

    Author James Patterson has a ten year-old son who doesn’t like to read. So Patterson has established http://www.readkiddoread.com to help other reluctant readers.

    I, too, grew up as a reluctant reader. And my father was the author of over 70 books. Now I write action-adventure and mystery books especially for tween boys. My blog, Books for boys, http://booksandboys.blogspot.com is # 4 on Google today.

    Max Elliot Anderson

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  2. Max- Thank you for the links. I will be checking them out.

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  3. I love an interactive reading experience and this sounds SO neat!!!

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  4. it does sound good, great review.
    that interactive link sounds like fun.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  5. I liked how he mentioned all those other literary character too. Hopefully, that will peek the interest of new readers.

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! :)