Horror

#51 "He's got a heart of cold!"
In Chicago things were never this boring. But now that Greta has moved with her aunt to Sherpia on the tip of the Arctic Circle, things are really super boring. There's nothing to do out here. And the nights are really creepy. And what is with all those strange snowmen outside every house? The ones with the scars on their faces. What is their story? ( )

This book was everything I wished [b: The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena|320100|The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena (Goosebumps, #38)|R.L. Stine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1389156249s/320100.jpg|2105973] was from page one. While it lacked the fearsome crevasse scene (all too quickly resolved in the other book), it made up for it with better snow descriptions, the fearsome ice cave, the general feel of seclusion and superstition that permeates so many small towns. The only thing I wish this book had done more was emphasize just how killer the cold can be.

Our main character is transported, largely to her chagrin, by her aunt to the town of Sherpia which is...somewhere. The town is tiny, a sharp contrast to Chicago, and covered in these weird sinister Snowmen. Plus, there's a strange hermit and his wolf living on the mountain, legends of a killer Snowman and sorcery, and the not so small matter of an odd poem that can't be forgotten back from the vestiges of childhood.

[b: Beware, the Snowman|125534|Beware, the Snowman (Goosebumps, #51)|R.L. Stine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1344567513s/125534.jpg|120899] managed to be a good Goosebumps book by relying more on the unseen than the seen. For the bulk of the book the Snowman is nothing but a specter, unlike the pumpkin heads in [b: Attack of the Jack-O'-Lanterns|1801072|Attack of the Jack-O'-Lanterns (Goosebumps, #48)|R.L. Stine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1359209350s/1801072.jpg|2161988]. The Snowman becomes scary through the legends that are told and the insular climate, which succeeds fairly well considering. Definitely would recommend this one to kids. ( )

Jaclyn used to live with her aunt Greta in Chicago, but they move to Sherpia, a tiny village on the edge of the Arctic Circle. Jaclyn can't believe she's stuck in this place with no malls or movie theaters. Plus, there's something strange about the village. At night there are strange howling noise and A creepy snowman with a red scarf shows up outside of her house. This installment to the Goosebumps series is thrilling and action-packed and gets YAs interested in reading.

After losing her mother, Jaclyn DeForest lived with her aunt in the crowded city of Chicago. She was happy there. Unfortunately, her aunt suddenly decides to uproot the middle schooler and move to the wintry, isolated village of Sherpia. With nothing to do, Jaclyn goes for a long walk. Along the way she notices that there are identical creepy snowmen in front of every house. When her new friends offer to help her build one, Jaclyn decides there is something weird going on. At night there are strange howling noises, and it's always snowing. Jaclyn feels like there is something her friends aren't telling her. With danger lurking just up the way, Jaclyn comes face to face with an evil so dark, there just might not be a way home.

The Bottom Line: This fun, quick read is perfect any time of the year. Middle grade readers will enjoy the surprise twist ending of this supernatural tale. Recommended for kids who enjoy horror.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. ( )