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56th out of 128 books
—
43 voters
The Crossroads (Haunted Mystery #1)
by
Chris Grabenstein (Goodreads Author)
ZACK, HIS DAD, and new stepmother have just moved back to his father’s hometown, not knowing that their new house has a dark history. Fifty years ago, a crazed killer caused an accident at the nearby crossroads that took 40 innocent lives. He died when his car hit a tree in a fiery crash, and his malevolent spirit has inhabited the tree ever since. During a huge storm, lig...more
Hardcover, 325 pages
Published
May 27th 2008
by Random House Books for Young Readers
(first published 2005)
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Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
There's a tree that stands watch over the crossroads of County Route 13 and Connecticut State Highway 31. There's a memorial on the tree. Someone leaves a dozen fresh roses there every Monday. And the tree is at the back edge of Zack Jennings's new yard.
Zack, his father, and his new step-mother have left the city and moved to Connecticut. Zack lost his mother to cancer, and now that his father has remarried, the family is making a new start in Zack's fathe...more
There's a tree that stands watch over the crossroads of County Route 13 and Connecticut State Highway 31. There's a memorial on the tree. Someone leaves a dozen fresh roses there every Monday. And the tree is at the back edge of Zack Jennings's new yard.
Zack, his father, and his new step-mother have left the city and moved to Connecticut. Zack lost his mother to cancer, and now that his father has remarried, the family is making a new start in Zack's fathe...more
Zack Jennings, his dad, and his new step-mother move to a new house in Connecticut. He and his new puppy, Zipper, run into many ghosts--and they all seems to deal with the crossroads of Route 13 and Highway 31 where a terrible accident happened many years ago involving a bus and Clint Eberhart. Miss Gerta Spratling and her elderly chauffeur every Monday visit the huge old oak tree near the crossroads, and on the Jennings property, where Miss Spratling has a memorial to her fiance, Clint Eberhart...more
Dec 27, 2011
Becky
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
4th grade and up
Recommended to Becky by:
Booklist
Here's a good tween ghost story with a lot of plot twists and some creepy/somewhat-violent moments. It took me a while to get used to the main character Zack's shyness and introversion after just having read the confident, cocky narration of the boys in "Frindle" and "Swindle." Also, I read this one in spurts, and lost track of some of the characters and their...state of being living. So you might want to read this uninterrupted. I liked that there was an evil old lady, but NOT an evil stepmom....more
2 likes · like · see review
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Ghosts all over...
Zack, ayah, dan ibu tirinya pindah ke kampung halaman ayahnya. Di sana ada perempatan keramat di mana hantu2 pada ngumpul. Di perempatan itu lima puluh tahun lalu terjadi kecelakaan antara bus yang berisi penumpang penuh sama mobil sama motor polisi. Judy, ibu tiri Zack, pernah ditolong sama hantu sopir busnya waktu bannya kempes, meski saat itu dia gak tau klo itu hantu. Zack berteman sama salah satu saksi mata kecelakaan itu yg juga hantu, tapi Zack juga gak tau kalau itu han...more
Zack, ayah, dan ibu tirinya pindah ke kampung halaman ayahnya. Di sana ada perempatan keramat di mana hantu2 pada ngumpul. Di perempatan itu lima puluh tahun lalu terjadi kecelakaan antara bus yang berisi penumpang penuh sama mobil sama motor polisi. Judy, ibu tiri Zack, pernah ditolong sama hantu sopir busnya waktu bannya kempes, meski saat itu dia gak tau klo itu hantu. Zack berteman sama salah satu saksi mata kecelakaan itu yg juga hantu, tapi Zack juga gak tau kalau itu han...more
ZACK, HIS DAD, and new stepmother have just moved back to his father’s hometown, not knowing that their new house has a dark history. Fifty years ago, a crazed killer caused an accident at the nearby crossroads that took 40 innocent lives. He died when his car hit a tree in a fiery crash, and his malevolent spirit has inhabited the tree ever since. During a huge storm, lig...more ZACK, HIS DAD, and new stepmother have just moved back to his father’s hometown, not knowing that their new house has...more
I started reading this book as I normally do at 9 p.m. I always read prior to going to bed. Unfortunately, I couldn't go to sleep after reading a few chapters. You would think that if a book made you a little jumpy, that you wouldn't keep reading it, but I couldn't stop thinking about this book and so the next night I finished it. It was good. Ghost stories are kind of spooky to me, but this one was full of twists and turns. The story is about a boy who sees things in trees. His mother hated him...more
This YA book is a ghost story, and it's fairly spooky.
But it's also a self-realization story, and a very good one, at that.
The town of North Chester has an unhappy history. In 1958, there was a bus accident at the edge of town, and 41 people were killed, including the bus driver, the driver of the car that hit the bus, and a local policeman.
The only bus passenger who survived the accident was Mary O'Claire, who is now in a nursing home in North Chester, and is looked after by her grandson Billy,...more
But it's also a self-realization story, and a very good one, at that.
The town of North Chester has an unhappy history. In 1958, there was a bus accident at the edge of town, and 41 people were killed, including the bus driver, the driver of the car that hit the bus, and a local policeman.
The only bus passenger who survived the accident was Mary O'Claire, who is now in a nursing home in North Chester, and is looked after by her grandson Billy,...more
Wow, Chris Grabenstein can write as well for young adults as he does for adults. The Crossroads has a young teen as the main character and his ability to see inside trees to the people who are trapped there is fascinating. Sounds a bit strange but the way it is woven into the life experiences of this young man makes it all totally believable. A ghost story of top caliber. I'll be waiting for the next entry in this series with as much anticipation as I do the entries in the Ceepak series.
I really really enjoyed reading this book and if I had more time on my hands I would have read it at one go... The Crossroads is aimed for children aged 9 years and upwards but it doesn't mean that it could not be enjoyed by adults as well.
The Crossroads tells the story of a boy, whose father re-marries and moves the family to live in the country. Their new house is situated near a crossroad. 50 years ago a terrible car accident took place at this crossroads, so the area is now invaded by ghosts...more
The Crossroads tells the story of a boy, whose father re-marries and moves the family to live in the country. Their new house is situated near a crossroad. 50 years ago a terrible car accident took place at this crossroads, so the area is now invaded by ghosts...more
I was kind of iffy about The Crossroads from the get-go, but I thought I'd give it a shot because I love "scary" books aimed at kids. I find a certain nostalgic pleasure from reading an author's attempt to scare children, but not scaring them too badly.
I did love the characters, Davey, Judy, Zack, and the plumber all felt well fleshed out and real, and I enjoyed their personalities. However, I think this book had some trouble figuring out which audience it wanted.
The plot is simple and predicta...more
I did love the characters, Davey, Judy, Zack, and the plumber all felt well fleshed out and real, and I enjoyed their personalities. However, I think this book had some trouble figuring out which audience it wanted.
The plot is simple and predicta...more
I think I'm becoming a snob when it comes to fiction. So few works of fiction have really impressed me lately. Maybe it's the result of reading fantastic classics for my various literature classes, but now I really expect a great work of fiction to tackle at least one important question in life.
The Crossroads didn't do this. It brushed against some of them, but didn't really hit on those conflicts that are a part of being human.
The protagonist was a young boy whose mother recently died. She was...more
The Crossroads didn't do this. It brushed against some of them, but didn't really hit on those conflicts that are a part of being human.
The protagonist was a young boy whose mother recently died. She was...more
Zack Jennings has a lot to deal with...a mother who died from cancer; a disease she blamed on Zack, a new step-mother, and a move to Connecticut leaving his friends behind in New York. Zack is shy and lonely at first with the move to his new house. But, just as in New York, he seems to be haunted by ghosts and odd, eerie voices. The new town they've moved to appears to have a very sordid history. Fifty years ago, an accident of epic proportions happened at the crossroads of Rtes. 31 and 13. Judy...more
The crossroads, where 40 men once lost there lives in a horrific, tragic incident. Zack and his dad moves on with their lives after Zack's mother died of cancer. Now,they decide to look for a new house to reside in, however they were completely unaware of the chain of events that will take place in that very neighborhood. Zack, his new dog zipper, his dad and Judy(Zack's new step mother),together, they embark on a goose chase, that will lead them to the culprit himself, Clint Eberhart's ghost, d...more
There were a number of things I enjoyed about The Crossroads but, overall, my disappointment outweighed my enjoyment.
Some of the things that Zach said and did not, in my opinion, fit with his age. In addition to working with teens at my job, I also work with tweens. From that experience and from hanging out with my niece, who is 11 1/2 years old, Zach acted a bit young at times. However, that is kind of nit-picky of me.
I loved that Zach's stepmom was a positive influence on him and not a wicked...more
Some of the things that Zach said and did not, in my opinion, fit with his age. In addition to working with teens at my job, I also work with tweens. From that experience and from hanging out with my niece, who is 11 1/2 years old, Zach acted a bit young at times. However, that is kind of nit-picky of me.
I loved that Zach's stepmom was a positive influence on him and not a wicked...more
The Crossroads
by Chris Grabenstein
Did you know that criminals used to be buried at crossroads in some cultures because they weren't allowed to be buried in regular “consecrated” cemetery grounds? Crossroads were the closest thing to a cross shape, so people figured the cross shape would keep the evil dead from coming back to haunt the living. In this book, the crossroads are indeed haunted, by many, many ghosts. Some good and some very, intensely evil. The fun part of this book isn't the chills...more
by Chris Grabenstein
Did you know that criminals used to be buried at crossroads in some cultures because they weren't allowed to be buried in regular “consecrated” cemetery grounds? Crossroads were the closest thing to a cross shape, so people figured the cross shape would keep the evil dead from coming back to haunt the living. In this book, the crossroads are indeed haunted, by many, many ghosts. Some good and some very, intensely evil. The fun part of this book isn't the chills...more
A good ghost story for upper elementary to early middle school students.
Zach's dad is getting remarried. He's pretty happy with his new stepmom, but can't quite get rid of the "ghost" of his less kind mother from his memories. That's why he's content to be moving from New York to the small Connecticut town that his father grew up in. They move to a brand new subdivision and in his back yard is a huge oak tree, which has been made into a shrine for someone's dead loved one.
What Zach doesn't know...more
Zach's dad is getting remarried. He's pretty happy with his new stepmom, but can't quite get rid of the "ghost" of his less kind mother from his memories. That's why he's content to be moving from New York to the small Connecticut town that his father grew up in. They move to a brand new subdivision and in his back yard is a huge oak tree, which has been made into a shrine for someone's dead loved one.
What Zach doesn't know...more
I loved this book. In the "old days" when I was cataloging, I read a lot of Juv. and YA books. I bought four copies of CROSSRODS...three went to libraries and I kept one. The only problem that I see with this book is that I think...for subject matter, writing, etc., it should be YA, but the protag is only 11.
Chris is a very good writer (if you haven't read his Ceepak series...do so at once). He is also a really great guy. I would love him as a "son" or brother. If he appears somewhere in your ar...more
Chris is a very good writer (if you haven't read his Ceepak series...do so at once). He is also a really great guy. I would love him as a "son" or brother. If he appears somewhere in your ar...more
Grade 5–8—A well-told ghost story with plenty of twists and chills. Eleven-year-old Zack believes that his mother, who died from cancer, haunts his New York City apartment, continually disapproving of his behavior. He is immensely relieved when Dad marries Judy, a kind woman, and they move to Connecticut. Unfortunately, Zack cannot seem to escape the dead. Shortly after arriving in North Chester, they meet Gerda Spratling, the last survivor of the town's founding family. The abrasive woman mourn...more
Humorous, fun filled writing is abundant in the novel "The Crossroads", while still dealing with some serious topics. Zack, our new boy in town, is suspicious about that old tree that stands at the corner of the intersection in his large backyard. Mysterious things have been happening and Zack and his best friend Davy, who talks charmingly as a boy from
Kentucky, investigate to find out why. Meanwhile, we have step mom named Judy who is also investigating and trying to find her footing in this n...more
Kentucky, investigate to find out why. Meanwhile, we have step mom named Judy who is also investigating and trying to find her footing in this n...more
2 likes · like · see review
I picked this up on something of a whim one day at the library. I was browsing around, not really sure what I was looking for, when the cover caught my eye. Being that crossroads are elements of lots of supernatural stories, and creepy trees are always good, and the blurb sounded interesting, I decided to give it a go.
At first I was a little tured off by the simple, straight-forward writing. I know it's an MG book and all, but even books written for the 9-12 set can have some embellishment, ya k...more
At first I was a little tured off by the simple, straight-forward writing. I know it's an MG book and all, but even books written for the 9-12 set can have some embellishment, ya k...more
NO for black-eyed susan.
NO for our library.
This book is definitely a Young Adult title and not appropriate to be read by students in grades 4-6.
A ghost is trapped in an old tree and determined to kill a list of people whom, I assume, have something to do with the wrongs committed toward him when he was living.
To be fair, I only made it to page 37. But in that short amount of time one man was in a near accident while driving in which the narrator comments that it was not the man's time, but that...more
NO for our library.
This book is definitely a Young Adult title and not appropriate to be read by students in grades 4-6.
A ghost is trapped in an old tree and determined to kill a list of people whom, I assume, have something to do with the wrongs committed toward him when he was living.
To be fair, I only made it to page 37. But in that short amount of time one man was in a near accident while driving in which the narrator comments that it was not the man's time, but that...more
While I'm not the intended demographic target for this book, I really enjoyed it, almost more than the Ceepak books. Overall, this was an enjoyable, quick read, but I would've loved to delve further into the stories of the other ghosts. Were I 13 instead of 33, this book probably would've scared the pee out of me.
If I'd read this this at a different time or in different circumstances I most likely would have given it four stars instead of five, but I'm inflating the rating because it did such a good job of engaging me. I have a lot going on in my life right now that's keeping my mind very occupied, and often when I listen to an audiobook in this mindset it will never fully grab my attention or focus because of all the noise in my head distracting me. This one did the opposite, giving me a break from the...more
Awards Won: Agatha and Anthony
Have you ever wondered if one action can set off a series of events? This book uses imagination to address such a question. The Crossroads does contain some passages that may not be suitable for younger readers.
Have you ever wondered if one action can set off a series of events? This book uses imagination to address such a question. The Crossroads does contain some passages that may not be suitable for younger readers.
What a great, spooky kids book! Zack is a 10 year old boy who moves to North Chester, Connecticut into a new house just outside of town. His house backs up to an intersection marked with a flashing red light, and a large old oak tree that sits on the corner. Although Zack doesn't know it immediately, he is visited by several ghosts. Several are helpful ghosts, trying to look out for him, and others passing through the intersection. But one is evil, and his soul lives within the oak tree. The tal...more
In this thrilling ghost story for middle-graders, 11-year-old Zack Jennings, who has quite an active imagination, is moving from New York to North Chester, Connecticut, with his dad and his decidedly unwicked new stepmother, Judy, who writes the "Curiosity Cat" children's books. When they arrive, Zack finds, to his surprise, that he also has a new dog, a Jack Russell terrier named Zipper.
The crossroads of the title is an intersection where a fatal bus crash occurred 50 years earlier. The acciden...more
The crossroads of the title is an intersection where a fatal bus crash occurred 50 years earlier. The acciden...more
I loved this story. It only took a few hours to read, but it was a page turner that took me back to being a kid listening to the teacher read after lunch. It was funny, a little weird, and very enjoyable.
Zach is a normal kid with a new house and a new stepmom and the ability to see ghosts. He's managed to keep it mostly a secret. He's also harboring a major guilt thing because his real mom blamed him for everything - her cancer, her unhappiness, and probably her death. Zach's new stepmom is the opposite, and he really wants to relax with her. But...their new house is on the same property where a terrible accident occurred. Spirits are not at rest, and a certain human individual is trying to call...more
Mar 23, 2012
Brenda Proper
added it
Have you noticed that sometimes trees have faces? Sometimes you look at the bark and see an eyes, nose and mouth. And usually the face are not happy faces, either. Zack Jennings has a tree like that in his yard. And it is the site of a memorial for a guy who died 50 years earlier. A creepy old rich lady keeps up the memorial because he was her boyfriend. So when Zack and his family move into the house, they meet the old lady, the tree, and . . . her boyfriend. . . her dead boyfriend. And he's no...more
The Crossroads
Chris Grabenstein’s The Crossroads is his first YA/Juvenile novel, and I am almost as impressed with it as I am with his adult mysteries. Zack Jennings is a great character, an 11-year-old boy who’s a bit of a nerd and a loner. To make matters worse, he sees and hears things, things that are a lot like ghosts. His father’s remarriage and their move to his hometown bring Zack up against a variety of unsavory characters, both human and long-dead, and he is tapped to help right some l...more
Chris Grabenstein’s The Crossroads is his first YA/Juvenile novel, and I am almost as impressed with it as I am with his adult mysteries. Zack Jennings is a great character, an 11-year-old boy who’s a bit of a nerd and a loner. To make matters worse, he sees and hears things, things that are a lot like ghosts. His father’s remarriage and their move to his hometown bring Zack up against a variety of unsavory characters, both human and long-dead, and he is tapped to help right some l...more
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| reading log #3 | 2 | 4 | Dec 18, 2011 06:40pm |
Chris Grabenstein is an award-winning author of books for children and adults, a playwright, screenwriter, and former advertising executive and improvisational comedian.
Winner of two Anthony and three Agatha Awards, he is also the co-author with James Patterson of The New York Times bestseller I FUNNY.
A former writer for Jim Henson's Muppets and past president of the New York Chapter of the M...more
More about Chris Grabenstein...
Winner of two Anthony and three Agatha Awards, he is also the co-author with James Patterson of The New York Times bestseller I FUNNY.
A former writer for Jim Henson's Muppets and past president of the New York Chapter of the M...more
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