Illus. in black-and-white. With an extraordinary gift for suspense, McKissack brings us ten original spine-tingling tales inspired by African-Ameri...
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reviews
Jan 23, 2008
Lars
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More than a foray into the supernatural, this book connects to much of the history of African Americans' long struggle for equality from slavery to the civil rights era. It's fitting that the last story, an autobiographical "monster" tale, is about McKissack's confronting her own fears as a child. This is the second book of McKissack's I've read recently (see "Tippy Lemmey" below) and I'm sold on her. She writes with humor and depth in a style that is completely accessible
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Oct 22, 2009
Josiah
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One really couldn't ask for much better suspenseful, deeply wrought stories of the eerie and the supernatural than those found in this harrowing volume.
Patricia C. McKissack has struck the ideal chord in the creation of these subtly mysterious tales. She didn't take the edge off of the fright in deference to her young readers, instead allowing the full flavor of the experience to be absorbed, the individual stories speaking as powerfully as they have from the mouths of southern raconteur More...
Patricia C. McKissack has struck the ideal chord in the creation of these subtly mysterious tales. She didn't take the edge off of the fright in deference to her young readers, instead allowing the full flavor of the experience to be absorbed, the individual stories speaking as powerfully as they have from the mouths of southern raconteur More...
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Jan 31, 2008
Kirsten
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This Newbery Honor book is one of my old favorites; I ran across it while looking for spooky stories for a Halloween program at the library. McKissack draws on traditional slave narratives and African-American folklore to create original stories that are by turns creepy, though-provoking, and enthralling. Excellent stuff.
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Jul 31, 2008
Anastasia
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I'd almost forgotten this one. It's a great kids ghost-y anthology with particular roots in racial tensions in the American south. There's only a little moralizing and a lot more atmosphere, which is a nice change for a kid's short story collection.
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Apr 07, 2008
Lydia
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This is an entertaining book with several short stories that deal with African American themes, but are very relevant to everyone. These scary stories are meant to be read during the last 30 minutes before daybreak, a time known as the "Dark Thirty".
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Dec 12, 2011
Alex
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This story was really neat it was a little scary but I believe that the kids would just love to read this book. It gave me the idea to have a little sit down and build a little fake fire in the class room and act like we are going camping and sitting around the campfire telling scary ghost stories. This was a great book and very adventurous.
Jul 30, 2010
Snorkle
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I kept waiting to read a scary story. From what I had read on the front and back flaps, this book was supposed to give me goosebumps and chills, but I found most of the stories a little tame. It almost seemed as if they were all historical legends that just featured ghosts or other slightly spooky themes. There was one of two stories that were on the verge of being a little haunting, but I never felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end or anything. I read this book in one sitting, but
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Oct 20, 2009
Chad
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A good collection, though sometimes the stories are too complex for readers under the ages of 10 or so due to a need for historical knowledge. My favorite scary story to read is "11:59"--a ghost story about the Pullman porters...
Feb 01, 2012
Shaxar
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This was a great collection of Southern folk-stories. Eerie and fascinating at the same time, and a neat history lesson. Many thanks to my friend for lending it to me!
Feb 28, 2010
Sarah
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So glad I finally got a chance to read this. A fascinating mix of African-American history and good old fashion spookiness!
Sep 20, 2008
Dana
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I found this on a recommendation at a Scholastic Book Fair at my school. I think I must have been in third or fourth grade. I still have the book, and I still read it occasionally (I hope to read it to my children, too, when they come along.) Some of the stories in this collection are creepier than others, while some really do scare the everloving **** out of you. The narrative description is as vivid as the etched illustrations. While "the gingi" will always be my favorite, "the
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Apr 21, 2010
Brianna
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DO NOT READ THIS BEFORE YOU GO TO BED!!! This is really demented, but very interesting. Read it...during the day.
Sep 12, 2009
Kimberly
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I read this book back in elementary school and I really liked it. Some of the stories are really good.
Nov 28, 2010
Jewell
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Authentic African American folklore tales told in a suspenseful manner.
May 04, 2009
Kelli
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There are a few fun tales in this book that would be fun to use in the classroom.
Dec 01, 2011
JUST put this on my wishlist and what did to my wandering eyes in Barnes & Noble appear? A used copy for $9. Since when does B&N have used books??
Nov 06, 2011
Mindy
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I enjoyed these stories. I think they're a good collection of stories for kids. It was nice to have a bit of history as well.
Feb 20, 2010
Ashley
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These were some cute little spooky stories, but I didn't love this book. The more I read short stories, the more I realize they are just not my style. I think I would really have enjoyed this book if I had read it when I was a lot younger. I did however, really like the little historical blurbs that preceded each short tale.
Jan 30, 2011
Taneka
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a very interesting piece of literature. I will be reading more of her books.
Apr 17, 2008
Gretchen
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What wonderful ghost stories--they happen in the Dark Thirty--right before dawn or right after dusk--they are gripping--I always wanted to learn some of these to tell at camp fires but knew they would really scare the girls.
Apr 01, 2011
Hannahlily
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Most of these atmospheric stories are only marginally frightening, but, still, The Dark Thirty is a fascinating collection of snippets of cultural history, and has darn fine tales to boot.
Jun 15, 2009
Janice
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Made for oral story-telling..."The 11:59" was read to me in elementary school. It was so powerful that it stuck with me for years! I'm glad I found it in print.
Nov 06, 2008
Lia
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Very worth the read. I'm amazed as how well some of these stories stuck with me. They give a different view on the African-American culture---its dark folktales.
Sep 08, 2010
Deja
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None of it is real, but if you want to read books on the supernatural, be my guest.
Feb 07, 2012
