How serious is stage fright? At the Hanging Hill Playhouse, it can kill you.
After narrowly escaping a malevolent spirit in The Cr... read full description
After narrowly escaping a malevolent spirit in The Cr... read full description
reviews
May 09, 2011
Patty
rated it: 
So, how is it that one author can write so well to two different audiences and carry it off so well? I'm always boggled by an author who writes really well - but those (and there are many) who can do it for more than one series just amaze me.
This is the second in the YA series with Zack, his step-mother Judy and the problems they have with ghosts. This time Judy and Zack have traveled to the Hanging Hill Playhouse to produce one of Judy's books as a musical. This is a very old hou More...
This is the second in the YA series with Zack, his step-mother Judy and the problems they have with ghosts. This time Judy and Zack have traveled to the Hanging Hill Playhouse to produce one of Judy's books as a musical. This is a very old hou More...
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May 09, 2011
Viccy
rated it: 
Zach sees ghosts. He killed a demon in "The Crossroads." Now he has to free the ghosts at the Hanging Hill Playhouse and send the demons back where they came from. Guided by his mother's ghost (with whom he had a very bad relationship before she died), his dog, Zipper, and a little juggler girl ghost, Zach, once again, comes to the rescue of people who need it, including his stepmother and the rest of the cast of "Curiousity Cat," a musical based on his stepmother's books. Lo
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May 09, 2011
Gail
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This is a second in the series. A young boy can see ghosts. He and his step mom go to a theater to put on a play that his step mom has written. He meets some other child actors there and they soon find that there are several ghosts at the theater. One of them is the main character's mother. She didn't love him while he was alive and it appears that the ghost has not changed. The children try to help stop a man from opening up the portal to hell and letting loose many bad people. In the en
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May 09, 2011
Spuddie
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#2 in the YA paranormal mystery series featuring Zack Jennings and his family. Eleven-year-old Zack and his stepmother Judy are off to Chatham, CT where Judy's book Curiosity Cat is being produced as a play by the rather famous director Reginald Grimes at the Hanging Hill Theatre. Theatres are notoriously full of ghosts as Zack and Judy, who can also see ghosts, find out quickly, much to their dismay.
Some ghosts are benevolent, others seem neutral and still others downright evil. More...
Some ghosts are benevolent, others seem neutral and still others downright evil. More...
May 09, 2011
Sheila
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This scary, funny sequel to The Crossroads is even better than the first book! Young Zack, who is a ghost seer, accompanied by his stepmother, Judy, and his Jack Russell terrier, Zipper, travels to the Hanging Hill Playhouse, where a play based on Judy's "Curiosity Cat" children's books is to be performed by the Pandemonium Players. Unfortunately, the director, who obviously has a screw loose, has other plans, which involve using an ancient Carthaginian ritual that will feed children t
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Jul 02, 2011
Sarah
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I don't know what I can say about this one that I didn't already say about the first book in the series. Grabenstein has created a delightfully spooky and mysterious series for middle-grade readers that I can't devour fast enough. The books are fun and exciting, fast-paced and filled with memorable characters (both physical and spectral). I loved that this one took place in a haunted theater. Perhaps the only thing I didn't love about this one is Zack's dead mother's attempts to make amends with
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May 09, 2011
Nicola
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Reason for Reading: The sequel to The Crossroads.
Comments: Zack and his step-mom, a famous children's book author, are spending the summer at the Hanging Hill Theatre where, for the first time, one of her books is being turned into a musical. The Theatre has been around for well near a century while both the building and the land have quite a chequered past. So it comes to no surprise to Zack when he starts to see the occasional ghost. But when the ghosts start talking of demons and More...
Comments: Zack and his step-mom, a famous children's book author, are spending the summer at the Hanging Hill Theatre where, for the first time, one of her books is being turned into a musical. The Theatre has been around for well near a century while both the building and the land have quite a chequered past. So it comes to no surprise to Zack when he starts to see the occasional ghost. But when the ghosts start talking of demons and More...
May 09, 2011
Jenny
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Zack and his stepmother Judy are working at a summer stock theater where they encounter the ghost of one Connecticut's most notorious crimminals.
This is the sequel to The Crossroads also one of Chris Grabenstein's books. I really liked the first one and had a hard time putting it down but this one I had a harder time getting into.
First of all in this one Zack new he had a special gift, which he did not want by the way, to see ghosts. As he encounters the ghost in the mot More...
This is the sequel to The Crossroads also one of Chris Grabenstein's books. I really liked the first one and had a hard time putting it down but this one I had a harder time getting into.
First of all in this one Zack new he had a special gift, which he did not want by the way, to see ghosts. As he encounters the ghost in the mot More...
May 09, 2011
Brenda
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Second in a series with 11-year old Zach Jennings and his stepmother, famous author Judy. Zach and Judy have a lot in common. They both great imaginations and love joking around. And they can both see ghosts. In "The Hanging Hill", one of Judy's books is being performed as a musical so Judy and Zach are spending part of their summer at a small town theater. Reginald Grimes is the world famous director but also part of a horrific plan to open the door between the real world and Pandemon
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May 09, 2011
Patti
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This is Grabenstein's second book for younger readers, a sequel to The Crossroads. The main characters have discovered that they really have a talent for seeing ghosts; their first adventure wasn't a fluke. Zack and his stepmom Judy really can see ghosts, and the Hanging Hill Playhouse seems to be full of them. They are there for a production of one of Judy's children's books that was turned into a play. This is a fast-paced read, with ghosts, bad guys, attempts at magic and bringing people back
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May 09, 2011
Mindy/fangedmom
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I just found out I won this book in the Goodreads First Read Program. I am so excited. I love a good ghost story and this book sounds like it has a great creep out factor. I am seriously considering getting the first book just to make sure I read them in order. Thank you so much for this booK!!!
This book was AMAZING! I absolutely loved it. I will now be getting all the other books that Chris has written. I cannot wait for my kids to read this book. I loved the story, the setting, the More...
This book was AMAZING! I absolutely loved it. I will now be getting all the other books that Chris has written. I cannot wait for my kids to read this book. I loved the story, the setting, the More...
Nov 12, 2011
Natalie
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This book was a amazingly good sequel to The Crossroads. It involves acting, ghosts and a old ancient civilization with weird thoughts. I liked the first book the best and I think I got more in to it then this one. It was a good idea and had a lot of description but for me there was just something missing to make it amazing. I did love how he explained the ghosts and major scene's in the book. If you are a mystery or history person I would recommend this book for you. I am so going to read
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May 09, 2011
Jennifer
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Enjoyable sequel. Zach and his stepmom, Judy, go to a haunted theater for the debut of her first musical. Of course, there are problems. The director is the descendant of a cult of necromancers and has plans to open the portal between the human world and the demonic with the help of the sacrifice of a few children. Good thrills, and a wry sense of humor make this a good read. The plot stretches believablilty, but hey, what ghost story doesn't? Zach and Judy's relationship develops nicely.
Jan 03, 2012
Kailey
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It was great. Now that I finished it the book was better than I expected. The end was really great and when Reginald Grimes did that stuff it really suprised me. Anyways it was a great book
Jun 06, 2011
Jessica
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This book was fantastic book but some of the ghosts are a little creepy. Like this one ghost Lilly Pruet, like the jump rope ryhme "Lilly Pruet said she didn't do it, she was liaying and everybody knew it!" Its a creepy ryhme but I kept on reading the book, I couldn,t take my eyes off of it! The book was soooooo cool that I almost took it to dinner with me, but I decided not to so there was now chance I coul'd mess up the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8D =D
May 09, 2011
Christi
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Sequel to The Crossroads.
Zack Jennings and his stepmother encounter really evil ghosts again, this time the setting is a theatre in Connecticut about to stage a production of Judy's popular children's book Curiosity Cat. I found Crossroads to be a genuinely frightening ghost story and was sucked into believing in the world where the ghosts existed; however, the setup for this haunting seemed a bit outlandish and therefore less "real" to me.
Zack Jennings and his stepmother encounter really evil ghosts again, this time the setting is a theatre in Connecticut about to stage a production of Judy's popular children's book Curiosity Cat. I found Crossroads to be a genuinely frightening ghost story and was sucked into believing in the world where the ghosts existed; however, the setup for this haunting seemed a bit outlandish and therefore less "real" to me.
May 09, 2011
Pandora
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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May 09, 2011
Heather
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A bit gruesome, but not disgusting. I think older kids/younger teens would be a good audience. (They aren't super grossed out by things anyway, right?) Judy is a great character, and I really liked Meghan and her mom as well. I am still a bit confused by the encounter involving Zack's mom. I am not sure if Zack mistook her intentions or if she was truly bad. I am hoping this is answered in the next book!
May 09, 2011
Paige
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Suspenseful, thrilling ghost ride - but it's hard to believe it's juvenile fiction!
Oct 28, 2011
Emilyn
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I read this one without having read the first in the series, and while some parts were a bit confusing, on the whole it made sense. I liked all the characters and thought it was a good fantasy for 10-12 year old reluctant readers. It was pretty dark, but I liked all the characters and the fact that the stepmother was nice and well-liked.
Jun 21, 2011
Manny
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WOW....another great one by Mr. Chris G. This is the sequel to the amazing Haunted series Crossroads, and let me tell you it was just as good as the first if not more chilling and creepy with such a great plot :) I was very happy again with this one. There is one more book in the series so I will be up on that one soon!
May 09, 2011
Jessie
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Read it to Jonathan, and it was really fun out loud because of the variety of great ghosts. Bold and intelligent characters. Sequel to the Crossroads, but not necessary to read them in order.
May 09, 2011
Ryan
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Again surprised by enjoying the book - so very not my thing. Dark but silly, with a hero is a geeky young boy who has dealt with pain and loss resiliantly (a word that should exist), and a stepmother who makes up for nearly all of the evil stepmothers in literature.
May 09, 2011
Im currently reading this book, it's a sequel. So this kid named Zack,his stepmom and his dog go to a haunted mansion for his stepmom. They are writing play with a pyscho director, so far it's really good and i can't wait to see whta happnes in the end!
May 09, 2011
Holly
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I gave it a four because goodreads doesn't do half stars. This one is really 3.5 stars. Not nearly as good for me as The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein.
Full review at: http://hollybooknotes.blogspot.com/2009/...
Full review at: http://hollybooknotes.blogspot.com/2009/...
May 09, 2011
Kimberly
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My son,11, really liked this book. He is interested in ghosts so this was a great fiction story for him to read. Since he enjoyed it so much, he recommended that I read it myself. I'm looking forward to reading it soon!
May 09, 2011
Susan
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Even though I'm not a kid, I enjoyed this book that follows the adventures of Zack, Zipper and Judy at a haunted theater. Fun story, chills, thrills and interesting characters. I will look for the next in this series.
May 09, 2011
Debra
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Another delightful adventure with Zach-who-sees-ghosts. Light, humorous, suspenseful, fun.
Enjoyed seeing that Doris Ann Norris was the librarian in the novel. And that Jeff Woodman was one of the actors.
Enjoyed seeing that Doris Ann Norris was the librarian in the novel. And that Jeff Woodman was one of the actors.
