Here There Be Ghosts

Here There Be...

by Jane Yolen, David Wilgus (Illustrations)

Ghosts, specters, the dead, and the undead fill the pages of this spectacular gift book by master storyteller Jane Yolen. From the ghostly goadings of an insistent - and recently deceased - choir teacher to the most frightening prom date you never want to have, this riveting collection of poems and stories is sure to leave even the most skeptical of readers all shivers and gooseflesh. Lavishly illustrated by David Wilgus's haunting pencil drawings, each tale is prefaced by a note from the author in which she discusses the writer's craft and why it is that storytellers - and their listeners - are drawn to spooky yarns.


Contents
• It Was the Hour
• Ghost Boy
• Tombmates
• Police Report
• The White Lady
• The Boy Who Sang for Death
• Seance for Eight
• Mrs. Ambroseworthy
• Night Wolves
• The Singer of Seeds
• In the Silvered Night
• Mandy
• Haunt
• Green Ghosts
• Souls
• The Moon Ribbon
• Prom Ghost
• My Own Ghosts

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Poetry, Fiction, Childrens, Horror, Short Story Collection

132 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 1998

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extreme Book Nerd Challenge 2021 - Category #32
Challenge Topic: A Verb in the Title.

This is a collection of "ghost stories" and poems, but not in the usual sense. They are very well done and most of them are not scary at all but really make you think. I enjoyed reading all of the. The only one I had a feeling of "Scary" with was the one called "Souls". That one was just too real of a situation and made me think of history and nature of people that are raised without a conscience.

[McKenzie Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book from a for-sale cart at a library years ago, and it's been sitting around ever since. Finally, I got around to reading the entire thing, and I was so happy that I did. This is a great collection of ghost stories and poems. The one that will probably stay with me the longest is the shortest short story in the book: "Souls."

[Kyla Stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of short stories featuring middle-grade characters!
Some of the stories feel as if they didn't really fit the ghost genre, but still well done!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very haunting and creative. She gave an explanation behind every story. I wish she had done that at the end of the book instead of before each story started, but it was kind of inspiring to see how you could find a story in everything.

These stories are good for even a younger audience. They were mildly creepy, but not too scary.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of ghost stories and ghostly poems that are charming and creepy at the same time. The illustrations by David Wilqus are magnificent as well. Young readers will thoroughly enjoy these stories, either read aloud or read on their own.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of ghost stories and poems. Each one interesting and some really unexpected and great twists. Really enjoyed

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the most enjoyable parts of this volume was Mrs. Yolen's comments about her writing process.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of short stories, it took one day to read, very enjoyable reading.

[H. Givens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing mindblowing, but nothing unsatisfactory either.

[Christine Kallner]

This is another one where I read the poems, but skipped the short stories. What I read so far was a little hit or miss. I would still like to return to the rest of this collection some other time.

[Annabel_Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was eight, and the finger bones circling the one character's wrist still haunts my dreams fifteen years later, so naturally I bought the book for my seven year old stepsister.