AuSable Alligators

Michigan Chillers #12

by Johnathan Rand

Are there alligators in the local trout stream? Craig Pierce and Heather Penrose need to find the answers... but will they live to tell about it?

Genres: Childrens, Horror

208 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2005

About the author

Christopher Wright is the author of dozens of horror fiction books for children and young adults. He writes under the pseudonyms Johnathan Rand and Christopher Knight. Almost all of Wright's books (save American Chillers) take place in his home state of Michigan.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Johnathan Rand takes a break from the supernatural, presenting a villain that isn't a ghost, ogre, or living gargoyle: alligators, found swimming in Michigan's AuSable River by twelve-year-old Craig Pierce. Craig has gone fly fishing in the AuSable since his father taught him at age nine, and he loves matching wits with brown brook trout and the occasional rainbow trout that bite on his homemade flies. One night when Craig is fishing by himself, a tiny alligator breaks the water's surface to attack the lure. Knowing that gators don't belong in these parts, Craig cuts bait and flees the scene. Even the arrival that evening of his friend Heather Penrose, whose family lives a portion of the year in the same rural area as the Pierces, can't get Craig's mind off what happened. Did he really see an alligator, or did the creature he started reeling in only look like one in the darkness? No one would believe him without proof, Craig realizes. So he and Heather return to the AuSable River to find that proof.

The river is less scary in daylight, and Craig continues to wonder if last night's episode was an illusion. He stops wondering, though, when he and Heather spot an alligator fording the river. They see another gator, and another. Retreating out of harm's way, Craig and Heather cross to the far side of the AuSable, where a tributary snakes back into the woods. Following it, they come across more alligators, some way bigger than the ones they saw earlier. These could kill a human. Eschewing safety concerns in favor of discovering the truth, Craig and Heather follow the tributary river back to its source...where the full story soon becomes apparent. What can these two kids do to prevent alligators from overrunning their hometown and harming innocent people?

AuSable Alligators has a few good moments of mystery and suspense. Craig and Heather are vulnerable just by traipsing over swampy riverside ground, but tracking gators is a higher dimension of fear. The story behind the anomalous alligators is a bit hard to believe, but it's semi-plausible, and there's plenty of action to satisfy fans of previous Michigan Chillers. I'd rate AuSable Alligators one and a half stars, and considered rounding up to two. If Kreepy Klowns of Kalamazoo and Mackinaw City Mummies are to your taste, you'll probably like this book.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I initially picked up this book after "googling" myself and finding it contains a character sharing my full name. I recently read it with my 5 year old nephew.
We both enjoyed it.
The main character is a 12 year old boy who loves to fly fish. Rand includes rich descriptions of riparian sights and sounds, fly fishing, and of native birds and fish of Michigan, which spur conversations and further research.
While on a night fishing outing, the boy discovers that there are alligators living in the Au Sable river! The rest of the book details his adventures trying to figure out where these alligators are coming from.
As it is in the "Michigan Chillers" series, some of his encounters are frightening, but nothing this brave 5 year old couldn't handle! Rand ends most chapters in classic "cliffhanger" fashion, allowing for speculation about what will happen next, and keeping us coming back for more. A fun read!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was curious about Johnathan Rand's series of children's "horror" titles so read this one. Better writing than I expected and young readers will be sure to enjoy it. There are a lot of "jump scares"; for example a chapter ends on a hint of danger, and the beginning of the next chapter reveals that it was nothing. When my son gets a bit older and has the patience for a story without pictures I'll read these to him.

[Parker K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Johnathan Rand has been one of my favorite authors throughout my child hood and I thought it would be fun to revisit one of his books I've never read. This book was very fun to read and had many interactions with mysteries and nature throughout it. The writing style of this book can either be really fun or annoying. It has just the right amount of description but keeps you wondering and guessing way too much after each chapter. There are parts of the book that get a little out of hand but are usually saved later on. It doesn't start off at to quick of a pace, but early on the pace and rising action are shown. Throughout the book I feel a steady pace is shown and maintained. One of the things I really like about this book is the two main characters Craig and Heather and how brave they are overall. Craig and Heather are both 12 year old best friends living in Gaylord, Michigan right on the banks of the AuSable River. I always love to read books about teens and adults around the same age as me. The book is all based on the journey and adventure of these two characters and all the interactions with nature and animals they have a long the way. The book is a nonfiction and is not based on any specific events. Overall, this was a pretty decent book and I would most likely recommend it to anyone who likes alligators and reptiles, along with nature.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a 12 year old boy named Craig Pierce. Craig goes fly fishing with his father in the AuSable river. He loves catching different kinds of trout on his homemade lures. One night Craig goes fishing by himself he sees a tiny alligator that comes up and breaks his line. However it was strange because He knows that there are not alligators in Michigan. He tells his friend Heather about it and they return to the river too see during the day. Heather spots an alligator in the river. They continue to walk around and look and they see that these alligators are huge. The two kids decide that they have to stop the alligators and save the town. This is a fun and suspenseful story to read. The images that the author is able to create in your head are very clear. He uses many describing words to help tell the story.

I gave this book a four star rating because I love Michigan Chillers. They are fun and interesting made up stories about places near me in Michigan. I one time even got to meet the author and get a book signed by him. The stories are sometimes frightening but exciting and it is fun to read a book based off of a place you live or know of.

[Hayden W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was good but I would rather read something scarier. I was about this boy who loves to fish and was fishing one night and caught an alligator he didn't believe himself but he wanted to. read to find out if he actually saw an alligator and if he did where are they coming from?

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was a thrilling book were a kid goes fly fishing and meets an alligator

[Max Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grayling sucks so much that Jonathan Rand had to make this book all about the river there. He didn't use the title "Grayling Gators"...just Ausable Alligators. For shame.

[Katherine Lehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

AuSable Alligators
AuSable Alligators by Jonathan Rand is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and you won’t want to put the book down! Craig likes to fish in the river down behind his house but he thinks he sees something big in the water. Of course no one will believe him. Alligators do not live in Michigan! He tells his friend Heater and they will investigate but will they ever stay alive to tell their tail?

[Connor O'Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great for children that love mysteries. It incorporates a thriller with good geographical information that will educate students on Michigan streams. Definitely a fiction book with factual information. I connected with this book because alligators were let go in my lake! I would say this book would be for grades 3-5 because the plot does get a little frightening. This book is a great chapter book mystery that can leave you with cliff hangers but keeps you reading on.

[Crazed Jaws · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting addition to the saga. It wasnt your best but it was interesting.

[Youtubeboy98]

this is stupid it wont let me read it

[Netta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not really chilling but really cool. Felt like I was watching a Crocodile Dundee movie or the discovery channel. It was cool.

[Corbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it was a very good book Its good for anybody who likes adventure