Its Too Frightening for Me

by Shirley Hughes

Hardlock House is a creepy place. Nobody went in and nobody came out except for a big tom cat, as black as a shadow. Until John and Arthur see a white face at the window and decide to investigate. This audio cassette contains the complete and unabridged story.

Genres: Childrens

Audio Cassette

First published April 24, 1986

About the author

Shirley Hughes is the illustrator of more than two hundred children’s books and has won many prestigious awards, including the Kate Greenaway Medal twice. She is the author-illustrator of DON'T WANT TO GO! and OLLY AND ME 1 2 3. She died at her home in London on the 25th of February, 2022.

Reviews

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

When two young brothers hear strange wailings coming from Hardlock House and a solitary figure of a girl at the window they battle their fear and investigate. Soon they meet the orphaned Mary and her grandmother who have been tasked with looking after the estate whilst the owner is away. When the Captain returns, Mary and her grandmother are made to work like slaves. Who will save them?

Hughes' book is a wonderful early, taking-flight reader. An illustrated text whose story is a charming first read and whose pages are rich with Hughes' wonderful observations.

[Andrew Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shirley Hughes was one of my favourite authors when I was a child. Her stories were simple, and used fairly basic language so that children could understand them, and yet they were written in such a way that they had immense depth, and this is so with this book.

It is also illustrated, which makes this book an absolute masterpiece.

I still have my copy of it, in fact, and I read bits of it to my English students so that they can understand what good writing is. It isn't about using fancy words and verbose descriptions, it is about depth and a meaningful story.

Overall, I'd give this book 4.75 stars.

[Capn]

Jim and Arthur simply couldn't resist poking around the eerie old house, even though it gave them the creeps - and then a mysterious white face appeared at the window!
This is a first 'proper adventure story' for hardy young readers of six or more who will enjoy a scare or two.

Saving this for Hallowe'en..!

[Carol Last · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mi sobrino de 6 años le gustó mucho. Tiene buenas ilustraciones en blanco y negro y suuspenso.

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brill! A great book for someone starting to read by themselves. Pictures are amazing.

[Wayne Farmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remembered having read this book as a kid, but didn't remember what it was about. As a book for kids starting out to read its quite good, but the story within the book is nothing like how the cover and blurb would expect you to believe. According to the cover blurb "The eerie old house gives Jim and Arthur the creeps. But somehow they just can't resist poking around it, even when a mysterious white face appears at the window! A deliciously scary story - for brave readers only!". Well if I was a kid going on that blurb today I would be quite excited for a bit of a scary story, but all the eeriness happens within the first few pages and once they get into the house nothing eerie or scary (even for small people) happens! Its a story about an old house and the people who live there who are poor and lonely, and how 2 small boys help them - they should change the title to just "The Old House".

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fun children's book...

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story with beautiful illustrations. Recommended for any Shirley Hughes fan, young or old!