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It's Too Frightening for Me

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Down by the railway a white face looks out of a spooky old house, and Jim and Arthur hardly dare investigate.

Hardcover

First published April 24, 1986

2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read

About the author

Allen Hughes

14 books

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5 stars
10 (21%)
4 stars
22 (46%)
3 stars
11 (23%)
2 stars
2 (4%)
1 star
2 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Profile Image for Mathew.
1,560 reviews221 followers
June 12, 2017
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.
Profile Image for Capn.
1,409 reviews
queued
June 28, 2025
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..!
Profile Image for Carol Last.
165 reviews9 followers
March 21, 2019
A mi sobrino de 6 años le gustó mucho. Tiene buenas ilustraciones en blanco y negro y suuspenso.
Profile Image for Wayne Farmer.
380 reviews7 followers
June 18, 2015
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".
Profile Image for Janet.
114 reviews
August 29, 2014
A sweet story with beautiful illustrations. Recommended for any Shirley Hughes fan, young or old!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews

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