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Wicked Cruel
Have you ever heard an urban legend? In this trio of terrifying tales, three boys have a close brush with the unknown as they encounter ghostly horses who run the streets at night, phantom farm children whispering in their ears, and a deceased former classmate who may be less dead than everyone thought. . . . Eerie, thought-provoking, and perfect for Halloween, these scary stories are sure to delight readers who grew up on Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark looking for a good spine-tingler!
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 13, 2021
This middle grade horror consists of three urban legends that follow the story of Jordan in Wicked Cruel, Danny in The Horses of Backyard Pond and Owen in Rites of Passage and their paranormal encounters. I liked the atmospheric writing and the amount of spookiness was just right in each story. The characters are endearing and their friendships are a delight to read! I think this book would be great for young readers in this spooky season!
October 23, 2021
Fast read of 3 short stories - fun halloween read - not scary but "ghostly" -
November 5, 2021
This was really good! This book wasn’t that scary in my opinion, but a little sad. The first legend was good, the second was a little better, and the third one was my favorite.
August 1, 2016
I never had high expectations for this book. Personally I just liked the fact that it was a quick read and a fun yet eerie idea of some urban legends.
Did it make my skin crawl or want to hide in my room with a nightlight on for the next few days?
Absolutely not, yet it was still somewhat eerie and fun to read. I enjoyed the stories, some more than others, and the writing wasn't all that bad for middle grade, so I don't see much of a problem.
Wait, there actually was a pretty big one, the endings. Urghh, two the the endings in this book had me groaning in frustration, they just had too many open doors that made me a bit irritated.
Nevertheless, if you want a quick read, or a nice and spooky book to add to your instagram account this Halloween, then pick it up. I've opened up a couple doors for spooky books and look forward to more this fall.
Rating 4 Stars
Did it make my skin crawl or want to hide in my room with a nightlight on for the next few days?
Absolutely not, yet it was still somewhat eerie and fun to read. I enjoyed the stories, some more than others, and the writing wasn't all that bad for middle grade, so I don't see much of a problem.
Wait, there actually was a pretty big one, the endings. Urghh, two the the endings in this book had me groaning in frustration, they just had too many open doors that made me a bit irritated.
Nevertheless, if you want a quick read, or a nice and spooky book to add to your instagram account this Halloween, then pick it up. I've opened up a couple doors for spooky books and look forward to more this fall.
Rating 4 Stars
October 21, 2018
Three short stories, the first is about kids at school all basically picking on a kid named Bainer. Later they hear he died from brain damage , but may be just rumor.Jordan asks questions trying to find out if Lorne Bainer is really dead or not.
Second story is about the Morgan family and their horses that went mad an plunged into the ocean, it was ok but slow.
The third was about ghost kids haunting a farm, i liked it.
Second story is about the Morgan family and their horses that went mad an plunged into the ocean, it was ok but slow.
The third was about ghost kids haunting a farm, i liked it.
August 23, 2024
Pretty spooky little urban legends. Very quick read. I was just weirded out because the characters were in middle school and doing things that seemed completely foreign to me to be doing as a middle schooler. Maybe I’m just a suburban girl, but a 12 year old waiting outside a bar in Boston until 2 am? Seems kind of crazy to me.
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July 30, 2025kinda cute....urban legends. Wasn't mad about reading it.
October 29, 2015
Wicked Cruel By: Rich Wallace
Do you like reading scary books because if you do this one is for you? The gnre of this book is folktale becase this is book that has been passed by generation,told in different ways. My overall opinion of the story is that the 3 storys were very good only one thing I thing I didn't like was the endin for th first story which is called "Wicked Cruel"By the way this book has 3 storys 1."Wicked Cruel",2."The Horses of Brickyard Pond",3."Rites of Passage".
The setting of the story "The Horses of Brickyard Pond" is the pond becase thats where the most important thing happens the setting is also 100 years ago or a century.The plot of the story is when Danny was chased by the horses of the brickyard pond but he was able to escape the horses that were chasin him in te midnight whe he went to see if the rumor or legend was real.This story was person vs. nature because he was chased by horses which are nature I know this because in the text it said "While I was being chase I turned he cornerandstoppd to see if the were stil coming after me".The theme of this story scary because in his story sometimes it went from calm to nervous or terrified.
The third person point of view affected the story becaue in third person the story wasn't able to tell what the character was thinking which could have helped if it was at first person point of view because some parts of the story were confusing.The title relate to the book because one of the stors name was wicked cruel and also because the story is kind of wicked because it said scary stuff that you dont hear eeryday.Another theme recurs throughout the book is nervous.It can be seen when he wabeing chased by th horses becaus it said his hear was beating really fast.
My favorite part of the story is when he was being chased by the horses because that where the suspense was built because I didnt know if he wa going to get captured by the horses.The character actions were not beieveable wen the book said he was able to escape he horseswhen he was being chased by them which isnt beleivale because how can somebosy run way faster than the horse unless your flash(;.Wicked cruel is a good title because it goes with the story because somethingwicked has to be something scary or bad.
I would rat this book a 3 or a 4 becaue it was a good book in some of the parts in the story as I said I didnt really like the ending of the first story which is wicked cruel because it wasnt really what I was expecting the ending to be.I would recommend this book to Eduardo Negrete because he likes scary books alot i dont why he likes scary books but I think he would like the book.If you dont want to be able to sleep at night read the book I dare you. <3
Do you like reading scary books because if you do this one is for you? The gnre of this book is folktale becase this is book that has been passed by generation,told in different ways. My overall opinion of the story is that the 3 storys were very good only one thing I thing I didn't like was the endin for th first story which is called "Wicked Cruel"By the way this book has 3 storys 1."Wicked Cruel",2."The Horses of Brickyard Pond",3."Rites of Passage".
The setting of the story "The Horses of Brickyard Pond" is the pond becase thats where the most important thing happens the setting is also 100 years ago or a century.The plot of the story is when Danny was chased by the horses of the brickyard pond but he was able to escape the horses that were chasin him in te midnight whe he went to see if the rumor or legend was real.This story was person vs. nature because he was chased by horses which are nature I know this because in the text it said "While I was being chase I turned he cornerandstoppd to see if the were stil coming after me".The theme of this story scary because in his story sometimes it went from calm to nervous or terrified.
The third person point of view affected the story becaue in third person the story wasn't able to tell what the character was thinking which could have helped if it was at first person point of view because some parts of the story were confusing.The title relate to the book because one of the stors name was wicked cruel and also because the story is kind of wicked because it said scary stuff that you dont hear eeryday.Another theme recurs throughout the book is nervous.It can be seen when he wabeing chased by th horses becaus it said his hear was beating really fast.
My favorite part of the story is when he was being chased by the horses because that where the suspense was built because I didnt know if he wa going to get captured by the horses.The character actions were not beieveable wen the book said he was able to escape he horseswhen he was being chased by them which isnt beleivale because how can somebosy run way faster than the horse unless your flash(;.Wicked cruel is a good title because it goes with the story because somethingwicked has to be something scary or bad.
I would rat this book a 3 or a 4 becaue it was a good book in some of the parts in the story as I said I didnt really like the ending of the first story which is wicked cruel because it wasnt really what I was expecting the ending to be.I would recommend this book to Eduardo Negrete because he likes scary books alot i dont why he likes scary books but I think he would like the book.If you dont want to be able to sleep at night read the book I dare you. <3
February 24, 2016
I am disappointed, I expected some great urban legends/horror stories. However, it fell short.
First story:
What I liked:
-The creepiness, there was plenty of creepiness and horror stuff happening.
-The Urban Legend.
What I didn't like:
-The ending. Oh My Gosh, it sucked. It ends like that? Easy as that? We will never find out more? Urgh.
-The characters, while Jordan didn't exactly do much to Lorne he still participated in the bullying, pushing Lorne away when they were doing things. That made the character quite unlikeable for me. I was just hoping he would get eaten/killed by the ghost.
-Lorne. Sure, he is beaten, and there is no excuse to kick/beat up someone, but come one, that kid was just literally asking for it. Someone is nice, he does something mean, someone did something, he throws rocks at them? What did he expect, oh dear, no one will get revenge? *rolls eyes* There is a side to everything, and I think Lorne and the bullies (the school) are both guilty.
All in all, I would give this story 2 stars.
Next we have the horses part:
What I liked:
The Urban Legend.... well I say that, but I still have no clue exactly what it was, it is mentioned a few times in the story, but nothing grand is done with it.
What I didn't like:
-The characters (especially Claudine).
-The story, it was soooooo boring, not at all creepy.
-The length, I feel it would have been better had the story been shorter by half. Maybe then I would have enjoyed it, instead of trying to get through it and trying not the fall asleep.
In total I would give this story 1 star.
Then the last story:
What I liked:
-The Haunted House/Barn.
-The Urban Legend behind it.
-The fact we saw some flashbacks to when everything happened.
What I didn't like:
-Again, I felt like it would have been better had it been shorter.
-That ending.. Urgh.
All in all, this was the best story, 3 stars.
And I so don't agree with that last sentence on the blurb: "Creepy and perfect for Halloween, these stories are sure to delight anyone looking for a good spine-tingler."
*snort*Like not. Spine tingling? Sure, a tiny bit, but I have read scarier books that are way better suited for Halloween. I wouldn't read this during Halloween, since I don't want to fall asleep.
I would rate this book 2 stars. Since overall the enjoyment was low and there was practically no spine-tingling stuff (except for story 1, but even that got old).
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
First story:
What I liked:
-The creepiness, there was plenty of creepiness and horror stuff happening.
-The Urban Legend.
What I didn't like:
-The ending. Oh My Gosh, it sucked. It ends like that? Easy as that? We will never find out more? Urgh.
-The characters, while Jordan didn't exactly do much to Lorne he still participated in the bullying, pushing Lorne away when they were doing things. That made the character quite unlikeable for me. I was just hoping he would get eaten/killed by the ghost.
-Lorne. Sure, he is beaten, and there is no excuse to kick/beat up someone, but come one, that kid was just literally asking for it. Someone is nice, he does something mean, someone did something, he throws rocks at them? What did he expect, oh dear, no one will get revenge? *rolls eyes* There is a side to everything, and I think Lorne and the bullies (the school) are both guilty.
All in all, I would give this story 2 stars.
Next we have the horses part:
What I liked:
The Urban Legend.... well I say that, but I still have no clue exactly what it was, it is mentioned a few times in the story, but nothing grand is done with it.
What I didn't like:
-The characters (especially Claudine).
-The story, it was soooooo boring, not at all creepy.
-The length, I feel it would have been better had the story been shorter by half. Maybe then I would have enjoyed it, instead of trying to get through it and trying not the fall asleep.
In total I would give this story 1 star.
Then the last story:
What I liked:
-The Haunted House/Barn.
-The Urban Legend behind it.
-The fact we saw some flashbacks to when everything happened.
What I didn't like:
-Again, I felt like it would have been better had it been shorter.
-That ending.. Urgh.
All in all, this was the best story, 3 stars.
And I so don't agree with that last sentence on the blurb: "Creepy and perfect for Halloween, these stories are sure to delight anyone looking for a good spine-tingler."
*snort*Like not. Spine tingling? Sure, a tiny bit, but I have read scarier books that are way better suited for Halloween. I wouldn't read this during Halloween, since I don't want to fall asleep.
I would rate this book 2 stars. Since overall the enjoyment was low and there was practically no spine-tingling stuff (except for story 1, but even that got old).
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
September 22, 2014
Wicked Cruel has three stories set in the same New England town and each has to do with an Urban Legend.
The first story follows Jordan and he thinks he is being haunted by a former classmate who everyone bullied.
The second story follows Danny, who doesn't really fit in and is fascinated by the local legend of ghost horses.
And third follows Owen,who dances with a ghost girl and doesn't know it at first. But later, he wants to see her again and find out more about her.
I don't know if I would any of these stories are really scary, but I still think they would make perfect Halloween reads.
The first is called Wicked Cruel and in my opinion, was the most suspenseful of the three. I think it also teaches the lesson that even if you don't like someone, if they are a jerk or find them annoying, don't pick on or bully them. Later you may just regret it, even if you think they deserved it.
The second story called The Horses of Brickyard Pond deals with characters who don't fit in. A brother and sister who fight constantly, who don't really understand their dad. But, I like how despite it being a short story, the characters grew and changed. They learned about each other and really did care about each other. And there is a little bit of ghost story thrown in there, which was interesting.
The final story called Rites of Passage and I think has a hard time just being himself around girls. Clarity, the ghost girl, helps him with that. There were flashbacks that had to do with Clarity or her family and I think her story is sad.
Overall, I think the stories are well-written and are creepy enough to make for good Halloween reading.
The first story follows Jordan and he thinks he is being haunted by a former classmate who everyone bullied.
The second story follows Danny, who doesn't really fit in and is fascinated by the local legend of ghost horses.
And third follows Owen,who dances with a ghost girl and doesn't know it at first. But later, he wants to see her again and find out more about her.
I don't know if I would any of these stories are really scary, but I still think they would make perfect Halloween reads.
The first is called Wicked Cruel and in my opinion, was the most suspenseful of the three. I think it also teaches the lesson that even if you don't like someone, if they are a jerk or find them annoying, don't pick on or bully them. Later you may just regret it, even if you think they deserved it.
The second story called The Horses of Brickyard Pond deals with characters who don't fit in. A brother and sister who fight constantly, who don't really understand their dad. But, I like how despite it being a short story, the characters grew and changed. They learned about each other and really did care about each other. And there is a little bit of ghost story thrown in there, which was interesting.
The final story called Rites of Passage and I think has a hard time just being himself around girls. Clarity, the ghost girl, helps him with that. There were flashbacks that had to do with Clarity or her family and I think her story is sad.
Overall, I think the stories are well-written and are creepy enough to make for good Halloween reading.
April 27, 2015
This is a collection of three ghostly stories that are all set in the same small New England town. The first is an urban legend associated with a bullied boy that reportedly moved away and died of brain injuries. Yet he is mysteriously appearing in a music video and begins to haunt two of his tormentors. The second relates the tale of a team of horses that perished in a brickyard flood. The ghost horses mysteriously appear on rainy nights to once again run free. The third tells the tale of a ghost child that appears in a barn where five youngsters perished in the 1800s. He appears to a young boy on the brink of adolescence. These are not horror stories per se, but mildly scary tales that intermediate readers often request. The varying themes will resonate with readers. The stories are well done and introspective. The title is a must for any library.
February 18, 2014
Wicked Cruel: Three Urban Legends by Rich Wallace
Alfred A. Knopf, 2013
Fantasy
195 pages
Recommended for grades 4-7
Ghost story time! This book is a collection of three stories, all set in a college town in New Hampshire (based on Keene, New Hampshire)
What if urban legends were not made up, what if there was truth to these supernatural tales?
That's what this book is all about, and it is tons of fun!
In each story the main character is a middle school-ish aged boy. The characters feel so genuine, their actions, thoughts and dialogue all very believable.
I know my fourth graders would love this book, though some of the ideas in the story might be a little scary for them. There is also some language in the book that gives me pause when recommending for 4th graders.
Alfred A. Knopf, 2013
Fantasy
195 pages
Recommended for grades 4-7
Ghost story time! This book is a collection of three stories, all set in a college town in New Hampshire (based on Keene, New Hampshire)
What if urban legends were not made up, what if there was truth to these supernatural tales?
That's what this book is all about, and it is tons of fun!
In each story the main character is a middle school-ish aged boy. The characters feel so genuine, their actions, thoughts and dialogue all very believable.
I know my fourth graders would love this book, though some of the ideas in the story might be a little scary for them. There is also some language in the book that gives me pause when recommending for 4th graders.
June 12, 2014
A cool collection of 3 short stories all set in the same New England town. This is a great middle grade read. Spooky without being too scary.
The first short story involves an urban legend about a kid who was bullied and hit by everyone in school. Later, they find out he died of a brain injury. And they think he is haunting them. The author does a fantastic job capturing the guilt and remorse that the biggest bully and the littlest bully feel. He really makes the reader think about the ramifications of bullying.
The second one involved ghost horses and a brother and sister connecting.
The third had to do with a family of ghosts living in the home where they were murdered.
All were fast and fun reads.
The first short story involves an urban legend about a kid who was bullied and hit by everyone in school. Later, they find out he died of a brain injury. And they think he is haunting them. The author does a fantastic job capturing the guilt and remorse that the biggest bully and the littlest bully feel. He really makes the reader think about the ramifications of bullying.
The second one involved ghost horses and a brother and sister connecting.
The third had to do with a family of ghosts living in the home where they were murdered.
All were fast and fun reads.
January 7, 2014
Three eerie tales of suspense and horror take place in the spooky, richly detailed setting of Cheshire Notch, New Hampshire. Each main character drew me into his story with a generous dose of humor. The spot on dialogue of middle schoolers, Jordan (Wicked Cruel), Danny (The Horses Brickyard Pond) and Owen (Rites of Passage) and their friends kept me turning pages quickly as they dealt with not only the awesome creepiness that loomed but also relatable issues of bullying, fractured sibling relationships and first crushes. After spending time with these characters I felt like one of the locals. Rich Wallace’s Wicked Cruel is a hauntingly great read any time of year!
August 19, 2013
Really fun, spooky collection of three novellas set in the same New Hampshire town around Halloween. This is a great book for upper middle grade readers (particularly boys). Each long story incorporates a unique urban legend (and the term "wicked") and nicely developed male protagonists. Great cover, too! The first tale is the longest, but I liked stories #2 and #3 better. Perfect Halloween reading, especially for a reluctant reader.
August 27, 2016
Three short stories set in a small New England town, tell of three different urban legends. They range from creepy to mysterious but nothing terrifying.
I especially liked the story of the "Horses of Brickyard Pond" where hoofbeats can be heard and sometimes horses can be seen that supposedly drowned in the brickyard centuries ago. The other tales include one about bullying gone wrong and the other about a haunted building.
I especially liked the story of the "Horses of Brickyard Pond" where hoofbeats can be heard and sometimes horses can be seen that supposedly drowned in the brickyard centuries ago. The other tales include one about bullying gone wrong and the other about a haunted building.
July 18, 2014
Three urban legends, all which take place in one New England town. I had never heard of these urban legends before, and I’m wondering if they are familiar in that part of the country and are real local legends or if they were created just for this book. A short addition or note detailing the “inspiration” for the stories would have been great.
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April 11, 2016All three stories in the book were okay, but I really got stuck on reading them, they all were good and a littler creepy in their own right, but I just had a hard time sticking to them. I am however glad I read the whole book and all three stories because the last one was the best. More of a younger audience.
July 25, 2013
Well, It was ok, maybe it deserves a three star. I'm just not that much of a short story gal. They have their place, I'm just not a short story reader.
Ah well,
Review later (promise I'll point out it's better features ;)
Ah well,
Review later (promise I'll point out it's better features ;)
April 3, 2014
These three short stories based on urban legends were pretty good, creepy enough for the young.
I was intrigued by the urban legend basis of each story but the book didn't really give you the original legend. That would have been a welcome addition.
October 14, 2013
Could have been creepier.
June 4, 2013
A nice creepy book. The stories are just long enough, and the endings sneak up on you.
This review is based on an ARC provided to me by the publisher.
This review is based on an ARC provided to me by the publisher.
August 16, 2013
Really enjoyed the three stories. Got this from the library, bu want to buy and own it now.
September 4, 2013
Even though the stories were intended for children, I still found them enjoyable. Really got me in the Halloween spirit a little early.
September 2, 2013
This book had some really creepy moments. The first story was the most eerie. I loved the setting of the quaint New England college town for all three of the stories.
February 5, 2014
Kirkus sums up my thoughts, "Well-crafted eerie tales of the bonds between the dead and the living. Wicked good."
May 24, 2014
Three ghost stories. Good for middle school kids who like scary!
February 9, 2016
3 short stories based on urban legends. An ok read but the stories may be a little mature for some readers.
October 14, 2014
The first of the 3 tales was my least favorite. It felt like it was being written by a 15 year old boy. Maybe that was the point, but I didn't like it. The 3rd was the best, very creepy.
May 13, 2016
Interesting but I felt like I wanted more of each of the stories. It was like there was no real closure.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews