With their estranged Aunt Jan as their guardian, twelve-year-old twin brothers, Horace and Edgar Eerie, still cope with the unexpected death of their mother. On the day of their school detention, the boys each face different supernatural events that bring out unexpected abilities in them.
In 1692, Salem, in the midst of the witch trials, Hex is absorbing the abilities of other witches so he can enter the present world and rule over the Hidden Ones, Humans, and control all magic—and Mother Nature. But first he must collect the Four Seasons, totems that hold the seeds of each season. And he already has one!
With the help of their best friend, Horace and Edgar must travel back to 1692, Salem, and stop Hex. But dark family secrets are revealed and those secrets might destroy the brothers before they have the chance of saving their family, friends, and their future.
Sheldon Higdon’s work has appeared in nearly 50 publications. He is also an award-winning screenwriter.
Sheldon has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and is a member of the Horror Writers Association and The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
His debut novel, a middle grade novel, The Eerie Brothers and The Witches of Autumn haunts the world on September 22, 2023! (Scary Dairy Press)
The Kindle pre-order is available now!
Paperback pre-order coming soon and will be available on all platforms.
This was a local authors selection at my library and the cover was giving me such nostalgic vibes. I read a book called The Stars Did Wander Darkling last year about this time and it has proven to be one of my most active reviews on goodreads. I was hoping for a repeat, though these stories definitely have different tones and I think the audience for The Eerie Brothers is slightly younger than the other, and I think they landed about the same.
Many people ask why I, a 35 year-old man, am still reading middlegrade books. The short answer is, I am still that 12 year-old boy on the inside and I still greatly enjoy reading books aimed at this audience. The writing is didactic, and although I feel I have learned all of the lessons these books have to teach, I can still appreciate the messages they are pushing. I also have a 10 year-old son and I can't help but to do some research and recommend him books I think we might both enjoy.
This book touches on so many subjects; family, friendship, discovering and accepting who you are, and finding the place you belong. Every little kid dreams of feeling special, finding out they're a long lost prince/princess, or in this case, a powerful witch from a long line of witches, but the real magic is in finding out that it is what lies in your heart that really matters. If that sounds corny, it's probably not for you, but I think for the appropriate audience, this is a fun and exciting book. I imagine this is the 1st book in a series that is bound to be full of magic, adventure, betrayal, and redemption and I can't wait to see what the Eerie Brothers get up to next.
The Eerie Brothers and The Witches of Autumn is a supernatural children's book by Sheldon Higdon. The story revolves around twelve-year-old twin brothers, Horace and Edgar Eerie, who are still coming to terms with the unexpected death of their mother. On the day of their school detention, the boys find themselves encountering different supernatural events that unlock hidden abilities within them. With their Aunt Jan as their guardian, the Eerie brothers navigate their newfound powers and soon discover they're part of a much larger battle against an evil witch, Hex, along with a three-hundred-year-old magical conspiracy that birthed the Salem Witch Trials. In 1692, Salem, Hex is determined to gather the Four Seasons, totems holding the seeds of each season. To exert control over all magic and rule over the Hidden Ones (supernatural beings) and humans, Hex plans to absorb the abilities of other witches and enter the present world. With the help of their best friend and a bully who's not actually a bully, the Eerie brothers embark on a thrilling adventure to stop Hex from achieving his sinister goals. The Eerie Brothers and The Witches of Autumn is a fun, middle-grade story that combines elements of magic, comedy, and scares, as well as incorporating the bond of family and friendship, to create an engaging and fast-paced narrative perfect for readers of all ages.
Higdon's The Eerie Brothers and The Witches of Autumn can be easily compared to the works of R.L. Stine and Alvin Schwartz, mainly in the writing style and the subtle use of spooky elements along the narrative. All three authors stand out through their unique blend of horror combined with nostalgic undertones, evoking memories from my childhood when reading scary books was both thrilling and comforting, not to mention insightful. As an avid fan of spooky stories, I thoroughly enjoyed diving into this book and getting the chance to adventure with Edgar and Horace to Salem and back as they fight off a family of vampires, scarecrows, and a witch-hating cat that literally has nine lives. I hope a sequel is in the works because I honestly can't wait to go on another Eerie adventure.
THE EERIE BROTHERS AND THE AUTUMN WITCHES is a magical delight (in multiple senses), a Middle Grade contemporary fantasy about the importance of family and found family, of friendship and discernment, of discovering purpose and talents and drive. Two twins, just twelve years old, island dwellers, lost their mother in a boating accident two months ago. Their Aunt Jan is their guardian, but even having a loving aunt in loco parentis doesn't ease the grief. Then on a long weekend free from school, the brothers unexpectedly discover Magic is real, and they are inescapably involved. This debut excitement I believe is going to be a wonderful, not-to-be-missed series. Author Higdon is a talented wordweaver with a deep comprehension of his characters and a vividly expressed imagination.
This is a great coming of age story that helps pre-teens and teens see the world in a real and different way. The message of 'things aren't always as they seem to be' is strong and pushes children to use their critical thinking skills. I recommend that parents read this first and as the child is reading it ask them about their opinions and what they would do. Also learn what is scary for your child and help them understand how to deal with scary things. (scary is used as a very general term here.) Sheldon has lined the book with many twists and turns that are unexpected. This is why The Eerie Brothers can help your child learn about life and dealing with challenges they come up against. Not only that! I love the ending, it feels like we will be seeing more of the Eerie Brothers!
This one had a lot of Halloweentown vibes for me and I absolutely loved it.
You follow two brothers who find out they are witches and have to go on a quest. There are so many twists and turns in this book and gotcha moments. I loved all the characters in this including Jack and the strawtops are comical. This book also does not slow down, there is always something going on and each chapter is fairly short. This books ends on them getting ready for a battle and there are a lot of questions left open, so I am ready for the next book!
This book is by far one of my favorite reads this year. I loved the characters Edgar and Horace and seeing their character development. The plot twists and surprises in the book were also so good . This book kept me intrigued and I didn’t want to put it down once I started reading . I can’t wait for the next book in the series and can’t wait to read there next adventure. Everyone should definitely pick this book up and read it !!
Spooky fun! This book is a middle grade fantasy that's fast paced and action packed. The writing is great, and I enjoyed reading about the boys' exploits and quirky family. It talks about the importance of family and finding your purpose in life without being preachy. I loved the twists and turns in this imaginative read. The chapter hooks kept me reading well into the night. I highly recommend it.
Grateful to have been gifted this book. Got me out of a reading rut and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Friendship, discovery and fantasy with a definite nod to Gen x it was a pleasure from beginning to end.