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The Rowan Tree
Welcome to the third book in the Tombstone series. In this tale, Max discovers a tree that has a mind of its own. Are he and his family safe from the Rowan Tree? But remember, Tombstones do not have happy endings...If you are a fan of Goosebumps, Tombstones will take your taste for terrifying tales to a whole new level.
101 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 15, 2026
This series is simply a delight for horror fans of all ages, though the books are considered middle-grade. The protagonists are kids aged 8-13, and I enjoyed them immensely. The author deftly handles what being a middle-grade kid is like, and even brought back some memories of that time for me. They are beautifully written, and will get even the most recalcitrant reader engaged. Other than R. L. Stein, there isn’t too much available in the horror genre for kids, and this is definitely horror that even gave me a chill or two. What a great way to get kids to read! There is even a cautionary note on the Copyright page: “Living in constant fear and loss of sleep is intended by the author.” Gotta love it.
But on to the books. Here’s what you get:
Ant Farm—Book 1
Eleven-year-old Matt is a loner who is bullied and doesn’t fit in anywhere. On his birthday, his grandma gives him an ant farm. Now he finally has a world that he can control, but when his little sister feeds them Pop Rocks, the control doesn’t last long, and Matt has a huge problem on his hands.
The Graves—Book 2
Katie, age 12, and her two younger brothers have moved to a rural area from the suburbs, and Katie hates it until she discovers two tombstones in her new backyard. Being a history buff, she resolves to research the story behind them. But Katie and her new friend Lauren don’t find out much about the graves until a 95-year-old neighbor finally comes out of his spooky, boarded-up house across the street and fills them in about the horrific thing that happened in 1910…and could happen again…especially with what Katie’s younger brothers find in the woods.
The Rowan Tree—Book 3
PART ONE–Eight-year-old Tanner has a very strange one-year-old brother. Devlin spells things with his blocks, can do things far advanced for his age, and really doesn’t like Tanner too much. And he doesn’t like his parents paying any attention to Tanner at all. It makes him angry, so he tries to kill them, but ends up dead instead, a victim of demonic possession. The family buries the baby in the backyard, plants a Rowan tree above him, then moves away. The house is empty for the next 40 years.
PART TWO—New residents: The house was left to the parents of Max,13; Daisy, 8; and Sam the dog. After the first night, supernatural events begin to occur and seem to involve the huge Rowan tree in their yard. Rowans are said to offer protection against evil spirits as long as no harm comes to the tree. But Max does harm it, resulting in a horrific metamorphosis.
Agoraphobia—Book 4
Christian, age 12, is a misfit who has lots of phobias: fear of daylight (phenogophobia), fear of open spaces (agoraphobia), and fear of mirrors (eisoptrophobia). The town in which they live is populated by very old people. When his parents take him to register for school, they discover that all the students have Christian’s problems, so he will fit right in. But his Biology teacher sets terrifying events in motion that severely and permanently transform Christian’s life.
The Haunted Doll House—Book 5
A desperate, childless couple visit an old lady who claims to have the answer to their problem, but there are some pretty bizarre conditions that go with this solution—starting with a doll house that is an exact replica of the couple’s home. But the doll house has some eerie powers, and the old lady is not what she seems.
I can’t recommend these books more highly, and, if you have reluctant readers, you couldn’t do them a bigger favor than purchasing this entire set for them. And what kid wouldn’t love an author called Screamin’ Calhoun? Plus, the scary artwork by Kat Powell of Lubbock, Texas, can’t be beat, either.
5 out of 5 stars.
But on to the books. Here’s what you get:
Ant Farm—Book 1
Eleven-year-old Matt is a loner who is bullied and doesn’t fit in anywhere. On his birthday, his grandma gives him an ant farm. Now he finally has a world that he can control, but when his little sister feeds them Pop Rocks, the control doesn’t last long, and Matt has a huge problem on his hands.
The Graves—Book 2
Katie, age 12, and her two younger brothers have moved to a rural area from the suburbs, and Katie hates it until she discovers two tombstones in her new backyard. Being a history buff, she resolves to research the story behind them. But Katie and her new friend Lauren don’t find out much about the graves until a 95-year-old neighbor finally comes out of his spooky, boarded-up house across the street and fills them in about the horrific thing that happened in 1910…and could happen again…especially with what Katie’s younger brothers find in the woods.
The Rowan Tree—Book 3
PART ONE–Eight-year-old Tanner has a very strange one-year-old brother. Devlin spells things with his blocks, can do things far advanced for his age, and really doesn’t like Tanner too much. And he doesn’t like his parents paying any attention to Tanner at all. It makes him angry, so he tries to kill them, but ends up dead instead, a victim of demonic possession. The family buries the baby in the backyard, plants a Rowan tree above him, then moves away. The house is empty for the next 40 years.
PART TWO—New residents: The house was left to the parents of Max,13; Daisy, 8; and Sam the dog. After the first night, supernatural events begin to occur and seem to involve the huge Rowan tree in their yard. Rowans are said to offer protection against evil spirits as long as no harm comes to the tree. But Max does harm it, resulting in a horrific metamorphosis.
Agoraphobia—Book 4
Christian, age 12, is a misfit who has lots of phobias: fear of daylight (phenogophobia), fear of open spaces (agoraphobia), and fear of mirrors (eisoptrophobia). The town in which they live is populated by very old people. When his parents take him to register for school, they discover that all the students have Christian’s problems, so he will fit right in. But his Biology teacher sets terrifying events in motion that severely and permanently transform Christian’s life.
The Haunted Doll House—Book 5
A desperate, childless couple visit an old lady who claims to have the answer to their problem, but there are some pretty bizarre conditions that go with this solution—starting with a doll house that is an exact replica of the couple’s home. But the doll house has some eerie powers, and the old lady is not what she seems.
I can’t recommend these books more highly, and, if you have reluctant readers, you couldn’t do them a bigger favor than purchasing this entire set for them. And what kid wouldn’t love an author called Screamin’ Calhoun? Plus, the scary artwork by Kat Powell of Lubbock, Texas, can’t be beat, either.
5 out of 5 stars.
December 30, 2025
This is the story of a possessed tree. The tree is not a kind and gentle one, but a horror.
The story centers around a boy who moves into a new home and is drawn to a tree in the yard. The attraction between the two means that nothing must get between them. The tree does what it must to be with the boy.
Overall the story has a nice pace and is entertaining, if you like horror. There are really no slow or down times in the story. IT is of course aimed at young adults, but still can hold the interest of anyone looking a good quick horror read.
The story centers around a boy who moves into a new home and is drawn to a tree in the yard. The attraction between the two means that nothing must get between them. The tree does what it must to be with the boy.
Overall the story has a nice pace and is entertaining, if you like horror. There are really no slow or down times in the story. IT is of course aimed at young adults, but still can hold the interest of anyone looking a good quick horror read.
September 19, 2025
I'm giving this one a 5 star from my boys (10 & 9). it was just the right amount of scary, and it had a good storyline. The writing was well done. we look forward to reading more of the books!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews