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Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the holiday classic Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas with this stunning collectible novelization, adapted by New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd.
Jack Skellington is the beloved Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, but he has grown tired of leading the usual scares every year. Then he stumbles upon a mysterious tree-shaped door deep in the Hinterlands and falls straight into Christmas Town--an enchanting place like no other, full of sparkling snow, merry elves, and twinkling lights.
Reinvigorated, Jack returns to Halloween Town and recruits the citizens into his new to organize Christmas themselves! But even with aid from his loyal dog Zero and the resourceful rag doll Sally, challenges lurk around every corner. Sally sees a terrible vision of Jack falling into danger, and the mysterious Oogie Boogie hides in the shadows. Will Jack’s dream of creating the perfect Christmas come true . . . or is it destined to become an utter nightmare?
Complete your Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas collection with these ghoulish reads!
Jack Skellington is the beloved Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, but he has grown tired of leading the usual scares every year. Then he stumbles upon a mysterious tree-shaped door deep in the Hinterlands and falls straight into Christmas Town--an enchanting place like no other, full of sparkling snow, merry elves, and twinkling lights.
Reinvigorated, Jack returns to Halloween Town and recruits the citizens into his new to organize Christmas themselves! But even with aid from his loyal dog Zero and the resourceful rag doll Sally, challenges lurk around every corner. Sally sees a terrible vision of Jack falling into danger, and the mysterious Oogie Boogie hides in the shadows. Will Jack’s dream of creating the perfect Christmas come true . . . or is it destined to become an utter nightmare?
Complete your Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas collection with these ghoulish reads!
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 4, 2023
149 people are currently reading
1858 people want to read
About the author
Megan Shepherd
33 books2,769 followersNew York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd grew up in her family’s independent bookstore in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the author of several young adult and middle grade novels. She now lives and writes on a 125-year-old farm outside Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, two cats, and an especially scruffy dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews
November 29, 2023
A new 2023 novelization of a 1993 classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas has been converted, frame-by-frame, into the impressive prose of bestselling novelist Megan Shepherd.
For those unfamiliar with the art of novelization, the mission is not to reimagine a film but to literally put it into words without too much disruption of the cinematic product. In consequence, the result is more external-based than internal, like a traditional novel. If you're hoping for vast internal monologues revealing deep motivations from Jack, Sally, Oogie Boogie, or other iconic characters, you may be disappointed.
That said, Shepherd does an excellent job of replaying the film back in slow motion, taking care to analyze every frame so that you "see" the movie in a new light, despite there being no additions or subtractions.
At times, her "close reading" of the film does work to reveal motivation of the characters, however. I, at least, didn't know that there was conflict between Oogie Boogie and Jack because many years prior Oogie had wanted to be the "Bug King" of Halloween.
There's also more clarity as to why Jack longs for something more than being Pumpkin King year after year. This is definitely in the movie, and told through song, but the novel spells it out better so even super fans will have new appreciation for character development told through subtext.
Just how "slowed down" is the novelization? Well, the film clocks in at an hour and thirty-seven minutes. The audiobook is just shy of five hours. Again, that is with no scenes added or subtracted. With the level of detail prose is able to provide, you can't help but experience the film in a new way through this medium.
Speaking of the audiobook, the narrator (MacLeod Andrews) really goes out of his way to make this an experience. He has a miraculous ability to mimic all the film's original voice actors, from Jack to Sally to the witches to the Mayor. It has a very '90s feel about it, and I had to look him up to see if he was somehow involved in the original movie. He definitely wasn't, being surely too young.
Personally, I think audiobook is the way to go with this one. But whatever way you prefer, Nightmare fans will not want to miss this fresh experience of their favorite movie. For me, at least, it was almost like watching it again for the first time.
If you read it, let me know what you think!
For those unfamiliar with the art of novelization, the mission is not to reimagine a film but to literally put it into words without too much disruption of the cinematic product. In consequence, the result is more external-based than internal, like a traditional novel. If you're hoping for vast internal monologues revealing deep motivations from Jack, Sally, Oogie Boogie, or other iconic characters, you may be disappointed.
That said, Shepherd does an excellent job of replaying the film back in slow motion, taking care to analyze every frame so that you "see" the movie in a new light, despite there being no additions or subtractions.
At times, her "close reading" of the film does work to reveal motivation of the characters, however. I, at least, didn't know that there was conflict between Oogie Boogie and Jack because many years prior Oogie had wanted to be the "Bug King" of Halloween.
There's also more clarity as to why Jack longs for something more than being Pumpkin King year after year. This is definitely in the movie, and told through song, but the novel spells it out better so even super fans will have new appreciation for character development told through subtext.
Just how "slowed down" is the novelization? Well, the film clocks in at an hour and thirty-seven minutes. The audiobook is just shy of five hours. Again, that is with no scenes added or subtracted. With the level of detail prose is able to provide, you can't help but experience the film in a new way through this medium.
Speaking of the audiobook, the narrator (MacLeod Andrews) really goes out of his way to make this an experience. He has a miraculous ability to mimic all the film's original voice actors, from Jack to Sally to the witches to the Mayor. It has a very '90s feel about it, and I had to look him up to see if he was somehow involved in the original movie. He definitely wasn't, being surely too young.
Personally, I think audiobook is the way to go with this one. But whatever way you prefer, Nightmare fans will not want to miss this fresh experience of their favorite movie. For me, at least, it was almost like watching it again for the first time.
If you read it, let me know what you think!
December 25, 2024
5 Stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟forever!!
🖤🎃🎄My Childhood Favorite🖤🎃🎄
First of all, I’d like to thank the author, Megan Shepherd for writing the novelization of one of the greatest Halloween-Christmas stories of all times!! When I found out this existed, I simply had to own it for my collection!! Not only does Megan zoom into each and every scene with immaculate detail, but she also reveals small hints involving the amazing cast of characters that may have been overlooked in just watching the film. But just remember, this is a novelization and not a retelling!
Speaking of the film…I’ve probably watched it about a hundred times and watched it for the very first time when I was an itty bitty little one. It came out just 2 years after I was born! I know all the songs by heart, and I can honestly say Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King was my first crush!🖤💀😂🤫I am really sure this was also the reason I became obsessed with Halloween!
Most of this review is going to be me gushing about my love for this story. So here goes it…
🎄From the very beginning moments, I am always completely hypnotized, and my soul absolutely sings every time I hear the intro:
"Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems, in a place that perhaps you’ve seen in your dreams. For the story that you are about to be told took place in the holiday worlds of old."
🖤Jack and Sally will forever be my favorite couple. Sally’s song is melancholic and haunting. It holds so much meaning. ♡♡
I sense there’s something in the wind
That feels like tragedy’s at hand
And though I’d like to stand by him
Can’t shake this feeling that I have
The worst is just around the bend
And does he notice my feelings for him?
And will he see how much he means to me?
🎃I read somewhere Megan Shepherd may be in the process of writing sequels to The Nightmare Before Christmas, and I am so excited!!! I can only imagine how awesome this will be to follow what happens to Jack and Sally. I can’t wait!!
🎄A favorite quote from the novel:
ME ALL YEAR LONG – I CAN RELATE!
🖤I often randomly find myself singing Kidnap the Sandy Claws in my head while I’m typing away at work.
Kidnap the Sandy Claws, lock him up real tight
Throw away the key and then turn off all the lights.
I chose the perfect time to read this right before Christmas and drift back into every moment of all the nostalgia. As Jack says, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” 🎄🎃🎄🎃🎄🎃
I hope to watch this movie again another hundred times in my lifetime!
2024 Monster Mash Challenge Met:
|The Mummy Category|
◇ Read a book with tombs or cemeteries.✔️
🖤🎃🎄My Childhood Favorite🖤🎃🎄
First of all, I’d like to thank the author, Megan Shepherd for writing the novelization of one of the greatest Halloween-Christmas stories of all times!! When I found out this existed, I simply had to own it for my collection!! Not only does Megan zoom into each and every scene with immaculate detail, but she also reveals small hints involving the amazing cast of characters that may have been overlooked in just watching the film. But just remember, this is a novelization and not a retelling!
Speaking of the film…I’ve probably watched it about a hundred times and watched it for the very first time when I was an itty bitty little one. It came out just 2 years after I was born! I know all the songs by heart, and I can honestly say Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King was my first crush!🖤💀😂🤫I am really sure this was also the reason I became obsessed with Halloween!
Most of this review is going to be me gushing about my love for this story. So here goes it…
🎄From the very beginning moments, I am always completely hypnotized, and my soul absolutely sings every time I hear the intro:
"Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems, in a place that perhaps you’ve seen in your dreams. For the story that you are about to be told took place in the holiday worlds of old."
🖤Jack and Sally will forever be my favorite couple. Sally’s song is melancholic and haunting. It holds so much meaning. ♡♡
I sense there’s something in the wind
That feels like tragedy’s at hand
And though I’d like to stand by him
Can’t shake this feeling that I have
The worst is just around the bend
And does he notice my feelings for him?
And will he see how much he means to me?
🎃I read somewhere Megan Shepherd may be in the process of writing sequels to The Nightmare Before Christmas, and I am so excited!!! I can only imagine how awesome this will be to follow what happens to Jack and Sally. I can’t wait!!
🎄A favorite quote from the novel:
“It was starting to seem that whatever he did, he couldn’t shake the Halloween spirit that haunted his every move.”
ME ALL YEAR LONG – I CAN RELATE!
🖤I often randomly find myself singing Kidnap the Sandy Claws in my head while I’m typing away at work.
Kidnap the Sandy Claws, lock him up real tight
Throw away the key and then turn off all the lights.
I chose the perfect time to read this right before Christmas and drift back into every moment of all the nostalgia. As Jack says, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” 🎄🎃🎄🎃🎄🎃
I hope to watch this movie again another hundred times in my lifetime!
2024 Monster Mash Challenge Met:
|The Mummy Category|
◇ Read a book with tombs or cemeteries.✔️
September 29, 2025
c'est très mignon !
une ode à l'amitié, la solidarité, l'entraide et l'amour bien sûr 😍
une ode à l'amitié, la solidarité, l'entraide et l'amour bien sûr 😍
November 17, 2024
Wer den Film liebt, der wird auch das Buch lieben. Das Buch erzählt ziemlich genau die Geschichte des Films nach, allerdings gibt es einige tiefere Einblicke in die Gedanken der Charaktere. Am Ende der Handlung gibt es einen Epilog aus Sallys Sicht, den es im Film nicht gibt. Anfangs fand ich das toll, allerdings war der leider sehr schlecht geschrieben. Was mich gestört hat: die Rakete ist nicht Silvester sondern der 4. Juli?! Auch das Ende der Kurzgeschichte war irgendwie komisch und abrupt. Ich hätte es lieber weggelassen und ein cooles Nachwort von Tim Burton eingefügt. Trotzdem ein schönes Buch für Fans.
9/10⭐
9/10⭐
November 2, 2023
I love the Nightmare Before Christmas when I found out that Megan Shepherd was writing a book about it, I knew I had to read it. The book was just like watching the movie I recommend this book for fans of the Nightmare Before Christmas because you will love it. I wish I could give the book a higher rating than five stars.
December 11, 2023
There's not much to say, I'm obsessed with Jack Skellington, I love the movie and this book is basically thr movie in book version. It's absolutely perfect!
November 10, 2023
Love this just as much as the film 🖤. The audio was wonderfully done! It’s one voice actor doing allllll the voices and I think he did a fantastic job making them all sound different and true to the characters. It was a little over the top in spots (for my liking) but overall a really great listen!
August 24, 2023
I assumed this was some sort of retelling but it was basically just the movie in book format🥲
March 7, 2024
Coup de cœur. 🖤
Ce n’est pas un secret, L’étrange Noël de monsieur Jack est mon film préféré. Je ne peux plus compter le nombre de fois où je l’ai regardé.
Lire le roman du film, ça été de la pure magie pour mon coeur de fan dévoué.
Retrouver le Roi des Citrouilles, replonger dans sa solitude et le voir chercher à tout prix comment combler le vide qui l’assaille, c’était juste parfait !
Non seulement je replongeais dans l’une de mes histoires préférées mais en plus, j’avais un accès privilégié aux émotions des personnages et aux détails qui nous échappe lors du visionnement d’un film.
Les mots choisis par l’autrice pour décrire cet univers pittoresque sont délicieux. Ils sont choisis avec finesse afin de décrire parfaitement l’ambiance lugubre, macabre mais surtout, poétique de la ville d’Halloween.
J’ignorais que c’était possible mais j’aime encore plus Jack et Sally. Leur amour m’a encore plus sauté aux yeux et.. j’ai fondu.
« Le savant fou n’avait pas donné de coeur à Sally - tout comme sa tête, son buste était garni de feuilles mortes et de vieux chiffons. Pourtant, lorsqu’elle regardait le Roi des Citrouilles, elle ressentait dans sa poitrine comme une curieuse palpitation. »
Et le maire, que dire du maire ! Son anxiété est si bien décrite et représentée. On sent la tension monter en lui avant que son visage change en un claquement de doigt.
Mais je vais être honnête avec toi, même si j’ai mes préférés, j’ai un faible pour chacun des personnages. J’aime leur marginalité et le fait qu’il tente d’améliorer Noël à leur façon. Ils n’oublient pas qui ils sont vraiment et leur Noël a un goût cauchemardesque.
Bref, je pourrais t’en parler (longtemps) longtemps.
Je finis en te disant que c’est une lecture addictive et fascinante !
C’est un livre qui plaira à tous. Particulièrement aux fans de NBC. Un must à avoir dans sa bibliothèque ! Surtout que le livre objet est ma-gni-fi-que !
Ce n’est pas un secret, L’étrange Noël de monsieur Jack est mon film préféré. Je ne peux plus compter le nombre de fois où je l’ai regardé.
Lire le roman du film, ça été de la pure magie pour mon coeur de fan dévoué.
Retrouver le Roi des Citrouilles, replonger dans sa solitude et le voir chercher à tout prix comment combler le vide qui l’assaille, c’était juste parfait !
Non seulement je replongeais dans l’une de mes histoires préférées mais en plus, j’avais un accès privilégié aux émotions des personnages et aux détails qui nous échappe lors du visionnement d’un film.
Les mots choisis par l’autrice pour décrire cet univers pittoresque sont délicieux. Ils sont choisis avec finesse afin de décrire parfaitement l’ambiance lugubre, macabre mais surtout, poétique de la ville d’Halloween.
J’ignorais que c’était possible mais j’aime encore plus Jack et Sally. Leur amour m’a encore plus sauté aux yeux et.. j’ai fondu.
« Le savant fou n’avait pas donné de coeur à Sally - tout comme sa tête, son buste était garni de feuilles mortes et de vieux chiffons. Pourtant, lorsqu’elle regardait le Roi des Citrouilles, elle ressentait dans sa poitrine comme une curieuse palpitation. »
Et le maire, que dire du maire ! Son anxiété est si bien décrite et représentée. On sent la tension monter en lui avant que son visage change en un claquement de doigt.
Mais je vais être honnête avec toi, même si j’ai mes préférés, j’ai un faible pour chacun des personnages. J’aime leur marginalité et le fait qu’il tente d’améliorer Noël à leur façon. Ils n’oublient pas qui ils sont vraiment et leur Noël a un goût cauchemardesque.
Bref, je pourrais t’en parler (longtemps) longtemps.
Je finis en te disant que c’est une lecture addictive et fascinante !
C’est un livre qui plaira à tous. Particulièrement aux fans de NBC. Un must à avoir dans sa bibliothèque ! Surtout que le livre objet est ma-gni-fi-que !
August 1, 2025
Audiobook (5 hours) narrated by MacLeod Andrews
Publisher: Books on Tape (Listening Library)
Megan Shepherd does a fantastic job of converting Tim Burton's spectacularly awesome movie into a book format.
The descriptions are so on point.
Seriously, I watch this movie every Christmas and Halloween, and sometimes just randomly and this audiobook captured all that for my Christmas in July reading. I am so glad that I picked this up at my local library, I may have to pick it up on Audible so that I can make it a yearly read to fit it into my rotation.
Publisher: Books on Tape (Listening Library)
Megan Shepherd does a fantastic job of converting Tim Burton's spectacularly awesome movie into a book format.
The descriptions are so on point.
Seriously, I watch this movie every Christmas and Halloween, and sometimes just randomly and this audiobook captured all that for my Christmas in July reading. I am so glad that I picked this up at my local library, I may have to pick it up on Audible so that I can make it a yearly read to fit it into my rotation.
October 11, 2023
Slow burn romance where she falls first, but he falls harder. 🖤 MMC is a morally grey, holiday king 🫡
December 27, 2023
Gdy wrzuciłam na Tik toka filmik z tytułem „jedyna świąteczna książka, jaką planuję w tym roku przeczytać”, pojawiła się masa komentarzy, że chyba pomyliły mi się święta. I dopiero wtedy zrozumiałam, że chociaż ja filmy Tima Burtona oglądam nałogowo od lat, niektórzy mogą nie znać jego twórczości… a to jest coś, co zdecydowanie warto nadrobić!
A można też zacząć od książki, stworzonej na podstawie scenariusza filmu, co nie zdarza się zbyt często, choć nie jest to też odosobniony przypadek.
Historia opowiada losy nietypowego miasteczka zamieszkałego przez potwory, wampiry, czarownice, chodzące kościotrupy, czy najbardziej szkaradne stwory wychodzące nocą spod twojego łóżka. Każdego roku to oni odpowiadają za przygotowanie i organizację Halloween, tak aby było to najstraszliwsze i najgorsze święto w roku. Aż do pewnego momentu, gdy naczelna gwiazda, Jack Skeleton trafia do miasteczka… pokrytego białym puchem i ozdobionego kolorowymi światełkami.
Jeśli chodzi o samą książkę, spodoba się ona albo fanom filmowej ekranizacji, którzy w dalszym ciągu nie mają dość twórczości Burtona, albo osobie całkowicie nowej, wkraczającej pierwszy raz do tego świata. Nie spodoba się jednak osobom szukającym czegoś, które chciałyby bardziej poznać mroczne uniwersum lub liczyły na jakieś dodatkowe historie. Jest do dobre odzwierciedlenie historii jeden do jednego, z kilkoma momentami, gdy autor pozwolił sobie wejść w głowę głównych bohaterów i pokazać co mogło powodować ich zachowaniem.
Czy jest to fajna powieść? Jak najbardziej. Bardzo cienka i do pochłonięcia w kilka godzin, napisana przyjemnym językiem i przepięknie wydana. Mnie jednak brakuje w niej czegoś więcej, niż zobaczyłam już na ekranie.
A można też zacząć od książki, stworzonej na podstawie scenariusza filmu, co nie zdarza się zbyt często, choć nie jest to też odosobniony przypadek.
Historia opowiada losy nietypowego miasteczka zamieszkałego przez potwory, wampiry, czarownice, chodzące kościotrupy, czy najbardziej szkaradne stwory wychodzące nocą spod twojego łóżka. Każdego roku to oni odpowiadają za przygotowanie i organizację Halloween, tak aby było to najstraszliwsze i najgorsze święto w roku. Aż do pewnego momentu, gdy naczelna gwiazda, Jack Skeleton trafia do miasteczka… pokrytego białym puchem i ozdobionego kolorowymi światełkami.
Jeśli chodzi o samą książkę, spodoba się ona albo fanom filmowej ekranizacji, którzy w dalszym ciągu nie mają dość twórczości Burtona, albo osobie całkowicie nowej, wkraczającej pierwszy raz do tego świata. Nie spodoba się jednak osobom szukającym czegoś, które chciałyby bardziej poznać mroczne uniwersum lub liczyły na jakieś dodatkowe historie. Jest do dobre odzwierciedlenie historii jeden do jednego, z kilkoma momentami, gdy autor pozwolił sobie wejść w głowę głównych bohaterów i pokazać co mogło powodować ich zachowaniem.
Czy jest to fajna powieść? Jak najbardziej. Bardzo cienka i do pochłonięcia w kilka godzin, napisana przyjemnym językiem i przepięknie wydana. Mnie jednak brakuje w niej czegoś więcej, niż zobaczyłam już na ekranie.
November 28, 2024
Je ne sais pas trop comment me positionner par rapport à cette lecture… D'un côté j'ai adoré me plonger dans cet univers que je connais et apprécie tant mais d'un autre côté, j'ai tellement vu le film que le livre ne m'a pas vraiment apporté quelque chose…
Maintenant, je ne peux pas dire que je n'ai pas apprécié ce mois qui a parfaitement fait l'adjonction en temps réel entre Halloween et Noël.
Enfin soit, maintenant je suis prête pour lire la "suite" sur Sally l'an prochain à Halloween, donc je suis joie ^^.
Maintenant, je ne peux pas dire que je n'ai pas apprécié ce mois qui a parfaitement fait l'adjonction en temps réel entre Halloween et Noël.
Enfin soit, maintenant je suis prête pour lire la "suite" sur Sally l'an prochain à Halloween, donc je suis joie ^^.
December 7, 2023
it read like the movie with added thoughts from the characters.
which was quite enjoyable
which was quite enjoyable
December 7, 2023
Een heerlijke klassieker om te lezen net zoals je film! Wel leuk dat je eigen fantasie toch dingen toevoegt qua details, of ligt dat aan mij? Haha! Nee heb gewoon genoten van het boek! Kwam er heel snel doorheen en leest makkelijk weg (soms wel wat moeilijkere woorden). Ben benieuwd naar het andere boek!
October 30, 2024
Alors! Je ne met pas 2 étoiles pour l’objet que je trouve magnifique mais pour ci qui est écrit. Il y a des fautes, c’est littéralement le texte du film donc pas un grand intérêt, c’est quand même pas super bien écrit je trouve. Je voulais le lire mais le regarder sera beaucoup mieux, j’aurais au moins le visuel particulier qui met bien dans l’ambiance de l’Halloween et la musique!
January 1, 2024
3/5⭐
Miasteczko Halloween to moja najmniej ulubiona animacja Tima Burtona, ale ta książka dużo rozwinęła i zakończenie podobało mi się o wiele bardziej, gdy zostało aż tak rozszerzone o mnóstwo myśli Jacka i Sally!
Miasteczko Halloween to moja najmniej ulubiona animacja Tima Burtona, ale ta książka dużo rozwinęła i zakończenie podobało mi się o wiele bardziej, gdy zostało aż tak rozszerzone o mnóstwo myśli Jacka i Sally!
October 13, 2023
This is just the movie in book form and I thought the movie was okay, so to me this was also okay
October 10, 2024
Meh. I don’t know what it is about this story, but I’ve never particularly loved the movie version. I thought I might like a novelization more, though, so I gave it a try. Alas, I still don’t really care for it. There’s some delightful writing here, but overall it’s just not for me.
October 17, 2024
I love the movie, so an obvious 5⭐️
September 10, 2023
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review!
'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is a classic movie first directed by Tim Burton in 1993, and for it's 30th anniversary Megan Shepherd has adapted the screenplay into a novel that both adults and children will enjoy!
The Story
The story follows the exact plot of the movie:
Set in a magical world, where in an enchanted forest, doors are portal to different lands that home the kings of all holidays. In Halloween Town the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, is growing tired of everything being Halloween everyday. Journeying into the woods, Jack find a door on a tree labelled with a Christmas Tree and is quickly transported to 'Christmas Town' where he is introduced to the wonders of the holiday that is 'Christmas'.
With new energy, Jack travels back to Halloween Town and announces to the residents that this year Halloween is cancelled and that instead they'll be celebrating Christmas. Now if only Jack could find Sandy Claws and get him to disappear for a bit so Jack can be King of Christmas for one day...
My verdict
'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is one of my favourite stories from when I grew up and Megan Shepherd has done a fantastic job at translating this to the novel format. This book is absolutely ideal for a quick read and also one to read to younger children before bedtime!
I had an absolutely great time reading this adaptation of the book and would recommend it for anyone who is interested in the universe of 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
Final Words
Once again thanks NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for this review.
Rating: 4/5
'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is a classic movie first directed by Tim Burton in 1993, and for it's 30th anniversary Megan Shepherd has adapted the screenplay into a novel that both adults and children will enjoy!
The Story
The story follows the exact plot of the movie:
Set in a magical world, where in an enchanted forest, doors are portal to different lands that home the kings of all holidays. In Halloween Town the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, is growing tired of everything being Halloween everyday. Journeying into the woods, Jack find a door on a tree labelled with a Christmas Tree and is quickly transported to 'Christmas Town' where he is introduced to the wonders of the holiday that is 'Christmas'.
With new energy, Jack travels back to Halloween Town and announces to the residents that this year Halloween is cancelled and that instead they'll be celebrating Christmas. Now if only Jack could find Sandy Claws and get him to disappear for a bit so Jack can be King of Christmas for one day...
My verdict
'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is one of my favourite stories from when I grew up and Megan Shepherd has done a fantastic job at translating this to the novel format. This book is absolutely ideal for a quick read and also one to read to younger children before bedtime!
I had an absolutely great time reading this adaptation of the book and would recommend it for anyone who is interested in the universe of 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
Final Words
Once again thanks NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for this review.
Rating: 4/5
Read
October 24, 2023*DNF*
This lacks all the magic of the original film. It’s a carbon copy but a lot more boring. I think ‘Long Live the Pumpkin Queen’ is the superior NBC book.
This lacks all the magic of the original film. It’s a carbon copy but a lot more boring. I think ‘Long Live the Pumpkin Queen’ is the superior NBC book.
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July 5, 2025kocham te historie nad życie, ale to tłumaczenie jest jakieś koszmarne
September 9, 2023
Now essentially if you've seen the movie, you know the story. And from someone who has seen the movie countless times over the last *cough* 30 years (honestly I can't believe it's been that long) I was still excited to devour the story in book format.
There are little changes in dialogue in place of the missing lyrics, and little added insights and thoughts here and there that we weren't privy to in the film
Old fan or new, this is a great spooky season read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonner books for the chance to read this ahead of the anniversary release this month!
There are little changes in dialogue in place of the missing lyrics, and little added insights and thoughts here and there that we weren't privy to in the film
Old fan or new, this is a great spooky season read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonner books for the chance to read this ahead of the anniversary release this month!
December 27, 2023
It's literally shot for shot the same as the movie so if you didn't like the movie you really won't like this but I'm a huuuge fan 😍
August 27, 2025
3,5/5
W końcu się udało. Nie wiem skąd we mnie opór przed czytaniem tej książki, bo zarówno fabuła jak i język były bardzo przystępne i śledziły dosłownie historie z klasyka Tima Burtona.
Trochę zajęło mi zebranie się do czytania (ponad miesiąc od pierwszych stron…) ale jak już się wciągnąłem, to większość poszła na dwa razy.
Polecam w okresie świątecznym 🎄
W końcu się udało. Nie wiem skąd we mnie opór przed czytaniem tej książki, bo zarówno fabuła jak i język były bardzo przystępne i śledziły dosłownie historie z klasyka Tima Burtona.
Trochę zajęło mi zebranie się do czytania (ponad miesiąc od pierwszych stron…) ale jak już się wciągnąłem, to większość poszła na dwa razy.
Polecam w okresie świątecznym 🎄
January 14, 2025
This is the novelization of the beloved holiday movie.It tells the tale of Jack Skellington and his plan to take over Christmas. With its cast of quirky and unforgettable characters. This book is a fun read for both the young and the young at heart.
February 16, 2025
Simply meant to be.
June 21, 2024
This book has finally got me out of my reading slump. Oh wow I absolutely loved this book and the why it’s written. I love Jack and his crazy ideas of how to make Halloween better for the towns people. Sallys is my favourite character her loving nature and schemes make me really like her as she does what she wants and doesn’t care about the ending. The way this book is written is done so well and so good the descriptions used in this book to describe all the characters is done is such an easy way of understanding all of the characters. This is my favourite book along side long live the pumpkin queen xxx
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