From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
Forget vampires, talking animals, and mythology tropes, Kate Milford offers a fantasy tale that brings back the age old battle between mankind and the Devil-- the battle for our souls.
So... I liked, didn't love this book. (3-4 stars.) I think some of it is my own fault. I had trouble keeping some of the secondary characters straight, and this made the last third very confusing; if I'd read more carefully, maybe I would have "gotten" it more. This is a scary book about big issues, which is fantastic, but somehow it didn't speak directly to me the way, say, The Dark is Rising does. I do think all of my criticisms are related to the book being too long by half.
While-Reading Upda ...more
While-Reading Upda ...more
This book was on the consideration list for our state award books; while I feel it would appeal to many, I see lots of our students lacking the stamina to get through it. It is very imaginative, but almost too descriptive in places. I can see it appealing to boys as well as girls, even with a female main character. (I think it could have been successful with some editing for length and detail. Did anyone else notice the bike referred to as a 'Chesterfield' on page 362?)
...more
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I'd heard from a few people that it moved slowly and that it was exciting at the beginning and then lost steam in the middle. I found it exciting all the way through, because the author kept me wondering what was happening, and the magic elements didn't feel forced--they felt natural to the story. The mood and tone of the book were almost like a character in the story--really foreboding and dark--I could see a strong reader who enjoys thrillers/mysteries
...more
This book started out as a solid three, but I've encountered so many disappointing endings lately that I was really pleased with how this ended! Excited for the next in the series.
...more
Great creepy story. Fantastic ending. A little too complex for many young readers.
A variation of the traditional "devil at the crossroads" tale, with a bit of "Something wicked this way comes" all wrapped up in a 1913 mid-west setting with a feisty heroine. Quite a puzzle at times....leaving you just as confused as Natalie is... but comes together well. Rather advanced vocabulary too, which is why I shelved it as middle school. A strong younger reader would handle it well.
...more
No rating for this one as I didn't finish. I was so confused, because I would absolutely love one chapter and excitedly read the next chapter to find out what was going to happen, only to be bored out of my mind with that chapter. The language, setting, characters, and premise were great, but unfortunately, it was too long and would be better with a shorter, tighter story.
...more
When a strange traveling medicine show travels to tiny Arcane, Missouri in 1913, only thirteen year old Natalie senses there is something more sinister at work. This is one to thrill fans of Ray Bradbury's "Something Wicked This Way Comes," and add a touch of the Jack tales of American folklore, bicycles, the Blues, automatons and Americana.
...more
...more
I'll be honest, I might not have stuck with this if I hadn't liked Milford's more recent books so much. It's compelling and dark and not quite like any other kids' books I've read recently, but it's also slow to get going and not exactly a light read. I'm glad I finished it, but it will take a certain kind of child reader to appreciate it.
...more
Not at all what I expected from the cover. Love the connections to traditional clever Jack folklore and the Faustian bargain.
I just couldn't get into this. I picked it up and put it down dozens of times, but it never stuck.
...more
May 01, 2010
Carol Coutts
marked it as to-read
Jun 08, 2010
Jane
marked it as to-read
Sep 17, 2010
Teresa Garrett
marked it as to-read
Sep 28, 2010
Shelley
marked it as to-read
Nov 14, 2010
Monica Edinger
added it
Sep 19, 2011
Emily
marked it as to-read
Oct 18, 2011
Alison
marked it as to-read
Mar 17, 2012
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)
marked it as to-read
