Only If You Dare: 13 Stories of Darkness and Doom

by Josh Allen, Rachel L. Jacobs (Read by), Andrew Joseph Perez (Read by)

Overview

Thirteen chilling short stories to keep you up at night—but only if you dare. You never know what's out to get you. Though you might think you're safe from monsters and menaces, everyday objects can turn against you, too. A mysterious microwave. A threatening board game. A snowman that refuses to melt. Even your own heartbeat has its secrets. Thu-thump. Thu-thump. When you stop to listen, each beat sounds more menacing than the last. Master storyteller Josh Allen brings thirteen nightmare scenarios to life in this must-listen collection that's perfect for budding horror junkies. In his wondrous world, danger waits behind every doorway . . . even in the most ordinary places. Listeners will sleep with one eye open!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798212214827
Publisher:	Tantor
Publication date:	10/18/2022
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Josh Allen checks under his bed before switching off the light each night. During the day, he teaches creative writing and literature at Brigham Young University-Idaho. His work has appeared in Cricket, Dialogue, Juxtapose, and other literary magazines. He lives in Idaho with his family.

Andrew Joseph Perez is an actor, singer, stuntman, and jack-of-all-trades based in Los Angeles. He can be heard narrating audiobooks on Audible, iTunes, and elsewhere. He's also voiced characters in Gundam SEED Destiny, Dragon Pilot, English dubs of Netflix shows like Luis Miguel and Unauthorized Living, and Taishi Ci in Dynasty Warriors 9. He's been seen on stage at Musical Theatre West, MainStreet Theatre, A Noise Within, South Coast Rep, American Stage (Florida), Tennessee Shakespeare Co, Next Act and Renaissance Theatreworks (Wisconsin), San Jose Stage, Music Circus, and others.

Rachel L. Jacobs, an AudioFile Earphones and Parent's Choice Award-winning narrator, narrates books full-time. She has years of experience as a theater and musical theater actress, touring the West Coast (of the US) and China. She received a BA from Oberlin College's Theater Program and did intensive study with the American Conservatory Theatre, the National Theater Institute, and Shakespeare and Company. Versatile and emotive, Rachel breathes life into each of the characters and stories she reads.

Editorial Reviews

"With the help of Sarah J. Coleman’s macabre black-ink illustrations, Mr. Allen gets the balance just right for children ages 9-12 with stories that are scary but not scarring."—Wall Street Journal

★ "Allen has cemented himself as the heir-apparent of ­Alvin Schwartz; this is the new quick pick for patrons who want more after reading all the classic ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.’. . .A chilling anthology of memorable scares that will leave even the biggest ­horror buffs sleeping with the light on."—School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Thirteen illustrated short stories range from eerie to totally terrifying. Each tale stands completely alone, but a strong sense of foreboding, unease, and utterly chilling twists runs through the collection. . . . intrepid tweens and teens who enjoy a thrill will be thoroughly sucked in."—The Horn Book

"Twisty, terrifying, and oh-so fun! Just when you think you’re safe, Josh Allen brings on the scares. From monstrous microwaves to carnivorous pillows, you’ll never look at life the same way again."—Kim Ventrella, author of The Secret Life of Sam

"Horror fans will enjoy this spine-tingling selection. . . ."—Publishers Weekly

"This delightfully dark and spine-tingling anthology will keep young readers and horror lovers on the edge of their seats."—Booklist

"An excellent offering for young people looking for real scares that don’t condescend to them or pander to adult anxieties about what might be ‘too scary.’ This book will fly off the shelves."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2021-06-16
Contemporary creeps.

This collection features recognizably realistic kids in a variety of horrific situations. The first entry involves a substitute teacher regaling his class with tales about Them, a supernatural race of vampires feeding on youth. It ends with a shocking twist that sets the stage for the rest of the stories that follow. In “The Perfect Girl,” a boy invents a fake girlfriend and discovers the dangers of projection when she arrives at his school. In “Crazy Playz,” a 13-year-old employee who looks older than his years is excited to get a summer job but gets more than he bargained for, as he’s paid to take on the physical pains of his customers. “One More Piece” uses the figure of the creepy doll to great effect, and “Lumpy, Lumpy” is a picky eater’s nightmare. Atmospheric illustrations are scattered throughout, and each tale is just the right length—short but satisfying, with consistently taut suspense that keeps readers turning pages. Ethnic diversity is signaled through names. From the standpoint of reader engagement and enjoyment, this is an excellent offering for young people looking for real scares that don’t condescend to them or pander to adult anxieties about what might be “too scary.”

This book will fly off the shelves. (Fiction. 8-13)

Kirkus Reviews