December 1, 2014
Gr 4-6-Samuel is less than thrilled when his mother decides to move from Edinburgh to a small cottage on a bleak Sheriffmuir estate. His new neighbors, two boys and a girl all close to his age, are not very inviting, and to make matters worse he is sure that the looming ancient mansion where the children live is haunted. When a massive snow storm traps everyone on the moor, Samuel befriends Fiona and together they begin to uncover an ancient mystery that has very real consequences. Chill is aptly named, with a sense of dread that permeates the entire story and keeps readers eager to learn about the ghost inhabiting Dunnad House. In Shiver, Samuel, Fiona, and her brothers Sebastian and Charles are once again on a ghost hunt, this time for a pair of children who are haunting their estate. The otherworldly happenings are even more terrifying in Shiver, and the ghosts are more frequent and prominent, which will keep readers on the edge of their seats. In both tales, Nye's prose is chilling and sparse, and works well to build tension as the ghost stories emerge. The ancient house comes alive, and the ghosts' eerie movements and noises will have readers jumping at creeks and bumps in the night. These scary stories are a great addition to any middle-grade collection.-Ellen Norton, White Oak Library District, Crest Hill, IL
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