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Kevin Purdy
85 ratings | 40 reviews | avg rating:4.76

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Kevin Purdy’s Followers (14)

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Kevin’s Bookshelves

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currently-reading (31)
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Gordon Bickerstaff
315 books | 735 friends

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Soho Press
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Kevin Purdy

Goodreads Author


Website

Twitter
PurdyBooks

Genre
Young Adult, Children's, Humor and Comedy

Influences
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ...more

Member Since
March 2017

URL


Kevin has lived in Montana, Oregon and Colorado. He spent many years as a middle school teacher before becoming a full-time writer. Kevin writes middle grades fiction and non-fiction for fellow authors.
Kevin's first published novel is "The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol." It is the tale of a hard-hearted man who hates all holidays but particularly despises Halloween. Based on "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, "The Legend of Decimus Croome" is the perfect book for some entertaining autumn reading. It is mildly spooky, but mostly funny with an excellent lesson for anyone who has lost the magic of Halloween.
Kevin's next book will be published soon, and it is based on Washington Irving's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
If you are a ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

I noticed you have great reviews for your Halloween Carol book. As a fellow writer, I like to ask my favorite authors this question: Are you satisfied with your reviews and how do you handle the inevitable negative reviews?
Kevin Purdy Great questions, Judy. Yes, I am very pleased at the reviews of "The Legend of Decimus Croome." I appreciate when readers rate my books, and I'm even …moreGreat questions, Judy. Yes, I am very pleased at the reviews of "The Legend of Decimus Croome." I appreciate when readers rate my books, and I'm even more appreciative when they take the time to write a review. As far as the more critical reviews, I don't mind constructive criticism, but I'm a bit disappointed with a couple specific types of reviews, not only of my books but those of other authors.
First, I hope that reviewers keep in mind the intended audience. For example Decimus Croome is a Halloween book for families. A couple critical reviews on Amazon and Goodreads had a problem that there wasn't more horror in the story. But it is not a horror story. It is a little spooky, a lot funny and mostly playful. It is a book for the entire family, so it was never intended to be gory or gruesome.
The second most frequent critical comment (which means a couple) was about my use of alliteration in the book. Please note that I purposefully used a lot of alliteration as my literary element du jour. I like to sprinkle in an abundance of one particular literary element in each book almost as if I'm designing a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt. As a former teacher, I appreciated when authors did this so that I could teach that element to students before reading the book. Then I challenged them to find the metaphors, similes, onomatopoeias, alliterations, etc as they read the book.

The final critique of my critiques (-: is the comparisons to whatever famous author I was trying to emulate. In the case of A Halloween Carol, that was Charles Dickens. I enjoy reading classic pieces of literature then adapting them for a modern (and potentially younger) audience. But I'm not trying to be that author. I'm flattered that some people would compare me to a master like Dickens, but please don't expect me to be Dickens... believe me... I'm not that author or any other famous writer. My books are for fun, not for immortality. You will find some similarities to Dickens writing style, and even some humorous references to Charles Dickens speckled throughout the book. But please judge the book based upon whether or not it was entertaining, not on whether it was exactly like a certain famous literary master.
Overall though, thanks to all the readers who take time to write reviews. I appreciate them, and other Goodreads users also depend on reviews to make informed decisions about their future favorite books.(less)
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Are you on social media?
Kevin Purdy Yes I am. In addition to the PurdyBooks.com website, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook & Pinterest using PurdyBooks as the account name. @Purd…moreYes I am. In addition to the PurdyBooks.com website, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook & Pinterest using PurdyBooks as the account name. @PurdyBooks(less)
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Combine Editions

Average rating: 4.17 · 167 ratings · 71 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors
The Legend of Decimus Croom...
4.14 avg rating — 146 ratings — published 2016 — 6 editions
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Escape from Sleepy Hollow: ...
4.38 avg rating — 21 ratings — 3 editions
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* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

118 posts
Kevin Purdy's Blog

10 Ways to Use AI in Middle School Reading Curriculum

Technology is transforming education, and artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a valuable tool for teachers looking to engage students in new and exciting ways. While AI might sound futuristic, it can actually make reading instruction more interactive, personalized, and accessible. From helping struggling readers to sparking creativity in writing assignments, AI is reshaping how middle

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Published on February 03, 2025 13:14
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Kevin is Currently Reading

Woodland Folk Tal...
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by Lisa Schneidau (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
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Aug 06, 2026 06:24PM
At Home with the ...
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by Howard of Warwick (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
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Jul 31, 2026 12:54PM
Collected Ghost S...
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Jul 15, 2026 04:19PM

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Kevin Purdy is currently reading
Woodland Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland by Lisa Schneidau
Woodland Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland
by Lisa Schneidau (Goodreads Author)
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Aug 06, 2026 06:24PM  · 
Kevin Purdy finished reading
MAD Magazine #16 by Antoine D'Arcy
MAD Magazine #16
by Antoine D'Arcy
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Aug 06, 2026 11:17AM  · 
Kevin Purdy is currently reading
At Home with the Bakers AND History is Dead by Howard of Warwick
At Home with the Bakers AND History is Dead
by Howard of Warwick (Goodreads Author)
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Jul 31, 2026 12:54PM  · 
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MAD Magazine #20 by Harvey Kurtzman
MAD Magazine #20
by Harvey Kurtzman
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Jul 27, 2026 11:30AM  ·   ·  preview book
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Collected Ghost Stories by M.R. James
Collected Ghost Stories (Tales of Mystery & the Supernatural)
by M.R. James
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Jul 15, 2026 04:19PM  ·   ·  preview book
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The Crownless Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick
The Crownless Queen (Jeanette of Kent)
by Elizabeth Chadwick (Goodreads Author)
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Jul 15, 2026 04:19PM  ·   ·  preview book
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Crown Deception by Richard Lyntton
Crown Deception (The Deception Series)
by Richard Lyntton (Goodreads Author)
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Jul 15, 2026 04:18PM  ·   ·  preview book
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MAD Magazine #16 by Antoine D'Arcy
MAD Magazine #16
by Antoine D'Arcy
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Jul 15, 2026 04:18PM  · 
Kevin Purdy is currently reading
MAD Magazine #20 by Harvey Kurtzman
MAD Magazine #20
by Harvey Kurtzman
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Jul 15, 2026 04:17PM  ·   ·  preview book
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The Economics Book by Niall Kishtainy
The Economics Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained (DK Big Ideas)
by Niall Kishtainy (Goodreads Author)
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Jul 03, 2026 09:03AM  ·   ·  preview book
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Quotes by Kevin Purdy  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“The murmurings and mutterings grew even more freakish and grotesque as Halloween slithered ever closer.”
― Kevin Purdy
tags: halloween, halloween-quotes, halloween-story
3 likes
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“Halloween creatures both friendly & gruesome peered out of the rustling leaves.”
― Kevin Purdy
tags: autumn, autumn-leaves, autumn-quotations, autumn-quotes, fall, halloween, halloween-quotations
1 likes
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“He was always mindful of keeping his spirits in check lest they soar unreasonably high.”
― Kevin Purdy
tags: depressing-quotes, depression, depression-quotes, soaring-quotes, spirits
1 likes
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Topics Mentioning This Author

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2026 Reading Chal...: Ziggy’s 101 books 9 146 Jun 03, 2023 12:57PM  
Ultimate Popsugar...: * Post Your 2023 Reading List 466 3113 Jan 03, 2024 09:22AM  
Goodreads Librari...: Merge author profiles 3916 1170 9 hours, 42 min ago  

Kevin’s Quotes

“The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”
― Mark Twain
tags: aliteracy, attributed-no-source, literacy
41092 likes
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“If you're having trouble with the concept of ghosts, then you're in for a very long evening.”
― Kevin Purdy, The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol
tags: ghosts, halloween, halloween-quotes
0 likes
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“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero
tags: attributed-no-source, books, simile, soul
136112 likes
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“Do you remember the part in our wedding vows about 'Until death do we part?'
Consider this a bonus round.”
― Kevin Purdy, The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol
tags: ghosts, halloween, halloween-quotes, hauntings, spirits
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“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
― Oscar Wilde
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Kevin’s Groups

22454 Historical Fictionistas — 16391 members — last activity 3 hours, 59 min ago
Welcome to Historical Fictionistas! We want to experience all different kinds of HF with all different kinds of people. The more diverse, the better. ...more
103713 Authors & Reviewers — 11877 members — last activity 28 minutes ago
A&R is about helping authors promote their books. If you are a reviewer or a blogger, and you don't mind writing a honest review, then come and join u ...more
58421 2026 Reading Challenge — 35334 members — last activity 18 minutes ago
❗❗❗ AUTHORS BEWARE! ❗❗❗ Scammers are targeting authors using moderators' names and spoofed email addresses. Read more here. We have a stri ...more
220 Goodreads Librarians Group — 334193 members — last activity 13 minutes ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
367225 Shamelessly Promote Your Books — 1754 members — last activity 13 hours, 23 min ago
Shamelessly add and promote your books and author news. Add your books to our bookshelves and share events and news about your books. Discuss and shar ...more
58575 Advanced Copies for Review & Book Giveaways — 16477 members — last activity 13 hours, 35 min ago
A place to help authors and reviewers come together to get the word out about new books as well as a group for anyone to post or enter listings for bo ...more
927637 Middle Grade Madness! — 950 members — last activity 1 hour, 24 min ago
Do you like reading middle grade books? Yes? Well, you've come to the right place! And if your answer is no, then stick around and let us change your ...more
71883 Great Middle Grade Reads — 4503 members — last activity Aug 02, 2026 12:49PM
ABOUT THE GROUP Great Middle Grade Reads is here to help you discover new books, discuss favorites, and find like-minded readers. Middle Grade books a ...more
55594 Parents of Tweens (9-14) — 615 members — last activity Aug 01, 2026 11:13AM
Book recommendations and discussions for tweens, parents of tweens, and tween lit enthusiasts.
169316 The YA and Middle Grade Fiction Group — 387 members — last activity May 27, 2026 08:32PM
The YA and Middle Grade Fiction Group is a public group featuring discussions on and the new releases of young adult and middle grade fiction. This gr ...more
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