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A Nightmare's Dozen: Stories from the Dark
Behold fourteen nightmares, in which readers can—if they dare—visit an amusement park where parents bring unwanted offspring; redeem a ticket for a never-ending plane ride; or join the ghosts of dead children at a midnight playground.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 5, 2015
I read this book at a really young and impressionable age WHICH WAS A HUGE MISTAKE. Some of the stories in this collection still terrify me to this day. I can't look at mirrors; fairies scare the shit out of me, and I'm deathly afraid of finding the Hideaway Man tucked away in my room somewhere.
Jesus christ.
Jesus christ.
February 9, 2014
A Nightmare's Dozen: A collection of interesting, mostly, YA Horror Stories.
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This a collection of fourteen stories that are written by young adult authors whose works usually don't fall in the realm of horror stories. For the most part these stories are interesting and usually have some kind of moral to them. None of these stories are graphic and shouldn't be too scary for the intended audience.
The good thing about this collection is that all the stories are well written so even if the reader is older than it can still be a good read. Actually if the reader is older some of these stories are a little more... eerie.
A few of the stories that stood out to me were:
The Hideaway Man: Two best friends find themselves being chased by something in the shadows. Strangely the creature seems familiar somehow... This is one of the better ones. Judge for yourself what the author is getting at in the end.
What the Cat dragged in: A brother and sister save a fairy from being eaten by their cat. They are soon invited to the fairy kingdom that lies behind there house. They soon get a lesson in cultural misunderstandings...
Into the Gap: Think the Adjustment Bureau if it was set in a high school.
The Cypress Swamp Granny: An arrogant southern belle learns the hard way that you shouldn't play with people. Granny tried to tell her, then again Granny got what she needed either way... This another one of the good ones.
The Japanese Mirror: A young man has a hair trigger temper and a chip on his shoulder ever since his father passed away. In an effort to learn to control his temper he takes a job working at a antique's store. One day he cuts his self on a antique mirror. He hurriedly cleans up the mess in order to avoid angering the shop keeper and doesn't mention the incident. The incident is soon forgotten but the young man notices something strange, his anger is fading and so is he...
Illumination: A young girl is rebelling against a new stepfather by hanging out with the local high school delinquent. One night he shows her his “special” place. A abandoned play ground full of ghost children. It's also where he plays a dangerous game of chicken with the local drunk drivers....
Mrs. Pomeroy: Mrs. Pomeroy has a special punishment for those who act up in her class and only one rule. Never tell what you saw...
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This a collection of fourteen stories that are written by young adult authors whose works usually don't fall in the realm of horror stories. For the most part these stories are interesting and usually have some kind of moral to them. None of these stories are graphic and shouldn't be too scary for the intended audience.
The good thing about this collection is that all the stories are well written so even if the reader is older than it can still be a good read. Actually if the reader is older some of these stories are a little more... eerie.
A few of the stories that stood out to me were:
The Hideaway Man: Two best friends find themselves being chased by something in the shadows. Strangely the creature seems familiar somehow... This is one of the better ones. Judge for yourself what the author is getting at in the end.
What the Cat dragged in: A brother and sister save a fairy from being eaten by their cat. They are soon invited to the fairy kingdom that lies behind there house. They soon get a lesson in cultural misunderstandings...
Into the Gap: Think the Adjustment Bureau if it was set in a high school.
The Cypress Swamp Granny: An arrogant southern belle learns the hard way that you shouldn't play with people. Granny tried to tell her, then again Granny got what she needed either way... This another one of the good ones.
The Japanese Mirror: A young man has a hair trigger temper and a chip on his shoulder ever since his father passed away. In an effort to learn to control his temper he takes a job working at a antique's store. One day he cuts his self on a antique mirror. He hurriedly cleans up the mess in order to avoid angering the shop keeper and doesn't mention the incident. The incident is soon forgotten but the young man notices something strange, his anger is fading and so is he...
Illumination: A young girl is rebelling against a new stepfather by hanging out with the local high school delinquent. One night he shows her his “special” place. A abandoned play ground full of ghost children. It's also where he plays a dangerous game of chicken with the local drunk drivers....
Mrs. Pomeroy: Mrs. Pomeroy has a special punishment for those who act up in her class and only one rule. Never tell what you saw...
April 14, 2009
A fine collection of horror stories. I finished this in just a couple days because the font is large, the spacing is generous, and the stories aren't very long. They're also pretty good, with not a dud in the whole thing.
A great find in the 808 section of the library.
A great find in the 808 section of the library.
July 31, 2013
I was drawn in by the cover and the promise of creepy stories. Not really scary stuff in here although I deliberately read them in the dark. The stories were not that interesting, the characters all feel bland :(
The drawings at the beginning of each chapter are better and scarier than the stories. It's sad.
The drawings at the beginning of each chapter are better and scarier than the stories. It's sad.
April 28, 2015
Not scary
September 22, 2016
I really enjoyed "Illuminations" and the story with the amusement park. I can't remember the name off the top of my head
July 10, 2018
Some of these were pretty haunting! Even the ones where it was obvious where it was going, it was still creepy!!
July 14, 2023
Fun, creepy stories.
February 7, 2025
The Hideaway Man - 3/5
Alita in the Air - 5/5 - Liminal Nightmare
What the Cat Dragged In - 3/5
Wonder Never Land - 3/5
Into the Gap - 3/5
Cypress Swamp Granny - 1/5 - Predictable and felt culturally insensitive/ or at least dated.
Family Planning - 5/5 - Weird. Great vibes.
The Japanese Mirror - 3/5
The Smooth Man - 2/5
Up the Airy Mountain - 2.5/5 - Felt like a pitch for a young adult series. Light. But I just wasn't into it.
Bolundeers - 3/5
Yeah, Yeah - 4.5/5 - I just thought this one ruled. What bigots must think transgenderism is. Kind of Cronenberg. Another nightmare.
Illumination - 2/5
Mrs. Pomeroy - 3.5/5 - Nice button on the book.
Alita in the Air - 5/5 - Liminal Nightmare
What the Cat Dragged In - 3/5
Wonder Never Land - 3/5
Into the Gap - 3/5
Cypress Swamp Granny - 1/5 - Predictable and felt culturally insensitive/ or at least dated.
Family Planning - 5/5 - Weird. Great vibes.
The Japanese Mirror - 3/5
The Smooth Man - 2/5
Up the Airy Mountain - 2.5/5 - Felt like a pitch for a young adult series. Light. But I just wasn't into it.
Bolundeers - 3/5
Yeah, Yeah - 4.5/5 - I just thought this one ruled. What bigots must think transgenderism is. Kind of Cronenberg. Another nightmare.
Illumination - 2/5
Mrs. Pomeroy - 3.5/5 - Nice button on the book.
October 5, 2024
For what it is, simple YA spooky stories, it's 5 stars. My hubby picked this up at an estate sale a while ago and reading it has been a great palate cleanser after some much heavier reading. The stories are well written, use simple language, and present some fun ideas. There is nothing objectionable or offensive here, it was a pleasant read over one day in-between doing other things.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews