Gruesome Ghouls of Grand Rapids

Michigan Chillers #13

by Johnathan Rand

Ashlen is a very special girl. She sees mystical things in the forest nearby discovering friendly elves and other wonderous beings. But when she stumbles upon the ghouls... and their dastardly plan to rule Grand Rapids... Ashlen and her friends spring int

Genres: Childrens, Horror

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Christopher Wright is the author of dozens of horror fiction books for children and young adults. He writes under the pseudonyms Johnathan Rand and Christopher Knight. Almost all of Wright's books (save American Chillers) take place in his home state of Michigan.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

After a detour from the supernatural for AuSable Alligators, Michigan Chillers returns to it in a big way for Gruesome Ghouls of Grand Rapids. Eleven-year-old Ashlynn Meyer is an exceptional human: she has the ability to see miniature wood elves. One named Lina who lives in the forest near Ashlynn's home has been her friend for years, though other humans can't see her. Lina is nice and helps Ashlynn understand her math homework, but one day she taps on Ashlynn's bedroom window in a serious mood. Ghouls, nemesis of the wood elves for generations, have resurfaced as a threat. Decades ago a pair of humans working with the wood elves pulled a trick that trapped the ghouls in their underground grotto, but the magic is wearing off. The large, ugly monsters are a danger to everyone in Grand Rapids.

Besides Ashlynn, humans can't see the ghouls wandering the streets, and the ghouls can't harm them...yet. They can hurt Ashlynn, and as their full powers return they'll be able to possess unsuspecting humans one by one until Grand Rapids is overrun. Ashlynn believes she's the lone human capable of opposing the invasion until she discovers that her best friend, Darius Perry, also sees the fairies and their ghastly foes. Humans helped defeat the ghouls before, and Lina suggests history could repeat itself. Are Ashlynn and Darius ready to risk their lives?

Into the bowels of the earth Ashlynn goes, bearing an enchantment that gives her the appearance of a gigantic, disgusting ghoul. It fools the dozens of ghouls shuffling about their subterranean lair, but the magic will only work for an hour. Ashlynn must pour the special powder Lina gave her into the ghouls' common trough of food and evacuate to the surface before they catch on that she's not a monster. The plan is bold, but Ashlynn may be the only one who can deliver the powder that imprisons the ghouls again. Will she come through for humanity, and for her friends the wood elves?

Gruesome Ghouls of Grand Rapids features a main character already involved in the supernatural before the story, a refreshing change of pace. It's a quirky, sometimes cheeky book; take Ashlynn's reaction on page 121 when Lina uses magic to make her look like a ghoul. It's a hilarious, good-natured "Aw, snap!" against adults. Johnathan Rand often makes one subtle cross-reference in his books, but there are several Michigan Chillers referenced in Gruesome Ghouls of Grand Rapids when Ashlynn notes that weird phenomena are being reported all over the state. Kreepy Klowns of Kalamazoo, Dinosaurs Destroy Detroit, Aliens Attack Alpena, Gargoyles of Gaylord, and Sinister Spiders of Saginaw are all mentioned on pages 181-182. That doesn't include Invisible Iguanas of Illinois from the American Chillers, referenced in a separate context on page 55, or Bionic Bats of Bay City, the next book of this series, which Gruesome Ghouls of Grand Rapids leads into as per usual. I'd probably rate this book one and a half stars, but I enjoyed it. If you like R.L. Stine's Goosebumps, I recommend Johnathan Rand's Chillers.

[Kollin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gruesome Ghouls Of Grand Rapids in the 13th story in jonathan rand’s Michigan Chillers. This horror story takes place close to home in the city of grand rapids michigan and follows a young girl ashlynn and her neighbor and best friend darius. I found this book in Mr. OConnells book shelf and realized it had only 200 pages so I just knew it was the book for me.

Ever sense she was 3 or 4 years old ashlynn has been able to see these small flying elves and as she got older she figured out that being able to see elves was not normal and that she was the only one who could see them. As she got older she because better friends with lina who was an elf but one day lina was different she was from a happy to sad from light blue to grey she explained it was because of a great evil that was coming back to grand rapids. The ghouls are 8 foot tall creatures as red as blood and super evil there were trapped away about 100 years before by 2 humans that could see the elves and ghouls. Ashlynn eventually figures he best friend darius can see the elves ans ghouls too and together and wuth the help of the ghouls they once agian defeat the ghouls.

When it comes to the end of the book my opinion is pretty poor. The lead up to the end starts when the elves turn ashlynn into a ghoul and tell her to poision the ghouls food supply witch will stop them from coming to the surface. After a few close calls they escape and get back home. Right after somebody calls the cops saying that darius was with a monster, but then they kinda just end it with the ghouls are defeated the end. Id have to say my favorite part of the end is when the news, cops, and people at darius’s house think that the lady that called the cops is stupid talking about monsters, its kinda funny.

I think this book was ok, events that happened in this book were very predictable, repetitive, and random and for a book thats supposed to be scary its really not. This book wasnt really my style but I think that if you want a some what scary book with quite a bit of action then I think youll like it.

[Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very easy to read, and very fast. If you like funny, and scary books this book is perfect for you. In this book a girl can see wood fairies and the evil ghouls. The Ghouls are trying to take over the world, but the only problem is she is the only person that can see them. She tries to tell people about the Ghouls but since they can´t see the creatures her family and friends don´t believe her. The only people that can save the world is her and the wood fairies. Through out this book you will go on a amazing journey on trying to save the world. Will she save the world? Will her family members finally believe her? Read this amazing book to see if she can save the world.

[Max Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great. It's about a little girl that can see fairies and ghouls.

I love this book because it brings awareness to schizophrenia in children. I don't know if it was Rand's intention, but nevertheless, the little girl in this book is delusional.

There's no resolution to the problem or happpy ending, which I love. The book is honest, and ends with the girl believing she actually saw the shit that she did (disturbing!)

Hopefully kids will pick up this book and seek help if they realize that they have a false perception of reality as well.

[Bryan Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion this book was a pretty good book but not as good as all the other ones I read.The type of reader that would like this book is the people that like mystery.If you like Scooby_Doo then I am pretty sure you would like this book. This one day Ashlynn realizes that she has the ability to see little elves.Then she is able to see these things called Ghouls.Also the wood elves help her and her friend defeat the Ghouls.

[Hayden W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book it was the first book I have read from this series and I really liked it because It was easy to read and I could read it in two days. It was about this girl that sees fairies and nobody else can see them. and when the ghouls come out of the ground nobody can see them either! Will the fairies help her, Can her best friend see the ghouls. well read it to find out.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

being from the area makes it a whole lot scarier! I really liked how the story kept flowing and it was very scary. I would recommend this book to anyone!

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Wolverinefactor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m finally free of this series!!!! 🙏🙏

[Jaxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok why did I actually love reading this book so much !! Nichole and I book clubbed Michigan Chilelrs because we wanted a funny nostalgic read THEY ARE TOO GOOD !!!! Gets right to the plot, woodland elf/ fairies, ghouls, power of friendship. Literally used to read so many of these as a kid and will be reading more I think. Highly recommend reading one of these they’re literally like 150 pages, giant font, and so funny. We can have a lil book club

[Katherine Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gruesome Ghouls of Grand Rapids
Gruesome Ghouls of Grand Rapids by Johnathan Rand, is a book that will keep you second guessing your theory of it. Ashlynn can see things that aren’t normal, like elves. But the worst thing she gets to see are ghouls. They are big, nasty, gross, and evil. She has to stop them before they fulfill their plan. The elves said they will help her but will it be enough?

[Niceawsomederrick1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gruesome ghouls of grand Rapids is a book that will always make you read more.I would love to read the next story in the adventure. You should really cheek it out. It is a nail biting gruesome adventure that is apart of a whole chains of stories that all the time at the end it somehow relates to another.

[Crazed Jaws · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its ok so far. It is so weird that a 10 year old can see spirets. And i just finished it ON the first and it was the worst ending! can you guess?

THE END

[Malachi]

It was a good book.

[Netta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most definitely chilling! Very creepy and terrifying.

[Alyssa]

I like american chillers and michigan chillers a lot. But I didn't really like this one. I don't know why but maybe you'd like it.