There's Something Out There

You're Invited to a Creepover #5

by P.J. Night

On a sleepover at her house, Jenna and her friends go in search of the legendary Marked Monster that is said to roam the forests around her hometown.

Genres: Horror, Middle Grade, Childrens, Paranormal, Fantasy, Mystery

149 pages, Library Binding

First published December 27, 2011

About the author

P.J. Night Revealed
Revealing Questions

Q. How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
A. Reading, writing, and scaring up new ideas!

Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. There are mysteries everywhere . . . you just have to know where to look.

Q. How would you describe perfect happiness?
A. Sitting with my cat on my lap and reading a book I just can't put down.

Q. What’s your greatest fear?
A. Flowers and teddy bears :)

Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
A. At some very old and very haunted place. Transylvania or the Tower of London, anyone?

Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
A. Psychic powers

Q. If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
A. A black cat

Q. Who is your favorite fictional hero?
A. Nancy Drew

Q. Who is your favorite fictional villain?
A. The Wicked Witch of the West

Q. What’s your fantasy profession?
A. Ghost hunter

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something is lurking the woods behind Jenna's house... and what is up with that big claw! A very spooky You're Invited to a Creepover!

I am still re-reading my Creepover books, and being so sad that there are no more new ones, and I am slowly reaching the end of the re-read. It was great fun and I have to say I really liked reading this one. Because the ending was also really good. At times these books end a bit abrupt and at times they just don't make me happy... but this one left it open in a good way. I am also upping my rating to 4 stars (it was 3.5).

So the rest of the review will be old/new combined. Bold is new and old is non-bold.

This one was pretty great, and I really enjoyed it. Instead of a magical monster that wants to eat people, there is a whole backstory and history behind it. I really appreciated that the author added this one to the book. I think if it was just a monster and with the typical: "Yeah, it is magical", I wouldn't have continued or I would have been bored more. But now? Now I was interested in this so called Marked Monster (who actually has some kind difficult name that kept pulling me out of the book to read aloud). It is kind of creepy, the idea that such a beast lurks outside of the town, lurks in your forests. I would move as soon as I would know about such a legend, and especially after finding records of it being a real thing. *shivers*
Yep, I still fully agree with this one. This wasn't just a monster out of nowhere.. oh no it has been haunting this town for a long long time. I was definitely interested to find out, along with Jenna, what this monster was and if there was something to be done about it. We also learn about her symptoms because she got cut by the claw. I am indeed glad that they went with Marked Monster, because otherwise I would have gotten pulled out of the story the whole time. Nothing against its original name, but I just couldn't pronounce it.
I think it is hilarious that people still live in the neighbourhood of that thing. I totally agree with the me of 2015. Run, move, go away.

Jenna was decent, but I didn't always like her. Instead of trusting someone, she held all her fears to herself, which caused her to be super scared and paranoid. Sure, she was brave, but at times I just found her an idiot. An idiot, for not trusting people, for just going outside, even when she knew she was a target. For putting her and her friends in danger.
I think I would rather have had one of her other friends to be the main characters, maybe someone like Maggie, who was more fun and more outgoing.
Yep. I once agree with me there. I get that she is a child, but she should have trusted someone at least with what happened. Come on, there is pus running down your arm. It is doing some icky things and you just smack on some antibiotic cream and hope it goes away? UMmMMMMM, want to lose that arm?
However, I am not sure if I would have liked her other friends to be the main character, unless of course it happens to them as well, otherwise I don't think it would have worked to see the story unfold through someone else's eyes.

I am also still curious about that school project she did. What did the teacher think of it? Since it is such a controversial topic, I can imagine that the teacher might not like it much.
YES! I wanted to see the teacher's reaction to it. I can imagine it is an unconventional topic and that the teacher will have some thoughts on it. It is a shame because we see Jenna put a lot of effort and research in the whole deal. So please, give us some details!

The ending was fun, but once again a typical P.J. Night one. Ending with a twist, or ending with an opening so that the story could potentially go on, but you know it will never continue.
Yep, typical P.J. Night. But as I said I like this one more than one of my previous re-reads which had something happen to the MC and then cut off to years later. Which is just not my ending. This one leaves something open and has you thinking what could happen in the future.

The Marked Monster was creepy, and while I had hoped for more appearances, it was already scary at times because of all the sounds, the spooky things that happened in and around Jenna's place.
OMG, yes, he was so creepy. While we barely see the spooky creature there is enough happening that adds to the creepfactor of the monster. Sounds that are just NOPE, rustling sounds, scratching. I had goosebumps!

Something I had this time, or maybe the previous time too but didn't care to write down, was the brother. He was just such a pest. I get that brothers/sisters will bicker but he was just especially annoying and frustrating as hell. I didn't like that the parents gave the blame to something to Jenna, while they knew that her brother has been pretty mean just a bit before. Instead of maybe thinking hey, maybe Jason did something it was immediately them threatening to have Jenna lose her sleepover. Then there was the time he stole the pizza money that the parents had left for Jenna and her friends. And I could go on. Later on we do see he has a soft side.. but for me it just came out of nowhere. Out of thin air and it felt really forced.

Would I recommend this book? Mmm, yes and also no. Yes, if you don't mind a character holding everything in and being super afraid, and also if you don't mind an open ending. No, if you don't like those things, and also if you expect there to be a lot of monster appearances.
I am still the same here. On the one hand this was a fantastic read, but there were also stuff that just wasn't my cup of tea.

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Joshua Hair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is easily the best Creepover book so far. P.J. Night really pushes the boundaries here on how gruesome you can get in a kids book. I loved the mix of Native American mythology, the old diaries, and the sense of impending doom throughout. The ending was perfect as well, leaving me both satisfied and horrified. If you aren’t reading this series yet then do yourself a favor and pick a couple up. Anyone who grew up with Goosebumps will not be disappointed.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the perfect amount of spook and thrill, this tale reminds of a chilling, campfire-read in all the right ways.

According to town myth, the Marked Monster lurks in the shadows, waiting to find its next victim. Jenna has always been fascinated by the tale and is more than ready to use the creepy tones during a slumber party to scare her friends...especially since she found a gigantic talon stuck in a nearby tree to show them. When she accidentally gets scratched by the object, odd noises begin to haunt her, and there's reason to believe she might be the monster's next victim.

While I haven't read this tale in its original form, the graphic novel won me over. It starts with a dark and tense scene to really dig in and sets-up a great backdrop for the rest of the tale. Every step comes closer to solving the mystery behind the myth, but also opens the door to more dangerous possibilities. It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the very last page.

Despite the spookiness, it stays appropriate for the age range and adds just enough reassurance to keep things from going over-the-top. There was a little more gore than I expected, but just enough to add to the sinister atmosphere and, again, doesn't go overboard. There's help from adults and friends, which also keeps it from going too dark. The graphics are also dreary at the right moments and help keep suspicions high.

It's a great read for those chilling moments, when readers have their flashlight and want to dive into the realm of chilling tales.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was creeped!!!!! I thought the Marked Monster was right behind me!!!!
The main character's name was Jenna. I thought she was pretty brave. I don't know if I would have had the guts to go back and look for the monster! This book was rated a #4 - "Sleep with the lights on" so it wasn't the scariest in the series but it was definitely creepy!!

[~just one hopeless romantic~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was definitely a great read! The story has intrigue, and horror that will keep you sitting on the edge of you seat! I loved all of the characters, however the cover kinda confused me. There were only three girls instead of four. Anyways, I love ❤️ that how in every book, the author (P.J. Night) comes up with a great twist. Like how some of the most scary moments were Jason playing a prank on Jenna and her friends. This book was definitely amazing.

[Jess - The Hexed Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent, creepy kids read. This is one of those ones that has an open-ended ending and you never really find out for sure if the creepy thing was real and sometimes I think those are scarier than the ones you do!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this series!

[Allison]

Since I work in a library now, I often discover new books or series when I'm checking in or shelving materials. I saw this series, which reminded me a lot of Goosebumps but revamped for Gen Z, and decided to check out a few in a fit of nostalgia and curiosity. Unfortunately a reading slump prevented me from actually finishing them before Halloween. Overall, I didn't find this book particularly scary, but I definitely would have when I was younger! The writing style was fast-paced and interesting. I would read more in this series.

[Starr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! I checked this book out from the library for my kids, to see if it’s something we’d like to read aloud. But, this might be a little too much for them. I enjoyed it though, it was super creepy though. As you would expect urban legends to be. The truth of the marked monster is still unknown, but there’s proof enough for Jenna and Jason. This is a great scary read, but not for the feint of heart. I will be checking out the rest of the series.

[Kim_reads_it_all · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute, and fun short read. Never read any middle grade "horror" or "thrillers".. not even Goosebumps as a kid so this a clean twist on what I'm used to reading. The ending could've been a bit better in my personal opinion but I can't expect too much especially since I'm not a part of the target audience. Overall, such an interesting story. It was definitely a page turner and I will be continuing to read more from the Creepover series.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A step above Goosebumps, I enjoyed this thoroughly even without that nostalgia factor that keeps it enjoyable for me to read kids books even as an adult. I enjoyed the story here, with Jenna researching the history of her town and trying to interpret the clues left by residents from decades ago to figure out what is happening to her. I think this would be a hit with younger readers, and quite spooky, and as an adult was a fun and quick read.

[Danielle Kempke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a few chapters of a book to my daughter before bed every night. We recently finished a Goosebumps book (I loved Goosebumps as a 90s kid), and we started this one shortly afterward. I found this book to be much better than Goosebumps. The kids aren't as rude/mean/crass, and the adventure is pretty well written, I felt. Anyway, we have purchased a few more Creepover stories to read, so I look forward to the others.

[Yash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read! Mystery never unfolds in this book..

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the better ones 👍

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am reading this series with my niece. She really loves them. This one was decent, but #3 Ready for a Scare is still my favorite.

[Angie Titus · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Creepy and fun.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book "There's Something Out There," by P.J. Night in the Creepover series (#5). I though that this book was well written and very interesting, I thought this of P.J. Night's other books as well. This story starts off when Jenna Walker, who has always been interested in the Marked Monster, finds a talon stuck in the tree on her property. She then takes the talon to a sleepover with her friend's and tells a story about the Marked Monster. After the story she scares them by pulling the talon out and ends up getting cut on her arm. This cut was no ordinary cut as she would soon find out. Each day she would clean it out yet it didn't seem to be getting better. She did some research on the Marked Monster a few days after the sleepover and finally came to a conclusion: she had been marked by this horrible beast. Continuing on with her research, she read a story about a girl who had been cut and had the same symptoms as she did. The story then read on to describe how the Monster then came for her after she had been marked, and killed her. The monster killed in the clearing where she had found that talon. She realized, terrified, that the monster would come for her next. Her friends sense that she is scared and try to comfort her. She insists that she's not scared and to prove it, she said that they would have a sleepover outside, in the same clearing where that talon was found. She is very nervous but pulls through with it. Once outside and in the tent, her and her friends hear a dripping sound, dripping from overhead. They look up and are surprised to see a thick liquid substance dripping onto their tent. Was it the Marked Monster ready to come for Jenna and kill her? You'll have to read the book to find out! I would defiantly give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It was an easy read but like I said before, I though it was well written and very interesting. It was so interesting that I couldn't stop reading it and couldn't put it down. I ended up finishing it in one day.
The tale of this spooky campout is ranked a Level 4 on the Creep-o-Meter.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is the Marked Monster real? Jenna and her friends want to find out once and for all in this title of the “You’re invited to a creepover” series. The legend of the Marked Monster, a scarred-up beast seen around the forests of Lewisville, intrigues Jenna so much that it is the subject of her research project. As her research uncovers much of the town’s early history intertwined with Native Americans who used to reside there, Jenna is convinced there is more truth than myth to the stories. And her strange wound and recurring nightmares lend credence to the monster’s existence. After a terrifying campout near sacred ground, Jenna realizes the horrid truth. Back pages include ideas and activities for creating your own creepovers. The chapters end on cliffhangers, much like the Goosebumps series. The level of scary is definitely subjective; it seems mild at best. But the elements of town histories and Native American legends do add some depth to this otherwise average tale.

[Jessica Ong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenna and her friends decide to camp out in the forest near her house. Jenna instisted on camping out with all her fiends so she could find our if the mobster that was half bird and half creepy creature real or a myth, Jenna has always been untreated in this creature type thong that lives in the forest near her house and now is the time to find out real or fake

I picked up this book because I've read the series before and extend to finish the whole series.

Why I finished this boom

I finished this book because I want to read the whole series of the creepovers


Who I recommend this book to

I recommend this book to my friend tessa because she enjoys books like these

[Rosalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The woods can be a dangerous place, especially in the dark. This book treats common sense poorly. Jenna, the main character gets a scratch from a claw she finds in the woods. Instead of going to her mother, the doctor, when it is clear something is wrong she slathers on antibiotic ointment and ignores it. Her mother as to debride it but doesn’t take her to the hospital. The characters knowingly go into woods where a large claw was recently found. It goes on from there. The good thing I can say about this is the Marked Monster was a fairly interesting premise and it promotes the fact that tales can shape an area’s development.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

True rating: 4.5 stars.

Most enjoyable, and scary, book in the series thus far (counting only the first five books). As I have mentioned in my review of one of the other books, too often in this series the authors rationalize the supernatural -- not so here. As a result, we have a book that's frightfully good from start to finish!

[Shreya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fairly good. The story and plot was interesting but the ending was a sudden turn. I liked this book and includes spine tingling parts to this book. I think the author, P.J Night did a fairly well job with this book.

[A. K. Alford · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZZING I JUST FINISHED IT!

[Sofie]

it is really scary

[Alai · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's was awesome

[Nina]

Bloody

[Cas ♛ · Rating 5 out of 5]

really spooky.

[Giselle · Rating 5 out of 5]

creepover is CREEPY!!!!!!!!!!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great scary book for 8-12. Well-written and legitimately creepy!

[ⓔⓜⓘⓛⓨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty scary. What I like about these books is that they have creepy cliff hangers, and this was no exception.