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When the Chenoo Howls: Native American Tales of Terror
Twelve scary stories from the northeast woodland Native Americans.
136 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 1998
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156 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Bruchac
279 books599 followersJoseph Bruchac lives with his wife, Carol, in the Adirondack mountain foothills town of Greenfield Center, New York, in the same house where his maternal grandparents raised him. Much of his writing draws on that land and his Abenaki ancestry. Although his American Indian heritage is only one part of an ethnic background that includes Slovak and English blood, those Native roots are the ones by which he has been most nourished. He, his younger sister Margaret, and his two grown sons, James and Jesse, continue to work extensively in projects involving the preservation of Abenaki culture, language and traditional Native skills, including performing traditional and contemporary Abenaki music with the Dawnland Singers.
He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from Syracuse and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the Union Institute of Ohio. His work as a educator includes eight years of directing a college program for Skidmore College inside a maximum security prison. With his wife, Carol, he is the founder and Co-Director of the Greenfield Review Literary Center and The Greenfield Review Press. He has edited a number of highly praised anthologies of contemporary poetry and fiction, including Songs from this Earth on Turtle's Back, Breaking Silence (winner of an American Book Award) and Returning the Gift. His poems, articles and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, from American Poetry Review, Cricket and Aboriginal Voices to National Geographic, Parabola and Smithsonian Magazine. He has authored more than 70 books for adults and children, including The First Strawberries, Keepers of the Earth (co-authored with Michael Caduto), Tell Me a Tale, When the Chenoo Howls (co-authored with his son, James), his autobiography Bowman's Store and such novels as Dawn Land, The Waters Between, Arrow Over the Door and The Heart of a Chief. Forthcoming titles include Squanto's Journey (Harcourt), a picture book, Sacajawea (Harcourt), an historical novel, Crazy Horse's Vision (Lee & Low), a picture book, and Pushing Up The Sky (Dial), a collection of plays for children. His honors include a Rockefeller Humanities fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Writing Fellowship for Poetry, the Cherokee Nation Prose Award, the Knickerbocker Award, the Hope S. Dean Award for Notable Achievement in Children's Literature and both the 1998 Writer of the Year Award and the 1998 Storyteller of the Year Award from the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. In 1999, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas.
As a professional teller of the traditional tales of the Adirondacks and the Native peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Joe Bruchac has performed widely in Europe and throughout the United States from Florida to Hawaii and has been featured at such events as the British Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for Native American organizations and schools throughout the continent, including the Institute of Alaska Native Arts and the Onondaga Nation School. He discusses Native culture and his books and does storytelling programs at dozens of elementary and secondary schools each year as a visiting author.
He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from Syracuse and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the Union Institute of Ohio. His work as a educator includes eight years of directing a college program for Skidmore College inside a maximum security prison. With his wife, Carol, he is the founder and Co-Director of the Greenfield Review Literary Center and The Greenfield Review Press. He has edited a number of highly praised anthologies of contemporary poetry and fiction, including Songs from this Earth on Turtle's Back, Breaking Silence (winner of an American Book Award) and Returning the Gift. His poems, articles and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, from American Poetry Review, Cricket and Aboriginal Voices to National Geographic, Parabola and Smithsonian Magazine. He has authored more than 70 books for adults and children, including The First Strawberries, Keepers of the Earth (co-authored with Michael Caduto), Tell Me a Tale, When the Chenoo Howls (co-authored with his son, James), his autobiography Bowman's Store and such novels as Dawn Land, The Waters Between, Arrow Over the Door and The Heart of a Chief. Forthcoming titles include Squanto's Journey (Harcourt), a picture book, Sacajawea (Harcourt), an historical novel, Crazy Horse's Vision (Lee & Low), a picture book, and Pushing Up The Sky (Dial), a collection of plays for children. His honors include a Rockefeller Humanities fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Writing Fellowship for Poetry, the Cherokee Nation Prose Award, the Knickerbocker Award, the Hope S. Dean Award for Notable Achievement in Children's Literature and both the 1998 Writer of the Year Award and the 1998 Storyteller of the Year Award from the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. In 1999, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas.
As a professional teller of the traditional tales of the Adirondacks and the Native peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Joe Bruchac has performed widely in Europe and throughout the United States from Florida to Hawaii and has been featured at such events as the British Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for Native American organizations and schools throughout the continent, including the Institute of Alaska Native Arts and the Onondaga Nation School. He discusses Native culture and his books and does storytelling programs at dozens of elementary and secondary schools each year as a visiting author.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 19, 2016
Not as good as his The Girl Who Married the Moon, but it's still very good. This one focuses on stories about monsters of one sort or another.
These are mostly educational stories: Beware that you don't brag too much. Beware that you respect your elders. Beware you stay away from that dangerous river bank or that dangerous bog.
It was interesting how local some of these stories were - especially those warning away from a particular dangerous activity or location.
These are mostly educational stories: Beware that you don't brag too much. Beware that you respect your elders. Beware you stay away from that dangerous river bank or that dangerous bog.
It was interesting how local some of these stories were - especially those warning away from a particular dangerous activity or location.
November 1, 2019
One of the best collections of scary stories I’ve read (to my son) so far!
Great art!
The stories themselves were not overwhelming to my 5 yr old son. They had good scares, but most were happy endings.
The monsters were unique. The story telling felt authentic and intimate.
There were little blurbs after each story explaining the background in Native American folklore.
Son loved hearing these, and I loved reading them!
Great art!
The stories themselves were not overwhelming to my 5 yr old son. They had good scares, but most were happy endings.
The monsters were unique. The story telling felt authentic and intimate.
There were little blurbs after each story explaining the background in Native American folklore.
Son loved hearing these, and I loved reading them!
December 11, 2018
Retellings of legendary monster stories from the oral traditions of Northeast nations. Most of these tales were told to young children to warn them away from venturing into dangerous territories (like near cliff edges or swampy bogs). Others were told to teach children humility, to respect their elders, the power of intelligence over greed or pride, trust in their parents' stories.
As an adult, there were only 2 that creeped me out. However, each of the illustrations was way creepy and wholly evoked the "monster story" vibe.
4 stars
Notes to self:
As an adult, there were only 2 that creeped me out. However, each of the illustrations was way creepy and wholly evoked the "monster story" vibe.
4 stars
Notes to self:
December 29, 2019
Great stories, but it terrified fourth grade me and that’s why it deserves one star
December 19, 2020
Horror tales from northeastern indigenous tribes. A lot of morality/cautionary tales. A lot of floating heads.
October 1, 2025
Excellently written short folk tales. Just the right amount of creepy and perfect for kids, teens, or 30 year olds with a love for folk tales lol
May 15, 2019
A good introduction to a wide variety of New England's Native American stories.
February 2, 2013
I wrote the following review for a blog on race & horror, "You Die First!" (http://fuckoffyoudiefirst.tumblr.com/)
When the Chenoo Howls is a collection of children’s scary stories from Indigenous tribes around the Northeastern United States area, printed in 1998. It begins in long-ago folklore and slowly progresses to the modern age, with tales of heros who depend on their wits, monsters that sometimes win, and naughty children. The collection has a good mix of gender representation, but no queer inclusion. There is a very handy pronunciation guide at the end of the book, and an explanation of the monster within the story at the end of each tale- along with sourced materials (some of them are traditional oral tales that have gone unpublished until this collection came out, others come from out-of-print collections decades old). Apparently Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki), the father in this father-son book collaboration, is a traditional oral storyteller and also prolific author of both children and adult stories, including adult horror.
The stories themselves are 12 “tales of terror” aimed at middle schoolers (or younger, if it’s something your kids are really into). The illustrations are simple, yet gorgeous black and white drawings that are good for the pre-”Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” crowd (read: not that scary!). I was hoping to read these to my nieces or the boy I babysit for before I returned it to my library, but alas, I didn’t get a chance to witness a child’s response to the book. I appreciate that the stories are beyond the generic spirits/ghosts- there are stone giants, animal/human hybrids, mean fairy-like people, frog/toad like monsters, even an all-out war of the animals and humans against mastodon-like creatures. In many cases, the stories are fables- short stories conveying the dangers of swamp lands and strangers, but there is definitely an emphasis against being boastful, inconsiderate, or disrespectful (especially against your family or “all of creation”). Some end sweetly (like the tale the title is taken from), some very badly (at least one entire sibling group is never heard from again), and some very predictably.
This is a great collection for children who enjoy scary stories, especially ones without the typical cast of characters (werewolves, vampires, ghosts). Depending on how easily they are scared, it can be read by themselves (although some might get frustrated with the names of some of the monsters and heros if they aren’t familiar with the languages within) or with someone older. Easily digestible, yet that much more interesting if you didn’t grow up with these particular tribes’ tales, it’s a great collection for kids just beginning to delve into horror.
When the Chenoo Howls is a collection of children’s scary stories from Indigenous tribes around the Northeastern United States area, printed in 1998. It begins in long-ago folklore and slowly progresses to the modern age, with tales of heros who depend on their wits, monsters that sometimes win, and naughty children. The collection has a good mix of gender representation, but no queer inclusion. There is a very handy pronunciation guide at the end of the book, and an explanation of the monster within the story at the end of each tale- along with sourced materials (some of them are traditional oral tales that have gone unpublished until this collection came out, others come from out-of-print collections decades old). Apparently Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki), the father in this father-son book collaboration, is a traditional oral storyteller and also prolific author of both children and adult stories, including adult horror.
The stories themselves are 12 “tales of terror” aimed at middle schoolers (or younger, if it’s something your kids are really into). The illustrations are simple, yet gorgeous black and white drawings that are good for the pre-”Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” crowd (read: not that scary!). I was hoping to read these to my nieces or the boy I babysit for before I returned it to my library, but alas, I didn’t get a chance to witness a child’s response to the book. I appreciate that the stories are beyond the generic spirits/ghosts- there are stone giants, animal/human hybrids, mean fairy-like people, frog/toad like monsters, even an all-out war of the animals and humans against mastodon-like creatures. In many cases, the stories are fables- short stories conveying the dangers of swamp lands and strangers, but there is definitely an emphasis against being boastful, inconsiderate, or disrespectful (especially against your family or “all of creation”). Some end sweetly (like the tale the title is taken from), some very badly (at least one entire sibling group is never heard from again), and some very predictably.
This is a great collection for children who enjoy scary stories, especially ones without the typical cast of characters (werewolves, vampires, ghosts). Depending on how easily they are scared, it can be read by themselves (although some might get frustrated with the names of some of the monsters and heros if they aren’t familiar with the languages within) or with someone older. Easily digestible, yet that much more interesting if you didn’t grow up with these particular tribes’ tales, it’s a great collection for kids just beginning to delve into horror.
September 2, 2011
Joseph Bruchac and his son, James Bruchac, together wrote this wonderful collection of tales of monsters from Native American myths, legends and stories.
It is explained in the beginning of the book, that many of these stories were used to teach children lessons and scare them so they wouldn't go near places such as water and fall in.
I'm sure most people wouldn't find these stories very scary, but if you read them and really imagine the monsters as they are described, things begin to feel a bit creepy.
In this collection of tales you will find stories of a Man Bear, a cannibal monster, Stone Giants, Ugly Face and many more.
This is a very interesting book, very well written and easy to read with lots of great stories. It is a perfect read for Halloween and anyone interested in Native American stories of monsters.
It is explained in the beginning of the book, that many of these stories were used to teach children lessons and scare them so they wouldn't go near places such as water and fall in.
I'm sure most people wouldn't find these stories very scary, but if you read them and really imagine the monsters as they are described, things begin to feel a bit creepy.
In this collection of tales you will find stories of a Man Bear, a cannibal monster, Stone Giants, Ugly Face and many more.
This is a very interesting book, very well written and easy to read with lots of great stories. It is a perfect read for Halloween and anyone interested in Native American stories of monsters.
January 12, 2014
This slim volume is a fine little collection of simply-rendered scares. While considered YA, the steeled adult will find them a delightful bedtime read, while the more sensitive grown-up might still get a chill. In addition, it’s a well-organized overview of Northeastern Native American legends—a great primer for the less informed, as I was. A few of the most frightening were “Ugly Face,” “The Spreaders,” and “Big Tree People.” Some of these tales’ last lines stab where it counts and leave a lasting impression.
Great fun on a cold January night, WHEN THE CHENOO HOWLS is a refreshing reminder that less is more.
Great fun on a cold January night, WHEN THE CHENOO HOWLS is a refreshing reminder that less is more.
January 26, 2013
I read these to my six year old son before bed. Not too scary, very entertaining. We both loved the stories about Native American monsters, all of them with some sort of moral. It's like Aesop meets Tim Burton, if Tim Burton was a Native American. Also, each tale is followed by notes on the featured monster and credits the tribe for its origin along with other publishings that include the monster in question.
Will read again, and I might go out and buy it since this was a library book that will have to be returned soon.
Will read again, and I might go out and buy it since this was a library book that will have to be returned soon.
March 27, 2010
This fun collection of scary stories also gives an introduction to the culture of the Native Americans of the Northeastern United States. Overall, they are not as scary as some of Bruchac's novels (Skeleton Man, etc.) but they would make great choices for storytelling. The book includes source notes, glossary, and an introduction which will also be helpful in understanding these tales or learning more.
July 24, 2014
I love that every story has a sources at the end, along with a short description of where it comes from! My favorite story is the one about the Chenoo. The illustrations are wonderful, and I really enjoyed learning the stories from so many tribes.
March 13, 2010
This book is good and has many different stories from different Native American tribes and I read it once a month. I LOVE THESE STORIES.
April 16, 2011
Age: 8-11 years
This book has some excellent stories for telling to tweens including "The Flying Head" and "The Chenoo."
Excellent source notes.
This book has some excellent stories for telling to tweens including "The Flying Head" and "The Chenoo."
Excellent source notes.
October 22, 2012
I enjoyed discovering this as an adult, but I know my childhood self would have loved it as well. Stories are short and range in tone from sweet (The Chenoo) to really creepy (The Spreaders).
October 11, 2015
Entertaining monster tales from different Native American tribes. A good alternative to the usual ghost/monster stories.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews