That's Creepy: Spine-Tingling Facts That Will Test Your Creep-out Factor

by Crispin Boyer

In a world where werewolves rule and vampires are just the boy or girl next door, kids love anything that will scare the pants off them. But how do you separate fact from fiction? Do haunted houses, spooky ghosts, and UFOs have a place in history, or is it all just a bunch of hooey? Crawling with spine-tingly facts, eerie anecdotes, and fun information, this book is all about everything creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky. It's a perfect book for the bathroom library or to read by flashlight under the covers. Just don't tell kids how much real science and history they're actually learning!

Genres: Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2013

About the author

Crispin Boyer lives in San Francisco and writes about history, wildlife, and technology. He and his wife, Ramah, are the lord and lady of a 1914 Victorian that is 700 times smaller than a typical castle but almost as drafty. Their microwave might not roast an ox like most medieval ovens, but at least their bathroom isn't a hole in the wall that empties into a stinky moat.

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are several chapters, each covering a different topic: The first few cover monsters from around the world (primarily in the format of brief summaries - 2 pages or less - of various creatures from Werewolves, Vampires, or the more 'exotic' spread with paragraphs on creatures such as the Rakshasa and the Ankou) ; Magic (witches, witches, and legendary schools) ; Aliens (from historic paintings to Roswell rumours), and the final chapter which covers a variety of topics including the Bermuda Triangle and some of the world's creepiest travel destinations.

This book is... okay. I wasn't creeped out at all - we don't really get enough info on any of the topics covered to impart a real reaction. The book would probably be a lot more effective for someone in the intended age group, but even then I don't know if it would be as creepy as promised. It is, however a good jumping-off point on the subject - with the variety of topics covered there's plenty that readers might find to stir their interest and inspire them to research the topics further.

I like horror stuff, and was already familiar to some extent with the majority of the subjects covered, but the writer(s) did an impressive job of covering a variety of diverse topics. Even I hadn't heard of a few of them.

It's decently written, and seems to be well-researched. I would recommend it for young horror fans.

[Punit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crisp (guess it lives up to the name of the author), quick read with lots of good graphics. The typeset is neat and the pages perfect for a children's educational book. Content wise, I had sourced much of the info as a child from other non-graphical sources in my days of limited book availability and no internet. More jokes and/or detailed explanations might have added a saving grace.

[Seamus Heinrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of creepy facts about monster legends.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not creepy, more a “factoid” book about creepy things.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of info here in an easy to digest format. It's a good intro to any middle grade reader who loves scary things, which most of my students do. Ideally this would lead them down the rabbit hole of further research, because none of the topics have a lot of time spent on them.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was way too creepy for me but this is just the kind of book that kids love....scary, spine-tingling and over-the-top spooky. You are navigated through this book by two co-hosts. One is Special Agent Jeepers of the CIA (Creepy Intelligence Agency) who warns you not to read this book before bedtime in case nightmares occur. He is definitely a voice of reason for the reader. The other host is Ethel the E.T., who is an extraterrestrial and lives on a planet that is bright, shiny, safe and .....boring. It has two suns, six moons and 79.3 hours of round-the-clock daylight. She's a believer in earth's folklore and the supernatural stories that are told here. The author has included a special "happy place" page where the sensitive readers can go to fend off those creepy thoughts and ideas that may slink in and overtake their mind, body and very soul.

The book is packed full of stories regarding werewolves, vampires, and all things that are scary and go bump in the night. It is not for the faint-hearted. Throughout the book are arranged colourful, fabulous photos that visually bring the text to life....no you wouldn't want that to happen....off to the "happy page for you. If you love trivia and historical information then this book is for you. The perfect Halloween read!

[Manuel Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think that this book is great because it talks about the scary things that there is in the world.

[Ratih · Rating 3 out of 5]

ada fakta-fakta yg malah bikin ketawa.