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American Chillers #4
New York Ninjas
In Albany, New York, Mike, Brad, and Sarah dress up to go trick-or-treating on Halloween, but the night becomes intriguing after they find a mysterious mask and realize that something is following them.
200 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2002
18 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Johnathan Rand
119 books297 followersChristopher 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.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 10, 2019
Michigan was first. Then Ohio, then Florida, and now New York takes its turn in the sights of the American Chillers series. Twelve-year-old Mike and his eleven-year-old brother Brad are hyped up for Halloween. They've arranged to meet their friend Sarah Wheeler and Trick or Treat together, then walk to school for the Halloween party. Brad wears a white sheet to look like a ghost, Sarah is going as a witch, and Mike is pleased with his vampire costume as he puts the finishing touches on his makeup and they head out into the evening on a quest for candy through their neighborhood in Albany, New York. This Halloween is destined to be unlike any other.
The night starts out weirdly when Mike discovers a heavy wooden mask buried in a bush. He takes it home and stashes it under his bed, but near the end of their Trick or Treat route an apparition of the mask appears in the night sky, though only Mike, Brad, and Sarah see it. Three ninjas clad in black materialize, then speed off into the night with a variety of flips, spins, and other moves. Mike, his brother, and Sarah are alarmed and confused, but soon another ninja appears, dressed head to toe in white. Mike is in danger, he says. The mask he found is the Mask of the Masters, fashioned long ago by a ninja king as a present for his daughter. For millennia it has been stolen, sold, and swapped by men of ill repute, but participating even unknowingly in the trafficking of the artifact brings a curse on oneself. Unless Mike returns the mask to the sacred ground within four hours, he will suffer debilitating nightmares for the rest of his life. He races home to grab the mask and do as the white ninja commands, but the three ninjas in black that Mike saw earlier have a vested interest in stopping him. Once the mask is at the sacred grounds, a final battle will ensue between good and evil ninjas, and it will be all Mike, Brad, and Sarah can handle not to become collateral damage in the combat zone. Will this Halloween end as a triumph or a terror for our protagonists?
Cohesive story often isn't a strength of Johnathan Rand's American and Michigan Chillers, and New York Ninjas comes up short in this area. The writing is paced decently, but the book would be better served by a narrative that makes more sense. If all you want is a few hours of mild amusement, though, New York Ninjas is a suitable option. I have fun with Johnathan Rand's books, and might rate this one a star and a half. Up next in the series is Terrible Tractors of Texas. See you there?
The night starts out weirdly when Mike discovers a heavy wooden mask buried in a bush. He takes it home and stashes it under his bed, but near the end of their Trick or Treat route an apparition of the mask appears in the night sky, though only Mike, Brad, and Sarah see it. Three ninjas clad in black materialize, then speed off into the night with a variety of flips, spins, and other moves. Mike, his brother, and Sarah are alarmed and confused, but soon another ninja appears, dressed head to toe in white. Mike is in danger, he says. The mask he found is the Mask of the Masters, fashioned long ago by a ninja king as a present for his daughter. For millennia it has been stolen, sold, and swapped by men of ill repute, but participating even unknowingly in the trafficking of the artifact brings a curse on oneself. Unless Mike returns the mask to the sacred ground within four hours, he will suffer debilitating nightmares for the rest of his life. He races home to grab the mask and do as the white ninja commands, but the three ninjas in black that Mike saw earlier have a vested interest in stopping him. Once the mask is at the sacred grounds, a final battle will ensue between good and evil ninjas, and it will be all Mike, Brad, and Sarah can handle not to become collateral damage in the combat zone. Will this Halloween end as a triumph or a terror for our protagonists?
Cohesive story often isn't a strength of Johnathan Rand's American and Michigan Chillers, and New York Ninjas comes up short in this area. The writing is paced decently, but the book would be better served by a narrative that makes more sense. If all you want is a few hours of mild amusement, though, New York Ninjas is a suitable option. I have fun with Johnathan Rand's books, and might rate this one a star and a half. Up next in the series is Terrible Tractors of Texas. See you there?
February 24, 2022
Mike and his brother, Brad and their friend, Sarah find an ancient Japanese Kabuki mask in the bushes while out on Halloween night. Mike brings it home for safe keeping, but when he heads back out, he senses someone - or something, following and watching the three of them.
Mike has no idea the significance of his discovery, and soon learns they are being followed by three ninjas, desperate to get their hands on the mask.
Mike has no idea the significance of his discovery, and soon learns they are being followed by three ninjas, desperate to get their hands on the mask.
November 1, 2010
I thought the book was OK cause it wasn't scary or it wasn't that amusing i just thought it was kinda lamb.i would recommended it to someone if they are little and like ninjas. i kinda did cause it started to get kinda good but it got kinda cheesy. the emotions that i experienced was board um and a little excitement throughout the book. if u want action,mystery,and scary books then check this out.
the main charioteers are brad,Shara,and mike. all the characters are trick or treating and mike finds the mask and it turns out to be a ancient samurai mask that is worth thousands of money. these 3 ninjas came to steel this mask and use its powers to rule the earth and this white ninja comes to help the kids, if mike doesn't return the mask to the ancient baruall grounds and win the fight with the ninjas he will have the 3 ninjas curse. the main conflict of this story is when they find the mask and has 2 return the mask with thin four hours he will have the 3 ninjas curse.
the main charioteers are brad,Shara,and mike. all the characters are trick or treating and mike finds the mask and it turns out to be a ancient samurai mask that is worth thousands of money. these 3 ninjas came to steel this mask and use its powers to rule the earth and this white ninja comes to help the kids, if mike doesn't return the mask to the ancient baruall grounds and win the fight with the ninjas he will have the 3 ninjas curse. the main conflict of this story is when they find the mask and has 2 return the mask with thin four hours he will have the 3 ninjas curse.
May 26, 2017
I thought it was ok but a little cheesy. I was not quite as thrilled in it as I thought I would be. I would receive mm end this book to someone who likes ninjas and is always thrilled by them. Also if you read a lot of American Chillers I think you might like it. But all in all I think I was quite disappointed in it. I wish it would have had more action to it than it did.
August 5, 2023
I understand fully that this is a book aimed at kids but it’s no excuse for the poor writing. Most chapters end with a “you won’t believe what happened next!” This is just lazy writing.
The story is more action than spooky. It feels slightly inspired by The Haunted Mask. It’s full of sequences that aren’t needed (the bully) and the random book had me rolling my eyes. That’s one way to dump information I guess…
While it’s a “fun” idea to connect these books, it just ruins the next book. The kid will always be fine because he lived to tell the tale at the end of the previous book.
The obvious comparison I can’t make is with Goosebumps. Not all of them are good, some have weak endings but they all feel different in their own way. With the American Chillers it has felt, just 4 books in, very samey. The writing style is bland. We get empty pages and double spaced words for no reason other than to make the book “longer”.
We’ll see how the series goes as I have most of them but it’s looking like they will get purged after I’m finished.
The story is more action than spooky. It feels slightly inspired by The Haunted Mask. It’s full of sequences that aren’t needed (the bully) and the random book had me rolling my eyes. That’s one way to dump information I guess…
While it’s a “fun” idea to connect these books, it just ruins the next book. The kid will always be fine because he lived to tell the tale at the end of the previous book.
The obvious comparison I can’t make is with Goosebumps. Not all of them are good, some have weak endings but they all feel different in their own way. With the American Chillers it has felt, just 4 books in, very samey. The writing style is bland. We get empty pages and double spaced words for no reason other than to make the book “longer”.
We’ll see how the series goes as I have most of them but it’s looking like they will get purged after I’m finished.
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September 16, 2021A bowl of Jello.
That's what happened to me when I read this book. I sat down and read it while eating a bunch of junk food and got so fat. My belly was like a bowl of Jello.
I started walking and my jello would shake. My girlfriend said "yeah shake that jello!" Then she sat down and read the same book and ate the same food.
Lets all shake our jello!
That's what I said after she was done reading, and we both stood up in the living room and began waving our arms and bodies around, shaking our Jello.
That's what happened to me when I read this book. I sat down and read it while eating a bunch of junk food and got so fat. My belly was like a bowl of Jello.
I started walking and my jello would shake. My girlfriend said "yeah shake that jello!" Then she sat down and read the same book and ate the same food.
Lets all shake our jello!
That's what I said after she was done reading, and we both stood up in the living room and began waving our arms and bodies around, shaking our Jello.
October 18, 2018
this book is my #1 favorite chillers book because I was 4 ninjas for halloween and it was awesome 6to be a ninja and I recommend this book to read because it is a good book.
December 17, 2020
My brother, Randall, says it is the most dumbest book that he wrote. and i am like, WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!! IT IS AWSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOME
September 30, 2020
I rate 5 stars because i love mysteries and this book is a mystery . It's Halloween time in New York. They see this mystery costumes in the woods. The ninjas are not people. They have weapons. They don't trick or treat. They have to stop the ninjas before the ninjas get the moon. There three kids in this story. Well the ninjas get moon or well the three kids stop the ninjas form get the moon? I visit the author of this book. That how i got this book. You should read it it is a mystery.
March 9, 2012
American Chillers New York Nijas was a Fantastic book. THe book was about three kids named Mike, Brad, and Sarah. They are all trick-or-treating in Albany, New York. Mike descovers an ancient secert . THe three friends set out looking for what the secret reveles. They soon find out that the mission will be harder than they thought.
February 4, 2015
I thought that the book that I read was nice. It was interesting because of how they found the ninja's in New York City. I also thought the book was interesting is because where they were coming from was really weird. I would recommend this book to people that like to read weird books. I would also recommend this book to people that like ninjas.
May 6, 2015
This book is just as great as the other books... This book is basically about a magic mask that was made by the great ninja warrior himself and was passed down to those from generations but when it came to giving it to the ninja king's daughter it had gotten stolen and the mask had been found on a Halloween night and etc....
October 24, 2016
Do you like going trick-or-treating well you better think about it before you read this book. Brad finds a mystery thing and discovers that he is putting his friends in danger. They have to return it before it is to late and have to live with the spell for ever. The have to overcome obstacles and some depend on their lives. I really recommend this book to readers.
September 13, 2015
In New York Ninjas by Jonathan Rand, Mike, Brad, and Sara are all trick or treating. They see something very unusual so they went to go discover it. Then unexpected things happen. This was a good mystery book. I would recommend it to people who like mysteries.
February 11, 2010
This book was really interesting, but really scary.
March 2, 2012
I like it very much
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November 8, 2011it is a grate book to me. If it was up to ather i woodn't changh enthing. I recemend this book to enone how likes a good plot and storey.
October 10, 2011
It's about a boy, his younger brother, and his friend on Halloween. They find a old mask and are sucked into a war between dark ninjas and white ninjas.
July 18, 2016
This book by Jonathan Rand was really good.It is about this boy and his friends which on Halloween find a mask.It turns out to be a ninja mask.They have a battle with ninjas and beat the bad ninjas.
October 21, 2012
Decent book it does not get good till chapter 17
November 29, 2012
This book wasn't scary but it was about three friends and three dark ninjas who are trying to catch them beacuse they have something the ninjas want
October 30, 2012
it suckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkks
March 16, 2015
another fun read with Jacob
September 15, 2015
New York Ninjas is a good book by Johnathan Rand. It takes place on Halloween and is very interesting.
January 15, 2016
Not bad for a Halloween story but not really that chilling.
Want to read
January 15, 2016They All die at the end cuz they have no friend and they killed themselves
September 14, 2016
Awesome!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews