Be Very Much Afraid

by Anne E. Schraff

Kerry discovers someone living in the house across the sreet, the scene of murders years before. Her overprotective parents think nothing of it until the new resident, the son of the murderer, starts doing strange things.

Library Binding

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Anne Elaine Schraff grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University at Northridge and taught high school for ten years.

Anne paid her way through college by writing short stories for magazines. Since college she has written hundreds of stories and over eighty books including historical fiction, biographies, science books, and her favorite, fictional books for young people. She is published as both Anne Schraff and Anne E. Schraff.

Her background, which she describes as "multicultural, lower middle-class neighborhood, including African Americans, Mexican Americans, Arab Americans, and Filipino Americans," is her greatest inspiration when writing.

Reviews

[Evan]

The book "Be Very Much Afraid" by Anne Schraff is a very exciting and action packed book. It all starts when Kerry sees a light on in the house across the street where horrifying crime took place 15 years ago. Kerry tells her parents and that don't believe her and just tell her to go to sleep. But there is one person who sees it too and that is kerry's grandfather. Kerry know's something is suspicious but doesn't know what to think. Kerry and her grandfather keep an eye on the house and see somebody living in the house. They go up to the door to see if anybody answers, they soon realize that it is Aaron Cadden the son of Michael Cadden who murdered two people in that house. Kerry and her grandfather get really curious when they see Aaron playing with a sword because the two guys that were murdered were murdered with a sword. Read the story to see what kerry and get grandfather do to figure out what is going on!

[AbsentLibrarian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Though a short book at only 102 pages, this story had a lot of suspense and tension. Unfortunately, much of the conversations between characters was repetitive and felt patronizing, as though the writer wasn't sure the reader could figure out how the characters were feeling unless they spelt it out..in triplicate. The main character of Kerry wasn't badly written. She seemed to act her age, have the issues a 15-yr old would, and though a bit naive, behaved in a believable manner. Her parent, however, were written in such one-dimensional tones that they became very annoying. The mother was stuck in the role of oppressive,, over-protector whose vocabulary was limited to a few phrases stuck on repeat. The author seemed to find great importance in the father's tendency to dress and act 20 years younger than he was, serving to embarrass our main character. That was fine, until it too was repeated over and over with no new information. The conversations between Kerry and her friends were extended and over explained.

A pleasing highlight was the way the grandfather was written. He had a back story that was both interesting and relevant to the mystery and his relationships with Kerry, Kerry's mother and the mystery. I was able to make a connection with this character and care what happened to him in the story and have an interest in what he had to say. Perhaps he should have been the center of this tale.

[(A) Archers at KIPP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it is very suspenseful and it makes you think about what’s going to happen next also because it made me get into the story and I actually thought I was in the book. This book is about this girl named Kerry and they notice a light on this abandon home. Kerry is a girl that likes to explore things that are interesting and is made to do homework by her mother who acts like a real mother who really cares for her.

And their is a part that tells you that their use too be a man named Michael Cadenn and he murdered two people in that home and he tried to escape from the cops and he hit an embankment and burned and was pronounced dead. Well Kerry is very worried because she notice's lights on in the Cadenn home and she is scared that he has come back. And that she thinks that he might strike or kill again and she fears that it’s her.

I recommend this book to the people that like suspenseful stories and also people who like mysteries and a book that gets you into the reading and don’t want to stop reading or put it down.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is one of the best books i've read. This book is about a girl named kerry and her mom always was strict about her and even her grandpa. But one the thing that was scary about this book was when she saw that shodow acrossed the street in the attic. but my favorite part of the book was when Kerry went acrossed the street with her grandpa to go see what the showdo. But I recommend this book to people who like scary books.

[Jareth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is good because it say's it talls about a munder back 15 years ago and a girl who think that a ghost is haunting her for most of her life and she need's hlep from her gerandpa because he is the one who saw the whole thing 15 years ago.I think she is the only one who is geting hunting from allmost her life.

[Bugg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be very much afraid,in the story a girl named Kerry suspects that a murderer has returned back to a house across the street from their house where a terrifying crime took place.i recommend that if you like books about mystery then you should read this book. It tells how the murder took place so if u don't like story's about death this isn't the story for you

[Najma · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think anne schraff is a good author !

[Drew Bergeron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good because in was a little creepy. I like how the girl knows there is something wrong and tries to figure it out.