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Skull In The Wood
Deep on Dartmoor, cousins Matt and Tilda discover a skull. And from that moment black things happen. Birds and animals turn bad, and there's talk of the return of an old curse.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 23, 2023
Matthew (13) hat genug von Paul, dem neuen Freund seiner Mutter. So macht er sich auf zu seinem Onkel Jack, der mit seinen Töchtern Tilda (12) und Kitty (5) im Dartmoor auf einem Bauernhof lebt. Matthew, der in London aufgewachsen ist, findet es furchtbar langweilig und öde auf dem Hof, zumal seine Cousine Tilda ihn spüren lässt, dass er unwillkommen ist. Als Tilda Matt den nahen Wald zeigt, entdecken die beiden dort einen alten bleichen Vogelschädel. Sie nehmen den Schädel mit, nicht ahnend, dass sie damit dem Bösen die Tür öffnen...
*
Mein Leseeindruck:
"Düster, atmosphärisch, unheimlich" steht hinten auf dem Buchdeckel, und dem kann ich nur zustimmen. Das Buch ist wirklich sehr atmosphärisch geschrieben. Von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite verbreitet die Geschichte eine düstere Stimmung, die aber gut zum Buch passt und mir gut gefallen hat. Es geht um einen alten Fluch, um das Böse, und um die Feindschaft bzw. Freundschaft zwischen Matthew und Tilda und ihren Familien.
Die Geschichte ist sehr einfach geschrieben, unkompliziert und immer abwechselnd aus Tildas sowie aus Matts Sicht. Das hat mir sehr gefallen, da man als Leser so sowohl Tildas als auch Matts Gedanken und Gefühle miterleben kann.
Auch ist der Schreibstil wirklich gut; die Geschichte ist spannend und lässt sich flüssig und schnell lesen.
Mir hat es Spaß gemacht, dieses Buch zu lesen. Ich werde es auf jeden Fall gerne weiterempfehlen.
*
Mein Leseeindruck:
"Düster, atmosphärisch, unheimlich" steht hinten auf dem Buchdeckel, und dem kann ich nur zustimmen. Das Buch ist wirklich sehr atmosphärisch geschrieben. Von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite verbreitet die Geschichte eine düstere Stimmung, die aber gut zum Buch passt und mir gut gefallen hat. Es geht um einen alten Fluch, um das Böse, und um die Feindschaft bzw. Freundschaft zwischen Matthew und Tilda und ihren Familien.
Die Geschichte ist sehr einfach geschrieben, unkompliziert und immer abwechselnd aus Tildas sowie aus Matts Sicht. Das hat mir sehr gefallen, da man als Leser so sowohl Tildas als auch Matts Gedanken und Gefühle miterleben kann.
Auch ist der Schreibstil wirklich gut; die Geschichte ist spannend und lässt sich flüssig und schnell lesen.
Mir hat es Spaß gemacht, dieses Buch zu lesen. Ich werde es auf jeden Fall gerne weiterempfehlen.
September 20, 2013
An interesting premise, but it didn't quite live up to expectation. My main issue was with the main characters. I found both Tilda and Matt to be whiny and annoying, and so didn't really engage with either. I loved Kitty though, and just wish she had more appearances. I enjoyed the split narration, as I think the book would have struggled without it. There were faintly sinister undertones, but it didn't have the real horror I was hoping for. I also felt the ending was slightly rushed. There aren't enough real horror/thriller books for this age group, so I hope the author continues with this theme. I look forward to later books!
May 20, 2015
Watch out for spoilers below...
Matt goes to stay with his uncle and cousins on their farm – escaping London, his mother and her new boyfriend Paul who he clashes with. His own Dad is off sailing again, so Matt decides his uncle’s farm is ‘his best bet,’ even though he hasn’t seen them in years.
When he is picked up by his uncle, it is awkward. When their car seems to be attacked by black birds on the way back to the farm, Matt is rattled.
Matt and his older cousin Tilda clash badly. Tilda is still grieving the loss of her own mother, (out on the moors alone) and also the fact that Matt’s mother made them sell paddocks so she could have her money out of the family farm.
When birds and animals begin acting weirdly around Parson’s farm, Gabe (a farm worker) warns Matt about a gabbleratchet – an evil creature that feeds on bad blood and anger. Jack asks Tilda to take Jack for a walk to Old Scratch Wood, but this is a place rumoured to be a place of the devil by locals.
Matt and Tilda discover a curlew’s skull, buried beneath a standing stone in the centre of the wood. And evil begins to take hold.....
This is a creepy read, set on the moors where werewolves were once thought to roam, it was an excellent setting.
Matt goes to stay with his uncle and cousins on their farm – escaping London, his mother and her new boyfriend Paul who he clashes with. His own Dad is off sailing again, so Matt decides his uncle’s farm is ‘his best bet,’ even though he hasn’t seen them in years.
When he is picked up by his uncle, it is awkward. When their car seems to be attacked by black birds on the way back to the farm, Matt is rattled.
Matt and his older cousin Tilda clash badly. Tilda is still grieving the loss of her own mother, (out on the moors alone) and also the fact that Matt’s mother made them sell paddocks so she could have her money out of the family farm.
When birds and animals begin acting weirdly around Parson’s farm, Gabe (a farm worker) warns Matt about a gabbleratchet – an evil creature that feeds on bad blood and anger. Jack asks Tilda to take Jack for a walk to Old Scratch Wood, but this is a place rumoured to be a place of the devil by locals.
Matt and Tilda discover a curlew’s skull, buried beneath a standing stone in the centre of the wood. And evil begins to take hold.....
This is a creepy read, set on the moors where werewolves were once thought to roam, it was an excellent setting.
April 22, 2018
I'm not sure how I feel about this one.
Whilst it wasn't bad, I also can't say that for me I found it all that interesting.
From the get go I couldn't gel with Matt or Tilda (though their names gave me a small chuckle when I realised the word play) and overall I just found the story didn't live up to its potential.
And boy was that a whole lot of potential with Old Scratch Wood and the gabbleratchet, I wish thee'd been a lot more about those things in particular and less about Tilda or Matt being bit of a twat.
There seemed to be so much to offer and yet none of it was really played with, something would happen in on character's perspective and then after the next in another character's the thing that happened previously that could have been a fascinating thing to delve into and develop was brushed over with a; "It's okay now, no big deal." I counted this at least twice with Tilda's chapters, one being something that could have changed the story pretty drastically.
I understand that perhaps the main focus was on the gabbleratchet, the skull and the negative impact it had on our main characters, but to me the tension feel flat because from the beginning Matt and Tilda already were bickering and didn't like each other all that much, so each time they reconcilced and then suddenly what was meant to be the impact of the skull had them falling out again and it just got a bit irksome as it felt like the same thing would have happened without these events.
The story has so much intrigue going behind it and the myth could have been expanded on so much more, the setting and background story is so interesting but I feel it's told through non-events and annoying characters.
Tilda was who I found most irritating, Matt was passable at least and Kitty was just there to serve a purpose that ultimately was unused to what I believe could have been its full potential.
The ending seemed a bit rushed to, I was suspicious when I saw that on the last chapter (in Tilda's POV) I only had five pages left and the events that were described would have been a lot more interesting to see unfold than being told were happened.
I don't know, it's peculiar, it's not a bad book by any means whatsoever, it's just a book that for me felt like a whole lot of nothing happening in slowed down time with a slightly disappointing result.
Then again, I am most definitely not in the age range of this novel.
Whilst it wasn't bad, I also can't say that for me I found it all that interesting.
From the get go I couldn't gel with Matt or Tilda (though their names gave me a small chuckle when I realised the word play) and overall I just found the story didn't live up to its potential.
And boy was that a whole lot of potential with Old Scratch Wood and the gabbleratchet, I wish thee'd been a lot more about those things in particular and less about Tilda or Matt being bit of a twat.
There seemed to be so much to offer and yet none of it was really played with, something would happen in on character's perspective and then after the next in another character's the thing that happened previously that could have been a fascinating thing to delve into and develop was brushed over with a; "It's okay now, no big deal." I counted this at least twice with Tilda's chapters, one being something that could have changed the story pretty drastically.
I understand that perhaps the main focus was on the gabbleratchet, the skull and the negative impact it had on our main characters, but to me the tension feel flat because from the beginning Matt and Tilda already were bickering and didn't like each other all that much, so each time they reconcilced and then suddenly what was meant to be the impact of the skull had them falling out again and it just got a bit irksome as it felt like the same thing would have happened without these events.
The story has so much intrigue going behind it and the myth could have been expanded on so much more, the setting and background story is so interesting but I feel it's told through non-events and annoying characters.
Tilda was who I found most irritating, Matt was passable at least and Kitty was just there to serve a purpose that ultimately was unused to what I believe could have been its full potential.
The ending seemed a bit rushed to, I was suspicious when I saw that on the last chapter (in Tilda's POV) I only had five pages left and the events that were described would have been a lot more interesting to see unfold than being told were happened.
I don't know, it's peculiar, it's not a bad book by any means whatsoever, it's just a book that for me felt like a whole lot of nothing happening in slowed down time with a slightly disappointing result.
Then again, I am most definitely not in the age range of this novel.
June 26, 2017
My Thoughts
I picked this book because I loved the title and the setting, on Dartmoor, takes me back to my childhood of stomping across the moors, losing wellies in the bogs and fearing the fog that can fall in minutes and lose you forever ! I am also something of a sucker for Chicken House books so knew I could trust this one to be good before I opened the first page.
The story of The Skull in the Wood is told by three main characters - Tilda, Matt and Kitty - who alternately recount events as they saw them through their eyes. It is a mechanism that works well and carries you along at quite a pace. Sandra Greaves sets Matt and Tilda against each other with some fabulous bickering, irritants and competitiveness that, if we are honest, most of us will recognise from some stage in our lives. It is this conflict that drives the story and takes it to a very satisfying conclusion. Hopefully Greaves has left enough out of this one to furnish a sequel.
The Story
Deep on Dartmoor, cousins Matt and Tilda discover a skull. And from that moment black things happen. Birds and animals turn bad, and there's talk of the return of an old curse. An adventure story that draws on the myths and legends of Dartmoor when thirteen year old Matt comes down from London to stay with his cousins .
The Skull in the Wood would appeal to boys and girls alike and, depending on their reading level, would be a fun read for anybody from about 9 - 13. It would also be a great one to read aloud though maybe not at bedtime!
I picked this book because I loved the title and the setting, on Dartmoor, takes me back to my childhood of stomping across the moors, losing wellies in the bogs and fearing the fog that can fall in minutes and lose you forever ! I am also something of a sucker for Chicken House books so knew I could trust this one to be good before I opened the first page.
The story of The Skull in the Wood is told by three main characters - Tilda, Matt and Kitty - who alternately recount events as they saw them through their eyes. It is a mechanism that works well and carries you along at quite a pace. Sandra Greaves sets Matt and Tilda against each other with some fabulous bickering, irritants and competitiveness that, if we are honest, most of us will recognise from some stage in our lives. It is this conflict that drives the story and takes it to a very satisfying conclusion. Hopefully Greaves has left enough out of this one to furnish a sequel.
The Story
Deep on Dartmoor, cousins Matt and Tilda discover a skull. And from that moment black things happen. Birds and animals turn bad, and there's talk of the return of an old curse. An adventure story that draws on the myths and legends of Dartmoor when thirteen year old Matt comes down from London to stay with his cousins .
The Skull in the Wood would appeal to boys and girls alike and, depending on their reading level, would be a fun read for anybody from about 9 - 13. It would also be a great one to read aloud though maybe not at bedtime!
July 24, 2019
This was the kind of book I loved to read when I was a kid. Spooky, atmospheric, starring troubled characters who weren't natural heroes but learnt to be heroic.
Tilda and Matt are cousins who butt heads over their strained family situations. They've both been through a lot recently and when they're cooped up on Tilda's dad's farm together, they end up taking their frustrations out on each other. They then find a curlew skull, buried in a box in the nearby woods, where they've been warned not to go by the superstitious farmhand. Supposedly these woods belong to the devil, and he won't be happy that they've stolen a skull from his land. Omens abound, foretelling the coming of the gabbleratchet, the devil's Wild Hunt.
What a great concept. I loved the setting of the farm on the moor with its mists and bogs and treacherous way of confusing the characters' sense of direction. The mysterious farmhand who knows what's happening yet refuses to talk about it beyond vague warnings was a bit of a cliche, but there was a real sense of threat and dread whenever the gabbleratchet was mentioned. And what a great word!
What stopped me from giving this four stars was the ending. There was no real rhyme or reason to it. Everything was getting evil at the climax and then...it was suddenly just over. There was also a confusing moment earlier where Matt makes a deal with the devil and the devil just ignores it and does what he wants. So what was the point of the deal? Even allowing for this being a kids' book, the author didn't seem entirely clear on the rules of her own world. But overall, this was still an enjoyable, spooky story.
Tilda and Matt are cousins who butt heads over their strained family situations. They've both been through a lot recently and when they're cooped up on Tilda's dad's farm together, they end up taking their frustrations out on each other. They then find a curlew skull, buried in a box in the nearby woods, where they've been warned not to go by the superstitious farmhand. Supposedly these woods belong to the devil, and he won't be happy that they've stolen a skull from his land. Omens abound, foretelling the coming of the gabbleratchet, the devil's Wild Hunt.
What a great concept. I loved the setting of the farm on the moor with its mists and bogs and treacherous way of confusing the characters' sense of direction. The mysterious farmhand who knows what's happening yet refuses to talk about it beyond vague warnings was a bit of a cliche, but there was a real sense of threat and dread whenever the gabbleratchet was mentioned. And what a great word!
What stopped me from giving this four stars was the ending. There was no real rhyme or reason to it. Everything was getting evil at the climax and then...it was suddenly just over. There was also a confusing moment earlier where Matt makes a deal with the devil and the devil just ignores it and does what he wants. So what was the point of the deal? Even allowing for this being a kids' book, the author didn't seem entirely clear on the rules of her own world. But overall, this was still an enjoyable, spooky story.
July 17, 2023
Matt flüchtet vor seiner Mutter mit ihrem neuen Freund auf den Hof seines Onkels. Seine Cousine Tilda ist allerdings total abweisend, und so richtig spannend wird es, nachdem die beiden im alten Old Scratch Wood einen Vogelschädel finden und damit unheimliche Geschehnisse auslösen, die die Legende des Gabblratchet lebendig werden lassen...
Obwohl das Setting perfekt ist: abgeschiedener Hof, gruseliges Moor, verwunschener Wald, kauziger Gehilfe, der vor alten Legenden warnt - kam bei mir keine dauerhafte Gruselstimmung auf. Die Atmosphäre stimmte zwar, wurde aber durch den Schreibstil immer wieder durchbrochen. Dieser berichtet in wechselnder Perspektive aus der Sicht von Matt und Tilda, und benutzt dabei logischerweise auch die jugendliche Sprache der beiden. Leider hat aber genau das mich manchmal aus dem Lesefluss gebracht, weil die Gedanken von Matt und Tilda teilweise sehr kindisch wirkten - tja, da gehöre ich eindeutig nicht mehr zur Zielgruppe.
Die Legende des Gabbleratchet allerdings war äußerst faszinierend und die Geschichte endete in einem dramatischen Finale. Fazit: als Kinder- bzw. Jugendroman durchaus lesbar.
Obwohl das Setting perfekt ist: abgeschiedener Hof, gruseliges Moor, verwunschener Wald, kauziger Gehilfe, der vor alten Legenden warnt - kam bei mir keine dauerhafte Gruselstimmung auf. Die Atmosphäre stimmte zwar, wurde aber durch den Schreibstil immer wieder durchbrochen. Dieser berichtet in wechselnder Perspektive aus der Sicht von Matt und Tilda, und benutzt dabei logischerweise auch die jugendliche Sprache der beiden. Leider hat aber genau das mich manchmal aus dem Lesefluss gebracht, weil die Gedanken von Matt und Tilda teilweise sehr kindisch wirkten - tja, da gehöre ich eindeutig nicht mehr zur Zielgruppe.
Die Legende des Gabbleratchet allerdings war äußerst faszinierend und die Geschichte endete in einem dramatischen Finale. Fazit: als Kinder- bzw. Jugendroman durchaus lesbar.
November 8, 2019
Whilst the book was definitely a different read for me, it dragged a bit too much for my liking.
Yes it was creepy and bizarre but I felt it missed something.
It was overall a great story and I quite liked that it was told from 3 perspectives. This gave me a chance to see how the other person felt and trust me, with all the drama, it was good to read the other characters thoughts.
It was chilling and I flew through it even though it dragged too much in some places.
It was a read where you knew what would happen but then all of a sudden, you didn't.
It kept you enticed.
It kept you hooked.
Would recommend for 13 years and above ✨
Yes it was creepy and bizarre but I felt it missed something.
It was overall a great story and I quite liked that it was told from 3 perspectives. This gave me a chance to see how the other person felt and trust me, with all the drama, it was good to read the other characters thoughts.
It was chilling and I flew through it even though it dragged too much in some places.
It was a read where you knew what would happen but then all of a sudden, you didn't.
It kept you enticed.
It kept you hooked.
Would recommend for 13 years and above ✨
December 12, 2025
Oof. This was a rather painful read if I'm honest. None of the characters are particularly likeable. About eighty percent of the book is the two main characters just needlessly squabbling over nothing. The ending is a major cop out and kinda cheats the reader out of the pay off of a satisfactory conclusion. Would also say some of the kid's language is rather old fashioned and unbelievable for the time. I hate dnfing books, but I'd give this one a firm skip.
November 26, 2025
I read this with my 9 year old son. It's interesting to an extent, but doesn't really go anywhere and the ending is incredibly disappointing.
There's a few dark parts that I worried would be too much for my child but he seemed to enjoy it in the most part, but he wasn't too thrilled with the ending either.
There's a few dark parts that I worried would be too much for my child but he seemed to enjoy it in the most part, but he wasn't too thrilled with the ending either.
December 27, 2018
Loved it. Very atmospheric.
August 19, 2020
I quite liked this story. The author sets the scene with description of the moors and ancient forests. When two cousins take something from the ancient forest bad things start to happen.
December 11, 2022
Good quick read, different and interesting. Definitely didn't want to put it down. Not my usual choice of book but worth the read.
August 26, 2015
Inhalt:
Matt braucht dringend einen Tapetenwechsel, denn er ist total genervt von seiner auf Wolke sieben schwebenden Mutter und deren neuen Lebensgefährten Paul. Warum in sein Weg ausgerechnet ins verlassene Darkmoor zu seinem Onkel Paul und dessen beiden Töchtern Tilda und Kitty führt, weiß Matt selbst nicht so genau. Kaum angekommen schlägt ihm seitens seiner Cousine Tilda eine ordentliche Ladung Verachtung und Hass entgegen und bei einem Ausflug in den Old Scratch Wood, der eigentlich zu einer freundlichen Vereinigung führen soll, ist die riesen Katastrophe nicht weit. Ein mysteriöser Fund entfacht noch mehr die Abneigung der beiden Streithähne zueinander. Doch als die Tiere am Hof total außer Kontrolle geraten, seine Cousine streitsüchtiger denje wird und Matt selbst von Albträumen der grausamsten Art heimgesucht wird, steht für ihn fest, dass die ganzen Geschehnisse offensichtlich mit ihrem Fund im Moor zu tun hat.
Als sich dann noch herausstellt, dass auf dem Inhalt des Kästchens ein rabenschwarzer Fluch liegt und Kitty zudem noch sehr schwer erkrankt, raufen die Beiden sich zusammen und versuchen verzweifelt den Fluch zu bannen und den Fund zu beseitigen.
Aber mit den Hindernissen die sich ihnen in den Weg stellen, haben beide nicht gerechnet!
Meinung:
Sandra Greaves hat mit ihrem Jugendroman-Debüt einen Meilenstein der finsteren Sorte gesetzt. " Draußen im Moos " ist ein voller Geheimnisse steckender und sehr düsterer Roman, der zwar sehr interessant und spannend geschrieben ist, aber meiner Meinung nach ein paar gravierende Mängel aufweist.
Ist der Start in die Handlung echt super gelungen und auch das Drumherum sehr real und fesselnd geschildert, so viel mir persönlich eines ganz doll auf, denn in meinen Augen nahmen leider die Hasstiraden und Streitereien der beiden Hauptprotagonisten Matt und Tilda einen zu hohen Stellenwert ein und das eigentliche Finstere der Handlung geriet mehrmals in den Hintergrund, was sehr schade ist.
Öfter habe ich mir gewünscht Sandra Greaves würde mehr auf den Fluch und dessen Ursachen eingehen, das Ganze vertiefen und so der Handlung einen zusätzlichen spannenden Hauch vermitteln, aber leider wurde dieses Thema für mich nur Oberflächlich angekratzt. Auch das Geheimnis um die beiden zerstrittenen Schwestern, die Mütter unserer beiden Protagonisten, fand ich zu schnell abgehandelt und hätte mir gewünscht, dass auch dies ein bisschen mehr Aufmerksamkeit erhalten hätte.
Nichts desto trotz wurde ich bei diesem Buch nicht ganz enttäuscht, denn sie ist durchweg spannend geschrieben und geschildert und ich habe mit einem Gänsehautgefühl dem Ausgang der Handlung entgegen gefiebert.
Der Schreibstil von Sandra Greaves ist genauso finster und spannend wie die Handlung an sich und verschafft einen angenehmen Lesefluss.
Tilda und Matt, obwohl sie mir ab und an mit ihren Streitereien total auf den Nerv gingen, sind trotz allem zwei sympathische Zeitgenossen. Man kann sich in Beide sehr gut rein empfinden und eine Bindung zu ihnen, ihren Problemen aber auch ihrer Auseinandersetzung aufbauen.
Das Cover so düster und beängstigend, wie die Handlung und der Schauort an dem diese spielt, finde ich sehr positiv und passend gewählt. Verbirgt sich in dem Nebelschleier ja einiges an Überraschungen, Wendungen und Geheimnissen, die es zu lüften gilt.
Fazit:
Ein gelungenes schauriges Jugendroman-Debüt, welches die eine oder andere Gänsehaut für den Leser parat hält und trotz kleiner Defizite, ein Lesens - und empfehlenswerter Jugendroman beinhaltet!
Matt braucht dringend einen Tapetenwechsel, denn er ist total genervt von seiner auf Wolke sieben schwebenden Mutter und deren neuen Lebensgefährten Paul. Warum in sein Weg ausgerechnet ins verlassene Darkmoor zu seinem Onkel Paul und dessen beiden Töchtern Tilda und Kitty führt, weiß Matt selbst nicht so genau. Kaum angekommen schlägt ihm seitens seiner Cousine Tilda eine ordentliche Ladung Verachtung und Hass entgegen und bei einem Ausflug in den Old Scratch Wood, der eigentlich zu einer freundlichen Vereinigung führen soll, ist die riesen Katastrophe nicht weit. Ein mysteriöser Fund entfacht noch mehr die Abneigung der beiden Streithähne zueinander. Doch als die Tiere am Hof total außer Kontrolle geraten, seine Cousine streitsüchtiger denje wird und Matt selbst von Albträumen der grausamsten Art heimgesucht wird, steht für ihn fest, dass die ganzen Geschehnisse offensichtlich mit ihrem Fund im Moor zu tun hat.
Als sich dann noch herausstellt, dass auf dem Inhalt des Kästchens ein rabenschwarzer Fluch liegt und Kitty zudem noch sehr schwer erkrankt, raufen die Beiden sich zusammen und versuchen verzweifelt den Fluch zu bannen und den Fund zu beseitigen.
Aber mit den Hindernissen die sich ihnen in den Weg stellen, haben beide nicht gerechnet!
Meinung:
Sandra Greaves hat mit ihrem Jugendroman-Debüt einen Meilenstein der finsteren Sorte gesetzt. " Draußen im Moos " ist ein voller Geheimnisse steckender und sehr düsterer Roman, der zwar sehr interessant und spannend geschrieben ist, aber meiner Meinung nach ein paar gravierende Mängel aufweist.
Ist der Start in die Handlung echt super gelungen und auch das Drumherum sehr real und fesselnd geschildert, so viel mir persönlich eines ganz doll auf, denn in meinen Augen nahmen leider die Hasstiraden und Streitereien der beiden Hauptprotagonisten Matt und Tilda einen zu hohen Stellenwert ein und das eigentliche Finstere der Handlung geriet mehrmals in den Hintergrund, was sehr schade ist.
Öfter habe ich mir gewünscht Sandra Greaves würde mehr auf den Fluch und dessen Ursachen eingehen, das Ganze vertiefen und so der Handlung einen zusätzlichen spannenden Hauch vermitteln, aber leider wurde dieses Thema für mich nur Oberflächlich angekratzt. Auch das Geheimnis um die beiden zerstrittenen Schwestern, die Mütter unserer beiden Protagonisten, fand ich zu schnell abgehandelt und hätte mir gewünscht, dass auch dies ein bisschen mehr Aufmerksamkeit erhalten hätte.
Nichts desto trotz wurde ich bei diesem Buch nicht ganz enttäuscht, denn sie ist durchweg spannend geschrieben und geschildert und ich habe mit einem Gänsehautgefühl dem Ausgang der Handlung entgegen gefiebert.
Der Schreibstil von Sandra Greaves ist genauso finster und spannend wie die Handlung an sich und verschafft einen angenehmen Lesefluss.
Tilda und Matt, obwohl sie mir ab und an mit ihren Streitereien total auf den Nerv gingen, sind trotz allem zwei sympathische Zeitgenossen. Man kann sich in Beide sehr gut rein empfinden und eine Bindung zu ihnen, ihren Problemen aber auch ihrer Auseinandersetzung aufbauen.
Das Cover so düster und beängstigend, wie die Handlung und der Schauort an dem diese spielt, finde ich sehr positiv und passend gewählt. Verbirgt sich in dem Nebelschleier ja einiges an Überraschungen, Wendungen und Geheimnissen, die es zu lüften gilt.
Fazit:
Ein gelungenes schauriges Jugendroman-Debüt, welches die eine oder andere Gänsehaut für den Leser parat hält und trotz kleiner Defizite, ein Lesens - und empfehlenswerter Jugendroman beinhaltet!
April 5, 2015
Although there are many cliches involved in this book - a cursed skull, spooky wood, a local who can relate the story of the curse, being lost in fog - the book manages for the vast majority of the time to rise above these. I found it to be amazingly atmospheric all the way through and the author had cleverly used everything, whether as a red herring or not, to help create a deeply disturbing feeling. The only let down, for me, was the ending, which is of course, quite a critical element and is the reason that the book only scores 3 stars and not the 4 I was certain it was heading for during the majority of my read.
It makes good use of split narrators - a boy and a girl - to appeal to a wider audience and also presents a message of reconciliation and learning to get along with people.
Matt invites himself to send half-term with his Uncle Jack and cousins to escape the four-eyed pillock, his Mum's new boyfriend.
Tilda shows him round their farm on Dartmoor.
Strange farm-worker, Gabe, warns Matt to stay away from Old Scratch Wood and tells him of the Gabbleratchett, a local curse.
Tilda takes Matt to the wood and they unearth a box containing a tiny bird's skull, possibly a curlew's; Gabe has already said they are harbingers of bad luck.
Oddly unpleasant things start to happen (all, of course, explainable) such as sheep dying, animals behaving angrily, people becoming angry with one another.
Matt and Tilda fall out and he run away to his father's boat, taking the skull with him to spite Tilda.
Matt takes the boat out of the harbour and gets into difficulties; he is forced back to the harbour and then the farm.
Kitty, Tilda's younger sister, becomes very ill. Tilda is convinced that it is all caused by the skull and sets off to re-bury it in the wood.
Fog descends.
Matt goes in search of her.
They are reconciled and re-bury the skull.
But, on their return home, things come to a conclusion where they must ultimately work together.
It makes good use of split narrators - a boy and a girl - to appeal to a wider audience and also presents a message of reconciliation and learning to get along with people.
Matt invites himself to send half-term with his Uncle Jack and cousins to escape the four-eyed pillock, his Mum's new boyfriend.
Tilda shows him round their farm on Dartmoor.
Strange farm-worker, Gabe, warns Matt to stay away from Old Scratch Wood and tells him of the Gabbleratchett, a local curse.
Tilda takes Matt to the wood and they unearth a box containing a tiny bird's skull, possibly a curlew's; Gabe has already said they are harbingers of bad luck.
Oddly unpleasant things start to happen (all, of course, explainable) such as sheep dying, animals behaving angrily, people becoming angry with one another.
Matt and Tilda fall out and he run away to his father's boat, taking the skull with him to spite Tilda.
Matt takes the boat out of the harbour and gets into difficulties; he is forced back to the harbour and then the farm.
Kitty, Tilda's younger sister, becomes very ill. Tilda is convinced that it is all caused by the skull and sets off to re-bury it in the wood.
Fog descends.
Matt goes in search of her.
They are reconciled and re-bury the skull.
But, on their return home, things come to a conclusion where they must ultimately work together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2014
3.5 Stars
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2014/01/s...
Skull In The Wood is a cute little read, and great for ages nine to early teen. It's spooky, without being scary and doesn't contain any romance, cursing or mature themes. Matt and Tilda are more alike than they'd both care to admit. Both only thirteen, they're at that age where your in between a child and those difficult teen years and refuse to put aside their difference for the harmony of the farm and pending curse. Tilda believes that Matt's mother, who is part owner of the farm, is trying to sell it from underneath them, and Matt's anger at his father leaving and being replaced with Paul, his mother's new boyfriend. In typical teen fashion, both pick at one another until they are both left hurt. The mysterious skull the cousins find, only amplifies their feelings, which seem to be luring an evil presence onto the farm, where one of them will fall victim to the curse.
Tilda's character was a stronger presence than Matt, and her anger and resentment were justified. I enjoyed the dual points of view, with small snippets from little sister Kitty thrown in. Kitty was adorable. By far the most annoying character was Gabe. He was one dimensional and only sprouted off passages of doom and gloom. I can see children being annoyed by his constant presence. But for the intended age bracket, it was a fun, quick read.
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2014/01/s...
Skull In The Wood is a cute little read, and great for ages nine to early teen. It's spooky, without being scary and doesn't contain any romance, cursing or mature themes. Matt and Tilda are more alike than they'd both care to admit. Both only thirteen, they're at that age where your in between a child and those difficult teen years and refuse to put aside their difference for the harmony of the farm and pending curse. Tilda believes that Matt's mother, who is part owner of the farm, is trying to sell it from underneath them, and Matt's anger at his father leaving and being replaced with Paul, his mother's new boyfriend. In typical teen fashion, both pick at one another until they are both left hurt. The mysterious skull the cousins find, only amplifies their feelings, which seem to be luring an evil presence onto the farm, where one of them will fall victim to the curse.
Tilda's character was a stronger presence than Matt, and her anger and resentment were justified. I enjoyed the dual points of view, with small snippets from little sister Kitty thrown in. Kitty was adorable. By far the most annoying character was Gabe. He was one dimensional and only sprouted off passages of doom and gloom. I can see children being annoyed by his constant presence. But for the intended age bracket, it was a fun, quick read.
September 2, 2013
The Skull in the Wood reads like a classic horror film, which in this case compliments the book perfectly. The writing is atmospheric and from the very first chapter you can picture everything clearly, the farm, the wood and Gabe.
The book is narrated between Matt and Tilda with an occasional interlude from Kitty, Tilda’s little sister. I liked the split narration. I think if it had been just Tilda’s POV I would have really struggled. With the exception of Kitty I didn’t particularly like any of the character and at points Tilda’s and Matt’s anger began to really annoy me. Which actually means Sandra Greaves succeeded. I was invested in them, I adored Kitty (it’s really hard not to) and while they irritated me, Matt and Tilda’s behaviour made the story that much more convincing.
The Skull in the Wood is creepy and just the right length so you get to know the characters but don’t get bored. The last few chapters really pulled me in and I’ll be keeping an eye on Sandra Greaves in future.
The book is narrated between Matt and Tilda with an occasional interlude from Kitty, Tilda’s little sister. I liked the split narration. I think if it had been just Tilda’s POV I would have really struggled. With the exception of Kitty I didn’t particularly like any of the character and at points Tilda’s and Matt’s anger began to really annoy me. Which actually means Sandra Greaves succeeded. I was invested in them, I adored Kitty (it’s really hard not to) and while they irritated me, Matt and Tilda’s behaviour made the story that much more convincing.
The Skull in the Wood is creepy and just the right length so you get to know the characters but don’t get bored. The last few chapters really pulled me in and I’ll be keeping an eye on Sandra Greaves in future.
November 6, 2014
Matt goes to stay with his cousin, Tilda. Tilda, her sister Kitty and Uncle Jack live on the farm near Old Scratch Wood. When Tilda and Matt go down to the wood together, they find a skull of a curlew. When they find it, the Gabblerachet, a hoard of hounds and geese with razor sharp teeth, is on its way to cause trouble. Matt and Tilda work together to stop the Gabblerachet.
I thought this book was good. I felt for the characters in the story, especially when the Gabblerachet came. I have been reading it a lot and finished it in three days! I would definitely recommend this to children my age.
I thought this book was good. I felt for the characters in the story, especially when the Gabblerachet came. I have been reading it a lot and finished it in three days! I would definitely recommend this to children my age.
February 7, 2016
Zur Rezension erhalten, sonst hätte ich es nicht gelesen. Eine Schauergeschichte im englischen Moor, die abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Tilda und Matt erzählt wird, zwei Cousins, die ihren Unmut aneinander auslassen. Nicht wirklich gruselig, dafür nerven die Streitereien zu sehr, mit einem etwas konstruierten Ende.
(Meine Rezension für den Borromäusverein ist hier zu finden: http://www.borromaeusverein.de/medien...)
(Meine Rezension für den Borromäusverein ist hier zu finden: http://www.borromaeusverein.de/medien...)
November 3, 2013
Im a big fan of spooky scary ghosty stories, and this one was that! Ancient curses and spooky woods! A very moreish and completely original, not like any other paranormal/ghost/weird non human creatures book ive read and actually, if i lived on the moors and had read this book, I'd be terrified!
March 12, 2016
This is a beautiful tale about misunderstandings, anger and family. It's for children but the theme is ageless. It's also atmospheric and well written and dark. Though it's an easy read and the characters could be drafted much better I didn't want to put it down.
September 22, 2013
Book review will be posted on http://www.mrripleysenchantedbooks.com/
June 11, 2014
It lacked what would have made it good. It wasn't terrible, but could have been better.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
January 21, 2015
Amazing book. Could not put it down. It is such a page turned and I would recommend this book to anybody who is thinking about reading it.
July 10, 2015
A stunning thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat while reading it, and stay on your mind long after putting it down. Perfect for teens and adults alike.
June 1, 2016
I like it
March 27, 2017
This book ended up being better than I expected and I actually quite enjoyed it. It was a nice easy read that didn't take too long. The characters were done well and came alive on the page and the storyline was quite good. As an adult I would have expected more to happen but as this is a YA novel it was suitable for the ages it was aimed at. Overall I enjoyed it hence the 3 stars.
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