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The Haunted Museum #2
The Phantom Music Box
Don't touch anything in The Haunted Museum!
Emma would rather be at her ballet class than at the Haunted Museum, but she can't miss her best friend's birthday party. In a spooky exhibit of music boxes, she's drawn to one in particular, in which a pair of dancers spin slowly to a haunting melody.
But that very night, the music box shows up at her door--like it's following her. Emma dances better than she ever imagined when the music box is playing. But that's not all. Sometimes the music speeds up, and the dancers seem to move on their own. Emma finds the lid open, music playing, even when she knows she'd shut it before. And then an eye appears in the mirror inside the lid--someone is watching Emma!
The more Emma learns about the history of the music box, the more she realizes she needs to break the hold it has over her before it's too late. But the better she dances when the music plays, the less she wants to!
Emma would rather be at her ballet class than at the Haunted Museum, but she can't miss her best friend's birthday party. In a spooky exhibit of music boxes, she's drawn to one in particular, in which a pair of dancers spin slowly to a haunting melody.
But that very night, the music box shows up at her door--like it's following her. Emma dances better than she ever imagined when the music box is playing. But that's not all. Sometimes the music speeds up, and the dancers seem to move on their own. Emma finds the lid open, music playing, even when she knows she'd shut it before. And then an eye appears in the mirror inside the lid--someone is watching Emma!
The more Emma learns about the history of the music box, the more she realizes she needs to break the hold it has over her before it's too late. But the better she dances when the music plays, the less she wants to!
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2014
30 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Weyn
206 books647 followersSuzanne Weyn grew up in Williston Park, Long Island, New York. She has three sisters and a brother. As a girl, she was very interested in theatre and in reading. Louisa May Alcott was her favorite author, but she also read every Sherlock Holmes story. Suzanne lived pretty close to the ocean and going to Jones Beach was one of her favorite activities. Even today, if she goes too long without seeing the ocean, she starts feeling restless.
Suzanne now lives in upper New York State with her husband, two teen daughters and Abby the cat. Her house is at the edge of the woods and is nearly 200 years old. She graduated from State University of New York at Binghamton and received her master's degree from Pace University. She teaches part-time at City College in New York.
Suzanne's other books for Simon Pulse include South Beach Sizzle, a romantic comedy written with Diana Gonzalez. Her novels for the Simon Pulse line "Once Upon a Time" are The Night Dance: A Retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, Water Song: A Retelling of the Frog Prince, and The Crimson Thread: A Retelling of Rumplestiltskin. She very much enjoys rethinking these classic tales from an original point of view, always looking for the real psychological underpinning of the story. Suzanne is currently doing revisions on her fourth book in the line, which will be coming in 2009.
Suzanne's other recent novels are include The Bar Code Tattoo (2004) and its sequel, The Bar Code Rebellion (2006). The Bar Code Tattoo was selected by the American Library Assoc. (ALA) as a 2005 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers and was a 2007 Nevada Library nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction. It is currently translated into German and was nominated for the 2007 Jugenliteraturpreis for Young People's Literature.
Suzanne now lives in upper New York State with her husband, two teen daughters and Abby the cat. Her house is at the edge of the woods and is nearly 200 years old. She graduated from State University of New York at Binghamton and received her master's degree from Pace University. She teaches part-time at City College in New York.
Suzanne's other books for Simon Pulse include South Beach Sizzle, a romantic comedy written with Diana Gonzalez. Her novels for the Simon Pulse line "Once Upon a Time" are The Night Dance: A Retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, Water Song: A Retelling of the Frog Prince, and The Crimson Thread: A Retelling of Rumplestiltskin. She very much enjoys rethinking these classic tales from an original point of view, always looking for the real psychological underpinning of the story. Suzanne is currently doing revisions on her fourth book in the line, which will be coming in 2009.
Suzanne's other recent novels are include The Bar Code Tattoo (2004) and its sequel, The Bar Code Rebellion (2006). The Bar Code Tattoo was selected by the American Library Assoc. (ALA) as a 2005 Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers and was a 2007 Nevada Library nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction. It is currently translated into German and was nominated for the 2007 Jugenliteraturpreis for Young People's Literature.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 9, 2017
A fun story about a possesive music box giving who it seems it master the power to be the best dancer. However that power comes with a price, dancing yourself to death.
August 9, 2023
Dette er en barnebok jeg kjøpte for sånn 8 år siden, siden jeg synes den første var så bra. Den er sikkert veldig bra om du er i riktig demografisk gruppe, men jeg synes uansett pacingen var litt rar. Mange løse tråder. Men would reccommend til folk 12 og under.
April 20, 2017
Book 14 In the book The Phantom Music Box a girl named go to a museum full of old spooky relects for her friends birthday party. When she is there she is yelled at by a guard not to touch anything. She decides to touch a music box and disobey the guard. Later that night she find the music box on her porch. When she dances to the music box she is amazing and she loves it. Then she starts to see eyes in the music box mirror, and the figures in the music box start fighting. Is there something more to this music box then meets the eye.
One example of figurative language in this book is "So far it seemed like a sort of cross between madame Tussaud wax museum, Ripley's believe it or not, and the haunted mansion in Walt Disney world. Another example is an alliteration "Even Emma bent to examine it more closely." The next example is an onomatopoeia the music box makes the sound "dum de dum dum" Also, another alliteration is "she caught sight of Lauren and Stella studying a music box." The last example of figurative language is "The reflections were bouncing off the many mirrors"
I didn't really like this book. It was really weird. It also was a little bit annoying and slow. In my opinion this book wasn't very good. I don't think I will read any more books in this series. It was a really fast read book.
One example of figurative language in this book is "So far it seemed like a sort of cross between madame Tussaud wax museum, Ripley's believe it or not, and the haunted mansion in Walt Disney world. Another example is an alliteration "Even Emma bent to examine it more closely." The next example is an onomatopoeia the music box makes the sound "dum de dum dum" Also, another alliteration is "she caught sight of Lauren and Stella studying a music box." The last example of figurative language is "The reflections were bouncing off the many mirrors"
I didn't really like this book. It was really weird. It also was a little bit annoying and slow. In my opinion this book wasn't very good. I don't think I will read any more books in this series. It was a really fast read book.
September 29, 2018
The Phantom Music Box is one of the creepiest story that i have come across.The introduction will definitely catch your attention quickly.Happiness masked by nightmares,this book will spook you right away.
The story follows a 12 year old girl named Emma,who is visiting the famous Haunted Museum to celebrate her best friend Keera's birthday.Inside the museum,she and Keera come across bizarre exhibits all with signs "DO NOT TOUCH."After the guard specifically told them not touch any of the displayed items,Emma being utterly stubborn touches a music box.Little did she realize that her life was about to change.
That music box was a cursed object and no sooner she touched it,things start to happen. Emma who although having a feverish passion for dance,couldn't do it without tripping or stepping on others toes,suddenly became an excellent dancer.She also met a cute boy,Roberto who was mesmerized by her.For once she was happy with the way her life had taken a good turn.Soon,the previous owners of the music box begin to come back from a different time period to haunt her,to claim what belonged to them.
After a series of strange and absurd happenings, Emma realizes the only way to stop this madness is either to give up this magical yet cursed music box or to keep dancing till she drops dead.
The story follows a 12 year old girl named Emma,who is visiting the famous Haunted Museum to celebrate her best friend Keera's birthday.Inside the museum,she and Keera come across bizarre exhibits all with signs "DO NOT TOUCH."After the guard specifically told them not touch any of the displayed items,Emma being utterly stubborn touches a music box.Little did she realize that her life was about to change.
That music box was a cursed object and no sooner she touched it,things start to happen. Emma who although having a feverish passion for dance,couldn't do it without tripping or stepping on others toes,suddenly became an excellent dancer.She also met a cute boy,Roberto who was mesmerized by her.For once she was happy with the way her life had taken a good turn.Soon,the previous owners of the music box begin to come back from a different time period to haunt her,to claim what belonged to them.
After a series of strange and absurd happenings, Emma realizes the only way to stop this madness is either to give up this magical yet cursed music box or to keep dancing till she drops dead.
September 27, 2014
When Emma defiantly touches a music box at the Haunted Museum after repeated warnings not to, she's startled when the same music box appears at her door the next day. Suddenly, clumsy Emma's dancing improves remarkably whenever she hears its music, earning her a spot on the dance school's team, and the attention of the cute new boy in her dance class. But the music box's gift comes with a price Emma may not be prepared to pay...
This second entry in the popular new series is sure to be a hit, especially with girls (lockets and music boxes having less appeal to boys) who may find Goosebumps cover art too off-putting. And if there are plot holes (Who or what are the men and women who come out of the music box when its owner is threatened? Would Emma's parents--or any parents, really--put their daughter into an institution being run by a woman who once drove their child into a nervous breakdown?), the intended audience will undoubtedly sail right past them, gobbling up the story like so much popcorn--and hungry for more.
This second entry in the popular new series is sure to be a hit, especially with girls (lockets and music boxes having less appeal to boys) who may find Goosebumps cover art too off-putting. And if there are plot holes (Who or what are the men and women who come out of the music box when its owner is threatened? Would Emma's parents--or any parents, really--put their daughter into an institution being run by a woman who once drove their child into a nervous breakdown?), the intended audience will undoubtedly sail right past them, gobbling up the story like so much popcorn--and hungry for more.
November 4, 2021
I love this book.
I may only be saying that because it’s one of the first books without pictures I remember reading, but it’s really not all too bad. This is the first book I’m rereading of the series (I’m still waiting on the Titanic Pearl or whatever it is). It also talks about the Blue Danube, and I’ve always found the song creepy because of this book.
Honestly? It sounds like something I would have written in fifth grade. The pacing was terrible, and the characters were so-so. (I, for one, really disliked Mr. Bryant. Please shut up, you’re not impressing anyone with fancy words.)
It’s a really fast read, considering it’s only 186 pages and has a huge font size. I like the concept, but it just felt weird? I do like the going back in time thing. It’s nice.
Whatever kind of attempt at romance with Emma and Roberto that they tried to throw in there sucked. Don’t do that.
Also, Belladonna Bloodstone? That’s one really cheesy name. Cheesy name in a mediocre, cheesy book. It fits.
I may only be saying that because it’s one of the first books without pictures I remember reading, but it’s really not all too bad. This is the first book I’m rereading of the series (I’m still waiting on the Titanic Pearl or whatever it is). It also talks about the Blue Danube, and I’ve always found the song creepy because of this book.
Honestly? It sounds like something I would have written in fifth grade. The pacing was terrible, and the characters were so-so. (I, for one, really disliked Mr. Bryant. Please shut up, you’re not impressing anyone with fancy words.)
It’s a really fast read, considering it’s only 186 pages and has a huge font size. I like the concept, but it just felt weird? I do like the going back in time thing. It’s nice.
Whatever kind of attempt at romance with Emma and Roberto that they tried to throw in there sucked. Don’t do that.
Also, Belladonna Bloodstone? That’s one really cheesy name. Cheesy name in a mediocre, cheesy book. It fits.
March 5, 2021
Read for #MarchMysteryMadness
I didn't enjoy this one as much as The Titanic Locket, but it was still an entertaining read. This definitely requires you to have knowledge of what The Blue Danube sounds like, as it plays a prominent roll in this book. It also references a few ballet techniques.
I did not agree with how our main character's parents reacted to things including discussing how our main character's anxiety trigger shouldn't affect her anymore. Their reaction at the end also seemed very extreme to me.
All in all, I will continue with this series but this is probably an installment I won't revisit.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as The Titanic Locket, but it was still an entertaining read. This definitely requires you to have knowledge of what The Blue Danube sounds like, as it plays a prominent roll in this book. It also references a few ballet techniques.
I did not agree with how our main character's parents reacted to things including discussing how our main character's anxiety trigger shouldn't affect her anymore. Their reaction at the end also seemed very extreme to me.
All in all, I will continue with this series but this is probably an installment I won't revisit.
August 21, 2020
I only read this because I needed a "modern horror" for my book challenge and I am not a fan of "adult" horror. My daughter had this book so I read it. It was creepy at first but then it went downhill from there. Then, when you think things are resolved and that she learned her lesson, she intentionally goes back into trouble on purpose and only realizes the error of her ways when her family almost gets killed. It was really dumb. Anyway... I'm considering myself one book closer to meeting my reading challenge goal... check...
February 7, 2021
I’d rate this a really good 3.5 stars. I liked the story and what this book did that was different from the first one in the series. It really got the haunted object aspect down that I think the first one lacked just a little bit.
May 3, 2022
okay so i read this @13 and i almost stopped reading it cos it was starting to get creepier especially the "da da da da dum dee dum dee dum" part haha. If you;re a sucker for horror go for this, gonna keep you hooked.
July 29, 2022
A ballet-obsessed girl gets a cursed music box that takes over her life. It's an exciting, fast-paced read with a few creepy moments, but the ending leaves a few threads hanging. The whole thing feels like a middle grade version of Friday the 13th: The Series.
December 16, 2017
An interesting little book. It keeps you wanting more.
August 18, 2020
Me and my brother read this together. Awesome, action-packed mystery/horror.
September 8, 2020
Toe tapping fun
Great edition to a series of very cool books. I enjoyed the suspense and the story was fast-paced and exciting. I appreciate the cautionary nature of the tale.
Great edition to a series of very cool books. I enjoyed the suspense and the story was fast-paced and exciting. I appreciate the cautionary nature of the tale.
October 7, 2022
the story towwards the end seemed hurried. pretty trash book
September 13, 2023
Great for kids who like spooky things
February 27, 2024
The book was pretty good.
I don't like Roberto how he showed up outta nowhere and admired emma so much, I honestly thought he was gonna be the one trying to take the music box from her.
I don't like Roberto how he showed up outta nowhere and admired emma so much, I honestly thought he was gonna be the one trying to take the music box from her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2015
"Why would something this pretty be in a haunted music box exhibition?"
Emma would rather be at her ballet class than at the Haunted Museum, but she can't miss her best friend's birthday party. Ina spooky exhibit of musicboxes, she's drawn to one in particular, in which a pair of dancers spin slowly to a haunting melody.
But that very night, the music boxshows up at her door-like is following her. Emma dances better than she ever imagined when the music boxis playing. But that's not all. Sometimes the music speeds upand the dancers seem to moce on their own. Emma finds the lid open, music playing, evenwhen she knowsshe'd shut it before. and then an eye appears in the mirror inside the lid-someone IS watching Emma! The more Emma learns about the historyof the musicbox, the more she realizes,that she needs to breqak the hold it has over her before its too late. But the better she daqnces when the musicplays, the less she wants to.
Emma would rather be at her ballet class than at the Haunted Museum, but she can't miss her best friend's birthday party. Ina spooky exhibit of musicboxes, she's drawn to one in particular, in which a pair of dancers spin slowly to a haunting melody.
But that very night, the music boxshows up at her door-like is following her. Emma dances better than she ever imagined when the music boxis playing. But that's not all. Sometimes the music speeds upand the dancers seem to moce on their own. Emma finds the lid open, music playing, evenwhen she knowsshe'd shut it before. and then an eye appears in the mirror inside the lid-someone IS watching Emma! The more Emma learns about the historyof the musicbox, the more she realizes,that she needs to breqak the hold it has over her before its too late. But the better she daqnces when the musicplays, the less she wants to.
September 16, 2019
Very engaging, and creepy in an elegant way! Loved it!
(Second time reading it)
So, having first read this book over 3 years ago, my opinions have changed. Of course, I still love it, but the characters seem a little under-developed (I feel like Emma's - among other character's - personalities weren't really exploited. Also, there were a few times I was kinda confused about what had happened. Still a very good, fast-paced read!
(Second time reading it)
So, having first read this book over 3 years ago, my opinions have changed. Of course, I still love it, but the characters seem a little under-developed (I feel like Emma's - among other character's - personalities weren't really exploited. Also, there were a few times I was kinda confused about what had happened. Still a very good, fast-paced read!
Read
November 12, 2014Emma would rather go to the museum than ballet class. She goes to the Haunted Museum. She discovers a music box that has secret powers. These powers could help her dancing in the class performance or could the music box have something more ominous for Emma.
May 11, 2015
I think that Emma should of just left the music box with Lucy but OH NO she didn't!That caused her even more trouble to then realize that she was the one who wanted to dance and her risk took her to almost death
April 3, 2015
I read this book to my fifth grade class, and they loved it. The only thing they didn't like was the way that they book ended, and I have to agree with them. I wished that there could have been more to this book. The ending has you wondering all these what if questions. :)
November 29, 2014
Didn't like this one nearly as much as the first. Didn't think it was as scary either. I'm sure my third graders will enjoy reading it though (it is a fifth grade reading level).
January 6, 2016
This was a book with the right amount of scary. It is full of mysteries and drama. I read this book in two days because could not put it down.
February 27, 2016
It is an amazing book I love how she is such a rule beaker
September 27, 2018
I thought the book was good but i thought it was going to be a more action packed book.
Read
October 24, 2018its good
March 20, 2014
quick, strange and interesting read for grade schoolers.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews