Mirror, Mirror

Creepers

by Edgar J. Hyde

The Johnstone family has bought an old mirror. When the children look into it, they notice a girl in strange clothes gazing back at them. It even seems like the girl is trying to communicate with them. This thriller will spark the imaginations of readers as they learn about the girl behind the glass.

Genres: Horror, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Paranormal, Ghosts, Horror Thriller, Childrens

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1998

Reviews

[Caroline Shepherd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another kids' book, but not a terrible read.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this Creepers book, more than the others, though I do think it’s extremely morbid and a bit full on for a children’s book. I wouldn’t want my kids reading this.

[Anonymous · Rating 3 out of 5]

i cant read it!!

[Nay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have spent years trying to find what I think is now this book. It spooked me as a kid, but reading it again was awesome!

[Nicole Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one will get you in your feels, but none the less a great story to read.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have probably read enough Creepers now that the "Hey, spooky stories with GOOD endings!" vibe is wearing off. A LOT. Even despite the fact they're cheaply available at the dollar store and theoretically good filler for free libraries (though evidence shows that they take significantly longer to be picked up after donation compared to, say, InvestiGators or Phoebe and Her Unicorn).

Probably also, having read enough of them, I'm starting to be pickier about how they're written and so on. For instance, third-person omniscient narrator normally annoys me, since it feels unnatural to know what EVERYBODY is feeling all at the same time. I'm more used to, if character perspective has to change, focusing on one person per chapter or chapter section, with "hints" at how the non-focal character is feeling if necessary (e.g., "Sophie squealed with delight to see the new puppy, completely unaware of the less than excited looks on her parents' faces as they exchanged glances.")

Then again, I have also read WAY TOO MANY BOOKS* and have been steadily refining my taste. Had this been my first Creepers title, I might've thought it was pretty good...

EXCEPT

Auntie Camila: ANIMALS ARE NOT PRESENTS. Especially not SURPRISE presents! Okay, bringing a fish in a tank with all the stuff it needs to start out, that's one thing. Bringing a *puppy* to a house that's NOT puppy-proofed, with none of the things a puppy needs? BAD AUNTIE.

I mean, I understand WHY she does this, because story progression. Like, it's pretty obvious what happens after Camila shows up with the "gift." I just hate it. LOTS.

As per usual in this series, and as I semi-spoiled above, the ending IS good, and it does that thing where it turns someone I don't really like into a sympathetic character (good job!), and in fact the ending is so completely resolved that they can probably replace the broken mirror with one that HASN'T seen thousands of deaths, and everything will be totally normal. Maybe that's how you or I can imagine it playing out in our heads.

Doesn't make me nearly as excited to pick up the next Creepers title, though. Feel a bit creeped out, at least for now. Recommended for readers who can't get enough spooky stories, though!

*NO SUCH THING

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
The story isn’t overembellished so it’s easy to follow and well-paced. The book opens with the family buying an old mirror from a shop owner and the youngest daughter, Sophie, finding a ballerina doll atop a music box. The family is told the mirror and doll come from the same home so readers will immediately sense something strange will happen. The mirror is hung in the den when Sophie finds herself alone, playing with her music box. She suddenly notices a terrifying scene in the mirror and witnesses a woman having her head chopped off! This kicks off the mystery of the mirror.
Maya and Dani, the two older sisters, are the main characters and middle-grade readers should be able to relate with them. Maya is the oldest child and Sophie thinks nothing can scare her. This characteristic is most handy when dealing with a haunted mirror. Dani is the most scholarly of the children as she’s constantly reading books. This habit makes her intelligent and a perfect partner for Maya. The sisters quickly realize a girl named Sara is keeper of the mirror and they’re determined to find a way to free the spirit.
What didn’t work as well:
The simple text may not appeal to more advanced readers although they often find the topics of spirits and ghosts very interesting.
The final verdict:
This book is a wonderful introduction to scary stories. Its simple text will appeal to reluctant or emerging readers and the subject matter isn’t too intense. I recommend you give it a shot.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another great addition to a long running and popular series.  The Molinas are shopping in a local antique shop when Sophie finds a beautiful ballerina on a stand. Her father agrees to buy it along with an antique mirror for their home. Sophie and her older sisters, Maya and Dani, see something disturbing in the mirror that seems to be invisible to everyone else. It’s a dark secret that the girls decide to investigate despite the possible danger. Are the ballerina music box and the mirror somehow linked?  

Readers will be able to connect with the great characters in this story, despite its lack of multicultural representation. The story moves at a good pace that will not be too fast for developing readers and not too slow for experienced readers. Historically, it seems that antique mirrors always have a creep factor and this story is no different. The storyline will give you goosebumps, but the love of sisters balances out the horror elements. The illustrations are black and white but vivid in detail. They make a great companion to the story.  This is definitely one that reluctant readers will find engaging. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Bobby Keniston · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this, my final book and final step in my "Creepers" journey...

"Mirror, Mirror" was not my favorite of them, but it was far from my least favorite. It had a decent structure at least, and an interesting story. And it was nice to have a good female protagonist (when the protagonist was finally chosen).

Of the five books I read on my Creepers journey, this would be in the 3rd position, but in fairness, the 3rd position is quite a bit better than my bottom two, "The Gravedigger" and especially "Doctor Death".

All in all, as Goosebumps knockoffs, these aren't the best out there, but they're not bad (well, two of the five I read were pretty bad). But I do think many kids will like them as they are waiting for the next better written spooky story.

I have to admit, reading these books was a fun way to spend a few nights.

[Erica smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay so I found these books at the dollar tree and they obviously have been "revamped" , from reading the comments I guess this wasn't a new series like I have thought. This series is perfect for younger kids who like books like goosebumps. Honeslty this book isn't really that scary and fits right in with the goosebumps books. I bought these for me to read for nostoligia purposes and also for my son when he gets old enough to read because he is 7 and already into creepy things.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful kids "horror" story about a girl ghost in a mirror who, at first, scares the families children but as the story goes on the children sympathize with the ghost and try to set the girl free.
It is not too hard for a 4th thru 6th grade reader and has a few new vocabulary words but nothing they will find to hard. The "scary" parts are very limited in description and hint at things happening with out the characters actually seeing it.
A great read leading up to spooky season in the fall!

[Kaycee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was one of the better creeper series books. This one seemed to be a little more mature though with the details and nature of the story (gore/violence/etc).
The story was an interesting concept and would make for a good short film. Overall this was one of the ones that I would recommend from the series.

[Katie Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

My students are regularly asking for “scary books” or horror. I wanted to find something that was clean and not too adult. This is a super easy read and I even enjoyed it! It is a lower reading level than I typically provide, but it seems to be getting the non readers into reading, so I’ll take it!

[Cash · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars it’s a good kids book to kill time with

[Lajotineas]

nostalgia reading this, love it when i was a kid :)

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[frecklesf4iry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needed a children's book to get out of a reading slump. I will definetly give this to my niece, she'll love it

[Sue :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a not to scary ghost story. A little violent but with a happy ending.

[Louise · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing irritated me, to be honest. So many redundant sentences but it wasn't that easy to read? Also quite violent for a children's book.

[Ricci Beck · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good premise for a story but pretty sure it’s AI generated instead of being written by a human. Even the reviews seem fake.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usual book.

[Robert Weathers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a slow start for me, but near the end I was hooked. This story was both spooky and truly heartbreaking.

[Jules!! · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Secret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my favorite of Hyde’s books so far!

[mamadbookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a decent book not to scary but just scary enough to keep you interested, and the plot twist was good.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought about 8 of these books at a Dollar Tree for my son who likes horror stories. This one features a mirror in which the ghost of a young girl is trapped . . .

[tim Skaggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

for a 42 year old man I absolutely loved it! it's a children's book but there's a scene in here so bad little kids shouldn't be reading 😄 5 instant stars.

[Sara Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pretty good little creepy story. I enjoyed it. Very reminiscent of Goosebumps.

[Sarah Goode · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a kids booked I picked up which looked fun. Nothing amazing but not a bad read.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this Creepers book, more than the others, though I do think it’s extremely morbid and a bit full on for a children’s book. I wouldn’t want my kids reading this.