Things That Go Bump in the Night: A Collection of Original Stories

by Jane Yolen, Martin H. Greenberg (Editor)

A collection of original stories about the noises, dreams, and shadows of the night that frighten and beguile the imagination

Genres: Short Stories, Young Adult, Fantasy

280 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1989

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Greg Kerestan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection is undoubtedly the literary Bible of 80s and 90s spooky kids: nowhere else did such a wide collection of the essential authors of YA eerie lit, or authors whose eerie lit was YA-appropriate, gather together with such strong results. Many of the stories in this book, which I first read at around age seven (too early, some would say... but you're never too early to be a spooky kid). The images of Jack Straw, the sentinel, the leaves that crawl like hands, and the fat lady in the elevator have never left my mind.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The standout story for me was the first one: The Elevator by William Sleator. Nicely effective tension build.

[Cyrus]

I still think the story with the boy and the leaves attacking him was close, but no cigar. The sentinel saying "you forgot your jacket stupid wins! Unfortunately, there was only one story like that in the whole book. That was one of the downsides, but it was still an ok book. Maybe...

[Heather Ingemar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful collection of YA tales! A rather enjoyable read, and there was a little of everything, from flat-out-horror to humor.