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Night Cry
There are all kinds of fearful night noises on the backwoods farm where Ellen lives, often by herself because her salesman father travels a lot. But more than anything, Ellen is terrified of their horse, Sleet, who had thrown her brother a year ago and killed him.
Then a local boy is kidnapped, and to Ellen the woods are full of devils and demons. One morning she is awakened before dawn by a cry--is it a "night cry" or the cry of the kidnapped child? Does Ellen have the courage to venture out into the dark and find out?
Then a local boy is kidnapped, and to Ellen the woods are full of devils and demons. One morning she is awakened before dawn by a cry--is it a "night cry" or the cry of the kidnapped child? Does Ellen have the courage to venture out into the dark and find out?
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
2 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
247 books1,036 followersPhyllis Reynolds Naylor was born in Anderson, Indiana, US on January 4, 1933.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 7, 2023
I confess I wasn't all that keen on reading this book; thought it was childish and rather beneath me. Well, was I put in my place when I couldn't put the book down after the halfway point.
There is quite a bit of superstitious talk, and the protagonist wondering what to believe. Much of the first part of the book is merely tension, and Ellen seeing and wondering and fearing problems that don't necessarily exist. Still, with the way things seemed to be going, I perceived that superstitious beliefs would not ultimately be condoned, and in this I was correct. In fact, there were concluding paragraphs which firmly condemned such beliefs.
Then the mystery part began, and things started picking up, and led the reader straight to an impressive climax that tied the whole book together.
It being written in the 1980s, it gave an almost-contemporary feel, but at this point the non-working television, the small-town gossip, and the woes of a telephone party line are vivid representations of an historical story. The setting of a motherless girl living with an affectionate, if restless, father was simple, endearing, and quite often humorous. Ellen's life contained a good balance of country, self-sufficient practices, which I enjoyed.
Besides Ellen and her father--whose relationship I dearly enjoyed--the other characters were also well-written and concisely important to the story. And Jimmy-Clyde was such a sweet thing. Irene Gacy was a classic gossip-type.
There was a rather extensive explanation of the lesson learned at the end of the book, and while it wasn't truly anti-biblical, it wasn't necessarily totally Christian. There were a couple of phrases using God's name, and though they seemed to occur as prayers (even described as "she prayed" in one instance), the word was lowercase, and was probably said in vain.
Jimmy-Clyde was described in kindly words as a simple-minded boy, insulted by rude kids as a "Retard," and matter-of-factly described by Ellen as "retarded" to someone else.
There is quite a bit of superstitious talk, and the protagonist wondering what to believe. Much of the first part of the book is merely tension, and Ellen seeing and wondering and fearing problems that don't necessarily exist. Still, with the way things seemed to be going, I perceived that superstitious beliefs would not ultimately be condoned, and in this I was correct. In fact, there were concluding paragraphs which firmly condemned such beliefs.
Then the mystery part began, and things started picking up, and led the reader straight to an impressive climax that tied the whole book together.
It being written in the 1980s, it gave an almost-contemporary feel, but at this point the non-working television, the small-town gossip, and the woes of a telephone party line are vivid representations of an historical story. The setting of a motherless girl living with an affectionate, if restless, father was simple, endearing, and quite often humorous. Ellen's life contained a good balance of country, self-sufficient practices, which I enjoyed.
Besides Ellen and her father--whose relationship I dearly enjoyed--the other characters were also well-written and concisely important to the story. And Jimmy-Clyde was such a sweet thing. Irene Gacy was a classic gossip-type.
There was a rather extensive explanation of the lesson learned at the end of the book, and while it wasn't truly anti-biblical, it wasn't necessarily totally Christian. There were a couple of phrases using God's name, and though they seemed to occur as prayers (even described as "she prayed" in one instance), the word was lowercase, and was probably said in vain.
Jimmy-Clyde was described in kindly words as a simple-minded boy, insulted by rude kids as a "Retard," and matter-of-factly described by Ellen as "retarded" to someone else.
August 25, 2025
This is one of the most suspenseful thrillers I've read, ever, including novels meant for adults. I gave it away when I got older and I regret it so much! I'm definitely looking for a copy in thrift stores. Brilliant story, with sharp characterization and a setting to match. I felt like I could see inside Ellen's house, wander the grounds, talk to Granny Bo...I was back at my own grandma's in WV.
June 17, 2019
Deliciously suspenseful! I was pulled into the story and didn't want it to end. Aside from the very well-written story, I would love to live in a quiet place in the woods such as the one described here, but maybe without all the unexpected excitement! Highly recommended for all ages!
February 11, 2023
A teenage mystery. I enjoyed it for the local setting.
October 4, 2016
KUCHA PECHA REPORT AUTHOR, EDGAR AWARD WINNER, SUSPENSE
Ellen's dad has just got a new job and will be leaving her home alone while he travels. Living in the backwoods, there are a lot of night sounds that Granny Bo calls night cries. When a local boy is kidnapped for ransom, Ellen has to decide who she can trust. Is it the guy who showed up looking for work, Granny Bo, Jimmy-Clyde, or even the horse Sleet who threw and killed her brother? This is a story of learning to trust, the power of gossip, and overcoming fears and self-doubt. Good for any age.
Ellen's dad has just got a new job and will be leaving her home alone while he travels. Living in the backwoods, there are a lot of night sounds that Granny Bo calls night cries. When a local boy is kidnapped for ransom, Ellen has to decide who she can trust. Is it the guy who showed up looking for work, Granny Bo, Jimmy-Clyde, or even the horse Sleet who threw and killed her brother? This is a story of learning to trust, the power of gossip, and overcoming fears and self-doubt. Good for any age.
October 5, 2011
Awakened once again by the terrible night cry her grandmother has said is a inhuman, Ellen begins to believe that the scream is that of a recently kidnaped boy. I think that this is a good book for anyone who likes fear or mystery type books. I personaly liked it. It was suspenceful and well written. I really like how they described the setting. I really could see the house in my head like I was watching a movie.
April 12, 2013
Read this one when I was about 11, and, back then, it was the most suspenseful thing I'd ever read (at that age, it was probably one of the only suspenseful books I'd yet read). On a re-read over 20 years later, I found that suspense hasn't diminished. It's STILL the page-turner I remember it to be! I'm happy for that.
August 23, 2009
very suspenseful.
June 6, 2015
Another great book that I read over and over again as a child!
March 11, 2016
I liked it a lot. A really good mystery!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews