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Skeleton Creek #1
Skeleton Creek #1
The first book in the breakthrough series from bestselling author Patrick Carman, featuring text and technology in an innovative new way. Strange things are happening in Skeleton Creek . . . and Ryan and Sarah are trying to get to the heart of it. But after an eerie accident leaves Ryan housebound and forbidden to see Sarah, their investigation takes two tracks: Ryan records everything in his journal, while Sarah uses her videocam to search things out. . .and then email the clips for Ryan to see. In a new, groundbreaking format, the story is broken into two parts -- Ryan's text in the book, and Sarah's videos on a special website, with links and passwords given throughout the book.
182 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2009
589 people are currently reading
5851 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Carman
92 books1,606 followersI have been a lifelong writer and storyteller. Salem, Oregon is where I spent my formative years and I graduated from Willamette University. After college, I spent a decade living in Portland, Oregon where I worked in advertising, game design, and technology.
I've written young adult and children's books for Scholastic, Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins Publishers.
I've been fortunate enough to have had some bestselling series work: The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Elliot’s Park, 39 Clues, and Skeleton Creek. Here's a fun note...the books have been translated into approximately two dozen languages. Currently I'm developing a few new-media projects. Check out DARK EDEN to experience this type of cross-platform project.
When I'm not writing or creating a story, I spend my free time supporting literacy campaigns and community organizations, fly fishing, playing basketball and tennis, doing crosswords, watching movies, dabbling in video games, reading (lots), and (more than anything else) spending time with my wife and two daughters.
I've written young adult and children's books for Scholastic, Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins Publishers.
I've been fortunate enough to have had some bestselling series work: The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Elliot’s Park, 39 Clues, and Skeleton Creek. Here's a fun note...the books have been translated into approximately two dozen languages. Currently I'm developing a few new-media projects. Check out DARK EDEN to experience this type of cross-platform project.
When I'm not writing or creating a story, I spend my free time supporting literacy campaigns and community organizations, fly fishing, playing basketball and tennis, doing crosswords, watching movies, dabbling in video games, reading (lots), and (more than anything else) spending time with my wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,360 reviews
May 20, 2017
“Physically, mentally, emotionally -- it seems like every part of me is broken in one way or another.”
This is a guilty pleasure. I read it in an hour and I had fun with it, I don't think all books need to do anymore than just that.
Skeleton Creek is about a couple of young teens that want to learn the mystery of an old factory, which they are convinced is haunted. Their parents forbid them to see each other anymore, since they are always getting into something together so they talk to each other through videos and emails.
The story is a pretty basic run-of-the mill ghost story. It's something you might see on Nickelodeon around Halloween time. The characters are very one-dimensional but really they didn't need to be anything else for this little story. They were just a couple kids having a creepy adventure basically. One of the biggest highlights of this book was that throughout the book you were given passwords to use on the internet. Once you went onto the site for the novel, you typed in the password given and you were shown small video clip. I thought it added to the experience. No, I wouldn't want most of my books to be interactive like that, but it was a nice change. Was the acting that you saw in the videos any good? No, of course not, but the campiness of that fact made it actually more enjoyable to me. None of the actors in the videos are going to be winning an Oscar anytime soon but they did an alright job and the videos progressed the story well. Honestly, as a kid this book would have been a five star read to me I'm sure. I think most kids that like creepy ghost stories are going to be into this book.
Overall, the book takes maybe an hour or two to read, and if you can just appreciate it for what it is and go for the ride then it is a good time. I would say this is for kids probably eight and over, unless your child can handle some scarier themes.
This is a guilty pleasure. I read it in an hour and I had fun with it, I don't think all books need to do anymore than just that.
Skeleton Creek is about a couple of young teens that want to learn the mystery of an old factory, which they are convinced is haunted. Their parents forbid them to see each other anymore, since they are always getting into something together so they talk to each other through videos and emails.
The story is a pretty basic run-of-the mill ghost story. It's something you might see on Nickelodeon around Halloween time. The characters are very one-dimensional but really they didn't need to be anything else for this little story. They were just a couple kids having a creepy adventure basically. One of the biggest highlights of this book was that throughout the book you were given passwords to use on the internet. Once you went onto the site for the novel, you typed in the password given and you were shown small video clip. I thought it added to the experience. No, I wouldn't want most of my books to be interactive like that, but it was a nice change. Was the acting that you saw in the videos any good? No, of course not, but the campiness of that fact made it actually more enjoyable to me. None of the actors in the videos are going to be winning an Oscar anytime soon but they did an alright job and the videos progressed the story well. Honestly, as a kid this book would have been a five star read to me I'm sure. I think most kids that like creepy ghost stories are going to be into this book.
Overall, the book takes maybe an hour or two to read, and if you can just appreciate it for what it is and go for the ride then it is a good time. I would say this is for kids probably eight and over, unless your child can handle some scarier themes.
September 3, 2019
Una historia entretenida, a pesar de que es para niños si te mantiene curioso, descubres de la mano del protagonista todos los misterios que rodean su cuidad y el porque muchos de sus vecinos no hablan sobre la vieja draga.
July 23, 2021
Y’all this is your sign to re-read your favourite middle school book out loud with your sister at 10pm, this held up.
October 24, 2009
I started reading this book to my students on Thursday. The effect was amazing - almost viral the way the students went on about it. After the next recess I had 3 different teachers ask me what I'd done to my students, and that my students wouldn't stop talking about "some book" we'd been reading.
Ryan and Sarah are two teenagers who are trying to find out why their town was named Skeleton Creek. Ryan writes in journals and has for ages. Sarah's "thing" was video taping. This ghost story is written as Ryan's journal of the events that have taken place, but includes passwords from Sarah's website that includes video footage of their adventures. Each video gives a bit more information to help you unlock the mystery.
The students were totally engaged in the book AND the videos. Our instructional coach even came by on Friday to hear the story and see the videos. When she left she was amazed by the student interaction and willingness to catch her up on the story.
Published January 2009.
Ryan and Sarah are two teenagers who are trying to find out why their town was named Skeleton Creek. Ryan writes in journals and has for ages. Sarah's "thing" was video taping. This ghost story is written as Ryan's journal of the events that have taken place, but includes passwords from Sarah's website that includes video footage of their adventures. Each video gives a bit more information to help you unlock the mystery.
The students were totally engaged in the book AND the videos. Our instructional coach even came by on Friday to hear the story and see the videos. When she left she was amazed by the student interaction and willingness to catch her up on the story.
Published January 2009.
January 8, 2010
Ryan is housebound and forbidden to have anything to do with his best friend Sarah after he is seriously injured in a fall in an old dredge out in the woods that no one in town wants to talk about.
But both have found and disabled their parents' monitoring software and are communicating by email, as Sarah continues their dangerous investigation and sends Ryan links to the videos she makes documenting her research into the horrific death of a worker on the dredge years ago, what may be his ghost and the cause of Ryan's accident, and Ryan's father's possible involvement.
I recommend this book to any one who loves a good action/mystery book and is interested in the paranormal. Find out more for your self by reading the book and watching the videos.
But both have found and disabled their parents' monitoring software and are communicating by email, as Sarah continues their dangerous investigation and sends Ryan links to the videos she makes documenting her research into the horrific death of a worker on the dredge years ago, what may be his ghost and the cause of Ryan's accident, and Ryan's father's possible involvement.
I recommend this book to any one who loves a good action/mystery book and is interested in the paranormal. Find out more for your self by reading the book and watching the videos.
June 16, 2015
A boy named Ryan is having spooky problems with his life. His best friend Sarah goes with Ryan to "The Dredge" and gets chased down by a skeleton and is nearly killed. He is stuck at home with a full leg cast and is banned from seeing or communicating with Sarah. They start to email, and Sarah sends him videos as she goes to the Dredge and Ryan stays at home. Ryan is very scared for Sarah and he really wants to help her, but he can't because of a broken leg. He is forbidden to see Sarah but he is a disobeyer and sees her anyways to go solve the mystery of Skeleton Creek.
What I liked about the book was the scare in the videos and Ryan's reaction after watching them. This book makes you question yourself what happens next. The skeleton is a mystery for Ryan and Sarah. Nobody else. The skeleton in the videos scare the reader and the characters by popping out of nowhere to scare you. Ryan gets a serious injury from the skeleton and he can't walk on crutches. So Ryan is home all day alone. He feels like the skeleton is watching him through the window all day. Ryan's biggest fear is that the people in his town are all on his back trying to kill him. Ryan's journal and Sarah's videos carry onto four other books. But when you enter the password and see the two minutes your heart goes thump, thump, thump and when it hits the twenty second mark it keeps racing faster and faster, here it comes and it feels like your body and your life has just stopped.
While many of the mysteries in the book are really interesting, the author spends too much time on the mystery of the symbol, which becomes boring. We first see the symbol when Ryan asks if it means anything on his dad's back, he doesn't know anything about the symbol. Next, we see the symbol on the Dredge and on a newspaper when he realizes his dad is in some sort of group. He doesn't know anything about it yet. Finally, he realizes that the symbol means everything to Skeleton Creek like the gold symbol and it's on the Dredge it's also a group that Ryan's dad is in. He knows that the symbol is the machine, the gold symbol, and a group. However, he has no clue how they are related. What does it mean to him? It just the biggest mystery in Skeleton Creek history. I feel that the mystery was boring because when Ryan asks us questions like "do you remember that symbol from somewhere?" I felt that the mystery that Patrick Carman was trying to explain was an obvious answer. When he asks the question of where do we remember the symbol from, it brings out the boring parts in the book like the history behind the symbol and people who know information about the symbol. But half of them are dead! The only people who he can talk to that are still alive CANNOT be trusted.
The story of Skeleton Creek is a real mystery and is yet to revealed in book 2 called Ghost in the Machine. But who knows who the skeleton is yet.
What I liked about the book was the scare in the videos and Ryan's reaction after watching them. This book makes you question yourself what happens next. The skeleton is a mystery for Ryan and Sarah. Nobody else. The skeleton in the videos scare the reader and the characters by popping out of nowhere to scare you. Ryan gets a serious injury from the skeleton and he can't walk on crutches. So Ryan is home all day alone. He feels like the skeleton is watching him through the window all day. Ryan's biggest fear is that the people in his town are all on his back trying to kill him. Ryan's journal and Sarah's videos carry onto four other books. But when you enter the password and see the two minutes your heart goes thump, thump, thump and when it hits the twenty second mark it keeps racing faster and faster, here it comes and it feels like your body and your life has just stopped.
While many of the mysteries in the book are really interesting, the author spends too much time on the mystery of the symbol, which becomes boring. We first see the symbol when Ryan asks if it means anything on his dad's back, he doesn't know anything about the symbol. Next, we see the symbol on the Dredge and on a newspaper when he realizes his dad is in some sort of group. He doesn't know anything about it yet. Finally, he realizes that the symbol means everything to Skeleton Creek like the gold symbol and it's on the Dredge it's also a group that Ryan's dad is in. He knows that the symbol is the machine, the gold symbol, and a group. However, he has no clue how they are related. What does it mean to him? It just the biggest mystery in Skeleton Creek history. I feel that the mystery was boring because when Ryan asks us questions like "do you remember that symbol from somewhere?" I felt that the mystery that Patrick Carman was trying to explain was an obvious answer. When he asks the question of where do we remember the symbol from, it brings out the boring parts in the book like the history behind the symbol and people who know information about the symbol. But half of them are dead! The only people who he can talk to that are still alive CANNOT be trusted.
The story of Skeleton Creek is a real mystery and is yet to revealed in book 2 called Ghost in the Machine. But who knows who the skeleton is yet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2023
My 12 year old granddaughter and I have LOVED reading this together and watching the videos. It is scary fun and I do mean SCARY fun!!! The end does leave us hanging so we must read the next!
March 2, 2009
When Ryan and Sarah explore an abandoned gold mining dredge, they discover more than they bargained for-- the ghost of a dredge worker killed in a freak accident and a coverup hidden by half the town.
During their exploration, Ryan is seriously injured and both kids' parents forbid them to see each other. Determined to solve the mystery of Skeleton Creek, Ryan and Sarah continue their investigations in secret. Ryan records his memories and the facts he uncovers in a journal (the book)and Sarah records her discoveries on video, which readers can access via a coded website with links scattered throughout the book.
I am not sure that the market audience for the book will get all of the allusions to classic mystery and horror tales provided by Sarah's clues, but perhaps it will encourage readers to find out more.
I found the mystery intriguing and the format-- part book/ part video will certainly appeal to today's Internet savvy kids. My only criticism is that the mystery is not solved-- we will have to wait for the sequel due out this fall.
During their exploration, Ryan is seriously injured and both kids' parents forbid them to see each other. Determined to solve the mystery of Skeleton Creek, Ryan and Sarah continue their investigations in secret. Ryan records his memories and the facts he uncovers in a journal (the book)and Sarah records her discoveries on video, which readers can access via a coded website with links scattered throughout the book.
I am not sure that the market audience for the book will get all of the allusions to classic mystery and horror tales provided by Sarah's clues, but perhaps it will encourage readers to find out more.
I found the mystery intriguing and the format-- part book/ part video will certainly appeal to today's Internet savvy kids. My only criticism is that the mystery is not solved-- we will have to wait for the sequel due out this fall.
April 18, 2009
ok listen, the end of this book is a TOTAL cliffhanger. OH MY MOO!!! i cant wait for the second one to come out!
September 15, 2024
I love the creepy and mysterious vibe it gives.
February 24, 2023
To była bardzo ciekawa książka, ponieważ jest ona formatu dziennika. Główna postać - Ryan - prowadzi dziennik, a my go czytamy. Mamy tutaj sprawy małego miasteczka. Ryan razem z Sarah próbują rozwikłać zagadkę dragi.
Podobała mi się bardzo, skończyła się w takim momencie, że chciałbym mieć drugi tom na już haha. Szkoda tylko, że w Polsce wydano tylko dwa tomy (ogólnie jest ich cztery).
Podobała mi się bardzo, skończyła się w takim momencie, że chciałbym mieć drugi tom na już haha. Szkoda tylko, że w Polsce wydano tylko dwa tomy (ogólnie jest ich cztery).
March 11, 2009
I'll be honest. I don't do scary. Not really. If I did, I'm sure my reaction to Skeleton Creek would be more enthusiastic. But I don't need to love a book in order to blog about it! After all, I can recognize a good story when I see it, even if that story isn't for me. Skeleton Creek could probably be described as a deliciously creepy mystery about two teenagers--one boy, Ryan, one girl, Sarah--living in a mysterious town, Skeleton Creek, a town that has seen better days, brighter days. The town is becoming more and more abandoned. Sarah, the more curious of the pair, wants to find out why the town is so weird. Why is the town named Skeleton Creek? Why does the librarian have a shot gun? What is up with some of the adults in town? They're not making this up, right? Things are heading towards the Twilight Zone, aren't they? The book is very atmospheric. The videos help with creating and establishing this. And I think for people who love exciting adventures, who love the thrill of a fast-paced dangerous life-and-death-on-the-line adventure...this one will be right for you.
Ryan's story is told in the book. This "journal" that he is keeping. You've just got to supend your disbelief on this one. It's written in many places in the present tense. And no one--as far as I can tell--would really and truly be writing stuff down as it happens. Especially since there are some intense things going on. Would there really be people who'd write about danger right then and there instead of getting out of there and then writing it down? Anyway, if nothing else the tense keeps you right there in the midst of the action.
Sarah's story is told through a series of videos. Sarah is all about her camera.
Both Sarah and Ryan love to break rules. And they're both a bit reckless. So both are prone to rushing into danger with very little thought or preparation.
Personally, as an adult who is not into scary, I just see both as being incredibly stupid. Asking for it stupid. That's just me. I'm unadventurous.
Ryan's story is told in the book. This "journal" that he is keeping. You've just got to supend your disbelief on this one. It's written in many places in the present tense. And no one--as far as I can tell--would really and truly be writing stuff down as it happens. Especially since there are some intense things going on. Would there really be people who'd write about danger right then and there instead of getting out of there and then writing it down? Anyway, if nothing else the tense keeps you right there in the midst of the action.
Sarah's story is told through a series of videos. Sarah is all about her camera.
Both Sarah and Ryan love to break rules. And they're both a bit reckless. So both are prone to rushing into danger with very little thought or preparation.
Personally, as an adult who is not into scary, I just see both as being incredibly stupid. Asking for it stupid. That's just me. I'm unadventurous.
July 9, 2022
3.5*
This is an interesting enough read. That is about the only complement I could give it as an older reader.
BUT, this wasn't meant for older readers, this was meant for 10-14 year olds, (maybe even a little younger) and as an introduction to args for someone that age I think it would have them very excited. I know I would have been.
There are a few things to be said about the flatness of characters, the bad acting, the basic plot, but who cares? The draw to this is baby's first arg, and in it's charmingly corny, unintentionally funny way, it does it decently enough. It would've gotten me excited to continue the plot in the next book as a kid, and it just passes that line for me now.
Also, no one seems to have a list of all the secret passwords in the book. And through my thorough research of the first three Google results, they seem to have been lost to time. So I'll do my part in telling you the one that is practically screamed at you. Telltale heart.
This is an interesting enough read. That is about the only complement I could give it as an older reader.
BUT, this wasn't meant for older readers, this was meant for 10-14 year olds, (maybe even a little younger) and as an introduction to args for someone that age I think it would have them very excited. I know I would have been.
There are a few things to be said about the flatness of characters, the bad acting, the basic plot, but who cares? The draw to this is baby's first arg, and in it's charmingly corny, unintentionally funny way, it does it decently enough. It would've gotten me excited to continue the plot in the next book as a kid, and it just passes that line for me now.
Also, no one seems to have a list of all the secret passwords in the book. And through my thorough research of the first three Google results, they seem to have been lost to time. So I'll do my part in telling you the one that is practically screamed at you. Telltale heart.
May 29, 2023
This is an excellent use of multimedia (text & online videos) to tell this scary story. It's an interesting take on storytelling in the modern age for kids who like scary movies & old ghost stories.
February 23, 2024
I struggled with the story, and it is definitely not believeable....who writes in their journal like that?!?! But my students LOVED it. My kids couldn't wait to get to the end and figure things out.
March 12, 2015
OK, so this book is not amazingly written. It's not amazingly acted (yes, this book has acting in it). But it absolutely perfectly accomplishes exactly what it is trying to do, which is why I've given it five stars.
I love horror movies. I've watched so many horror movies that I consider myself kind of de-sensitized to horror movies. I also read (and watched) this book during the day in a brightly lit room. And it creeped me out. Like, seriously hairs standing up on the back of my neck. As a ghost story/mystery/suspense story, this book works perfectly. It is a perfect perfect example of a classic sit-around-the-campfire, legend-like ghost story.
This book also succeeds in what it is supposed to do in that it GETS KIDS TO TURN PAGES and keep reading and be excited about what comes next. It certainly did that for me! I raced through it to get to the next video, and if I had had a solid hour to sit down and read I am sure I would have been done with it in one sitting.
And then there's the fact that at its core, this book is a gimmick. The format of read a little, watch a video, read a little, watch a video is definitely a well designed plot to keep kids on board. But it does not come across as gimmicky. It comes across as the best way to serve the story. It's effective! I'd LOVE to read this book aloud to a middle school class and watch the movies, and then challenge the kids to create a story in the same way.
Well done Patrick Carman. Also, holy cliffhanger Batman, I am going to have to read the second one.
I love horror movies. I've watched so many horror movies that I consider myself kind of de-sensitized to horror movies. I also read (and watched) this book during the day in a brightly lit room. And it creeped me out. Like, seriously hairs standing up on the back of my neck. As a ghost story/mystery/suspense story, this book works perfectly. It is a perfect perfect example of a classic sit-around-the-campfire, legend-like ghost story.
This book also succeeds in what it is supposed to do in that it GETS KIDS TO TURN PAGES and keep reading and be excited about what comes next. It certainly did that for me! I raced through it to get to the next video, and if I had had a solid hour to sit down and read I am sure I would have been done with it in one sitting.
And then there's the fact that at its core, this book is a gimmick. The format of read a little, watch a video, read a little, watch a video is definitely a well designed plot to keep kids on board. But it does not come across as gimmicky. It comes across as the best way to serve the story. It's effective! I'd LOVE to read this book aloud to a middle school class and watch the movies, and then challenge the kids to create a story in the same way.
Well done Patrick Carman. Also, holy cliffhanger Batman, I am going to have to read the second one.
April 12, 2011
Elements And Style:In Skeleton Creek Patrick Carman uses fear, and humor at some points just to lighten the mood. Patrick Carman uses two protaginists: Ryan and Sarah. Patrick also has a antgonist: The Ghost Of Old Joe Bush. Patrick also uses the mood of the story (mystery, fear) to make the reader want to read even more because they dont know whats going to happen. He has left this book on a cliffhanger which makes you want to read all of the series.
Characterization: Ryan (the main character) who writes everything that happens to him in his journal and if he hadn't then the book wouldn't exist has a unique personality HE LOVES SCARY THINGS scary stories,scary places and everything in between. Hes tall, blond and skinny and has a friend who he has known forever Sarah.
Plot: Ryan and Sarah think they live in the most boring town in the world Skeleton Creek, OR. They find out very soon that there town is more then meets the eye. Sarah and Ryan start exploring the dredge (an old abandoned gold mine) and find out that there is a ghost. They set out to find out more about the ghost and the secrets of their town.
Characterization: Ryan (the main character) who writes everything that happens to him in his journal and if he hadn't then the book wouldn't exist has a unique personality HE LOVES SCARY THINGS scary stories,scary places and everything in between. Hes tall, blond and skinny and has a friend who he has known forever Sarah.
Plot: Ryan and Sarah think they live in the most boring town in the world Skeleton Creek, OR. They find out very soon that there town is more then meets the eye. Sarah and Ryan start exploring the dredge (an old abandoned gold mine) and find out that there is a ghost. They set out to find out more about the ghost and the secrets of their town.
January 7, 2010
Sarah and Ryan are two teenagers who want to know about the drench. So Ryan and Sarah go to check the drench out well it ends up Ryan is hurt and in hospital with a broken leg and him and, Sarah can't talk to each other for a long time and if they do Ryan has to move away.They end up talking anyway but they try to keep it a secret. So when Ryan is at home he trys to find out what happen to the drench. Then Sarah makes all these video's and sends them to Ryan. Then Sarah is going to go to the drench before they burn it down and Ryan want to go with her to make she is safe and...
I thought that this is the best book in the world to me it is easy to read and it is like you now the secret and you don't want to tell anybody. It is kinda like you are are a character in the book.
I recommend this book to everybody when you pick it up you can't put it down. Everyone should read this book.
I thought that this is the best book in the world to me it is easy to read and it is like you now the secret and you don't want to tell anybody. It is kinda like you are are a character in the book.
I recommend this book to everybody when you pick it up you can't put it down. Everyone should read this book.
December 31, 2020
This was a creepy, good read. It reminds me of the tv series I watched as a child and enjoyed (Are You Afraid of The Dark, Tales from the Crypt, Ghostwriter, and Goosebumps.) I really enjoyed the hybrid style of writing and video to get the story. I enjoyed the interactiveness of going to my computer after reading the journal and watching videos. This story mode made me feel like I was an additional character in the world-building that found Ryan's journal and needed to know what happened at the Dredge. I would recommend this family-friendly and more creepy than scary story to anyone who enjoys a fun mystery with vanilla-horror elements.
April 20, 2015
I absolutely love horror books and movies, so this book is like a utopia. It has both videos and chapters. It has the suspense of a book and it also has those jump scares that everyone loves. The story keeps me on the edge of my seat. The way the book is presented is interesting. Most books don't go deeper than the page. I love how it has both humor and horror. My favorite part of the book is the end. The end is my favorite part because leaves you asking yourself, "What will happen next?." I cant wait to read the next book in the series.
August 18, 2018
C’est avec mes yeux d’enseignante que j’ai lu ce roman et wow! J’ai tellement hâte de lire ce livre à voix haute à mes élèves! Parfait pour présenter Edgar Allan Poe, pour étudier le récit policier et faire un projet d’écriture et d’oral.
March 30, 2025
This book changed my life as a child. I could not put this series down and having to wait to watch the videos before reading on because I didn’t have unlimited internet access just made the suspense so much better!
October 5, 2021
...*takes a deep breath... I like the Book But It Is Scary... well it is not the book it is the videos
May 24, 2017
Readers interact with Ryan’s journal and Sarah’s videos. The two best friends are being separated by their parents after Ryan suffered a severe injury and has been bedridden for weeks. The story catches readers up with what led to the injury—a paranormal investigation of an old mining dredge. Then the two friends have to sneak around their parents and continue investigating. Since Ryan is still recovering, he has to do what he can with research while Sarah continues
The story is quickly paced and straightforward, and it uses video clips that can be watched online. My reluctant readers get hooked quickly because of the videos. They can tune out the reading, but they will watch the videos, which gets their attention. Then they’ll start reading with us.
The addition of Ryan’s artwork adds to the book’s appeal. The book is aimed at an age group that is transitioning from illustrated books, so the occasional artwork breaks things up and help them visualize the story. We also had fun comparing Ryan’s artwork with Sarah’s videos.
The story requires books one and two to complete, as the end of book one is a cliffhanger. Since the books are not very long, this seems like a trick to sell more books—force readers to buy two books in order to read one story. I’m not a fan of this tactic. On the flip side, I also got to point out to a class of reluctant readers that we’d read two books in two weeks, so there’s also that win. I have mixed feelings.
The story has kind of a Scooby-doo vibe, but more grown up. Much of the horror comes from pop-out-and-yell-boo shock value, which my sophomores have a fun time with. I think it would lose its appeal with an older audience. I’m actually stretching it with sophomores.
Ryan and Sarah are pretty flat, static characters, but the focus is squarely on the mystery, and the book is quite short, so this wasn’t bothersome. Their motives are clear, which is all I really needed from them.
I noticed some errors in spelling and dating throughout the series—sloppy mistakes that should have been caught prior to publication and definitely should have been corrected before issuing the paperback editions.
I definitely recommend the first two books for reluctant readers in 6-10 grades. The ghost story might be a bit much for younger readers, but otherwise, it’s free of any potentially offensive material.
The story is quickly paced and straightforward, and it uses video clips that can be watched online. My reluctant readers get hooked quickly because of the videos. They can tune out the reading, but they will watch the videos, which gets their attention. Then they’ll start reading with us.
The addition of Ryan’s artwork adds to the book’s appeal. The book is aimed at an age group that is transitioning from illustrated books, so the occasional artwork breaks things up and help them visualize the story. We also had fun comparing Ryan’s artwork with Sarah’s videos.
The story requires books one and two to complete, as the end of book one is a cliffhanger. Since the books are not very long, this seems like a trick to sell more books—force readers to buy two books in order to read one story. I’m not a fan of this tactic. On the flip side, I also got to point out to a class of reluctant readers that we’d read two books in two weeks, so there’s also that win. I have mixed feelings.
The story has kind of a Scooby-doo vibe, but more grown up. Much of the horror comes from pop-out-and-yell-boo shock value, which my sophomores have a fun time with. I think it would lose its appeal with an older audience. I’m actually stretching it with sophomores.
Ryan and Sarah are pretty flat, static characters, but the focus is squarely on the mystery, and the book is quite short, so this wasn’t bothersome. Their motives are clear, which is all I really needed from them.
I noticed some errors in spelling and dating throughout the series—sloppy mistakes that should have been caught prior to publication and definitely should have been corrected before issuing the paperback editions.
I definitely recommend the first two books for reluctant readers in 6-10 grades. The ghost story might be a bit much for younger readers, but otherwise, it’s free of any potentially offensive material.
March 28, 2018
I read the book Skeleton Creek (again) by Patrick Carman. I love this book and its one of my favorite book series ever. I would rate it 4.5 stars.
This book is very fun to read. I love mystery books and the videos make it interesting and different. It lets you see what the characters and the setting actually look like. It gives you a great image to think of while you are reading the book. The book is definately for entertainment. The writing is very suspenceful for the most part and sometimes serious. A strength from this book would be the videos, they add a lot to the book. There aren't really any weaknesses that I can think of. I like how the author put multiple books in the series instead of one book.
For me, this book series is a quick, fun read. I would reccomend it for anyone who doesn't like long books and likes mystery books. If you want to read something a little I would definately choose this book.
This book is very fun to read. I love mystery books and the videos make it interesting and different. It lets you see what the characters and the setting actually look like. It gives you a great image to think of while you are reading the book. The book is definately for entertainment. The writing is very suspenceful for the most part and sometimes serious. A strength from this book would be the videos, they add a lot to the book. There aren't really any weaknesses that I can think of. I like how the author put multiple books in the series instead of one book.
For me, this book series is a quick, fun read. I would reccomend it for anyone who doesn't like long books and likes mystery books. If you want to read something a little I would definately choose this book.
May 24, 2020
Finally! A modern book that could actually gave me the chills. Brilliant way of story telling. It’s a nice introduction to the mechanics of this tale, reading the journal and waiting for the next code that would lead you to a chilling video. Some parts gave me Blair Witch Project vibes, with the exploration and stuff and other parts reminded me of the interviews from the movie. Although this journal might be the most calm one, since our protagonist doesn’t do much other that investigating. The videos are what makes this series unique, and entertaining. Definitely reading the 2nd book once I finish writing this.
July 15, 2020
I didn't have that many expectations for this book since I'm not in the middle grade book audience. However, this book surprised me with how good it was. I loved how the author incorporated videos with the story which only heightened the mystery and thrill of it. This is a series that I wish I had read growing up. I'm not sure if I will continue reading this series but I did enjoy this first look into it.
September 29, 2022
this book was crazy the ending was insane but the book was amazing patrick carmen did an awesome job i am so glad my teacher told me about this book like every thing was awesome frome the beginnig to the middle of the story to the end of the story i really enjoyed this book i am going to tell all my friends
September 24, 2017
It was clear that this book was meant to leave a mark on this whole series, and on people's minds and memories. This was a great series of chapters leading up to future events and more. This is truly a quick read that can effectively get into anyone's memories. Great book.
January 26, 2018
I thought it was great if you watch the videos they can be freaky some even scary! But I recommend this book to people who like horror. It has great suspense and action.
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