Minnesota Mall Mannequins

American Chillers #8

by Johnathan Rand

Was it was all a horrible nightmare? Did it never really happened at all? When manneuquins come to life with hopes of taking over the world, it seems like it is a dream. In this case, it is... an awful, awful dream.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Horror, Juvenile, Chapter Books, Novels

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2003

About the author

Christopher Wright is the author of dozens of horror fiction books for children and young adults. He writes under the pseudonyms Johnathan Rand and Christopher Knight. Almost all of Wright's books (save American Chillers) take place in his home state of Michigan.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

In its heyday, Bloomington, Minnesota's Mall of America was the most famous shopping center in the country, a smorgasbord of vendors, department stores, food court options, amusement park rides, and more. It was also a good setting for a scary story. Jessica Harrison and her friend Rachel Owens have big plans for their class field trip to the Mall of America. It should be easy to sneak away from their teacher, Mrs. Shoquist, and get in some quality shopping time before anyone realizes they're gone. The plan nearly fails to launch when Riley Kline, who routinely gets on Jessica and Rachel's nerves, tries to alert Mrs. Shoquist that the two girls are drifting away from the group, but eventually Jessica and Rachel make their escape. Before they have more than a minute to enjoy themselves, a strange-looking security guard nabs them and locks them in a windowless holding room. Playing hooky for an afternoon has turned into a nightmare; what will their parents say when the guard reports Jessica and Rachel as troublemakers? As it turns out, punishment is the least of their problems.

Isolated and scared, Jessica and Rachel soon see that waiting for the security guard would be foolish; something sinister is going on. When the guard returns, he's accompanied by Mrs. Luchien, the mall manager, who goes berserk to find that the girls have escaped the holding room. She orders her underlings to track them down, but these underlings are no normal employees. Back in the main section of the mall, which is now closed for the night, Jessica and Rachel are shocked at the sight of store mannequins moving like humans. What will happen if they catch the girls? Are the mannequins a threat to their safety? No people are left in the mall to save them. No one, that is, but a couple of kids they know from school, who have their own tales of terror that led them here. It seems the Mall of America is the site of a planned extraterrestrial invasion, the focal point for aliens to harness their energy and create an army of mannequins to conquer the planet. Only Jessica, Rachel, and the two other kids are aware what's happening, so it's up to them to disable the antenna that transmits the signal from the alien ship, or the world will be overrun by mannequin soldiers. Do four kids have what it takes to thwart a hostile takeover from outer space?

Minnesota Mall Mannequins is an overcomplicated story, and lacks logical consistency in more areas than I can readily recall. I had fun with it, so I might consider a one-and-a-half-star rating. The cover art for the edition I read may be Dwayne Harris's best for any American or Michigan Chiller, a glow-eyed mannequin reaching through a rack of clothes right at you, only its hand and part of the face visible. An element of mystery is present, reminiscent of Tim Jacobus's cover art for R.L. Stine's original Goosebumps series. I'll go so far as to say the cover illustration is the best thing about Minnesota Mall Mannequins. The book could benefit from an extensive rewrite, streamlining the story and realigning the underlying logic, but I appreciate it regardless as a source of mild entertainment. If you loved the first seven American Chillers, I think you'll feel the same about this one.

[Mikala · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love MG horror, but this was a letdown. The root of the conflict was never fully expanded upon, and so the story itself was extremely convoluted. There were also far too many scenes of the children running from mannequins. It got so boring.
2 stars because I liked the first third a lot until the story got very repetitive.

[Tracy The Great · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it because it was really scary and it left you hanging after every chapter so you just wanted to read it more and more!

[Jascha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read into a scary and terrifying book as the main character an her classmates go into a fieldtrip to one of the biggest malls in the world and get trapped. Trapped with creepy, dangerous, and alive mannequins!

[emily ley · Rating 2 out of 5]

yeah let’s have a girl protagonist but make the random boy side character be the hero and make all the decisions and have all the ideas

[2ryanj]

This book, Minnesota Mall Mannequins, is a bone-chilling thriller part of the American Chillers series and is one of the best yet! When Jessica and Rachel go to the Mall of America for a school field trip, what they find out is more than anything they could ever expect. When Rachel and Jessica get caught leaving there school field trip, they can’t think anything can get worse, until they learned a secret of the Mall at night. All the mannequins come alive at night! As they are running around the entire mall, dodging dummies, and running away from creepy mannequins, they suddenly get reunited with Josh, their friend who mysteriously disappeared a few days back, and also with a fellow student/friend Riley. Jessica, Rachel, and Riley soon learn from Josh, that the mannequins are only part of the mystery happening here. They are actually aliens that are here to take over the world! But can the four of them help save all the missing people, destroy the aliens, save the world, and not get caught in time?!
This book takes place in Bloomingdale, MN where the Mall of America is. The biggest mall in the world. This author, Jonathon Rand, puts in a lot of non-fictional places and stores to make the story seem more real and believing. This book is a great book for older kids and young adults, because it isn’t that long, isn’t that complex, but really makes you want to flip the page to see what is going to happen next. Great book!

[Max Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I was reading this, I started to feel funny. I got a little lightheaded, but continued reading.

As I got further and further into the book, I felt more and more relaxed. I grew a little tired, and became really, REALLY hungry.

I looked up as my mommy walked in the room and the walls were moving! She said that my eyes were red. Suddenly, I realized the book was making me stoned. After I finished reading, I said..

"That's good shit."

[Eileen V · Rating 3 out of 5]

it is ok

[Jacey Mingerink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much I read it twice lol ;)

[Bailey Mruzik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessica and Rachel go on a class field trip to the Mall of America. The two want to go shopping on their own, away from the class. Eventually, the do get away, but as they attempt to go off further, a security guard in the mall stops them and locks them in a room. Jessica and Rachel escape and the security guard notices this. He brings the mall manager in and she is furious, wanting the employees to try ad find the girls. As Jessica and Rachel roam the mall, it is after closing time and the mannequins have begun to come alive and move. They notice two more friends from their class are also stuck in the mall, so the four of them attempt to free themselves from the mannequins, who are being controlled by aliens.
An element of mystery is present in this book as it is in all of Jonathan Rand's American Chillers books.
I rated this book 3 stars because it was interesting and intense. The only problem I had with it was that it was very complicated and could be slightly confusing for smaller children. Otherwise, I like Jonathan Rand's books as they have always been favorites of mine.

[Hannah McMullin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minnesota Mall Mannequins is a horror story written for children aged around 9 years old. Following the story of a young girl and her friends, you find yourself locked in a mall over night. Even though this mall is bustling during the day, and appears normal, at night, it is completely different. The mall comes to life, but not with typical lights and attractions, but instead with creepy mannequins whom stalk the friends within.
Johnathan Rand uses imagery over and over again to bring the story to life. His use of words to paint a picture keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Once you start turning the pages, you cannot stop as you are itching to know what happens next.
This story is receiving 5 stars as it is captivating and thrilling. Each page is a new adventure that makes you jump out of your seat with excitement and fear. The book pulls you in and brings the fear to life, but in the best way possible.

[Mariah B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The name of my book was called "Minnesota Mall Mannequins" by Jonathan Rand. The main setting is at the Minnesota mall, one of the biggest mall in the U.S. The main characters are Jessica and Rachel. These two girls love shopping but when the security guard catches them and put them in a room that's when everything started happened. The conflict is that four friends are stuck in this huge mall with seven floors and they are being attacked by all these mannequins that are using humans as their energy source. I think this a good book because its funny and scary at the same time. It also has good visualization. This book connects to the theme because the theme is "Thrill of Horror" and this book has that type of scary situation. I would recommend this book to people who think mannequins are scary looking and I would also recommend it to anyone who likes to read scary books.

[Ashlynn Thomsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about the Minnesota Mall Mannequins. This is a horror story written for children aged around 9 years old. Following the story of a young girl and her friends, you find yourself locked in a mall over night. Even though this mall is bustling during the day, and appears normal, at night, it is completely different. The mall comes to life, but not with typical lights and attractions, but instead with creepy mannequins whom stalk the friends within.

I rate this 5 stars. This book as is captivating and thrilling. Each page is a new adventure that makes you want to keep reading. The book pulls you in and brings the fear to life, but in the best way possible.

[Wolverinefactor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rand has this problem where he feels the need to over explain an action so that he uses more words than necessary to further pad the book.

At this point I enjoy the dumb YOU WONT BELIEVE MY STORY endings.

Has anyone ever made a chart of who/where the connections are? Also it’s a 1 way 12 hour drive for a weekend visit in OCTOBER? 🤔

[Krysta Lemaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book. It was actually pretty scary.

[Chris Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me 1 day really enjoyable.

[Istealyourman · Rating 5 out of 5]

nigga let me read the fucking book

[Kenneth BLANCK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, its not scary, buts it is kinda weird, in a good way!

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books!!! It made me want to never stop reading the book! It was very much so a mystery! I suggest you read this immediately!

[Jaelyn K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is you like thrillers this is a good book

[Travis Wroblewski · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was aight

[Gabe Girard · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was not that interesting

[Shannon]

I read this like a dozen times as a kid

[Isabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whole lot scarier when you are in 4th grade special ed and Mrs. Hinman decides this is the book we have to read.

[Kat Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Middle school me is so happy rn

[Katherine Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minnesota Mall Mannequins
Minnesota Mall Mannequins by Jonathan Rand is a action filled, mystery book. Jessica and her friend Rachel go to the Mall of America with their class and leave the group on purpose to explore. But when they get lost and the mall closes they know that they are in trouble. It gets even worse when they see the mannequins moving! They eventually find out their awful plan. This will be the field trip these kids will never forget…..If they make it out alive!

[Roxann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book for kids! I really enjoy this series and plan to use parts of it in my classroom for visualizing. Great writing from the author. I think kids would love this book. Mannequins look strange as they are right now in stores, but wait until a younger person reads this book and finds out mannequins come to life!

[Mitch Nurenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Minnesota Mall Mannequins" By Johnathan Rand. This book is about a few kids who get trapped in a mall. They find out that there are Mannequins that are can be alive and attack people. These kids to need to find a way out before they are killed. I recommend this book to kids who want to read a crazy story.

[Anna Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this was an okay book to read. It started when a class was on their field trip and the two friends were taken into a strange room and were locked in their. Then the mall was closed and the class was still in the mall and the Mannequins were walking around and trying to hurt the friends. I would recommend this book for younger kids to read.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

BOB Racine 2012-2013. Read and created questions.

Science fiction thriller. Aliens have taken over the Mall of America. All the people are catatonic in the cave underground the mall. Mannequins are alive in the mall.

Good story for elementary school children. Lots of action.