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Screech! Ghost Stories from Old Newfoundland
The whole world seemed to tilt at that moment, like a painting on a wall that gets knocked a little crooked. Everything she had known as real up until now was slightly altered, and she seemed to be standing on the edge of a huge, dark, trembling world that was just a little different than it had been one minute before. Ghosts were real.
There is no dark like the Newfoundland dark. These ominous words beckon young readers onward in this spooky collection of ghost stories by celebrated ghost story-teller and award-winning middle-grade author Charis Cotter. Reimagined from family stories told across Newfoundland and passed down over generations, these 10 spine-tingling tales traverse centuries and introduce readers to the Rock's nooks and crannies. From a ghostly blueberry-picker on the barrens to a visit from the notorious Old Hag, from a mysterious ballet troupe in a St. John's mansion to a haunted house in an outport community on the cusp of resettlement, these stories bring the island of Newfoundland to vibrant new life (and death) as the thread of these years-old yarns is unravelled for a whole new generation.
Featuring ghostly black-and-white illustrations from Newfoundland artist Genevieve Simms, as well as an overview of the Newfoundland storytelling tradition, and a Story Behind the Story for each tale including context on the story's history, its original teller, its featured ghost, and setting, along with tips for spooky storytelling and a Glossary of Newfoundland terms, Screech! is equal parts eerie and educational, making it a riveting read as well as a great resource for budding historians and storytellers.
160 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2020
10 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Charis Cotter
15 books150 followersCharis Cotter is a writer, editor and storyteller living in Newfoundland. She grew up in Cabbagetown and Parkdale in downtown Toronto. After taking a degree in English at Glendon College, York University, she went on to study acting at The Drama Studio in London, England. After several years as an actor, she moved into publishing, where she has been working as a freelance editor and writer for more than 20 years.
In 2005 Charis won the Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence for her book, Toronto Between the Wars: Life in the City 1919–1939. Since then she has written several critically acclaimed children’s books, including a series of biographies about extraordinary children and an illustrated book about international ghosts. Born to Write: The Remarkable Lives of Six Famous Authors was a finalist for the 2010 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-fiction.
Charis first toured schools as an actor in a Young People’s Theatre production of W. O. Mitchell’s "Jake and the Kid." Her favourite part of the show was interacting with the students during the question period after the play. Today Charis is known for her lively school presentations, based on her books. She has toured Canada from coast to coast, entertaining children with her alter egos: Queen Elizabeth II (complete with gown, crown and royal attitude) and the Scottish Silky Ghost, who dusts everything in sight, including children. Her fascination with ghosts has led her to many far corners of Newfoundland, looking for ghost stories.
In 2013 Charis founded her own publishing company, Baccalieu Books, to publish The Ghosts of Baccalieu. She created this book with the students from Tricon Elementary School in Bay de Verde, with funding from ArtsSmarts.* Students contributed drawings and traditional ghost stories collected from the community. Charis has sold The Ghosts of Baccalieu to libraries, bookstores and the general public, with a portion of the revenue going back to Tricon Elementary.
Charis continues to do ghost storytelling workshops at schools, community centres and book festivals. She reviews children’s books for the National Reading Campaign, Quill and Quire and The Canadian Children’s Book News.
The Swallow: A Ghost Story, was published by Tundra Books (Random House) in September 2014. This spooky gothic novel, set in Cabbagetown, Toronto, in the 1960s, is partially based on Charis’s childhood experiences living behind a cemetery. The German translation rights have been purchased by cbjVerlag/Random House Germany, who will publish it as Das Unsichtbare Mädchen (The Invisible Girl). The school presentation for The Swallow features a theatrical performance of an excerpt from the book and a ghost-story writing workshop.
*ArtsSmarts is sponsored by the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council and the Department of Education through the Cultural Connections Strategy.
In 2005 Charis won the Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence for her book, Toronto Between the Wars: Life in the City 1919–1939. Since then she has written several critically acclaimed children’s books, including a series of biographies about extraordinary children and an illustrated book about international ghosts. Born to Write: The Remarkable Lives of Six Famous Authors was a finalist for the 2010 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-fiction.
Charis first toured schools as an actor in a Young People’s Theatre production of W. O. Mitchell’s "Jake and the Kid." Her favourite part of the show was interacting with the students during the question period after the play. Today Charis is known for her lively school presentations, based on her books. She has toured Canada from coast to coast, entertaining children with her alter egos: Queen Elizabeth II (complete with gown, crown and royal attitude) and the Scottish Silky Ghost, who dusts everything in sight, including children. Her fascination with ghosts has led her to many far corners of Newfoundland, looking for ghost stories.
In 2013 Charis founded her own publishing company, Baccalieu Books, to publish The Ghosts of Baccalieu. She created this book with the students from Tricon Elementary School in Bay de Verde, with funding from ArtsSmarts.* Students contributed drawings and traditional ghost stories collected from the community. Charis has sold The Ghosts of Baccalieu to libraries, bookstores and the general public, with a portion of the revenue going back to Tricon Elementary.
Charis continues to do ghost storytelling workshops at schools, community centres and book festivals. She reviews children’s books for the National Reading Campaign, Quill and Quire and The Canadian Children’s Book News.
The Swallow: A Ghost Story, was published by Tundra Books (Random House) in September 2014. This spooky gothic novel, set in Cabbagetown, Toronto, in the 1960s, is partially based on Charis’s childhood experiences living behind a cemetery. The German translation rights have been purchased by cbjVerlag/Random House Germany, who will publish it as Das Unsichtbare Mädchen (The Invisible Girl). The school presentation for The Swallow features a theatrical performance of an excerpt from the book and a ghost-story writing workshop.
*ArtsSmarts is sponsored by the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council and the Department of Education through the Cultural Connections Strategy.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 25, 2020
I love hearing about spooky ghost stories set in Newfoundland. Whether it's in books, told by friends or remembering the stories my grandfather told me when I was young.
Newfoundland is haunting and beautiful. Mysterious and magical. All the things you need for a good ghost story.
This book brought all the best elements of a good ghost story to life all over again. These stories will definitely stick with me. I only wish there were more.
Newfoundland is haunting and beautiful. Mysterious and magical. All the things you need for a good ghost story.
This book brought all the best elements of a good ghost story to life all over again. These stories will definitely stick with me. I only wish there were more.
November 26, 2020
First came The Thing at the Foot of the Bed. In 4th grade, I was obsessed with it, took it out of the library so many times, I'm surprised they didn't just let me have it.<
Then came Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark. Back then I used to take care of a couple of cute kids in the summer and we used to read them out loud and they loved them as much as I did.
So, scary stories have long held a place in my heart, so when I saw this on Netgalley, I jumped on it. A collection of eerie tales from Newfoundland, Canada, the 10 or so short stories are guaranteed to get a screech! out of the little ones (and maybe even the older ones!) accompanied by gorgeous illustrations. I'd love one or two of them for my wall! My favorite story was the ghostly ballerinas (so cute!) and the Old Hag (eeek!) and the blueberry picker was both heartbreaking and eerie. It takes me back to the days when I was a kid, huddled around the campfire listening to Gramps tell The Hookman story (and when they got home, they saw, hanging from the door handle, was a HOOK! *scream*)
Screech! concludes with several tips on how to come up with your own scary story, something I might just do to scare the little ones in my family while sitting around the fire this winter. Scary good fun, and it would be a great gift for younger kids, I'd say ages 7 and up, especially for kids who like a little bit of scary and might help them to enjoy reading.
Then came Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark. Back then I used to take care of a couple of cute kids in the summer and we used to read them out loud and they loved them as much as I did.
So, scary stories have long held a place in my heart, so when I saw this on Netgalley, I jumped on it. A collection of eerie tales from Newfoundland, Canada, the 10 or so short stories are guaranteed to get a screech! out of the little ones (and maybe even the older ones!) accompanied by gorgeous illustrations. I'd love one or two of them for my wall! My favorite story was the ghostly ballerinas (so cute!) and the Old Hag (eeek!) and the blueberry picker was both heartbreaking and eerie. It takes me back to the days when I was a kid, huddled around the campfire listening to Gramps tell The Hookman story (and when they got home, they saw, hanging from the door handle, was a HOOK! *scream*)
Screech! concludes with several tips on how to come up with your own scary story, something I might just do to scare the little ones in my family while sitting around the fire this winter. Scary good fun, and it would be a great gift for younger kids, I'd say ages 7 and up, especially for kids who like a little bit of scary and might help them to enjoy reading.
December 16, 2020
This book has a collection of ghost stories from Newfoundland. These stories are based on real events from the last few centuries. Newfoundland has a long history of shipwrecks, illnesses, and hard living conditions. These elements created the atmosphere for ghost stories.
One thing that I loved about these stories was that after each story, there was a description of the origins of the story. The location of the story was described, because every town in Newfoundland has it’s own history and different living conditions. The type of ghost was described, because some were ghost stories that have appeared throughout time, such as a loved one appearing at their time of death. The author also talked about where she heard the story. I loved this historical explanation of the stories.
This is a great collection of ghost stories from Newfoundland!
Thank you Nimbus Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One thing that I loved about these stories was that after each story, there was a description of the origins of the story. The location of the story was described, because every town in Newfoundland has it’s own history and different living conditions. The type of ghost was described, because some were ghost stories that have appeared throughout time, such as a loved one appearing at their time of death. The author also talked about where she heard the story. I loved this historical explanation of the stories.
This is a great collection of ghost stories from Newfoundland!
Thank you Nimbus Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2021
This book is perfect for the little reader in your life that loves an old-fashioned ghost story. I’m confident a younger version of me would have been at least a little scared by the stories told here. I enjoyed this immersive reading experience. I think Charis did a great job setting a creepy scene in all ten of the stories included. For those that like to level up on their spine-chilling, Charis has also included a how-to guide for setting the spookiest of atmospheres. Overall this is a cool book that would make a great addition to any camp-out or sleepover. I’m a tad upset that the middle-grade readers in my life don’t share my fondness for all things eerie and scary. It would have been so much fun to settle in with some smores and take turns reading these tales out loud.
November 17, 2020
I love that this book took on a fictional perspective rather than boring me with history and details. Absolutely love this book.
January 29, 2021
Did you ever, as a child, stay up late staring into the darkness, imagining things that were both frightening and thrilling? Did you ever read scary stories by the light of a flashlight under the covers on cold winter nights, or sit around a campfire listening to tales of ghosts and wandering spirits? Take that feeling, that fleeting nostalgia of thrills and chills, press it into book form, and you will have this book.
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This is a middle grade book, but I enjoyed it immensely as a woman pushing forty. The stories are just spooky enough, sending tiny shivers up your spine as you laugh nervously and check the dark corners around you.
And more than the fright, these are real stories. The author has fictionalized them, changed some names around, but each story is based on a story passed down orally through families in Newfoundland. At the end of each story is a page telling a bit about the actual history of the place and who the story originally came from.
The book itself is beautiful. Each story begins with a pencil illustration, all dark shading and creeping shadows and glowing eyes. At the back of the book are a few pages of "Tips for Spooky Storytelling" and a glossary of terms that modern kids might not know.
I loved this little book. It's a great book for adults and children alike, or, better yet, for sharing together by candlelight while a storm rages outside.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
.
This is a middle grade book, but I enjoyed it immensely as a woman pushing forty. The stories are just spooky enough, sending tiny shivers up your spine as you laugh nervously and check the dark corners around you.
And more than the fright, these are real stories. The author has fictionalized them, changed some names around, but each story is based on a story passed down orally through families in Newfoundland. At the end of each story is a page telling a bit about the actual history of the place and who the story originally came from.
The book itself is beautiful. Each story begins with a pencil illustration, all dark shading and creeping shadows and glowing eyes. At the back of the book are a few pages of "Tips for Spooky Storytelling" and a glossary of terms that modern kids might not know.
I loved this little book. It's a great book for adults and children alike, or, better yet, for sharing together by candlelight while a storm rages outside.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2021
Here are ten short stories that you read at bedtime at your own risk. Scary ghost stories that come from longstanding tales passed down through generations. Here's how you get to know Newfoundland before there were cars, electricity and toilets in the outposts that relied on fishing. They are folk tales with a scary twist. Some are more spine-tingling than others, some (like the old lady who died in a blueberry patch and hasn't stopped picking since) actually poignant. The main characters in each of the ten stories vary in age and gender, which makes this not just a middle-grade book.
The award-winning author, a Newfoundlander through and through, is a storyteller extraordinaire, who knows just how to weave the tension and unravel the story, present authentic characters and details, and when to say "boo." The reader is gifted with more than just ten tales. After each one is a section that tells the story behind the story. Better yet, there's an overview of the Newfoundland storytelling tradition, a whole chapter offering tips for spooky storytelling and a glossary of terms. Whether you're into ghost yarns or not, this book will captivate you. And make you want to visit that rugged island called Newfoundland.
The award-winning author, a Newfoundlander through and through, is a storyteller extraordinaire, who knows just how to weave the tension and unravel the story, present authentic characters and details, and when to say "boo." The reader is gifted with more than just ten tales. After each one is a section that tells the story behind the story. Better yet, there's an overview of the Newfoundland storytelling tradition, a whole chapter offering tips for spooky storytelling and a glossary of terms. Whether you're into ghost yarns or not, this book will captivate you. And make you want to visit that rugged island called Newfoundland.
October 9, 2021
This title is nominated for the 2022 Hackmatack Award in the English non-fiction category. I'm a big scaredy cat, so I wasn't excited to read this book. But Charis Cotter drew me in with her vibrant storytelling style. I enjoyed this book a lot more than I had anticipated! I think that for me personally, it helped that they were more of a short story format that allowed me to dip in and out quickly so that there was never too much spookiness all at once. Of course, I can easily see kids who really like ghost stories binging the whole thing in one or two sittings. The illustrations added an extra element of creepiness to the stories that I really liked. And of course, there was a Newfoundland glossary at the back to help mainlanders decipher some of the text. But my favourite part is probably the tips and tricks for improving your spooky story telling game. I liked this book, and I would recommend it to all kids who like to be spooked, ages 8 and up.
December 29, 2020
As with all anthologies this is a mixed bag with some stories being stronger than others. What is constant however is the great atmosphere provided by the Newfoundland setting of the tales - perfect for creepy ghosts.
I loved the notes at the end of each story as well the history of the story and the geography of the setting helped bring each tale to life for someone who has never even come close to Newfoundland.
Overall this was a great little gem to add to my horror repertoire and I would recommend it to anyone looking for ghost stories as they will come away with at least one favourite (mine was definitely the terrible light.)
I loved the notes at the end of each story as well the history of the story and the geography of the setting helped bring each tale to life for someone who has never even come close to Newfoundland.
Overall this was a great little gem to add to my horror repertoire and I would recommend it to anyone looking for ghost stories as they will come away with at least one favourite (mine was definitely the terrible light.)
January 23, 2021
This is a really cool book. I’ve always been a big fan of ghost stories. This is a great selection, I particularly enjoyed that the author chose to include some phenomena that have been observed globally (A loved one appearing across a far distance at the moment of their death, sleep paralysis) but with the Newfoundland twist. I also appreciated that the author shared more of the history and geography that really set the tone of stories while also teaching readers about Newfoundland. The guide to telling stories at the end of the book is also a great detail that I am sure will help many young readers tell their own frightening tales.
February 14, 2023
I love hearing about ghost stories, and stories about Newfoundland so this was a great Christmas present I received. I only wish it had been longer with more stories and more details. But it was an enjoyable quick read.
November 1, 2020
Nice and shivery!
December 24, 2020
My review of this book is based on the blurb. Unfortunately I was unable to read this due to a formatting issue.
November 8, 2021
My brother=in-law from Grates Cove told much better stories.
December 19, 2021
A good collection of ghost stories. It features different kinds of hauntings and different locations across Newfoundland. A good book for ghost story lovers.
February 25, 2022
Great introduction to ghost stories for young readers, especially with the bonus of tips to help them tell and make up their own.
January 10, 2023
Nice book, but the stories are just retelling of others with some details changed. I would rather just hear the ordinal stories.
February 15, 2024
Creepy collection of atmospheric ghost stories from Newfoundland - that in itself makes the collection interesting. A little different twist on horror - just be sure to keep the lights on.
February 10, 2025
This book is basically a good day read
I savoured it for a week reading so much here and there
Very hard to put down
I loved it
Reading about old stories from old Newfoundland I found to be quite amazing
I love it the author narrated it so well and tells every story spot on
Highly recommended
Read while at work on Tanker Damia Desgagnes ⚓️
I savoured it for a week reading so much here and there
Very hard to put down
I loved it
Reading about old stories from old Newfoundland I found to be quite amazing
I love it the author narrated it so well and tells every story spot on
Highly recommended
Read while at work on Tanker Damia Desgagnes ⚓️
May 9, 2021
This was a really fun book to read. For anyone who enjoys ghost stories (like myself) it is a perfect addition to one's bookshelf. The stories within its pages are spooky enough to sent chills up one's spine.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews