Summer camp. A haunted lake. A vengeful ghost. 12-year-old Jonah and his mother have just reopened Camp Sunny Acres after a horrific tragedy drove the last owners away. They’re desperate to make it a success, but new camper, Dexter, won’t stop breaking the rules. To make matters worse, Jonah suspects that the mysterious disturbance in the lake might be a restless ghost. Jonah’s worst fears come to life during a freak storm when the malevolent ghost captures his mother. Can Jonah and his friends find a way to appease the ghost and rescue her—or is he going to lose his mother to the vengeful ghost? Eerie Tales from the East brings you scary stories from around the world. Ordinary characters must rise to extraordinary challenges or risk losing the ones they love in these chilling, fast-paced novels with heart for 8-12+ year old fans of Coraline, Goosebumps , and Small Spaces . Buy your copy for a haunting adventure, today! "Must read! This is a creepy and well-delivered ghost story that suits middle grade readers with an affection for spine-tingling tales." ~ Mary Lanni, Top Reedsy Reviewer
It’s a summer camp in danger of being shut down! I love this trope: are there ANY camps in good financial straits? LOL.
But seriously, 12 year-old Jonah’s mother bought a swimming camp in British Columbia, and it’s important that the summer goes well. When problematic camper Dexter swims out to the center of the lake, Jonah chases him and…well, let’s just say there might be something in that lake.
The possible ghost has its told-around-the-fire origin story of two Chinese fisherman, one of which drowned the other so the first could have the treasure. I definitely liked having not the same-old European stories, though ‘fight your bff over treasure and face supernatural consequences’ seems to be universal.
When the climax comes: the storm, lake rising, someone in danger, it’s very well paced and also convincing. It’s a realistic resolution for the ghost. (as much as I can use the word realistic here!) Well done! I’ve purchased Vol 1 in the series and hope to read that soon.
I got an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The excitement of summer camp turns mysterious as strange events start to threaten the children. Tales of ghosts are told around the campfire, but are they just stories? The past is revealed, but the occurrences that happen are frightening. This story will keep you glued to its pages as the twists and turns keep you in suspense. A must read for those who love an eerie tale.
This is the second book in the series "Eerie Tales from the East" and is DOES NOT disappoint!! A ghostly mystery with alot of action at Camp Sunny Acres, a property recently purchased by Jonah and his Mom. Despite is somewhat rundown appearance, Jonah enjoys the tranquility of the Camp and lends a helping hand with settling in the the young campers. It is during one of his swims, that Jonah's sixth sense tells him that all is not as it should be at Camp Sunny Acres. Ghostly stories wrapped in urban mythology set around campfires, triggers a tragic figure to rise and haunt the camp and the inhabitants. This is a mystery, wrapped up in the supernatural and it gives an entirely new slant to telling scary campfire tales and at being at Summer Camp! Turn the page if you dare!!
Themes of : teamwork; urban mythology; bullying; stereo types
A fantastic spooky ghost story to read by the campfire or cuddled up with a blanket on the couch.
It is the first summer for Jonah and his mom to run a summer swim camp. They have to make the campers feel at home so they can make enough money to make necessary repairs for next year. Otherwise, they will have to move yet again. But a campfire ghost story about a cursed lake leaves everyone nervous. Kids are starting to see and hear things, and is there something grabbing swimmers' feet and dragging them down!?
Is someone sabotaging the camp, or is there a real ghost in the lake?
This was a great story about friendship, kindness and overcoming fears with enough spook to have you on edge.
I recommend it to everyone who loves R.L. Stine mixed with Asian mythology.
A wonderful story! I loved it so much! It is mainly about how a normal, fun, exciting summer camp becomes much, much more with ghosts and a lot of suspense. I was feeling bittersweet when this book ended. Overall, this is an amazing story. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down.
***I received an e-arc from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.***
What I love about this book (and the series) is that the characters have heart, motivation, and purpose. It's a spooky read, with thrilling elements of suspense and horror, but not at the expense of story and character. I really loved the intertwining of mythology with the modern sensibility—kids will really be able to connect with the situations in this story. A very fun read!
Like a ghost story told across a campfire, this book combines chills up the spine and a believable cast of contemporary kids, caught up in a compelling page-turner. Another excellent outing from Mahtab Narsimhan!
Twelve-year-old Jonah Anders and his mom have moved a lot, especially since the death of his father two years previously, so it has been hard for Jonah to make lasting friendships. They got a great deal when they purchased Camp Sunny Acres, and they have high hopes for success in the years to come. Unfortunately, a tragic event occurred in the lake nearby before Jonah and his mom purchased the camp, and the effects of this occurrence are still felt in several different ways. When Jonah and another camper are literally pulled into the depths of the lake, they realize that what they initially thought was a creepy campfire story might actually be real, and they must work together to find a solution if they want the camp to survive.
This is the second book in the “Eerie Tales from the East” series, and it is markedly more intense than the first installment. Not only is a spooky ghost story told around the campfire at night, but the fact that the story comes to life means that there is an additional layer of fear woven into the narrative. Jonah is in a tough position; he is the son of the camp owner, but he is also the same age as the campers themselves. With few friends and many responsibilities, Jonah must learn to balance his duties with his camaraderie and connection with his peers. He bravely learns to stretch his comfort zone to welcome others into a life that, up until that point, has been relatively independent.
Fans of creepy stories from global literature and tradition will relish the tales in this series as a whole. Though each story takes place in a different locale, the overall structure is similar from one to the next, giving readers a sense of comfort and familiarity in the author’s writing style and each novel’s presentation. This second installment is excellently delivered, the writing having noticeably improved from that found in the first book. Middle grade readers with an interest in both the paranormal and spooky stories from around the world will appreciate the accessibility of this book as well as the other stories in this series. This book is a compelling inclusion to libraries for middle grade readers.
I received a copy of this book from Reedsy and I chose to leave this review.
A haunting tale of a summer camp that may be experiencing haunting incidents. You will have to read to find out. The story is exciting and has some surprises. The characters are strong and work together really well. You will love the ending.
We are proud to announce that HAUNTED: The Cursed Lake by Mahtab Narsimhan has been honored with the B.R.A.G.Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG.