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Ghosts and Other Scary Stories
You're huddled around a campfire under the purple haze of moonlight. The trees are dancing in the shadows, and strange sounds float across the lake. What can you do? Tell a ghost story!
Make any sleepover or campout more fun with Ghosts and Other Scary Stories. Once you get started, you won't be able to resist these nine eerie tales.
Make any sleepover or campout more fun with Ghosts and Other Scary Stories. Once you get started, you won't be able to resist these nine eerie tales.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Allan Gould
26 booksAllan Gould – a prolific writer, a former CJN columnist and a popular teacher at Kolel: The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning – died suddenly of a brain aneurysm Feb. 21, 2013. He was 68 years old.
A native of Detroit who moved to Toronto to marry his wife, Merle, in 1968, Gould wrote, co-wrote or edited more than 40 books, including The Great Big Book of Canadian Humour; First Stage: The Making of the Stratford Festival; Toronto Street Names; Fodor’s Toronto; What Did They Think of the Jews?, and The Unorthodox Book of Jewish Records and Lists.
A native of Detroit who moved to Toronto to marry his wife, Merle, in 1968, Gould wrote, co-wrote or edited more than 40 books, including The Great Big Book of Canadian Humour; First Stage: The Making of the Stratford Festival; Toronto Street Names; Fodor’s Toronto; What Did They Think of the Jews?, and The Unorthodox Book of Jewish Records and Lists.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 1, 2016
Many ghost compilations are alike. Some prioritize being spooky or macabre, without putting heart into the tales they are recounting or the layers of good writing. Many are repeated to the point of being so dully universal, that they are sanitized of emotion and intrigue. My least favourites are made-up tales because I seek real ghost sightings. "Ghosts & Other Scary Stories" is fictional but I am impressed with it. My familiar Pat Hancock, joined by Allan Gould, a much-loved naturalized Canadian who recently died, created an excellent variety of distinct and remarkably original short stories. Allan gives away his American origins by writing "dinner" instead of supper; one pet peeve!
Along with a phenomenal disparity of subjects and genres, the publication year makes this fun! In 1993, there were home computers and the internet and families were beginning to use both. That technology happened to have metamorphosed by leaps and bounds since then, even though this is a recent decade. There's something campy and comforting about seeing people as modern as we are, before software and hardware eclipsed our milieus. There is an unexpectedly sweet story with a "Game Boy" unit that connects a sick boy with a floundering math pupil. A bulletin board, a local alternative to the internet, conceals a ghost awaiting someone's assistance.
A standard ghost rescue story is wistfully sweet and brave children suspect a body under the floor. One is so exceptionally original; you need to be sharp for it to dawn on you that there is a ghost! This touching family is my favourite. A spectral dog defeats a bully for his boy and a lake legend, having nothing to do with spectres, saves hundreds of people and prickles with suspense. Pat & Allan's tales are like no other compilation; a tremendous achievement.
Along with a phenomenal disparity of subjects and genres, the publication year makes this fun! In 1993, there were home computers and the internet and families were beginning to use both. That technology happened to have metamorphosed by leaps and bounds since then, even though this is a recent decade. There's something campy and comforting about seeing people as modern as we are, before software and hardware eclipsed our milieus. There is an unexpectedly sweet story with a "Game Boy" unit that connects a sick boy with a floundering math pupil. A bulletin board, a local alternative to the internet, conceals a ghost awaiting someone's assistance.
A standard ghost rescue story is wistfully sweet and brave children suspect a body under the floor. One is so exceptionally original; you need to be sharp for it to dawn on you that there is a ghost! This touching family is my favourite. A spectral dog defeats a bully for his boy and a lake legend, having nothing to do with spectres, saves hundreds of people and prickles with suspense. Pat & Allan's tales are like no other compilation; a tremendous achievement.
August 15, 2018
I bought this book for my cousin to read, as I had enjoyed it thoroughly as a kid myself. And now I just ended up reading the whole thing, after having an original intent of just skimming it.
As expected from a book for a youngee audience, there isn't a whole lot of plot building or character depth. But it's a quick, fun read with some tense moments. It's an easy nostalgic piece to re-visit.
As expected from a book for a youngee audience, there isn't a whole lot of plot building or character depth. But it's a quick, fun read with some tense moments. It's an easy nostalgic piece to re-visit.
July 4, 2023
For an adult 3/5 but for children the target audience I'd rate these a solid 5 stars. They're slightly spooky mysteries with some relatively heavy themes and they all have good endings. I like the short story "A Dream Come True" the best.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2025
Not a bad read aloud for kids during Halloween time. The stores aren’t scary, just about strange spirits/ghosts. We liked it.
October 22, 2010
I'm pretty sure I read this book until it fell apart when I was younger. It was brief but creepy!
January 31, 2026
I enjoyed each of the stories. I can't pick a favorite since they were all great. I did like A boy's best friend, wall to wall horror and golden eyes a little more.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews