FANGS OF EVIL

by Ellen Steiber

As a macabre creature stalks the English countryside, devastating farmers' crops and livestock, a young girl draws mysterious pictures of cats and moves toward a terrifying confrontation with evil. Original.

105 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1994

About the author

ELLEN STEIBER is a horror and fantasy writer for both adults and children. Her books for young readers include SQUEEZE, SHADOW OF THE FOX, and TALES OF THE GROSS AND GRUESOME. She lives in Tucson, Arizona.

Reviews

[Ciarán Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m actually a bit shocked by how much I liked this little book. I was going through my middle grade and YA horror collection and realized I hadn’t read this one, or anything else from the series it comes from (Bullseye Chiller), I must have just acquired it at some point from a bargain bin or something.

If the rest of the series is as high quality as this one I’ll definitely be seeking them out. It’s a retelling of an old Japanese story about a child that draws cats, but it takes place on the English moors in the 1800s. It’s surprisingly gruesome and the peril is very real, unlike a lot of early and middle grade horror from around this time (published in 1994.)

My only complaint is the cover gives a bit away, though I was still satisfied by the ending. I enjoyed all of the characters. I very much liked both of the “main” characters and their relationship. The pacing was excellent, hard to achieve in so few words. It’s just barely over 100 pages long and the type is large. Obviously it isn’t perfect and it’s intended for a very specific audience but it achieves what it sets out to do very skillfully. I’m happy to have finally read it!

[Trista · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my absolute favourite when I was around 10 years old. I found it in my school library one day, and that year I must have read the book a dozen times. Were I to go back and read it again now I'm sure I would be very disappointed, so I won't (I doubt I'd be able to find a copy all that easily).

From what I remember, there are mysterious and deadly attacks happening in a small English town. A girl in the town (I can't remember her name) draws cats everywhere: on paper, on walls, in the dirt... everywhere. The townspeople start to accuse her and her drawn cats of causing the devastation happening around them and she is either banished from the town or runs away in fear. While on her journey she discovers what her role in the attacks really is. Great scary story for children!

[Chanelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story which is actually inspired by a Japanese tale. I loved this story. It's simple, but engaging enough, especially for young children.