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American Chillers #2
Ogres of Ohio
A HIDDEN DOOR...
THAT LEADS TO DISASTER!
Danielle Reed and her family have just moved to Sandusky, Ohio. But there's something about their new home that makes here feel uneasy.
When she finds a boarded-up door in one of the upstairs bedrooms, she wonders why it is there...and where it could possibly lead to. Another room? An attic?
Soon, she finds that the door has been hidden for a reason. Because what lies beyond is a place far from her wildest imaginations. A place of mystery and wonder.
A place where ogres are taking over.
But they're not stopping there, as Danielle and her brother quickly find out. The ogres have bigger plans...and Ohio will only be the beginning!
THAT LEADS TO DISASTER!
Danielle Reed and her family have just moved to Sandusky, Ohio. But there's something about their new home that makes here feel uneasy.
When she finds a boarded-up door in one of the upstairs bedrooms, she wonders why it is there...and where it could possibly lead to. Another room? An attic?
Soon, she finds that the door has been hidden for a reason. Because what lies beyond is a place far from her wildest imaginations. A place of mystery and wonder.
A place where ogres are taking over.
But they're not stopping there, as Danielle and her brother quickly find out. The ogres have bigger plans...and Ohio will only be the beginning!
213 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
16 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
Johnathan Rand
119 books298 followersChristopher 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.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 6, 2022
Danielle and her brother, Derek discover a boarded up door in their new house. When they open it, they are transported into a new world - full of gnomes. The gnomes are being terrorized by ogres, who have invaded their world. They have been waiting for someone to cross over from Danielle's side, to help them. They ask the two kids to find a magical tree and bring them back the 12 special buckeyes on it. The only issue is, the ogres are searching for the exact same tree.
July 7, 2018
I believe I'm beginning to like these American Chillers. The author's style is rough around the edges and quasi-formed in a multitude of ways, but the plot of Ogres of Ohio is more cohesive and well-planned than the first book of the series, and the twists and turns of the action snap with superior energy. Residents of Ohio may never themselves have run across a monster-toothed, club-wielding ogre as seen on the book's front cover, but that doesn't mean they don't exist, as twelve-year-old Danielle Reed and her ten-year-old brother Derek are about to discover.
Moving to a new house, town, and school is usually a scary experience, even if one doesn't leave one's home state. When Danielle and her parents pull up in front of the long-abandoned house they live in now, Danielle is less sure than ever about the move. Her father's plans to spruce up the place aside, the house as it stands now is a forbidding manor, its many large rooms more eerie than inviting. The complexion of Danielle's "new kid" story changes dramatically, however, when her initial exploration of the house leads to a room on the second floor filled with a strange, misty light. Before Danielle can fully consider the situation, she and her brother Derek have been transported to a land unlike anything found in the great state of Ohio. Huge valleys and high hills are the least of what makes this place different from the Ohio they know: it's the ghastly flying ogres and pugnacious little gnomes that prove beyond a doubt they aren't in Sandusky, Ohio anymore.
Danielle is greatly confused, as we are, by all that has so suddenly happened. There's no way to tell the good guys apart from the villains until the gnome king calls the chaos to order and enlightens Danielle and Derek about the tricky scenario in which they find themselves. By passing through a boarded-up door in their new house, the two siblings have introduced a volatile element to an ongoing war between the gnomes and ogres: the involvement of human beings, and with them, the power of the Everlasting Tree of Magic located on our earth. The tree's precious magic orbs—not ordinary buckeyes, though they appear to be—could tip the balance decisively in this war of another land. Now only Danielle and Derek can undo the damage they've inadvertently caused and close the ogres back in the alternate world where they belong, before they escape into the human realm permanently and set their sights on taking over our planet. But Danielle and Derek are kids, and don't even know the full power of the magic orbs or how to use it to defend against the attacks of the odious ogres. Do they stand a chance of fending off the enemy and restoring order to an earthly dimension still blissfully unaware of the crisis that threatens its future?
As much fun as I had with The Michigan Mega-Monsters, the first book in the American Chillers series, Ogres of Ohio is clearly an improvement. The unconventional punctuation is again present throughout, as well as nonstandard grammar, usage, and more copyediting mistakes than most professional quality books, but I had no problem shrugging all that off and enjoying the story. The writing is well-paced and immersive, and that was plenty to keep me interested. Danielle and Derek Reed are likable yet realistic protagonists, and I appreciate the way the conclusion of the narrative transitions directly into the third American Chillers volume, Florida Fog Phantoms, just as The Michigan Mega-Monsters led seamlessly into this book. I would probably give Ogres of Ohio one and a half stars, and if the writing continues its rise in quality, my esteem for the series will only grow. I'm already looking forward to the next installment.
Moving to a new house, town, and school is usually a scary experience, even if one doesn't leave one's home state. When Danielle and her parents pull up in front of the long-abandoned house they live in now, Danielle is less sure than ever about the move. Her father's plans to spruce up the place aside, the house as it stands now is a forbidding manor, its many large rooms more eerie than inviting. The complexion of Danielle's "new kid" story changes dramatically, however, when her initial exploration of the house leads to a room on the second floor filled with a strange, misty light. Before Danielle can fully consider the situation, she and her brother Derek have been transported to a land unlike anything found in the great state of Ohio. Huge valleys and high hills are the least of what makes this place different from the Ohio they know: it's the ghastly flying ogres and pugnacious little gnomes that prove beyond a doubt they aren't in Sandusky, Ohio anymore.
Danielle is greatly confused, as we are, by all that has so suddenly happened. There's no way to tell the good guys apart from the villains until the gnome king calls the chaos to order and enlightens Danielle and Derek about the tricky scenario in which they find themselves. By passing through a boarded-up door in their new house, the two siblings have introduced a volatile element to an ongoing war between the gnomes and ogres: the involvement of human beings, and with them, the power of the Everlasting Tree of Magic located on our earth. The tree's precious magic orbs—not ordinary buckeyes, though they appear to be—could tip the balance decisively in this war of another land. Now only Danielle and Derek can undo the damage they've inadvertently caused and close the ogres back in the alternate world where they belong, before they escape into the human realm permanently and set their sights on taking over our planet. But Danielle and Derek are kids, and don't even know the full power of the magic orbs or how to use it to defend against the attacks of the odious ogres. Do they stand a chance of fending off the enemy and restoring order to an earthly dimension still blissfully unaware of the crisis that threatens its future?
As much fun as I had with The Michigan Mega-Monsters, the first book in the American Chillers series, Ogres of Ohio is clearly an improvement. The unconventional punctuation is again present throughout, as well as nonstandard grammar, usage, and more copyediting mistakes than most professional quality books, but I had no problem shrugging all that off and enjoying the story. The writing is well-paced and immersive, and that was plenty to keep me interested. Danielle and Derek Reed are likable yet realistic protagonists, and I appreciate the way the conclusion of the narrative transitions directly into the third American Chillers volume, Florida Fog Phantoms, just as The Michigan Mega-Monsters led seamlessly into this book. I would probably give Ogres of Ohio one and a half stars, and if the writing continues its rise in quality, my esteem for the series will only grow. I'm already looking forward to the next installment.
August 18, 2023
I read this to see if I needed to keep the collection (I have probably half of them) in my library. Sadly, I do need to keep them. They're no high quality. They're the kind of book with short chapters, and every chapter ends with a cliffhanger sentence. Everything is the most. Actual last sentences of chapters:
"But I'll tell you this: what was about to happen would be the strangest - and scariest - thing that would ever happen to me in my entire life." (That's actually an insanely complicated sentence for this book.)
"I guess I didn't know what to expect, but what was about to happen would be the most bizarre experience of my life."
"I wasn't quite sure what he meant when he said that 'all that is changed'...but we were about to find out."
"I closed my eyes and waited for the worst."
"And I realized it the instant I felt sharp fingernails clawing into my back..."
"But I'll say this much: what we'd experienced since we first walked through the door was nothing compared to what we were about to discover."
So, yeah, not the highest quality literature, but the kids will eat it up and honestly the complexity of the sentence structure will challenge kids. AR says it's a 3.9, but it seems higher level than that to me.
"But I'll tell you this: what was about to happen would be the strangest - and scariest - thing that would ever happen to me in my entire life." (That's actually an insanely complicated sentence for this book.)
"I guess I didn't know what to expect, but what was about to happen would be the most bizarre experience of my life."
"I wasn't quite sure what he meant when he said that 'all that is changed'...but we were about to find out."
"I closed my eyes and waited for the worst."
"And I realized it the instant I felt sharp fingernails clawing into my back..."
"But I'll say this much: what we'd experienced since we first walked through the door was nothing compared to what we were about to discover."
So, yeah, not the highest quality literature, but the kids will eat it up and honestly the complexity of the sentence structure will challenge kids. AR says it's a 3.9, but it seems higher level than that to me.
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October 20, 2014Ogres Of Ohio by Jonathan Rand is a interesting and tension rising book. Danielle and her brother Derek move to Sandusky, Ohio and move to this big house that’s not just any house but a house with an door to a magical world.The door leads them to this world with ogres and little creatures who help them.The ogres our trying to get the buckeyes which our these magical orbs, the magical orbs make you invisible and the ogres are trying to get to Sandusky so they can rule the city.The little creatures who help Danielle and Derek don’t want their world to be ruined so they both work together to get all the orbs back and never let the ogres touch them.
The book Ogres Of Ohio was a great book and a knock you out of your seat book.I recommend this book to everyone who likes mysteries and American Chillers.
The book Ogres Of Ohio was a great book and a knock you out of your seat book.I recommend this book to everyone who likes mysteries and American Chillers.
November 27, 2016
The book I read over thanksgiving break was called, "Ogres of Ohio" by Johnathan Rand. This book was based on these two kids named Danielle and Derek who just moved to Ohio to start a new life. When they first walk into there home they realize a strange door on the second floor. What they find in this door is something unbelievable.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and had me interested the whole way through. I rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars because it was a very well written book with a lot of action. This book is one of the better books in my reading career.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes or enjoys action or thrillers. This book can be confusing at some times, but it is easy to understand. I really enjoyed this book and hope you do too.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and had me interested the whole way through. I rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars because it was a very well written book with a lot of action. This book is one of the better books in my reading career.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes or enjoys action or thrillers. This book can be confusing at some times, but it is easy to understand. I really enjoyed this book and hope you do too.
July 16, 2023
The writing is subpar. Every chapter ends in the exact same way.
The macguffin is so dumb and only follows the stories rules when it needs to, otherwise it’s a free for all.
It’s not creepy, Definitely more fantasy than horror. The ogre in the cover is missing wings…
It just feels like this had zero substance. I read every new Goosebumps and they all have a simple but fun plot structure. A lot of this book felt bloated with repeat scenarios. For example, she thinks an ogre is outside her bedroom, chapter break, oh it was just her mom… now she really thinks there’s an ogre outside her door, chapter break, nope! She wakes up it was a dream
☠️
The macguffin is so dumb and only follows the stories rules when it needs to, otherwise it’s a free for all.
It’s not creepy, Definitely more fantasy than horror. The ogre in the cover is missing wings…
It just feels like this had zero substance. I read every new Goosebumps and they all have a simple but fun plot structure. A lot of this book felt bloated with repeat scenarios. For example, she thinks an ogre is outside her bedroom, chapter break, oh it was just her mom… now she really thinks there’s an ogre outside her door, chapter break, nope! She wakes up it was a dream
☠️
October 31, 2021
I like the gnomes against the ogres and the magic orbs or buckeyes. I hope you write more books like this: magic and monsters like ogres trolls dragons and giants. I also like the magic door and the light from the door that disappears when you open it. Please write more books like this one. I was interested in whether or not the ogres would win. My favorite part was when Derek was making Danielle float in the air with a buckeye. ALL #1 Ogres Of Ohio.
January 29, 2020
My son enjoyed it and I'm glad it was better written than the first. We will continue reading the series. :)
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January 17, 2021From what I remember(which is very little, its been 5 years) very funny fever dream of a book
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September 1, 2021I'm happy that I finally got to read a book about Shrek.
January 4, 2025
The mom saw one mouse and then they turned all the ogres into mice. Now they are going to have an infection.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2014
This Book is about a girl named Danielle and her family just moved into a new house and she already knew something was up with this house. She got to pick her room first as she was walking up the stairs their was a light switch she tried to flick it up but the lights were out. As she was walkinhg down the hall way she saw a light in a room and she thought that it was impossible because the windows were all border up. She later than found out that there was a bored up door she took everything off than she opened the door with her brother by her side and it was a whole other world.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in American Thrillers or into action and adventure because that is all it is. I would rate this book a as amazing the whole time i was reading the book all it was, was excitement and cliff hangers.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in American Thrillers or into action and adventure because that is all it is. I would rate this book a as amazing the whole time i was reading the book all it was, was excitement and cliff hangers.
February 3, 2012
Over Januaury i read Ogres Of Ohio by Johnathan Rand. I thought it was a lame book. I didn't like it very much just cause it was very interesting and the setting just seemed like it was kind of rediculous. I thought the setting was dumb because i didn't know exactly were it was if it was in another universe or on another planet or something and there were ogres and i just imagined it funny. The main conflict was that they went through a door and they ended up some where on a weird planet with weird animals and they dont know how to get back home. I would recomend this book to others. I would recomend this book to people who like weird stuff like the things in this book like ogres and other weird things. I would recomend this to other people because they might like it more than i do.
March 13, 2015
I read "Ogres of Ohio" by Johnathan Rand and I thought it was a wonderful book! I am totally looking forward to more Johnathan's books. This book had an amazing storyline and was very creative and just filled to the top with imagination. I really loved how there were lots and lots of cliff-hangers.
This book is about two siblings named Derek and Danielle who find a magical door to a whole new world full of magic.Both, Derek and Danielle meet wonderful gnomes that plead for them to help them save their kingdom from the scary, and ugly ogres.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves cliff-hangers and imagination. Also, this book had some spooks in it that really spiced things up! All in all, this book was pretty amazing!
This book is about two siblings named Derek and Danielle who find a magical door to a whole new world full of magic.Both, Derek and Danielle meet wonderful gnomes that plead for them to help them save their kingdom from the scary, and ugly ogres.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves cliff-hangers and imagination. Also, this book had some spooks in it that really spiced things up! All in all, this book was pretty amazing!
April 15, 2013
Aw. I used to love this book as a little kid! Not sure how good it is now, since it's been so long, but I really liked it at some point!
Not sure it's really a horror story though...didn't scare me at all.
Not sure it's really a horror story though...didn't scare me at all.
September 1, 2016
The book "Ogres of Ohio" by Johnathan Rand was a very good book in my opinion. Two siblings move to sandusky, Ohio and Danielle finds a boarded door in her room. Little to her knowledge there is a whole lot more behind that door than she bargained for.
September 14, 2015
This was a good book. When Danielle's family moves to a new house she finds a door that is all bored up and she wonders what is a behind it. When she finds out what is she regrets it because what she discovered is bigger than anything she could imagine
August 23, 2016
I read this book when I was younger and loved it! It was scary and adventurous, a very good page turner. I read most of the other American Chiller books and loved them too. I even still own about six of them even though I am older now.
May 22, 2010
Jonathan Rand is probably my favorite childhood horror book author.
Read
April 29, 2011soo far its good
October 10, 2012
Pretty scary and very good it is about ogres attacking Ohio and Danielle and her brother have to save the gnomes.
Want to read
November 8, 2012your books are the coolest books i read
June 6, 2013
Love this book!
October 14, 2013
It wasn't what I thought it would be. But it was pretty good.
March 29, 2014
This wasn't his best.it did not have anything scary at all.I enjoyed reading it and I cant wait to get the next one.
September 15, 2015
This is a good book because it shows good tone and mood and is just a good book in general.
January 15, 2016
Not bad. Not really chilling but really imaginative especially with the creatures in the different world. The plot was okay but the ending was lame and predictable.
Want to read
April 3, 2016I want to read it
Read
February 15, 2012mystery
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews