Creepy Condors of California

American Chillers #14

by Johnathan Rand

Captured by a flying monster!

Melanie and Cameron Doyle are camping in the wilds of beautiful northern California, in the foothills of Mt. Shasta. While panning for gold, they see something very rare: a California condor, the largest flying bird in North America. But there's something different about this condor.

Something...sinister.

For the bird they see is no ordinary condor, and Melanie and Cameron are just about to find out why...in a terrifying way.

And when Melanie finds herself in the clutches of this horrific bird, she must face a simple fact: sometimes, nightmares are real...

Genres: Horror, Middle Grade, Childrens

207 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Christopher 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.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every U.S. state takes a turn in the spotlight in Johnathan Rand's American Chillers series, and here it's California, one of the nation's iconic regions. Twelve-year-old Melanie Doyle and her ten-year-old brother Cameron love camping outdoors with their parents in the foothills of Mt. Shasta. It takes hours to drive there from their home in Los Angeles, but the experience is worth the commute. This summer, however, they run into a terrifying problem. While panning for gold in a creek leading away from their campsite, Melanie and her brother spot a California condor. Most people aren't lucky enough to ever see one in the wild, but there's something odd about this particular bird: it's way bigger than any condor is supposed to get. It glares at the Doyle siblings with undisguised hostility, but they aren't really scared until the bird attacks. Separated from their parents and lost in the wilderness, how will Melanie and Cameron evade the condor?

None of this makes sense to Melanie. She studied California condors in school and knows they're scavengers, not predators. They never attack humans, yet here comes a second oversize condor, sharp claws extended as it pursues Melanie and Cameron through the woods. There's a reason for this surreal scenario, but the Doyle kids have a lot to go through before they discover it. The situation involves state-of-the-art technology, a multimillion-dollar film shoot, and a movie studio that will stop at nothing to sabotage a rival. Melanie and Cameron are caught in the drama, but their resourcefulness may allow them not only to survive, but be well rewarded for their trouble. Will anyone believe the crazy story of their latest Mt. Shasta vacation?

Creepy Condors of California is fun even if it's not Johnathan Rand's most original idea. The plot resembles other American and Michigan Chillers, especially Iron Insects Invade Indiana and Kreepy Klowns of Kalamazoo. The names of the movie director and main four actors and actresses are obvious riffs on famous real people in the movie industry, but I can't make up my mind if the attempt at humor is weak or genuinely funny. The story isn't bad, and only in the last few chapters did I decide to round my one-and-a-half-star rating down instead of up, when the implausibilities become too blatant to ignore. If you don't mind issues of believability, or Johnathan Rand's usual unpolished writing, Creepy Condors of California is mildly entertaining. I've enjoyed following the American Chillers series from its start.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bit goofy, but glad I read it c:

[Kenneth BLANCK · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are the bird type, do NOT READ THIS or you might not like birds again, after what they do. but... they are robotic, so yeah...

[Max Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pissed and shit and came when Arnold Shortenbigger showed up

[Wolverinefactor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Insert big wet fart sound 👎👎

[Christopher Cordova the Juan and only · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book includes some facts about condors but is mostly based on a girl and her brother. They wonder around in a forest. They end up getting chased by a condor. The ending is a decent ending but it could have been better. If you want to be terrified this would not be the right book. This book is pretty entertaining. It would have a awesome book if it had more comedy or jokes. The book gets straight to the point, so if you like books that confuse you at first but then make sense later this wouldn't be the book to choose. I gave it 3 stars because the book is alright but the ending was kinda crappy. The ending could have been better and could have had more details about the condors and how they looked.

[Pj Santantonio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grabbed by a monster seems like a nightmare but in this scenario its not. Melanie and Cameron are camping in California just having a good time trying to find some gold when they see the rarest or the rare bird, a California Condor. But this was no ordinary condor and Melanie and Cameron are going to see why. Then Melanie finds herself in the claws of the monster and thought to herself nightmares are not always fake.

I would recommend this book to anyone thats into scary books or book that tell about monsters and all of that And if they like this one theres a holes series about these books.In all my honesty I did not like the book that much but it was not all bad there was some parts where it was funny, scary and even exciting.

[Jace Amos]

Creepy Condors of California
By: Johnathan Rand


The Creepy Condors of California was a suspenseful book. I really liked this book because when a chapter ends it leaves you with questions on what's going to happen. It all started when Melinie, Cameron (Melinie's brother), and their parents went camping. In the summer and the kids went adventuring and frightening things started happening. The main characters are Melinie, Cameron, and Mr. Spellbird. I would reccomend this book people who like suspense mostly teens. Because I see a lot of teens watch scary moies and read scary books, I barely see adults watch or read them. So overall this book would get 4 stars by me, you should read this book.

[Demitrius · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read American Chillers California Condors by: Johnathan Rand. I liked the book because it was mysterious, and had confusing parts where I could infer the conclusion. The main setting is in the mountains in California. The main characters are Melanie and Cameron, they are brother and sister. The conflict is that they get lost in the mountains and condors keep attacking them. I recommend this book to others because the plot is good and exciting. I recommend this book to people who have read a book from the American Chillers series

[Andrew Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a mysterious and scary book. this book was a book like a movie it has movie actors like mr.spellbird and arnold shortenbigger. The book has condors that are mechical and are bigger then the average condor. The book has a litle crime in it mr.flooster stle the copy of the moviee and the main charecters melain and cameron doyle were in mr. spellbirds movie.

[Eagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is AMAZING.If you like horror than this is the right book for you.JOIN THE AMERICAN CHILLER FAN CLUB.EVEN TEENS CAN READ THIS.two kids gone camping and head in the woods {deep into the woods]
but they are not alone. will the kids ever get OUT.

[Netta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not chilling at all. Then first half was good because it was adventurous and entertaining because of the Condors, but then things changed and it had nothing to do with a chilling tale about condors. Not really captivating.

[Kirito Kirigaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book pretty interesting because the story was about how theses birds attack theses kids but turns out it was a movie. The kids were able to act in the movie. And we're HOLLYWOOD famous. 10/10 ign.

[Black Cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

This begging was really, OK. But there is no ecxiting creepy ending to it. Half way through it gets so BORNG! I suggest not reading this one.

[Maranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

its kind of gave its self away.. -.- once second... there running from them.. another there in hollywood being told there robot vultures O_o not a very good book :(

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jonathan Rand and his books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My favorite part was the movie, which was SPOOKY!!!!!!!!!!!

[Adin O]

it was good.

[Carter]

I like the suspense of this book because you could never guess what would happen next.