Status Updates From The Halloween Party (Choose...

Given that we only read to a single ending, that was a satisfying one. Plenty long, with multiple atmospheric settings. This book has its issues but I always liked its atmosphere.

I plan on reading this with my mother now as the hour grows later and trick-or-treaters start arriving. Maybe we'll read to two or three endings. I'm glad I did the work of crafting a full review last Halloween.

Finishing this just an hour or two before my sister's big Halloween/harvest party! :-)

Let's try waiting out the witch's curse in the basement laundry room. This book is growing more atmospheric...

At least we apparently survived our harrowing trip through the alley.

We'll go with Laurie to get help because of the smoke bomb.

I'm tempted to call this ending a train wreck of internal inconsistencies, but maybe not. Perhaps plot specifics are why your identity as a "good witch" never comes up in any other storyline. Maybe this is smart, surprising writing.

The time has come to insist to Clara that she allow us to leave the party and go home.

A grim death. At least in most of the endings, Meg stays true to her character. There isn't constant inconsistency of identity.

Let's take the path toward the city with Meg and come back to rescue Peter after we're safe.

Yikes. That ridiculous ending, rife with inconsistencies when compared to other story paths, may be enough to bump my rating for this book down a star. And it had been going so well...

This time let's go right through the cemetery. The witch tricked us into ending up there anyway.

This ending has some ridiculous elements—rats immediately coming out to consume crumbled cookies in a cemetery, and then attacking the skeletons—but I kind of like the feel.

Dangerous animals in the woods? Come on, Peter. I'm not afraid if we skirt a little ways through the trees instead of heading through the cemetery that a wild animal will attack.

I'm not so sure we need to get help. After all, it's just smoke in the room where Meg supposedly summoned the witch. So I 'll accompany Peter and Meg to look for her mother.

E.A.M. Jakab is pretty good, and I always love Bill Schmidt's cover and interior illustrations. I'm looking forward to giving this book the in-depth read and review it deserves.