From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-From a horrible dream a boy can't wake up from to an alien-driven bus to an eerie house with an alarming inhabitant, these stories cover the gamut of scary themes. Some are barely shiver inducing, while others, like the Halloween tale of a mean big sister who attracts an evil spirit, are deliciously horrifying. Although they are all original, many of these stories feature themes and plots that are the staples of folklore, making them natural candidates for reading or telling aloud, preferably around a campfire or at midnight during a sleepover. While kids may shrug at the tamer stories, they will marvel at the poignant twist in "Smoke" and shudder at the ominous "Bakotahl." The hilarious and spooky tale of an aunt who contacts her rude niece by cell phone from beyond the grave is destined to be told at summer camps throughout the land. The dark, black-and-white, pen-and-ink drawings add an appropriately menacing touch to the stories.Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public LibraryCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 4-8. With crisp, straightforward delivery and some intriguing endings, these 13 tales are great fun for young readers who like to be spooked. Some stories tread traditional ghostly ground: nightmares that turn out to be reality, children who take up a dare to visit haunted places, teens pretending to do incantations in the woods on Halloween. Yet the scariest tales use ordinary small things, such as ubiquitous ants or an incessantly ringing cell phone, to thrilling effect. The characters are diverse in race, culture, and personality, and their age range will invite both elementary and middle-grade readers to enjoy the chills. Although never heavy-handed, several tales provide a moral, which makes this a good find for reading aloud and discussing, especially at Halloween gatherings and summer camp, where some stories take place. One black-and-white illustration per story helps heighten the horror, which is never too tense or graphic for the intended audience. Roger Leslie
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
In this creepy collection, award winning writer Robert San Souci draws on myths, legends, and folk tales to create thirteen completely new stories, all featuring boys and girls from 8 to 12 as leading characters. "Ants" features Kyle, who tricks his mother into allowing him to go see a scary movie with his friend, but regrets it when the movie lingers a bit too long after the end credit. In "The Caller," Lindsay, a self-absorbed preadolescent, is visited by a deceased aunt who intends to reclaim a coveted ring, and perhaps Lindsay with it! Other stories include a boy whose frightening dream becomes a waking nightmare, a girl whose tricks on her little sister make her a Halloween treat for a real witch, and four middle-school bullies whose cruel ways bring the wrath of a mountain devil. Dare to Be Scared weaves suspense, drama, and psychological power into eerie, evocative stories, including ghost tales, fantasy, and science fiction, that will spur young imaginations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this creepy collection, award winning writer Robert San Souci draws on myths, legends, and folk tales to create thirteen completely new stories, all featuring boys and girls from 8 to 12 as leading characters. "Ants" features Kyle, who tricks his mother into allowing him to go see a scary movie with his friend, but regrets it when the movie lingers a bit too long after the end credit. In "The Caller," Lindsay, a self-absorbed preadolescent, is visited by a deceased aunt who intends to reclaim a coveted ring, and perhaps Lindsay with it! Other stories include a boy whose frightening dream becomes a waking nightmare, a girl whose tricks on her little sister make her a Halloween treat for a real witch, and four middle-school bullies whose cruel ways bring the wrath of a mountain devil. Dare to Be Scared weaves suspense, drama, and psychological power into eerie, evocative stories, including ghost tales, fantasy, and science fiction, that will spur young imaginations.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Robert D. San Souci pens a collection of fantastic, frightful stories in Dare to Be Scared: Thirteen Stories to Chill and Thrill, illus. by David Ouimet. Selections range from short tales like "Nighttown," in which a boy's vacation in the Caribbean goes horribly awry, to longer entries like "Hungry Ghosts," in which a restless spirit swallows a boy's soul. All provide a suspenseful atmosphere and plenty of dark doings, complemented by Ouimet's eerie b&w artwork. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Valerie O. Patterson

Award-winning author Robert. D. San Souci has penned a chilling collection of thirteen original short stories just for readers who, as the author notes in his dedication, "love to be scared." In "Nighttown," Sammy knows he is dreaming by the way the town looks at night, but yet he cannot wake up. When he asks for directions to the hotel where he and his parents are staying, the would-be helpers' teeth suddenly become longer and longer. Just when Sammy thinks he's safe in his hotel room, though, the reader knows his nightmare is not over. Other stories feature haunted houses, ghosts who return for treasured items, aliens, marauding ants, a cave monster, an amusement park ride that never ends, and a dead ancestor who takes over the body of a young boy. The tales are a satisfyingly creepy read, perfect for dark nights with a flashlight under the covers. Black-and-white drawings by David Ouimet complete the otherworldly atmospherics. 2003, Cricket Books, Ages 8 to 12.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-From a horrible dream a boy can't wake up from to an alien-driven bus to an eerie house with an alarming inhabitant, these stories cover the gamut of scary themes. Some are barely shiver inducing, while others, like the Halloween tale of a mean big sister who attracts an evil spirit, are deliciously horrifying. Although they are all original, many of these stories feature themes and plots that are the staples of folklore, making them natural candidates for reading or telling aloud, preferably around a campfire or at midnight during a sleepover. While kids may shrug at the tamer stories, they will marvel at the poignant twist in "Smoke" and shudder at the ominous "Bakotahl." The hilarious and spooky tale of an aunt who contacts her rude niece by cell phone from beyond the grave is destined to be told at summer camps throughout the land. The dark, black-and-white, pen-and-ink drawings add an appropriately menacing touch to the stories.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews