Skeleton Creek

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

Release Date: February 1st, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 185
Overall:

S trange things are happening in Skeleton Creek . . . and Ryan and Sarah are trying to get to the heart of it. But after an eerie accident leaves Ryan housebound and forbidden to see Sarah, their investigation takes two tracks: Ryan records everything in his journal, while Sarah uses her videocam to search things out. . .and then email the clips for Ryan to see.

In a new, groundbreaking format, the story is broken into two parts -- Ryan's text in the book, and Sarah's videos on a special website, with links and passwords given throughout the book.

This book is unlike anything I have ever read before. It combines reading and the Internet in a spectacular way. The marketing aspect of the book is what really got me hooked when I joined a bunch of kids who were trying to depict whether or not it was real but clues that Patrick Carman set up months before its release at http://www.skeletoncreekisreal.com. It was fun to get into the story before it even came out.

The characters are pretty realistic, especially when you can see Sarah and read Ryan’s thoughts. It feels as if the reader is following along with them as they try and figure out this ghost story. Even the clips that are given throughout the story to show Sarah’s point of view, allow it to become more realistic and intriguing than other books.

The writing style and video style is what one would expect of the ages that are portrayed through the characters. It feels as if you are actually reading the journal of Ryan, instead of just a story that someone is writing. The incomplete and random thoughts that he has, makes the idea of him existing a little more real. By combining that with Sarah’s videos, it makes the entire story more relatable and approachable to those who do not necessarily like to read.

Who Might Like This Book:
Ghost Story Lovers
Mystery Lovers

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