Read for a Haunted House class in grad school, believe it or not! Nothing about this story I don't absolutely LOVE. ( )

I read this because my 11-year-old daughter LOVES it.

I'm not giving it a star rating because it's definitely a kids' book, and I'm not its intended audience. 11 year old me would have loved it though, FWIW. :)

This is an excellent whimsical horror that I've read multiple times, yet never grow tired of reading again and again. Its a tale to be appreciated by all ages! The illustrations add greatly to the overall reading experience. This is back where it lives on my to-read bookshelf, until the next time I pick it up again :) ( )

It's been several years, but I still remember my enthusiasm for this creepy creepy book, and, somewhat vengefully, thinking it should be required reading for every middle school child (the main age level from my student teaching semester). ( )

This book is pure genius. This book is the first I have read by Clive Barker, and I love the book. The story starts innocently, about a young boy given some chores by his mother. Like all mothers, she tells him to use his time well. This must sound familiar to all parents. Then, a strange creature takes him on a ride, and into a fantasy land where everything is beautiful and happy.

Soon, however, he realizes that all is not well in this little heaven, and the fairy tale becomes a horror story.

The fable is enjoyable, and works at many levels. There is some deep psychology at work here, and does not intrude into the serious job of telling a superb tale.

I read the book in one sitting. It is that good. ( )