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noaboitlatasse's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
mimi_gonetosleep's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
eggerseric's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
b00k15hwyrm's review against another edition
5.0
Today (2024, August 28) I finished the audiobook The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury, narrated by Kirby Heyborne. The story follows Tom and his eight friends getting ready to go trick or treating, but something happens to their friend Pimpkin. The audiobook spans 3 hours and 38 minutes.
As said earlier, Tom and his friends were getting ready for Halloween but Pimpkin may have been sick this year. The boys were sad about this, but Pimpkin reassured them and told the others to go down the ravine and that he would meet with them. Surreal events transpired and one thing that lead to another had Pimpkin go missing.
With the help of the crazy old man, Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud, the eight boys go through a literal odyssey to get their friend back.
My favorite part of this were the songs, especially the one that played when they went to Mexico for Día del los Muertos. Next to that, I really like the dedication Tom and his friends showed when trying to get their friend back.
If you enjoyed shows like The Magic School Bus and Time Warp Trio, then I strongly recommend this book. Also, like I said for The Skull by Jon Klassen, I’d recommend this to those looking for something spooky to read during October. It’s a fantastical macabre tale that takes the reader through the history of All Hallow’s Eve. I’d give this story a 5/5.
bbrassfield's review against another edition
4.0
I read this sweet little halloween history tale almost as often (read: annually) as Bradbury's marvelous Dandelion Wine. The Halloween Tree features the leadership of the immortal Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud who pops up out of a leaf pile under a great Halloween Tree to lead a pack of small town trick-or-treaters on a journey through time and history, experiencing the origins of what we call Halloween and visiting the various developments of the holiday over the centuries. And then there is Pipkin, the search for Pipkin! The prose reads almost like a narrative poem. Quite musical with a natural rhythm that will have you through the tale before you know it. Not to be missed if you are a fan of the season.
yzma_into_it's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
maxsebastian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A classic in every sense of the world, Ray Bradbury's The Halloween Tree is surprisingly my first exposure to his writing. Feeling like a haunting truly Halloween horror story, my first instinct upon finishing The Halloween Tree was to read it again.
The story opens with a familiar scene: a group of young boys meeting up for trick or treat on Halloween. As they get underway, they notice that one of their members is missing, Pipkin. What ensues is a trip throughout history to learn the history of Halloween and save Pipkin. While Bradbury does distinguish these characters (for example, there's a brilliant line about how lucky one kid is to have a last name that sounds like skeleton), the ambience is far more of a focus. As the kids reflect at the end of the tale, their adventure is both a trick and a treat. It's spooky and atmospheric in equal quantities, making it accessible to someone as easily frightened as me.
With even pointed references to a "Marley Knocker," The Halloween Tree is almost a retelling of A Christmas Carol. In this tale, our young trick-o-treaters meet an etherial guide who takes them through history to learn the true meaning of Halloween. Although these children are not opposed to the season like Scrooge, morals are still learned and real sacrifices are made. Moundshroud's speech to the children to carefully consider giving up a year of their lives to save Pipkin is chilling.
Although I got a lot out of this audiobook, I wonder if a physical reading of the story would change my experience. In addition to getting to look at some beautiful art, my mind wanders less when I read, which might allow me to better absorb the prose of this masterpiece.
The story opens with a familiar scene: a group of young boys meeting up for trick or treat on Halloween. As they get underway, they notice that one of their members is missing, Pipkin. What ensues is a trip throughout history to learn the history of Halloween and save Pipkin. While Bradbury does distinguish these characters (for example, there's a brilliant line about how lucky one kid is to have a last name that sounds like skeleton), the ambience is far more of a focus. As the kids reflect at the end of the tale, their adventure is both a trick and a treat. It's spooky and atmospheric in equal quantities, making it accessible to someone as easily frightened as me.
With even pointed references to a "Marley Knocker," The Halloween Tree is almost a retelling of A Christmas Carol. In this tale, our young trick-o-treaters meet an etherial guide who takes them through history to learn the true meaning of Halloween. Although these children are not opposed to the season like Scrooge, morals are still learned and real sacrifices are made.
Although I got a lot out of this audiobook, I wonder if a physical reading of the story would change my experience. In addition to getting to look at some beautiful art, my mind wanders less when I read, which might allow me to better absorb the prose of this masterpiece.