stephjl's review against another edition
YOOO this was the seventh grade for me, wild I forgot about this.
toloveisdestroy's review against another edition
4.0
It was fairly inventive for it's time, being a book you read in time with videos correlating to it ("filmed by the sister").
lazygal's review against another edition
2.0
Blair Witch for the younger crowd...
Ryan wakens after being in a 55-hour coma to be told that he and his best friend, Sarah, can no longer communicate (there's even tracking software on his computer). Why? Because he was in the coma, and seriously broke his leg, late at night at the old gold dredge outside town. There's something going on, something that involves the town's name change, a mysterious group called Crossbones, the death of Old Joe Bush, and alchemy; they're going to figure out what happened.
The reason I don't know what happened is because the book is linked to a website, and every few pages there's a new password that'll bring up video shot by "Sarah" (each video is apparently more terrifying than the one before). The passwords are macabre in tone, ranging from allusions to Poe and Stevenson to Dracula and Poltergeist. Here's the thing: if I'm reading, I don't want to interrupt my book to go to the computer. Chances are, looking at the video won't drive me back to the book, it'll drive me to check my e-mail, IM a few friends, fool around on Facebook, etc.. So I've now missed something important, plot-wise.
The other problem with that trend is that it makes the book ephemeral. A good horror story (and Ryan talks about some of the great Poe stories) will be around for ever. Even Blair Witch can be eerie without the accompanying website and multi-media campaign that surrounded it. But this book? Without the website, it doesn't really make sense. So what happens in a few years, when someone finds it, tries to go to that site, and the publisher has allowed it to close?
Ryan wakens after being in a 55-hour coma to be told that he and his best friend, Sarah, can no longer communicate (there's even tracking software on his computer). Why? Because he was in the coma, and seriously broke his leg, late at night at the old gold dredge outside town. There's something going on, something that involves the town's name change, a mysterious group called Crossbones, the death of Old Joe Bush, and alchemy; they're going to figure out what happened.
The reason I don't know what happened is because the book is linked to a website, and every few pages there's a new password that'll bring up video shot by "Sarah" (each video is apparently more terrifying than the one before). The passwords are macabre in tone, ranging from allusions to Poe and Stevenson to Dracula and Poltergeist. Here's the thing: if I'm reading, I don't want to interrupt my book to go to the computer. Chances are, looking at the video won't drive me back to the book, it'll drive me to check my e-mail, IM a few friends, fool around on Facebook, etc.. So I've now missed something important, plot-wise.
The other problem with that trend is that it makes the book ephemeral. A good horror story (and Ryan talks about some of the great Poe stories) will be around for ever. Even Blair Witch can be eerie without the accompanying website and multi-media campaign that surrounded it. But this book? Without the website, it doesn't really make sense. So what happens in a few years, when someone finds it, tries to go to that site, and the publisher has allowed it to close?
book_nut's review against another edition
2.0
An interesting premise -- text interspersed with links to videos -- especially for a mystery. Really good at mood... but (and it's all my fault), I just couldn't get into it. This book doesn't jive with my reading habits (while my kids watch TV or in the car), and my computer's old and slow, so I missed most of the effect of the video.
That's not to say it's not a good idea. It's just for people who are more in the 21st century than I am. LOL.
That's not to say it's not a good idea. It's just for people who are more in the 21st century than I am. LOL.
maragtzrbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I love the dynamic of this book. Could been better the videos if they didn't show the ghost. Either way I like the easy reading and the format.
elmeeks's review against another edition
5.0
*****Skeleton Creek is a suspenseful read that kept me spooked throughout the entire book! It is written in journal format but periodically though out the book you are given a website and password to access video that goes with the story.
Plot: Ryan and his friend Sarah were investigating the old Dredge in the woods of Skeleton Creek when Ryan fell and shattered his leg. Now Ryan is laid up at home and both teens are forbidden from seeing each other. Determined to find out what exactly they saw while investigating Sarah and Ryan begin a forbidden correspondence. The book is told through Ryan using his journal and e-mails to Sarah. We see Sarah through the videos she takes and post for Ryan to view. Pretty soon the teens realize there is something supernatural going on as well as a mystery that involves the town and Ryan’s dad!
Characters:
Ryan is a teen who likes to write. Ryan is always journaling to get his thoughts on paper. This also helps to keep his paranoia at bay. He is very loyal to Sarah and would do anything for her. He is a bit skittish and does brave things for Sarah’s sake.
Sarah is fearless. She often goes and does dangerous things without thinking it through. She is determined to find out the truth and discover what is really going on in Skeleton Creek.
Theme: ghosts, secrets, treasure, friendship, mystery
Genre: mystery/suspense
Interesting Information: The book ends with a video that is a cliffhanger. There are four books in the series at this time. All have the same format, Ryan writes and Sarah captures the videos. The book references classic literature and could be a hook to get kids to read some of these classics like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Plot: Ryan and his friend Sarah were investigating the old Dredge in the woods of Skeleton Creek when Ryan fell and shattered his leg. Now Ryan is laid up at home and both teens are forbidden from seeing each other. Determined to find out what exactly they saw while investigating Sarah and Ryan begin a forbidden correspondence. The book is told through Ryan using his journal and e-mails to Sarah. We see Sarah through the videos she takes and post for Ryan to view. Pretty soon the teens realize there is something supernatural going on as well as a mystery that involves the town and Ryan’s dad!
Characters:
Ryan is a teen who likes to write. Ryan is always journaling to get his thoughts on paper. This also helps to keep his paranoia at bay. He is very loyal to Sarah and would do anything for her. He is a bit skittish and does brave things for Sarah’s sake.
Sarah is fearless. She often goes and does dangerous things without thinking it through. She is determined to find out the truth and discover what is really going on in Skeleton Creek.
Theme: ghosts, secrets, treasure, friendship, mystery
Genre: mystery/suspense
Interesting Information: The book ends with a video that is a cliffhanger. There are four books in the series at this time. All have the same format, Ryan writes and Sarah captures the videos. The book references classic literature and could be a hook to get kids to read some of these classics like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
barbn's review against another edition
4.0
First book in a series, Skeleton Creek tells the story of Ryan and Sarah's quest to solve a mystery in their small Oregon town. The town, Skeleton Creek, has long been the home of a gold mine. All that is left of the mine is an abandoned dredge.
Sarah and Ryan explore the dredge late one night, and Ryan is injured. Ryan's parents forbid Ryan to see or talk to Sarah. But, this doesn't stop the two from communicating through videos and emails. They saw a ghost that night at the dredge (the ghost of Old Joe Bush, a man who was killed working on the dredge) and need to find answers about why he is haunting the dredge.
Skeleton Creek is told through a series of journal entries written by Ryan. Mixed in to the entries are emails from Sarah that contain information and passwords for videos.
I used this book as a read aloud for seventh and eighth grade students. They loved the fast pace of the book and the digital component.
Sarah and Ryan explore the dredge late one night, and Ryan is injured. Ryan's parents forbid Ryan to see or talk to Sarah. But, this doesn't stop the two from communicating through videos and emails. They saw a ghost that night at the dredge (the ghost of Old Joe Bush, a man who was killed working on the dredge) and need to find answers about why he is haunting the dredge.
Skeleton Creek is told through a series of journal entries written by Ryan. Mixed in to the entries are emails from Sarah that contain information and passwords for videos.
I used this book as a read aloud for seventh and eighth grade students. They loved the fast pace of the book and the digital component.
rcaivano's review against another edition
It just ends with no conclusion! Have to wait for the next one for resolution! Don't like that!