Shiver Point: Under A Howling Moon – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: children’s horror at its finest.
Children’s book title: Under A Howling Moon.
Children’s author: Gabriel Dylan.
Genre: Horror.
Published by: Piccadilly Press.
ISBN: 9781800784819.
Recommended for children aged: 9-12 year-olds.
First published: Paperback September 2024.
This children’s book is ideal for: children who like to be spooked and are ready to progress to chapter books.
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Our review:
Oli loves scary stuff. In his opinion, a prank on his friends is an afternoon well-spent. So, what better way to celebrate his birthday than camping in a creepy forest with his dad and closest friends? Toasting marshmallows around a campfire while telling ghost stories is Oli’s idea of perfection! But what starts out as a fun trip, turns sinister the moment they set off in the car. Weird things start to happen; on their first night, Oli sees something terrifying outside his tent… the following morning they find their food has disappeared – and then they realise Oli’s dad has gone missing! Maybe they shouldn’t have ignored the warning signs at the entrance to the woods urging them to turn around…
Although this is the third instalment of a series, this book can be read standalone. The map provided at the beginning is delightfully detailed, so it is easy for new (and familiar) readers to plot the characters’ progress. It looks like a substantially thick novel but with thirty chapters in total, the writing is sectioned into very manageable bitesize chunks that quickly disappear with tense anticipation;
“There’s something wrong with these woods. I’m telling you, something bad is going to happen, and soon. I just don’t know what.”
This tension increases at every page turn and finally climaxes during a scene in which the children realise there are no longer adults around to protect them. Oli is the protagonist, but Dylan adds complexity by alternating chapters with the fearful narratives of Oli’s friends. Each child is assigned a familiar personality trope, such as Sophia, who boasts useful detective skills, and Riley, who is dubbed ‘the inventor’.
Our verdict:
Shiver Point: Under A Howling Moon is part of a seriesis a series worth investing in – not just for its chilly theme, but also its writing. Dylan’s horroresque analogies (e.g. “…the doubts slithered around in her head like snakes…”) are great starting points for scary storytelling activities.
Many thanks to Piccadilly Press for the review copy.
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