scary stories

Book review: Camp Crypt

Posted on December 16, 2024December 13, 2024 by Alphabet Soup

The cover of a children's novel: Camp Crypt

Twisted Trails: Camp Crypt by Fionna Cosgrove, published by Fionna Cosgrove, ISBN 9780645723342

REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC

Aashi received a review copy of this title.

You pull off a prank, only meant to teach a boy a lesson, when the boy almost dies. The next thing you know, you are on a bus to a camp for youths who have committed crimes. You have no idea why your parents sent you to this camp, but you know you were not supposed to break someone’s neck.

At this camp, you notice some weird things, like why does the bus driver have horns or the camp director shimmer and glow? You have many ways to escape, others where you die.

Camp Crypt has twelve possible endings. I kept on trying to find a possible ending where everyone lives happily ever after. Whether you read very little or a lot you will still find satisfaction. The book keeps you on your seat and is a thriller.

I would rate the book 5 out of 5 because I thought it was great whether you made it out alive or not. It was a fun book and I would recommend 9-12-year-olds to read it. Fionna Cosgrove has once again created such a wonderful book about wishes and pranks, vampires and criminals, and most importantly friendship and loyalty.

Camp Crypt is out now! Order a copy direct from the author.

Aashi is a regular book reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her book reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book review: The Midnight Manor

Posted on November 13, 2023June 5, 2024 by Alphabet Soup

The cover of the book The Midnight Manor by Fionna Cosgrove.

REVIEWED BY Ayaan, 12, VIC

The Midnight Manor by Fionna Cosgrove, Lightning Source Inc., ISBN 9780645723304

Ayaan received a review copy of this book.

The Midnight Manor is the first book in the twisted trails series and was published in 2023. It was written in a ‘choose your own adventure’ style, sharing the story of the Manor and the Game.

But this is not like other stories of the same genre. Cosgrove has written the scenes out in impeccable detail and interesting side comments. Can you escape the manor before you are trapped for all eternity? Or will the mist take you all?

You must weave your way through the manor facing wolves, zombies and a creepy old innkeeper. And if you don’t like the way your story turned out, you can always go back to the start and have a do-over.

I would rate this book 5 out of 5 as its description makes me feel as if I am really in the manor. You should definitely read this book.

Ayaan is a regular book reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of his book reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

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Young writers in Action: Driving blind

Posted on May 14, 2021July 25, 2025 by Alphabet Soup

DRIVING BLIND by Analia, 10, New York, USA Foggy mountain photo by Vincent Tan at pexels.com

Nothing. Just grey. Panic took control of me. Why did we have to drive at night? What if we were driving off a cliff? I was close to tears on the high mountain. My mum tried to put on a reassuring smile but it was clearly fake. I squeezed her hand so tightly it hurt for me as well. My sister was the navigator and my dad was the driver. Endless grey consumed us. The lights of the cars behind us shone but there were none ahead to guide us. We had to brake several times before the cars behind us got impatient. They weaved left and right, then passed us. They cruised ahead then halted as they became blind. I felt like I was in a horror show and there was no exit, no escape to leave. As the other cars regained their speed by turning on “fog lights” that we didn’t have, we almost lost the cars. That’s when the arguing began.

My sister thought it was best to increase speed so we didn’t lose our guiding light. I agreed with my mum, though, who thought it was risky to increase speed driving when we can’t see anything. My dad agreed with my sister so he started speeding up to catch up. I squeezed my mum’s hand and started to hyperventilate. I couldn’t calm down. With my free hand, I put my hand on my heart and uneasily listened to the rapid beating.

As if the situation couldn’t get any worse, my sister announced, “There’s a sharp turn coming up.”

The large yellow signs with the midnight-coloured left arrows were the only help for us. Again questions invaded my mind. How will we escape this? Will we lose the cars ahead? Just then the car in front of us disappeared. A new question formed inside my stressed head. Was it condensed in the fog or lost to something else ahead?

Sadly, my dad didn’t share my same worries so we continued, but found the car again in front of us. As we silently drove, I continued to hyperventilate until at one point, it let us go. Clear from up ahead. This didn’t comfort me though. There could be more of those areas. I was tired and wanted to close my eyes but the fear overtook me. Squeezing my mum’s hand while listening to my heartbeat I continued to look up ahead but didn’t see anything but roads, jungle, and no fog!

Analia is a frequent contributor to Alphabet Soup. You can read her earlier work here. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines.

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Young Writers in Action: Into the Mist

Posted on October 28, 2019July 25, 2025 by Alphabet Soup

INTO THE MIST
by Maya, 11, Bowral Public School, NSW

A tree in mist, photo from pexels.com I always wondered what the mist could do, I wonder if it could fly high or create images, too. Could it be a theme park or could it be an adventure to a brand new world? Today was a really misty day in Bugs-worth. You couldn’t see the foot path, nor could you see our plain sky. The day was very different to our wonderful sunny days.

The birds weren’t coming out of the trees and everyone’s furry little friends didn’t want to come and play. None of the children wanted to come outside. It was very unusual, all the children would play in their front yards.

I decided to go and have a look to see what was going on and then I realised I was walking on water. I didn’t know who or what created the mist but they would pay. I kept on walking and I finally found what was creating the mist. It was a giant mist monster.

I wonder what will destroy the mist monster, probably not bird droppings, not water but maybe a sweet lullaby? Nothing will work, I might have to try something different. I decided to shine a light on the monster.

It finally decided to disappear and go put some more mist on another place or country. When I eventually got back to my home the whole place was covered in filthy bugs and rubbish. It looks like the next hour of the day will be cleaning up. After a while all the children and animals in Bugs-worth were all out and playing around.

The world will never know the name of the person who saved the whole world from the beast. I am the saviour of the world and no one can do it ever again.

We’ve been sharing writing from students at Bowral Public School over the past few days. If you’d like to send us YOUR book review, story, poem or artwork, check out our submission guidelines.

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Three Quick Questions: Cristy Burne (#8)

Posted on October 12, 2011October 8, 2011 by Alphabet Soup

All through October, Alphabet Soup is celebrating turning three. We have heaps of writers and illustrators stopping by to answer THREE QUICK QUESTIONS and today’s visitor is Cristy Burne, author of the Takeshita Demons books.

1. Where do you like to write?

In a café, on my laptop, with a chilli hot chocolate somewhere nearby. I like writing in cafés because it usually means I have two or three hours of uninterrupted time.

2. Can you name a book you’d recommend to our readers?

I usually read action-adventure-fantasy stories, but lately I’ve been trying some different genres. Most recently, I loved Meg McKinlay’s Duck for a Day … it’s quirky and clever and fun. I also loved Warning! Aliens are Invading the School! by Dinah Capparucci—it’s Very Funny!

Duck for a day (cover) — Cristy Burne recommends Duck for a Day by Meg McKinlay

Warning! Aliens are invading the school! (cover) — Cristy also recommends Warning! Aliens are Invading the School! by Dinah Capparucci

3. Can you offer a word or phrase that kids could use for inspiration if they have writer’s block?

“headless”

I like to write scary stories about strange monsters and spooky demons, so “headless” is a great start for imagining a new kind of creature. It opens up lots of nice questions: Why is it headless? Does it miss its head? Does it have any extra bits to make up for its missing head? Is it attacking me? Is it making me a cup of tea?

Find out more about Cristy Burne and Takeshita Demons—visit her website and check out her blog.

(Psst … see you back here tomorrow, when author Sheryl Gwyther answers our Three Quick Questions.)

Tag: scary stories