Bloody Horowitz

by Anthony Horowitz

Overview

A teen gang leader taken for a deadly ride by a car with a mind of its own. . . . A boy haunted by a phantom cobra. . . . A reality TV show pitting teens against grown ups, with only one survivor. . . . From whose twisted mind can such gruesome stories unfold? Only Anthony Horowitz. From the internationally bestselling author of the Alex Rider missions, this collection of harrowing tales is sure to have you smiling in terrified pleasure. But whatever you do, don't turn out the lights!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101543443
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/04/2011
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Lexile:	810L (what's this?)
File size:	281 KB
Age Range:	10 Years

About the Author

Anthony Horowitz, in addition to being an international bestselling author, is also the writer and creator of the multi-award-winning television series Foyle’s War. He lives in London, England. Visit him online at www.alexrideradventures.com and www.anthonyhorowitz.com or follow him on Twitter @AnthonyHorowitz.

Editorial Reviews

Razor sharp.

Booklist

This is a collection of short stories with interesting and out-of-the-ordinary twists and turns. It starts with a story about a boy who believes that Daren Shan, author of the "Cirque De Freak" series, stole his idea for a novel and sets out to kill him only to be haunted by his victim. In other stories, a car's has a mind of its own; a boy has a bad dream about drowning in mud (or is it actually happening?); and another boy is attacked by a cobra. Thirteen stories start off in conventional narrative fashion and then end with horrific twists. This book introduces another generation to the macabre world of a twisted, but entertaining storyteller. With the emphasis on vampires and horror in the current literature for young teens, this book offers a refreshing diversion. Reviewer: Patricia Williamson

Children's Literature - Patricia Williamson

Gr 7 Up—These 12 stories are not for the squeamish as they include shudder-inducing scenes of burning flesh, dismembered bodies, electrocution, and death by squeezing in a massage chair. The terror strikes good and bad individuals equally, whether it's a teen whiz kid in "Bet Your Life," a do-gooder in "Plugged In," or a spoiled brat in "The Cobra." If there is a theme that runs through the anthology it's that you can't outsmart a haunting end and if you try, that may just be your downfall. The selections offer clever twists on pop-culture trends such as reality television and MP3 players. One story gives a nod to fellow horror writer Darren Shan. The book starts and ends with fictionalized arguments against publishing horror stories for children. Fans of the morbid will appreciate Horowitz's seemingly unending imagination for the horrific, but alert readers may clue in to some plot twists early on. Teens looking for gruesome tales won't be disappointed.—Shawna Sherman, Hayward Public Library, CA

School Library Journal

The creator of Alex Rider follows his two Horowitz Horror anthologies with a new collection of 14 bloody stories. A would-be writer seeking revenge for stolen ideas stalks and apparently kills author Darren Shan (is this wish fulfillment?). In the far future, a robot nanny malfunctions with horrifying consequences. A girl finds herself put up for auction when her family's finances tank and is terrified when she discovers what the bidders plan to do with her should they win. The standouts of this uneven collection include the false introduction and conclusion supposedly written by others and a bad dream recounted in verse. Good kids find themselves trapped in bizarre situations and bad kids get just what they deserve and more every time. Inconsistent Americanization and lengthy setups mar these at-times predictable tales. An overreliance on grisly moments and contrived twists for what scares there are guarantees there's nothing to keep the lights on late, just occasional ick. Fans of the previous collections will be right at home. (Horror/short stories. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews