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Fiendish Deeds The Joy of Spooking PJ Bracegirdle 9781416934165 Books

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Fiendish Deeds The Joy of Spooking PJ Bracegirdle 9781416934165 Books

The minute I saw the creepy, Tim Burton-reminiscent cover, I desperately wanted to read this book, and reading the first chapter only made it more appealing. Bracegirdle (an unlikely name if I ever heard one) can write very, very well, and he has an imagination that just won't quit. Chapter one opens with an Edgar Allen Poe quote, and it's clear that Bracegirdle is channeling classic horror writers (he references Poe, but Lovecraft also jumps to mind). Joy Wells lives in Spooking, the "hideous hill" surrounded by the newer, suburban, cookie-cutter town of Darlington. The Darlings, as they call themselves, fear Spooking and mock the kids who come down for school at Winsome Elementary. Joy, a devoted horror fan, loves Spooking and has nothing but scorn for the neat, boring lives of the Darling kids who torment her at school. She becomes convinced that her favorite horror writer, E. A. Peugeot, set his stories in and around Spooking, and decides that the Bog Monster in her favorite story must be real. Meanwhile, plans to drain the bog and replace it with a water park are afoot.

The brilliance of this story is in sharp, accurate prose (often infused with delightfully dry wit) and a masterful sense of creepiness (I actually got shivers at the very end). The characters are classic, but complex. Joy's attitude about Spooking is balanced by Bracegirdle's descriptions of the town's decrepitude, and by one Darling child who is shockingly nice to her. Phipps, the villain, is one of the best horror villains in kids' literature. Parallels to Joy's attitude and situation make it apparent that they would have been kindred spirits, but something in Phipps's past changed him, and I can't wait to read about his background in one of the future books. Phipps is a toadying, bitter assistant to the mayor with his own agenda for getting rid of Spooking, and an annoying, Dursley-ish (but smarter) boy cluelessly helps him. Joy tries desperately to save the bog through a variety of means, involving several memorable side characters.

The preservation of the bog brings in an environmental element, but it doesn't dominate the story. The balance between Spooking and Darlington is rich and complicated, and there is more than enough to fuel a trilogy. Joy is a delightful heroine with her stubborn Spooking pride and moments of self-awareness. I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait for Book Two next summer.


Tags : Fiendish Deeds (The Joy of Spooking) [P.J. Bracegirdle] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. As eleven-year-old Joy Wells, proud resident of the nearly-abandoned town of Spooking, tries to stop construction of a water park in a bog she believes is home to a monster and the setting of her favorite horror story,P.J. Bracegirdle,Fiendish Deeds (The Joy of Spooking),Margaret K. McElderry Books,1416934162,Brothers and sisters;Fiction.,Endangered species;Fiction.,Swamps;Fiction.,Brothers and sisters,Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General,Children: Grades 3-4,Endangered species,Fiction,Humorous Stories,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Fiction Humorous Stories,Juvenile Fiction Mysteries & Detective Stories,Juvenile Fiction Nature & the Natural World General,Juvenile Fiction Nature & the Natural World General (see also headings under Animals),Juvenile Mysteries,Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories,Nature & the Natural World - General,Swamps

Fiendish Deeds The Joy of Spooking PJ Bracegirdle 9781416934165 Books Reviews

I picked up this book because the cover reminded me of another MG novel I enjoyed called Horns and Wrinkles. Turns out, it's the same cover artist ). Not that has anything to do with anything, but still...

The story. Joy is a girl living in a tiny town called Spooking. A nearly-forgotten town on the edge of the much larger town of Darlington. The Darlings tend to be unfriendly toward the residents of Spooking--Joy and her brother are called "Spookies" and are pretty much tormented by the Darlington children. And one day, it's announced at their school that the bog in Spooking is going to be mowed down so a water park can be built, which Joy knows will be the end of Spooking.

Joy loves her town. It's dark and brooding, just like her. Joy wishes she had her mother's raven-black hair. She hates all things pink and frilly, and her favorite author is Ethan Alvin Peugot, who Joy believes was a Spooky himself before his mysterious death.

Using one of Peugot's stories, Joy attempts to save Spooking's bog from destruction.

Simply put, I loved this book. I could totally connect with Joy. All the other characters were vivid and quirky as well. The writing completely captured me. I adore books like this. Dark and strange, with a kind of twisted humor. I am definitely getting the next book in the series!

(Oh, I mentioned the book Horns and Wrinkles because of the cover, but actually, if you like this book you'll likely enjoy that one, too, because it's got a similar feel.)
I hated this book. Not even interesting. As soon as I read the first chapter, I was so bored. I do not even want to read the 2nd and 3rd book or any other books of the series.
I can't get over how much fun it was to read"Fiendish Deeds." It brought me back in full to my childhood imagination!
Delightfully dark and enjoyable.
I don't know why this series of books has so little buzz, but I do congratulate you on finding whatever list, blog, or review site it was that sent you out here to find it.
This book turns almost every stock middle school character and predictable ghostly plotline on its head. Our heroine, Joy Wells, is smart, touchy, funny, romantic, delusional, silly, determined, and absolutely great company. She has a wonderful relationship with her little brother, who is a tough and loyal sidekick. Her parents are both lame and understanding at the same time, and add a bitter/sweet touch to Joy's homelife. The villain is complicated, hilarious, devious, cruel and profoundly sad. Every secondary character has a surprise or two built in, so the story is never predictable, and every exchange has a freshness to it that is rare in books aimed at the middle school reader audience.
Many of the observations and most of the dialogue have a pithy sharpness that is rare and refreshing. This is satisfying, subversive stuff, and well worth a try.
The minute I saw the creepy, Tim Burton-reminiscent cover, I desperately wanted to read this book, and reading the first chapter only made it more appealing. Bracegirdle (an unlikely name if I ever heard one) can write very, very well, and he has an imagination that just won't quit. Chapter one opens with an Edgar Allen Poe quote, and it's clear that Bracegirdle is channeling classic horror writers (he references Poe, but Lovecraft also jumps to mind). Joy Wells lives in Spooking, the "hideous hill" surrounded by the newer, suburban, cookie-cutter town of Darlington. The Darlings, as they call themselves, fear Spooking and mock the kids who come down for school at Winsome Elementary. Joy, a devoted horror fan, loves Spooking and has nothing but scorn for the neat, boring lives of the Darling kids who torment her at school. She becomes convinced that her favorite horror writer, E. A. Peugeot, set his stories in and around Spooking, and decides that the Bog Monster in her favorite story must be real. Meanwhile, plans to drain the bog and replace it with a water park are afoot.

The brilliance of this story is in sharp, accurate prose (often infused with delightfully dry wit) and a masterful sense of creepiness (I actually got shivers at the very end). The characters are classic, but complex. Joy's attitude about Spooking is balanced by Bracegirdle's descriptions of the town's decrepitude, and by one Darling child who is shockingly nice to her. Phipps, the villain, is one of the best horror villains in kids' literature. Parallels to Joy's attitude and situation make it apparent that they would have been kindred spirits, but something in Phipps's past changed him, and I can't wait to read about his background in one of the future books. Phipps is a toadying, bitter assistant to the mayor with his own agenda for getting rid of Spooking, and an annoying, Dursley-ish (but smarter) boy cluelessly helps him. Joy tries desperately to save the bog through a variety of means, involving several memorable side characters.

The preservation of the bog brings in an environmental element, but it doesn't dominate the story. The balance between Spooking and Darlington is rich and complicated, and there is more than enough to fuel a trilogy. Joy is a delightful heroine with her stubborn Spooking pride and moments of self-awareness. I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait for Book Two next summer.