Twenty years ago, the mysterious death of his aunt left Aaron Holbrook orphaned and alone. He abandoned his rural Arkansas hometown vowing never to return, until his seven-year-old son died in an accident, plunging Aaron into a nightmare of addiction and grief. Desperate to reclaim a piece of himself, he returns to the hills of his childhood, to Holbrook House, where he hopes to find peace among the memories of his youth. But solace doesn't come easy and Aaron's arrival stirs a hornet's nest, both among his former friends in the town and in the supernatural force in the house, which has trained its wicked gaze on Aaron's fragile, damaged psyche.
From the bestselling horror author of Within These Walls and The Bird Eater comes a terrifying novel that follows a teenager determined to break from his family’s unconventional—and deeply disturbing—traditions. Deep in the heart of Appalachia stands a crooked farmhouse miles from any road. The Morrows keep to themselves, and it’s served them well so far. When girls go missing off the side of the highway, the cops don’t knock on their door. Which is a good thing, seeing as to what’s buried in the Morrows’ backyard. But nineteen-year-old Michael Morrow isn’t like the rest of his family. He doesn’t take pleasure in the screams that echo through the trees. Michael pines for normalcy, and he’s sure that someday he’ll see the world beyond West Virginia. When he meets Alice, a pretty girl working at a record shop in the small nearby town of Dahlia, he’s immediately smitten. For a moment, he nearly forgets about the monster he’s become. But his brother, Rebel, is all too eager to remind Michael of his place…
The world's biggest spider is a bird-eater! This book introduces young readers to bird-eating spiders. Students will learn about the sizes, behaviors, habits, dietary needs, methods of defense, anatomy, and colors of different bird-eating spiders. Reproduction and spiderling development are also introduced. A diagram of a spider's body aids readers in indentifying anatomical features. Threats to the spiders and their habitat including predators and humans are covered. Readers will also learn where the spiders build their unique homes. A distribution map shows where bird-eating spiders are found, so the young arachnologist can be on the lookout for a specimen to observe. Full-color photos allow close observation without travel or fear of a bite! Glossary words in bold, phonetic spellings, and an index supplement easy-to-read text. These books are ideal for research reports and general reading. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Among exotic pets, the goliath spider is fast gaining popularity among keepers and hobbyists. Of course, there are many individuals who might never grow fond of these hairy spiders, but for others, there is a true fascination, admiration and respect for these wonderful and fascinating creatures. This book is meant to serve as a handbook to tarantula enthusiasts, especially those who have special interest in the goliath birdeater. Useful resources such as online forums and tarantula hobbyist groups are also included in this book. Covered in this book: - Anatomy - Behaviour - Diet - Dos and Donts - General care - Getting started - Handling - Housing - License - Lighting - Moulting - Myths - Origin - Setting up the environment - Temperature - The dangers - Things to avoid ... and much more!
With his marriage on the rocks and his life in shambles, washed up crime writer Lucas Graham is desperate for a comeback. So when he's promised exclusive access to notorious cult leader and death row inmate Jeffrey Halcomb, the opportunity is too good to pass up. Lucas leaves New York for the scene of the crime-a split-level farmhouse on the gray-sanded beach of Washington State-a house whose foundation is steeped in the blood of Halcomb's diviners; runaways who, thirty years prior, were drawn to his message of family, unity, and unconditional love. Lucas wants to tell the real story of Halcomb's faithful departed, but when Halcomb goes back on his promise of granting Lucas exclusive information on the case, he's left to put the story together on his own. Except he is not alone. For Jeffrey Halcomb promised his devout eternal life...and within these walls, they're far from dead.
A review of the 123 species of kingfisher, bee-eater and roller. Dazzling in their beauty, many of the 123 species of kingfisher, bee-eater and roller are very poorly known. This reference provides a review of the group showing every species, all the main races and most sex and age variations. Text and 40 colour plates are closely coordinated with emphasis on behaviour, field characters and identification. Colour maps showing breeding and wintering ranges are also included.
The house on Old Mill Road has stood in an open field for longer than Jesse Wells has been alive, its crooked windows and jutting turret tormenting the kids of Warsaw, Michigan the way only a haunted house knows how. Everyone imagines that something terrible lurks within the house's abandoned rooms-especially Jesse and his two closest friends, Casey and Reed. But when Reed chooses the house as a backdrop for his own suicide, childhood ghost stories are transformed into a nightmare that sends Jesse into a downward spiral of grief. Nearly twenty years later, Jesse stands on the collapsing steps of the house that snatched away his best friend. Casey has asked him to revisit their old demons, if only to help them find closure that's long overdue. But tragedy finds them once more, and Jesse is left forever changed. Now, left to cope with the disaster that had become his life, Jesse must unravel the mystery behind the house that has terrified him since he was a boy. To fail is to lose everything he has left. But success might come at an even a higher price.
"Will have readers tumbling through the pages . . . Deeply immersive, full of both heft and humor." —Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil series * "One of those special books that only comes around every so often . . . An absolute revelation." —SLJ (starred review) For fans of Nevermoor and Howl's Moving Castle comes an epic fantasy about a girl with the ability to unlock anything—including the empire's darkest secrets. Melanie Gate is a foundling with a peculiar talent for opening the unopenable—any lock releases at the touch of her hand. One night, her orphanage is visited by Traveler, a gearling automaton there on behalf of his magical mistress, who needs an apprentice pronto. When Melanie is selected because of her gift, her life changes in a flash, and in more ways than she knows—because Traveler is not at all what he seems. But then, neither is Melanie Gate. So begins an epic adventure sparkling with magic, wit, secret identities, stinky cats, fierce orphan girls, impostor boys, and a foundling and gearling hotly pursued by the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the land. Action-packed yet layered, The Lock-Eater is a mix of lush world-building, high stakes, humor, and emotional heft—a page-turner and so much more. "A new classic . . . Perfect for fans of Ursula LeGuin and Diana Wynne Jones." —Eliot Schrefer, author of The Lost Rainforest series * "Startlingly deep [while] maintaining its swift pace." —BCCB (starred review) "Will delight . . . An entertaining page-turner." —GeekMom “Incredibly memorable . . Vibrant [and] skillfully wrought.” —Betsy Bird for a Fuse #8 Production/SLJ "Inventive and lighthearted [yet still] plumbs areas of darkness and loss.” —The Horn Book “Expansive adventure, intricate worldbuilding, and a memorable cast [will] immerse readers.” —PW "A magical world unlike any other." —Cracking the Cover
Fan favorite Wong takes readers to a whole new level with this blistering sequel to the cult sensation "John Dies at the End," soon to be a movie starring Paul Giamatti.
