Dare to Be Scared: Thirteen Stories to Chill and Thrill by Robert D. San Souci; 2003. Hardcover (Ch-FIC)

In this creepy collection, award winning writer Robert San Souci draws on myths, legends, and folk tales to create thirteen completely new stories, all featuring boys and girls from 8 to 12 as leading characters. "Ants" features Kyle, who tricks his mother into allowing him to go see a scary movie with his friend, but regrets it when the movie lingers a bit too long after the end credit. In "The Caller," Lindsay, a self-absorbed preadolescent, is visited by a deceased aunt who intends to reclaim a coveted ring, and perhaps Lindsay with it! Other stories include a boy whose frightening dream becomes a waking nightmare, a girl whose tricks on her little sister make her a Halloween treat for a real witch, and four middle-school bullies whose cruel ways bring the wrath of a mountain devil. Dare to Be Scared weaves suspense, drama, and psychological power into eerie, evocative stories, including ghost tales, fantasy, and science fiction, that will spur young imaginations.