Scary Stories: A Tribute to Terror is out now. A spiritual successor to the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark trilogy, the collection of stories by Curt Tuckfield with illustrations by Shane Hunt does its very best to tap into the spirit of Schwartz and Gammell’s work to thrill fans of the original trilogy while simultaneously offering a new generation scary stories of their own.

The books is available for only $19, and can be ordered by CLICKING HERE.

Much like those original books, Tuckfield’s stories are quite creepy, but it is the addition of Hunt’s illustrations that put them over the top. From creeping creatures to nightmarish scenarios, Scary Stories: A Tribute to Terror has a little something for everyone.

In fact, my only real criticism of the volume is that at times the story line-up is a bit uneven and the transition from one story to the next can be jarring. So, as a general guide to parents out there, I would say read ahead, especially if your child is just entering the world of spooky. Just because they can handle one story, doesn’t mean they’re prepared for the next.

All that being said, I loved this book a lot, and a few of the stories included even gave me the shudders and quite frankly, that’s saying something.

I previously made a list of some of my favorites stories from the original trilogy of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and in that same spirit, I wanted to highlight some of my favorites here, as well.

So let’s take a look at what Tuckfield and Hunt have created with a list of my favorite stories from Scary Stories: A Tribute to Terror.

**The stories are listed in no particular order. Where I can, I have included the accompanying illustrations.

“Grandma”

Young Joel is visiting his grandma and grandpa with his father, mother, and younger brother Seth. He’s having the best time ever until his parents announce they’re going on a hike and leaving the two boys with their grandparents. This is fine until Joel spies something different about grandma after his mother places him in her lap.

“Clipping”

It’s not often that I finish a three page story and think, “What the hell did I just read?”

Stephen Pugh is excited beyond measure that he’s being taken to an amusement park for the very first time despite the fact that his grades haven’t been very good and he’s not excelling at sports like his brother Tony. He stays awake the whole night before the big day, and when they arrive, his eyes land on a roller coaster called “Clipping” which his parents quickly agree he can ride if that’s the one he wants.

Something is not quite right as they make their way to ride, and Stephen’s excitement wanes as they approach.

I can’t tell you a single thing more, but this story is like an episode of The Outer Limits or The Twilight Zone with a truly dark ending.

“When I Wake Up”

The theme is isolation, and Tuckfield is in fine form with this particular tale which finds a young boy named Bradley, who wakes to find himself completely alone at home…or so it seems at first.

There is something in the darkness. Something is watching him, but he can’t tell quite what. Every time he manages to escape he falls asleep and wakes up where he began all alone again.

Tuckfield ratchets up the tension for poor Bradley, and for his audience. This is definitely a story you don’t want to skip!

“Mannequin”

As horror fans, we’re rather conditioned to enjoy watching someone get what they deserve, even when, in doing so, it could possibly set up something far more sinister.

Thus, we come to the story of Barbara Campbell, and obsessive shopper who treats everyone she comes in contact with like dirt or worse. That’s okay, though, Barbara will of course, get her comeuppance in a most violent way. If only that was where the story ended.

Many of the original Scary Stories had wonderfully ambiguous endings and this one would have made Schwartz proud.

“The Haunted Cemetery”

In the first Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Alvin Schwartz gave us “The Hearse Song” and we all sang along with “The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out…”

In their book, Tuckfield and Hunt present a new song about a terrifying trip into the cemetery at night and the strange and terrifying creature that lives there.

I was honestly quite struck by the lyrics of the song with its simple melody in C-Minor. The imagery evoked is truly spooky with an interesting twist or two along the way.

“Memento Mori”

A group of European teens decide to play a most unfortunate and ill-advised game of chicken in “Memento Mori” by breaking into an old church filled with mummified bodies.

Needless to say, like any good scary story, they ignore every warning along the way as they slip farther and farther into the dark surrounded by death.

Are you really a coward if the threat is real?

“Scrapbook”

Michael finds himself alone at the school dance with only Amber Jean, the strangest girl in their sixth grade year left without a dance partner.

Fully prepared to go it alone, Michael is mortified when Amber Jean doesn’t so much ask as she demands that he dance with her, clawing at him with her rough, overlong fingernails.

I won’t tell you more, but believe this. After reading the story, “I think we’re made for each other” is a phrase that could earn its place right next to “I’m your number one fan” on a scale of creepiness.

“Down in the Park”

On a hot summer day, Curtis, Scott, Danielle, and Aja decide to ditch the crowds in the park and go down to the quieter playground area together.

Together, they crawl into the “dungeon,” a series of tunnels underneath the sprawling playground equipment. They’ve done this many times before, but today there is a new path. Confused they take the tunnel and emerge on the playground once more only to find that the scene has changed.

It is eerily quiet where it had been noisy before, and what they find will send them running, screaming, for home.

“Venetian Blinds”

Sixteen year old Judy is hired to babysit overnight for a family that she’s sat with many times before, but tonight is not going to be like those other nights.

Something, or multiple somethings, are lurking outside the house and Tuckfield gives his readers a play by play of the evening’s events in a quick-paced, heart-pounding story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

“Flowers”

Jeff is a fastidious man who takes special care of his garden and is an excellent neighbor. Just ask him.

His neighbor Phil definitely is not. His dirty lawn, the constant noise of his car’s revving engine as he speeds up and down the street, and he lets his dog run free, terrorizing the neighborhood and worse, digging up Jeff’s garden.

Someone should teach him a lesson…and Jeff’s flowers have some very interesting ideas.