Jake and the Giant Hand

September 1, 2014

Gr 3-7-Twelve-year-old Jake is on his annual summer visit to his grandfather on the family farm. Neighbors Kate and Chris invite him to spend the night in their cabin, but Jake worries that Kate will have more scary stories like the one she told last summer. Kate does tell a creepy story about a giant rotting hand found in a local farmer's field years before. Jake is scared but intrigued as he connects the story to the giant flies that have begun hanging around the farm. The kids do some research at the library, and discover it could be Jake's farm where the giant hand was found. The tale has a great ending with a clever wrap-up that will keep readers wondering. This is a well-crafted horror story with a suspenseful buildup and truly creepy details, such as the giant flies. The artwork adds to the disturbing effect of the story, the drawings of the flies are cartoonish but somehow still menacing, and the picture of them swarming Jake is frightening. This is a book for kids who like chills and thrills.-Gretchen Crowley, Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA

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