Over on my Facebook page, I’ve been talking about my annual reading of Ray Bradbury’s “The Halloween Tree.” It’s just not October without cracking open the pages of that book. Sure, it’s written for tween boys, but it’s still classic Ray Bradbury in one of his timeless “October country” settings.
“The Halloween Tree” follows eight boys who get an unusual treat on Halloween night: they are escorted throughout time and the world to see how Halloween is celebrated elsewhere. From the funeral processions of ancient Egypt, where “every day was Halloween,” to modern Dia de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico, the boys are led by the mysterious Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud.
Bradbury is one of my favorite authors, and I am always amazed at the way he sets a scene. He can transform even the most plain element into something magical. In chapter four of “The Halloween Tree,” he writes, “Dust puffed out the rainspout again, in fluffs, like an emergence of downy cats.”
What book gets you in the Halloween mood? A classic horror novel? True ghost stories? Leave a comment below and let me know!