A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts: A Collection of Deliciously Frightening Tales
Grade 6–9—In this collection of gruesome ghost stories, Compestine takes readers through China's history, from the building of the Great Wall to the modern day. Organized like a traditional Chinese banquet, with each story as a dish, the tales revolve around the spirits of those who died unfairly and prematurely. Most feature murder victims exacting their revenge, usually disposing of their killers. These stories are not only deliciously frightening but also introduce readers to ancient and modern Chinese customs and beliefs. The author postscripts each selection with background about something in the tale such as the resurgence of Buddhist temples, insect fights, or exotic delicacies. Food plays a prominent role in each tale, and Compestine includes a recipe with the back matter for each story. Polhemus's black-and-white atmospheric illustrations add to the spookiness. Not for the fainthearted, these offerings are a step beyond Alvin Schwartz'sScary Stories to Tell in the Dark(HarperCollins, 1986).—Jennifer Rothschild, Prince George's County Memorial Library System, Oxon Hill, MDCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.