Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com

I read this book out loud to my fifth grade class. I always have many students who want to be scared and am always asked for scary books. My class immediately quieted down if I brought out SKELETON CREEK. They also couldn't wait for the videos. The only problem is that a few of the kids were scared too much, but I believe that for the average intermediate student this is just too much fun!

When we meet Ryan, he is recovering from an accident in an abandoned dredge in Oregon. As we read his journal we also get video messages from his accomplice, Sarah. The duo have found a mystery in their small town of Skeleton Creek. They are investigating, but now know that many in their town do not want them to snoop, including Ryan's dad.

But be forewarned, the mystery is not solved in SKELETON CREEK, but ends with a cliffhanger so that you will have to read the sequels to find out the rest of the story.

So if you want a good, fun scare, I highly recommend this one - and so does the fifth grade class at Santiago School.

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My 12 year old granddaughter and I have LOVED reading this together and watching the videos. It is scary fun and I do mean SCARY fun!!! The end does leave us hanging so we must read the next!

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I got this book for my middle school daughter. She had to read it for lass and he loved it!! She is wanting to read all the rest. I read it with her some an it is very interesting. I would enjoy the other books as well.

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An interesting combination of web videos and books. The book introduces us to Ryan and his best friend Sarah Fincher. Ryan's parents wish he wasn't friends with the troublesome Fincher, and even forbid him to see her again. Sarah can't seem to keep herself out of trouble, and now she is pushing her and Ryan's luck as she sends secret emails with passwords that open creepy videos that can be seen (by Ryan and the reader) online.

In some ways this book reminded me of Paper Towns by John Green, but the writing was not as good. Like Paper Towns, it's got the girl who leaves secret words and gets into trouble, and it has the love sick puppy friend who follows her through fire.

I enjoyed the videos even though the acting was sub par. I am not sure if I will read the second book in the series, Ghost in the Machine. The story was a little predicable because you knew from the start that there would be no story if Ryan listened to his parents and did not contacted Sarah.

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