The Haunted Playground http://www.fishpond.com/Books/Haunted-Playground-Shaun-Tan/9781598899160

Shades

By Shaun Tan

Reviews

Gr 3-6-Three fantasy titles meant for struggling readers. Each book introduces a main character who is grappling with unknown circumstances. There is little or no character development, but the easy style and appealing subjects may interest the target audience. In the first volume, JP is sucked into his video game and must use his superior gaming knowledge and skills to make his way to the final stage. In Trapped, David finds a drainpipe that looks like a perfect spot for skateboarding, even though he has been warned about a tragic accident that took place there just the year before. In Haunted Playground, Gavin encounters some very strange children at a playground while using his metal detector to find lost treasures. This narrative has a few awkward phrases and transitions that can lead to confusion even for advanced readers. The spooky atmosphere in each book is established rather quickly with suspense that lasts until the very end. While there is little literary merit to these books, they are suitable additions for libraries searching for hi/lo materials.-Bethany A. Lafferty, Las Vegas-Clark County Library, NV Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.