Nine for the Nightlight - A Review by femmeflashpoint

A few days ago, I had the privilege of finishing up my read of Nine for the Nightlight, authored by Beth Perry. I discovered the book because the author was kind enough to lend one of the stories featured in the book, to her article and short story site on http://bethperry.hubpages.com. I read it. I loved it, and thankfully, she included the site where I could buy the book, which I did. Immediately. It really was that good of a read!

Since I was a kid, I’ve loved spooky stories, and I wasn't even slightly disappointed in this collection. I finished up Nine for the Nightlight with perfect timing, on Halloween night, just as the sun was getting low and all those little ghouls, goblins, faery princesses and super heroes began combing our neighborhood in search of treats more so than tricks.

Nine for the Nightlight is a collection of short stories the author told her own children when they were young and in the mood for a kid-friendly version of a supernatural thriller. Each story easily held my interest from beginning to end, and at the end of each one, I was eager to get the next one started.

I would recommend this exciting collection to anyone with kids, or even any adult who enjoys a fun and creepy read! When the Goosebumps series was released, I purchased each edition as soon as they hit the store racks. If Beth Perry ever decides to put another one of these collections together, I’ll be doing the same thing. Luckily, hers is easy to obtain if you don't have time to run out and hunt down a new book as soon as it's hit the shelf. It can be downloaded at Smashwords.com, and is currently available for only $.99. It was the best dollar I’ve ever spent on a book. Considering the content, I think it’s incredibly under-priced! More information on the author and her work can also be found on her website at Beth Perry - Home.

Something I found commendable on Beth Perry’s website is a page of links in support of charitable organizations dear to her. It’s beautifully put together and can easily take one from visiting her website to a website allowing her visitor to get more information and ways to help meet the need. Her website also includes information and links to her other works, and she could have left it at that, but she didn’t. I was impressed.

The author hails from the Tennessee. On her website, as well as in the Nine for the Nightlight book; she credits her interest in spooky stories for young people, from her own experiences of sharing stories under the lamp post with other kids when she was growing up. Therefore, her stories are not simply great stories; they are a part of her own heritage she has kindly decided to share with the rest of us.

The stories included in the book collection are Messages in the Lunchroom, Mushed, Ashburger, Missy Mage and the Mean Old Lady, Down the Street, Cal and the Birthday Party, The Parrot, The Overanxious Mr. Miller, Stone Jimmy, and The Ghost of Jacob Abel (retold from the traditional).

Each story has a lesson woven into the content. There are lessons on fairness, on kindness, on respect and many others. And, by the end of each story, the reader finds that reaping what’s been planted is never a good thing when the planting was done with bad seed and ill intent. Not only did I enjoy a fun and spooky thriller, I also saw many of life’s lessons on how to treat others presented in a fresh approach that nearly anyone can understand.

The collection is not indicative of the entirety of the author’s genres to write in. She has several, and other areas of her work can be found on her website. I’m very happy that she contributes some of her work to Hubpages.com, because that’s how I found her, and sincerely hope others will too. I believe those who do, will not be disappointed when they read her works. But I DO recommend this book in particular to be read by firelight, nightlight, or with a flashlight under some blankets!

She’s set the bar high with this book, and I hope she’ll continue producing work in this area because I’ve definitely become a fan. My congratulations to Beth Perry on her excellent work in this book! She did an outstanding job with it, and I hope it isn’t the last of the Nightlight stories!