CREEPERS is a ghost story with mystery thrown in for good measure. Thriteen year old Courtney and her family move to a small country town, Murmur. Their new house is situated next to the town cemetery - so close in fact that they share a wall with it. From the very beginning, Courtney feels that there is something starnge about the place; the house is not exactly welcoming, as it seems veiled by creeping ivy. Then, when she meets Margaret and Christian Geyer - a strange father and daughter - she discovers that Murmur indeed has more to it than meets the eye. Courtney learns about their distant ancestor, Prudence and her father Christian, and their tragic story of loss which goes beyond the grave.
That is the basic story of CREEPERS. I won'y say more, as I do not wish to give away anything for possible readers.
In some ways, CREEPERS is unlike anything else that I have read. The novel has been produced beautifully - some of the edges to the pages have swirling pictures of ivy behind the text and each chapter begins with either a picture or some kind of letter to add to the story. But ultimately, the beautiful production of the book cannot make up for the slight disappointment that I felt when I finished it. Although this book is aimed at young adults, the writing felt quite immature to me. As Courtney delves into the past and the mystery around Prudence, there are moments that begin to offer suspense and a few chills, but they are few and far between meaning that the suspense never really reaches boiling point. I also felt that the ending of the book was a huge let down. I was expecting a twist but it failed to deliver.
As a quick, easy read, CREEPERS is OK for younger readers. But for teens, I would suggest something more creepy than this.