Read Reviews

Tales of Terror from the Black Ship

Tales of Terror from the Black Ship
by Chris Priestley

So far we have received 27 reviews of Tales of Terror from the Black Ship. You can read them below.

Hannah from Year 11, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

I really enjoyed this book as it had many stories twisted into
one. Making you unsure what is coming next. Each story is as
gripping as the next and keeps you turning the pages as the
eerie character Thackeray tells the tales. The book has a very
unexpected ending and the book keeps you guessing till the end
about what is going to happen. I would reccommend this book to
anyone who likes a good horror book and has a lot of time on
their hands as once the book is started its hard to put down.
However, some younger readers might find the book hard to read
and scarey.

Marks out of 10: 8

Emily from Year 8, Mexborough School:

On a stormy winters night on the edge of a crumbling cliff two
children wait alone in an inn for their father to return. A
loud knock on the door makes the children jump. They open the
door to the mysterious man and let him in to shelter. As the
night grows on, the children still await their fathers return
while this strange character tells them stories, each more
gruesome than the last.

This book is a brilliant read. The best book I have read so
far.

Marks out of 10: 10

Lucy from Year 6, Hatchell Wood Primary School:

This book is aimed at children over the age of ten. It has
really hard words in it that you dont understand. Although it
is hard to understand I quite enjoyed the stories. This book
has an unexpected ending, and quite a scary one as well
.........

Marks out of 10: 9

courtney from Year 7, Rossington All Saints School:

i like the book because it is interesting and i really like the
part were a visitor comes and beggs for shelter because it was
raining. i like that bit because it leaves me on a cliff hanger
when i put my book down to go to bed but i read it every night
untill i finished it and it was really good.

Marks out of 10: 9

Shannon from Year 5, Danum School Technology College:

The tales in this book were spooky and a few of them were quite
bloodthirsty. It was fun to read though and you always want to
know what happens next which makes the short stories good. It
is good how the author managed to link all the smaller spooky
tales into one story as you will find out at the surprising
end.

Marks out of 10: 10

from Year 6, Hatfield Manor Junior School:

This is a great book.it is a bit scary but i enjoyed reading it

Marks out of 10: 10

Jack from Year 9, Danum School Technology College:

Ok, this book was the first book on the longlist that I didn't
enjoy. Basically, the whole storyline was slightly dull and it
wasn't a good read in my opinion. The story is about two
children in a house, Cathy and Ethan, who are poorly. So their
dad goes to get them some medicine. Meanwhile, a mysterious man
called Thackeray comes begging at the door to come in, as there
is a storm outside. So Cathy and Ethan let the man in, and
basically, to spare some time, Thackeray tells the children
some stories. These stories are all about the sea, and about
happenings on several boats. Now, the purpose of these stories
are to make the reader scared, but quite frankly, the stories
aren't scary at all, in fact, quite boring, and they just keep
coming, a different story after another, which goes on for
nearly the whole book. It really bored me and what is supposed
to be the scary ending, where somehow, Cathy and Ethan are
actually dead, does not make sense, and is quite a dull and
pontless ending, concluding a pointless story. I found this
book very dull, and I would be disappointed if it reached the
shortlist. I'm sorry, but it is the most boring book I have
read so far and I would recommend it to younger children as the
stories are childish and would probably suit younger readers.
The book was disappointing...

Marks out of 10: 5

Abby from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

THis book is great! It's about a brother and sister who are
taken ill so their father goes to get a doctor but while he is
out the siblings get an unexpected visitor. I liked all the
really spooky twists to the stories. My favourite character
was Cathy because she loves all the gory details for such a
young girl. I didn't dislike anything about this book. I
would recommend it to anyone because it is very spooky and I
loved it!

Marks out of 10: 10

Sarah from Year 6, Hatchell Wood Primary School:

The tales of terror was a fab book, it has lots of complicated
words in though. My favourite chapter is 'the scrimshaw imp',
it is quite scary. This is my second time reading the book so
it didn't seem as creepy and hair-raising as the first time.
I've read another of Chris Preistley's books (Uncle Montague's
tales of terror) and I found the Black ship much more
interesting. I think this book is just as much for girls as it
is for boys, judging by the cover it looks more like a boys
book. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesn't like
terrifying stories. The stories in this book are all about the
sea and in every chapter there is a tragedy. The book finishes
with a twist (I can't tell you it though). You will have to
read the book to find out.



Sarah

Marks out of 10: 9

Daniel from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

A very good selection of short stories that fill you with fear.
an amazing book but a bit weird in some places.

Marks out of 10: 9

Daniel from Year 6, St Peter's Catholic Primary School:

The book was O.K. At the start it was alright, but later
on it was geting a bit boring.
I liked over Doncaster book awards books than this one.
Tales of Terror from the Black Ship would be good for someone
who likes scary stories , and I am not that sort of person.

Marks out of 10: 5

Elinor from Year 8, Danum School Technology College:

This book was really good, bit don't read it at night, it gave
me nightmares!
It is about a boy, Ethan, and his sister, Cathy, whose father
has gone out. A man called Thackray turns up at the inn, and
decides to tell them scary stories to pass the time. The
stories get scarier and scarier. At the end, when Ethan and
Cathy are both completely terrified, Thackray leaves, and Ethan
and Cathy discover something even scarier than the stories
they've just been told...

Marks out of 10: 8

Kiara from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

On a winters night as 2 kids were at the edge of a crumbling
cliff waiting for their dad to return. Alone they were in a old
inn, there was a knock at the door so loud the kids jumped back
in fear. they opened the door, a mysterious man stood there,
they let him in. As they wait for their dad they tell the man
stories.
This book was gruesome but interesting as they were telling him
the stories. I think this book was not the best book or the
worst book I have read!

Marks out of 10: 8

will from Year 6, Tranmoor Primary School:

Wow! Such an amazing book. At first I couldn't decide if it was
good or not; but carried on reading anyway. As I progressed
reading it got better and better: I was stuck to it and
couldn't put it down. (In the middle of lessons I would smuggle
the book and just read it, then I'd get told to answer a
question- and went blank). So I was glued to it like the tattoe
on Irezumi- in the book. LOL

Marks out of 10: 10

Rebecca from Year 8, Armthorpe School:

I really enjoyed this book, it's pretty scary! The cover
reminded me of The Graveyard book. It's a good book if you
haven't got much time as there are lots of short stories in it
and the scetches are good too. Hope it gets through to the
final. Good for breaktime reading.
x

Marks out of 10: 10

Emma from Year 8, De Warenne Academy:

Very, very boring.All it is is a tale about the sea. And a cat.
And an illness. Thats it!

Marks out of 10: 2

Kiara from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

Ona winters night as 2 kids were at the edge of a crumbling
cliff waiting for their dad to return. Alone they were in a old
inn. There was a knock at the door so loud the kids jumped back
in fear. They opened the door a mysterious man stood there,
they let him in. As they were waiting for their dad the man
starts to tell them stories about when they found a boy in a
boat when they were on a ship and a few more but right at the
end some how all of the stories link together. This book is
gruesome but interesting as the man is telling them the
stories. I think the book is not the best book I have read but
not the worst. Also I think the front cover looks like the
graveyard book.

Marks out of 10: 7

Zack from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

Woah! Was the first word I said when I read this book. This
book is gruesoume and gory (Perfect For Mischevous Boys)
sometimes I read this book at night and had nightmares about
the previous chapter I had read. The storyline is where a boy
called Ethan and his sister Cathy are not feeling well and
there father has to go to find a doctor and leave the children
alone. A huge storm hits the area and surrounds the house with
blistereing winds, hail and lightning. A mysterious sailor
comes to the house asking for shelter. The children let him in
and the strange sailor asked the children with a few tales
about things at sea. But are they fiction...
I absolutely loved this book it should make the short list, if
not I am going to cry. I would reccmend this book to anyone who
enjoys horror (and to be completely honest, I giggled at parts
too!). A truly unputdownable book!

Marks out of 10: 10

Keila from Year 6, Hexthorpe Primary School:

It was ok but i still put it back in school. Other people liked
it but i didnt like it so much. I would recomend it about 1
star but no more.

Marks out of 10: 10

Kate from Year 6, Edenthorpe Hall Primary School:

It is a good book but it is quite hard to understand.It didn't
take very long to read and it it could be a book for anyone who
doesn't get scared very easily! If you are a scaredy cat then
don't read it because some of them are a bit spooky. If you
like scarey things then you will find it probably very funny.
This is why I liked it so I give it a 9.

Marks out of 10: 9

David from Year 13, Hatfield High School Visual Arts College:

this book is dodgey :(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:)

Marks out of 10: 10

Abie from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

It was a stormy winters night on the edge of a cliff. Two
children called Ethan and Cathy wait alone in their inn for
their father to return. A knock on the door makes them jump.
They open the door to the mysterious man they don't know and
let him in. As the night goes on the children still await for
their dads return while this strange man tells them stories.
Each getting worse and worse every time. Each story is even
better then the last and keeps you turning the pages. The book
has a very unexpecting ending and keeps you gessing right to
the very end. People who like horror, I recomend this
fantastic book!!!! 8 stars well done. (I do like a good
horror)!!

Marks out of 10: 8

Thomas from Year 8, Ridgewood School:

I found this book very confusing as it is lots of short
stories. The first few were very good but then the last few
just seemed to get boring. The pictures in the book were very
good. I would give this book 4/10.

Marks out of 10: 4

Caitlin from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

I liked 'Tales of Terror from the Black Ship because there is
an old inn that clings to a cliff top above a storm-lashed sea.
It is interesting because there is a girl and a boy and it
tells you what they think. They find a boat that's been
ship-wrecked and it's also haunted.

Marks out of 10: 7

Charlotte from Year 6, St Peter's Catholic Primary School:

This book was great. The story is pretty weird at the beginning
but it does get better. The book isn't as good as some of the
other doncaster book award books I have read.

Overall the book was good enough to read but it is probably
more for people who like ghost stories so I give the book a 9 .
I recommend it for ghost people.

Marks out of 10: 9

Keeley from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

This book is about two main characters, Ethan and Cathy. Their
mum is dead, and their Dad has gone to fetch a doctor as Ethan
and Cathy are sick. Whilst they are waiting, a stranger came
begging for shelter. What will they do? That is for you to
find out. My favourite character wwas Ethan, he has good ideas
and can be very wary. I give the book eight out of ten, I
liked it.

Marks out of 10: 8

Holly from Year 6, Tranmoor Primary School:

this book was really, really interesting! each story was really
good- none of them had a poor ending. the words the author used
in description were extremely good. scary, strange AND
thrilling, i thought this book was great.

Marks out of 10: 10

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