The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol
by Kevin Purdy

“If Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, and Dr. Seuss joined forces to write a novel, it would likely resemble The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol.”

Decimus Croome is a curmudgeon of the highest order, a man who loathes all holidays—especially Halloween. He prefers the solitude of his gloomy old house, shunning any human contact, even from his own daughter and grandson. But one fateful Halloween, Croome’s life is upended when four ghastly spirits visit him, revealing the misery he has inflicted on those around him.

Based on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Legend of Decimus Croome is a thrilling Halloween tale destined to become a classic for readers of all ages. Follow Croome’s spine-chilling journey as he encounters:

• The Spirit of His Departed Wife: A haunting yet beautiful specter who warns him of three more spirits to come.

• The Ghost of Halloween Past: A disturbingly hilarious spirit who takes Croome on a journey through his nostalgic yet painful Halloween memories.

• The Ghost of Halloween Present: A shape-shifting witch who defies all stereotypes, driving Croome nearly mad with her wild antics and exposing his negative impact on those closest to him.

• The Ghost of Halloween Future: A terrifying phantasm who forces Croome to confront the grim consequences of his cruel and heartless ways, including a visit to a desolate cemetery.

Throughout this delightfully spooky novel, you’ll be haunted by ghosts, inspired by a brave young leukemia patient, and entertained by a precocious feline named Black Magic.

Join Tommy Bobbich, Decimus Croome, and a cast of ghosts, witches, and ghouls in a modern-day holiday story that promises chills, laughs, and even a few touching moments. The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol will change the way you look at Halloween forever. Order your copy today and send another one to your favorite bibliophile, Halloween fan and/or Dickens devotee.

5 out of 5 fairies

This was a delightfully fun, perfect for fall read. Purdy certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start, and I loved the story from cover to cover. The inspiration is fairly clear, but this story has more giggles and light-hearted moments mixed in with the serious. The characters are so much fun, and I love how the characters stay true to themselves, even when they’re growing. The story unfolds before your eyes, and this would make for an excellent, fun Halloween movie. There are some words I wouldn’t expect every middle-grader to know, but they’re sparse and a great opportunity for vocabulary building and understanding from context. I have to recommend this to Halloween lovers no matter how old you are, because you’re never too old to embrace the fun side of the season!

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Kevin has lived in Montana, Oregon and Colorado. He spent many years as a middle school teacher before becoming a full-time writer. Kevin writes middle grades fiction and non-fiction for fellow authors.

Kevin’s first published novel is “The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol.” It is the tale of a hard-hearted man who hates all holidays but particularly despises Halloween. Based on “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, “The Legend of Decimus Croome” is the perfect book for some entertaining autumn reading. It is mildly spooky, but mostly funny with an excellent lesson for anyone who has lost the magic of Halloween.

Kevin’s next book will be published soon, and it is based on Washington Irving’s “Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

If you are a middle grades teacher, parent, librarian or author, you should consider connecting with Kevin via his website: PurdyBooks.com where you will find lots of information about middle grade books, middle school reading instruction and how to motivate middle grade students to read more.

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