Strange, Jason. The Mothman’s Shadow

Strange, Jason.    The Mothman’s Shadow    

 Stone Arch see Capstone 2011  64p  23.99 978-1-4342-2965-6 

 ms    Horror            VG-BN  

Four boys go camping and encounter the mysterious Mothman.            

Outside of West Virginia modern teens may not be familiar with (folk) tales of the “Mothman,” a cryptid seven foot man, with glowing red eyes and enormous wings.  Folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand investigated accounts of the 1966-67 reports that prompted John Keel to write “The Mothman Prophecies,” which was later made into a film in 2002. 

Brunvand concluded that some elements were common among the Mothman reports and some much older folk tales, which suggests that something real may have

triggered the stories.  But skeptics are adamant in dismissing Mothman tales as hoaxes or pranks, or even sightings of a large owl.

     “The Mothman’s Shadow,” follows a group of contemporary boys who are

camping in an isolated cabin without adult supervision.  After a long drive, and evening of ghost stories, and attempts to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings, it is scarcely surprising that Noah “sees” the Mothman staring in the cabin window at him.  When Noah describes the seven foot tall, winged man with red eyes to his friends, they are skeptical.  But Ben, Noah’s older brother, does use his cell phone to call the police who come out to check on the boys and investigate for a prowler.

     Noah overhears the police discussing the legendary “Mothman.”  He uses his smartphone to investigate the mysterious creature.  Even with “proof” from the Internet, his buddies continue to scoff....until the next night, when the Mothman returns...

     No violence or blood, but the plot builds suspense and tension, which peak in an anticlimatic weak ending.  Readers will feel compelled to learn more about the Mothman, and will be encouraged to share stories of the weird and unexplained of their own.  The tale provides a good catalyst for discussion and

writing.  “The Mothman’s Shadow” may fill a gap in collections of  the

supernatural which tend to be stocked primarily with vampire and ghost lore.

      Welliver, Hilary