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45 pages 1 hour read

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1962

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Book Brief

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Ray Bradbury

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1962
Book Details
Pages

293

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Green Town, Illinois • 1960s

Publication Year

1962

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes, two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, encounter a mysterious carnival that arrives in their small town just before Halloween. As they explore the carnival’s dark secrets, they face various perils, including enchanted attractions and sinister figures like Mr. Dark and the Dust Witch, leading to a battle between good and evil. Topics include the human fear of mortality and the complexities of coming of age.

Mysterious

Dark

Suspenseful

Reviews & Readership

4.2

144,085 ratings

70%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes is lauded for its lyrical prose and atmospheric tension, capturing the blend of childhood wonder and fear. Critics praise its vivid imagery and deep themes of good versus evil. However, some find the pacing uneven and the character development lacking depth. Overall, it remains a hauntingly imaginative tale.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Something Wicked This Way Comes?

Fans of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes will likely enjoy dark fantasy tales filled with rich, poetic language. Readers of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane or Stephen King's It will appreciate the blend of nostalgia, horror, and the battle between good and evil.

4.2

144,085 ratings

70%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

293

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Green Town, Illinois • 1960s

Publication Year

1962

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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