The Horrible Huckleberry Hex

Reader reviewed by LITTLEBUTTERFLY

The power of suggestion is sometimes stronger than we
know. Our imaginations can often run wild when we try to make others do or
believe things just to see what they are going to do. But, when our
imaginations take us so far that the impossible or unreal might just happen
and you try to convince someone that what they might see with their own eyes
and witness will forever change their lives and the way think about
something you have the creativity of a brand new author who has written an
imaginative book that will not only put a spell or hex on you to want to
read it, but teach many untold lessons to everyone. This brings me to my
review of The Horrible Huckleberry Hex by Alani Mechel Weathers

As the book enfolds we meet eleven-year-old Jordan Davis who is our narrator
for this story. He is what every eleven year old should be. He is bright,
clever and has a great sense of humor, which he uses to his advantage to get
his Aunt Desiree to take him and his sisters and brother on a camping trip
up in Hiawatha Forest in Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan. Right before coming
to their destination Jordan sees a care pass by and notices a small boy with
what looked like a bloody hand make an imprint of it on the back of their
car. What could it be? Was it really blood or was it something else? You are
about to find out

Blueberries are supposed to be healthy and they have a lot of antioxidants
to ward off and prevent diseases. They are one of the number one foods to
help improve memory. But, can they make an adult turn into a monster after
they eat them? Can they make an adult do all sorts of weird and strange
things and not even remember what they did? Going into the woods with his
sisters and brother, Jordans younger brother Danny spots some blueberries
and they all start eating them. Going further into the woods they spot an
old tree with some Native American writing on it. But, they have no idea
what is says or means. But, Jordan gets an eerie feeling and he soon
realizes that the berries have had some type of strange affect on his aunt
but he does not know what

Meeting up with his friends Kevin and Lei in the camp area they proceed to
inform him about a curse that was placed on the blueberries and the meaning
of the Native American writing on the tree. Beware of the berries beneath
the tree. A nasty curse will follow thee, a human you will be no more, two
days beyond the day before. But, this will only apply to adults. So, how
many kids would like to place a hex on someone just for fun or an older
friend that might be mean to them: You just never know. Now, the fun begins
and all sorts of strange and unusual things happen. Kevin and Lei have to
convince Jordan that they are not making this up. They even describe an
ancient ritual that has to be performed to get rid of the curse and save the
person that has been hexed. But, can they once it takes hold of the victim?
Just how many blueberries do you have to eat to be hexed? You just might
find out. Are his friends just trying to convince him that there is a curse
and that he will have to save his aunt from remaining a people eating
monster and more, or are they just playing a hoax on him? Well, anyone knows
that if you were ever a boy scout or a girl scout and you take that all
important oath and say the famous words, Scouts honor, you are
absolutely, positively telling is straight and you were swearing on your
very own soul, as the author puts it, that what you said was the truth

.

Added to the hilarity of the events in this book the author incorporates at
the end of each chapter a unique and unusual recipe for her readers to try.
Of course, you might want to test out the blueberries first and make sure
they are not hexed. They are sugary and gooey delights that kids will love
especially on Halloween night or on a camping trip or a cookout

What happens next is really funny and quite strange. Aunt Desiree or as they
call her Aunt TT eats quite a few blueberries and she appears to turn into a
turkey eating monster. While the others were sleeping in their tent he saw,
whom he thought was his Aunt, devour quite a few turkeys and more and never
lose eye contact with him in the process. But, was it just a dream, or did
this really happen?

The next night he saw the monster devour bunnies and more and then stare
straight at him and say he was going to be next. Now, he was convinced that
his friends were telling the truth and he was going to make sure that they
helped him save his aunt from being a permanent monster or worse

How they save her or how they go about it is so funny and so creative you
have to read it for yourself. Would you cover your whole body in
blueberries, eat snails and collect a toad and more just to remove a hex?
Would you do anything to save someone you really love and protect your
brother and sisters from harm? Would your not stop at anything to prove your
love, loyalty and true friendship if you knew someone was in trouble. Meet
Jordan Davis our hero and a lot more. His friend Kevin wanted to chicken out
but Lei reminded him that they swore to help Jordan and when you take the
boy scouts oath you have to honor it no matter what

I wont tell you if they save his aunt. I wont tell you the antics and the
crazy things they did with the help of his brother and two twin sisters to
remove the hex. I wont even tell you if they really removed it from getting
anyone else who comes to first this forest after them. That might be for a
sequel if the author cares to have them revisit the forest to find the tree
and see if this curse still remain or if the writing disappeared. Of course
one good thing does happen, although blueberries are supposed to make your
memory stronger and better, there are still some things that are better
forgotten. When you read this adorable, creative and humorous book you will
understand. Beware of the blueberries: Are they hexed?

This is a great book to read on Halloween night, around the campfire, after
a cookout when it gets dark, under the covers with a flashlight or to teach
children family values and the importance of relationships, loyalty and
trust.

Fran Lewis PhD.
Author, Reviewer
Bookpleasures.com

Reader reviewed by AbeFromTheSoo

Remember as a child going on camping trips, roasting marshmallows and anxiously waiting for someone to tell a chilling ghost story? If the story was told well, trying to sleep at night would be a nightmare in itself.

The Horrible Huckleberry Hex by Alani Mechel Weathers creates a sense of anticipation from the first few pages. She ensures that young readers will tremble with a few goose bumps and lots of hair raising excitement as she spins a frightful tale full of vivid description and literary magic.

She not only uses blueberries in the story as edible fruit, but takes it a step further by using the color of the fruit as a marvelous descriptive representation of evil that lurks both day and night.

Another great aspect of this story is the inclusion of blueberry recipes given at the end of each chapter. Not only does it reflect the creativity of the author, it opens doors of opportunity for parents to have fun in the kitchen with their children.

Weathers writing style is free flowing, understandable and organized and the story and at times was down right hilarious. She hits the hammer on the nail with dialogue and language for middle graders who enjoy scary tales. The Horrible Huckleberry Hex is fun, full of imagination, and simply delightful. It reveals Weathers uniqueness which made every page a pleasure to read.