Release: January 1, 1995
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
Source: Amazon
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon
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A typical American teen visits a four-hundred-year-old house in Ireland on a moonlit Halloween night, and when he learns that the town is reputed to be overrun with werewolves, strange events occur.
About the author:
Irish-born Michael Scott began writing over thirty years ago, and is one of Ireland’s most successful and prolific authors, with over one hundred titles to his credit, spanning a
variety of genres, including Fantasy, Science Fiction and Folklore.
He writes for both adults and young adults and is published in thirty-seven countries, in over twenty languages.
Praised for his “unparalleled contribution to children’s literature,” by the Guide to Children’s
Books, Michael Scott was the Writer in Residence during Dublin’s tenure as European City of Culture in 1991, and was featured in the 2006 edition of Who’s Who in Ireland as one of the 1000
most “significant Irish.”
October Moon Review:
Atmospheric but Underwhelming (2.5/5 Stars)
Michael Scott’s werewolf tale offers gothic atmosphere and historical intrigue, yet never quite delivers the horror punch you expect from YA thriller.
What Works: Scott’s backdrop feels appropriately moody and shadow-filled. Maeve and Madoc stand out as the highlights. These supporting characters bring real creepiness and mystery whenever they appear, hinting at darker forces that feel more compelling than the main thread. Moreover, the 1789 backstory featuring the Natalis family adds genuine depth, weaving historical gothic elements that elevate the premise beyond standard creature features. The initial scares land effectively; Rachel’s first encounters with unexplained presence in her room create genuine tension and unease.
What Falls Short: The problem is repetition. Those effective early scares get recycled throughout the book until they lose impact entirely. Rachel herself proves serviceable but forgettable as a protagonist, and her repeated escapes from werewolves strain credibility. She outruns supernatural predators too easily, removing any real sense of threat!
For a werewolf story, the carnage feels surprisingly tame. Beyond some property damage, the stakes never escalate meaningfully. The creature threat stays frustratingly distant rather than visceral. Compared to contemporary YA horror, October Moon plays it safe and feels dated in its restraint. What starts promising gradually deflates into predictable patterns that neither shock nor fully satisfy.
Verdict: October Moon isn’t bad – it simply underdelivers. The ingredients for effective horror exist, but Scott keeps the heat too low. Gothic atmosphere and creepy supporting characters can’t compensate for a protagonist who never feels truly endangered and a monster menace that stays too polite. Fine for younger readers or those seeking mild supernatural fare, but horror fans wanting genuine bite should look elsewhere.
Perfect for: Readers seeking gentle supernatural mystery with historical elements.
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