I tried to read this with my nine year old daughter, and it just didn't appeal to her. I found the behavior of the girl's father and brothers disturbing and I didn't like the bullying. We did not finish it, thus I will not be rating or reviewing. Thank you for the opportunity.

All Limpy wants is a way out - away from the failing potato farm, away from her father who blames her for her mother's death, away from her brothers. She is good at one thing - art - and if she can submit her artwork on time she might win a scholarship to an "artsy" high school. But everything seems against her - work on the farm, her father's anger, school issues. One day, while working in the cellar she comes across a mysterious box that say "keep in a cold, dark place". When she opens it she finds colorful objects. When she takes one out it hatches into an adorable little creature. Limpy names him Chup and hides and cares for him in the house. But soon, other eggs hatch and one especially is not so nice. Then mysterious things start happening - her father gets bit on the toe by something, chickens go missing, and something is starting to terrorize people coming to see the farm. Soon Limpy, with the help of a friend, realize these cute (or not so cute as they start growing) creatures are actually chupacabra. But how to get rid of them before it's too late?

This was deliciously adventurous and exciting by the end but it did take while for it to turn from cute little creatures to terrifying chupacabras. Hopefully readers would stick with it that long. It reminded me of Gremlins.

Limpy is a young girl who lives on a potato farm with her father and brothers. Her dream is to go to art school and one day leave the farm. Limpy’s mother died when she was born and for as long as Limpy can probably remember she has worked on the farm with her father and brothers. Limpy’s father has never gotten over her mother’s death and keeps a potato sack in the music room so they can remember her and never forget.

Limpy is working in the cellar one day sorting out bags of potatoes when she finds a box with four eggs in it. One of the eggs hatches and she has herself a new little friend, a little ball of fluff which she called Chup. Chup put me in the mind of a gremlin. When Limpy gets up the next morning she finds that more has hatched. When their chickens are attached and their cat is being stalked Limpy decides it is time to find out who her new little friends are so she does some research online.

Once her new little friends start eating they start growing and becoming more and more aggressive and mean. Limpy and her family must find a way to stop her little friends who are not so little anymore. Limpy and her family must all face their fears and what is holding them all back or they may never get rid of her little buddies.

I really enjoyed reading Keep in a Cold, Dark Place and following along with Limpy as she faced her little buddies. I liked watching Limpy figure out what was causing her little buddies to grow. Keep in a Cold, Dark Place tells more than the eye kind of thing as they say. I loved and enjoyed the concept of Keep in a Cold, Dark Place.

If you have not read Keep in a Cold, Dark Place then I would like to recommend it. It may be a middle-grade book but it is still a very intriguing read for any adult and filled with lots of twist and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat wanting more.

This one my first novel by this author but I will certainly be checking out more as this was a fun MG horror story.

Limpy wants nothing more than to leave her home on the potato farm and her answer to that is through her art and winning a scholarship if she can get her entry done in time and get her dad to approve. That would be the hardest part. One day when doing chores she finds a weird box in the ground with some funny writing on it. Curiosity gets the best of her so she opens it and finds some weird eggs, one starts to hatch and out comes this cute little critter.

Limpy puts the others in a safe place and takes the cute little thing up to her room. She thinks it's the cutest thing but has no clue what it is, but what she finds out soon is that they might be cute but they are naughty. The others hatch and soon she has three of them and the more they eat the more they grow. One of them doesn't hatch right away so she doesn't know what happens to him when he does hatch and he is kind of a rogue one.

By the time Limpy finds out what they are things have gotten out of hand and she doesn't know what to do. They are growing constantly and peoples animals are going missing. The critters get her into trouble at school and things are just not going well for Limpy.

The monsters remind me of a cross between the monsters in the movies Gremlins and Critters. They way they have to get rid of them is really cool and family oriented. This story really is about family and facing ones fears of the unknown. It's a great scary read for young readers but there are a few slightly scary parts towards the end so just make sure you know your young ones level of scary and it will be a great read for them.

I really loved the ending and how these monsters really brought the family together as they had to fight them off. Fear is what you make of it, some times it can start out cute and cuddly then get really fierce and ugly and that was my take on it. :)

Too cute for words! Limphetta has grown up never knowing her mom and being raised by her dad and brothers. Growing up on a potato farm hasn't been easy for her, and she longs for freedom. Unknowingly, unleashing evil puts a new perspective on life. These creatures are up to no good. This is great for middle readers and adults alike. Just the right amount of scare for some.

I can’t resist a good horror tale, and I very much enjoy ones spun for kids. I sure wish there had been more like this when I was young. But, you’re never too old to enjoy a gem like this.

Being a sweet, kind-hearted lass, Limpy doesn’t know any better when she places the box of eggs she discovered in the sun to warm. When one of the eggs hatches and out pops a cute little critter, she’s overjoyed. But then another egg hatches, and another. And what started as a kind act turns into horror.

Picturing what hatches from one of the eggs, I immediately thought of an evil Tribble or, if you’ve seen Critters, one of those rolling furry things with the sharp pointy teeth. But that’s just when it and it’s litter mates first get started. They eat. They grow. They change. And they are always hungry, always eating. And they don’t discriminate. From produce to living things, such as, perhaps, a cat, it all looks good to them. What could be next? Maybe a human child? Or an adult? That’s more food.

I ate this story up faster than you can say Keep In A Cold Dark Place. There’s a sense of foreboding right from the start. Limpy is a delightful and resourceful young girl. The creatures are cute, then not so cute. And the writing flows nicely, the author keeping the atmosphere building and the tension high.

A scary good story for young lovers of horror and us older fans of things that go bump in the night.

Thanks so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.

When a cache of brightly coloured eggs hatches into a clutch of cute furry creatures Limpy O'Malley thinks she's found some new friends. But when the creatures mischief takes a darker turn Limpy and her family and friend, Emmanuel, find themselves in a race against time to save the family farm and their own lives.

An entertaining story for middle graders but not really enough scares or peril for older, teenage, children. Perhaps the most disturbing part is a 13 year old buying bullets from the local General Store, then taking them (and knives) to school....

Keep in a cold dark place by Michael F Stewart.
Keep in a cold, dark place. That’s what’s written like some ancient law on every bag of potatoes the family farms. And it’s where Limpy fears she will always remain.

It’s also carved on a box of spheres she discovers in the cellar. Spheres that hatch.

Cute at first, the creatures begin to grow. Then the chickens disappear. The cat is hunted. And something sets the barn ablaze. To survive, Limpy will need to face her greatest fear. The whole family will. Or they may end up in a cold, dark place indeed.

A really good read with good characters. I liked Limphetta I loved how they all helped each other. I loved the ending too. Perfect. Must read. 5*. Highly recommended. Netgalley and victory editing netgalley co-op.

Edge of your seat the whole way through! Can't wait to recommend this book to EVERYONE

I ended up really liking this story! I wouldn't call it scary... although it had some mild intense parts. Unique storyline... I think the upper elementary kids in my school will really enjoy this. Love the cover.... who can resist a cute creature with big, round eyes? I think this will get quite a few checkouts at the school.

This book is sure to provide many hours of entertainment for readers. I had such a good, fun time reading this book. If you are a fan of Gremlins, then, you will want to pick up a copy of this book.

Poor Limpy. She dreamed of going to art school. However, she was stuck on her family's farm with her father, and brothers, Connor, and Dylan. I guess you could kind of call Limpy "Cinderella".

Who knew that chupacabras would make such good pets. Ok, so maybe this is not really true. However, not all of them are evil. In fact, some of them can be nice or mischief or evil. Just ask Limpy. She never imagined she would have quite the adventure when she uncovered that box in her potato farm. Too bad she did not heed the warning prior to opening the box. Yet, if she did, she would never have met Chup and his siblings. You could not help but fall of Chup and his siblings as well as Limpy and her family. They showed just how important family is..

I loved this warning and message that Limpy craved on the box that the chupacabras' came from... "Chupacabra. Do not open. But, if you do, remember that the greatest monsters are those we create ourselves. Be Brave".

Limpy knows that there is more to life than the family farm and wants a chance to shine at art school but it seems like she will never get the chance. While storing potatoes in the cellar, Limpy finds a mysterious box and makes the huge mistake of opening it. Inside she finds mysterious eggs which hatch into adorable creatures. Or so she thinks. Limpy discovers the creatures are not what they seem and she needs to find a way of undoing the damage she has done and salvage any chance she has to go to art school.
I found "Keep in a Cold, Dark Place" by Michael F. Stewart to be a fun and fast read. I know others have said it but I am also reminded (to a degree anyway) of the gremlins but these guys have a bit of a nasty quality to them. I doubt that I will ever look at potatoes the same way again. The book is written in such a way that it would be a good introduction to horror for preteens/teens.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.

Well there's not a whole lot that can be said that everyone else has already stated. It does remind you a lot of gremlins. It's really nice book I really enjoyed it and was able to read it all in one sitting. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone ages 10-15 .

Reminiscent of the Gremlins, but more gruesome, 'Keep in a Cold, Dark Place' is a perfect story about the opening of Pandora's Box and the cutest little furry creatures that make your heart weep...that is, until they grow into something more 'fangy' than furry. Once I saw the cover, I just knew I had to read this book - reading the summary was only a formality born from habit here, but it did confirm that my impulsive reaction was not a mistake.

The story begins harmless enough, introducing our female main character, Limpy, and her really not so nice family, easily having us sympathize with her dream about leaving her father's potato farm in order to visit art school. When Limpy discovers a strange box with even stranger eggs in it beneath the potato sacks in the storage cellar, this triggers an avalanche of weird events. At first, Limpy is delighted about the fuzzy furry big-eyed creature hatching from one of the eggs. She adopts the little buddy, names him 'Chup' (loved that hint) and vows to care for him like a mother.

However, not long after Chup's siblings hatch from their eggs, and the little guys start playing tricks. Limpy tries to cover for them as best she can, but soon things get out of hand and it's not just harmless little tricks anymore. With the help of an unexpected friend, Limpy learns that Chup and his pals are growing into some very deadly ancient creatures which are bound to kill her and her family if she doesn't stop them...

The second main theme of this book, apart from the obvious creature feature, is family - its ups and downs, its cruelty towards each other, but also its bond of loyalty and sense of belonging, whether we like it or not. In this regard, the ending does have a slightly corny taste, but it works so well that it didn't bother me at all.

Featuring my favorite kind of creature, combined with a likable coming-of-age story and a well-balanced mixture of humor and horror, this book was a perfect read for me. I would love to see this made into a movie...or, skip the movie and go straight for the merchandise so that I can get my own little Chuppie!

Adult fans of the movie(s) Gremlins will find something to smile at within the pages of Keep in a Cold, Dark Place. Michael Stewart takes the furry to fury fuzzballs we all knew and loved, and twists their story just a bit to make it suitable for middle-grade fiction. Coos, cackles, and hijinks ensue when a young girl discovers something in family’s cellar that will have a permanent impact on everyone’s lives.

Taking place on a small potato farm in a small, podunk town with a Great Depression air about it, Keep In a Cold, Dark place crosses a few genre lines. Limphetta - Limpy - is only in 8th grade, but she's no stranger to hard work and reaching for dreams that don't seem achievable. From the calluses on her hands to the clothes that never fit her just right, to the family that seems to hold her very birth against her, she's someone to instantly feel for. She's the poor kid in every class that gets teased mercilessly for things beyond her control. She's the dreamer all the teachers hope to see succeed.

Keep in a Cold, Dark Place is ultimately a story about facing your fears. Limpy’s story is a classic one, where you can change out almost any particular element and still get the same message. Because it is middle-grade fiction, you know everything is going to turn out okay. There’s a certain comfort to that. I’m someone who loves to watch the world burn in my books, but occasionally a bit of “warm’n’fuzzy” is welcome.

A quick, easy read that will satiate the monstrous yearnings of your middle-grade reader, Keep in a Cold, Dark Place is worth picking up. The cover is cute and fitting. The story will appeal to both kids and adults. Michael Stewart knows how to stitch together a tale.

I need people I know to read this so I can discuss how clever it was. I can't do it here, in a review, as I'll ruin the impact for the next reader. Hurrumph.

In short, the genre is like a blend of American Great Depression literature + coming of age + a reinvisioned fairy tale. Essentially, NOT what I was expecting.

I love the protagonist. I wasn't so sure about the father but, come the end, I thought I understood him.

The book has left me with lots to think about - always the sign of a decent children's novel.

Review: KEEP IN A COLD, DARK PLACE by Michael F. Stewart

Fascinating, delightful, inspiring, yet supremely sad and subtly scary: KEEP IN A COLD, DARK PLACE is all of this and more. The story of a poorly-thriving, hardscratch existence of a potato-farming family, living just outside of a tiny town which itself can barely stay alive, this setting so reminded me of the Great Depression, and of the Dust Bowl so capably elucidated by author John Steinbeck. Yet this is contemporary, so it seems somehow worse.

Thirteen-year-old Limphetta ("Limpy") can never satisfy her rough Irish immigrant father nor her older brothers. Her mother died during Limpy' s birth, and so all the housework devolves to her, in addition to much of the farm work, and schooling. She just wants to create art, and to be loved. When she "coincidentally" unearths an antique box entombed under the barn' s cellar, Limpy, like Pandora, unleashes evil with good intentions. Maybe there is a real reason their farm has always been considered "cursed."

Keep in a Cold, Dark Place by Michael F. Stewart was received direct from the publisher.  I had never read this authors work before.  This book starts out slow and tells the story of a family, and specifically a teenage girl growing up on a potato farm, with a lot of potato farm knowledge thrown in,  and her dreams of moving on.  It should be noted she finds some eggs that hatch into pets, and then into creatures you did not see coming.  This book explores crop circles a bit as well.  I am not certain if this is supposed to be a young adult novel or if that is just me perception of it, but i feel it was PG-13 for a horror novel.

3 stars

I just had SO much fun reading this! I've read an awful lot of horror in my time, but none made me squirm in my seat more than this one did. Potatoes? Evil? Yes, and yes! You'll never look at a dusty bag of potatoes the same again... maybe I'll switch to pasta for my carbs?? Don't let this one pass you by, because I guarantee you've never read a book quite like this one before. Highly recommended.