The October issue of Cricket is filled with ghosts and strange happenings. Even Ugly seems to be living in a nightmare. Boo!

“Nighttown” by Robert D. San Souci--A boy wakes from a strange nightmare--or does he?

“Mountain Mystery” by Connie Pettersen--Two girls take shelter from a rainstorm with the ghost of an old miner.

“The Taste of Banzo’s Sword” by Kate Walker--Young Matajuro Jagyu grows up to be one of Japan’s greatest kendo masters, even though both his father and his teacher tell him that he has no skill for sword fighting.

“Water to Ice, Part 2”--Jake learns a lesson from Master Kinsella that helps him take on Mike Glover’s gang of bullies.

“Drawing from Memory, Part 3” by Allen Say--While sketching street scenes in Tokyo, Kiyoi and Tokida barely escape a mob protesting for work and better government.

“Civil War Air Force” by Richard Bauman--Did you know that the Union had an air force of spy balloons?

“The Dream Basket” by Lindsay Koch--A young girl interprets her strange dreams and saves her people from a coming famine.

Plus a new story contest about dreams, a frightful Ugly Bird puzzle, Old Cricket Says, and an activity to create a Native American dream catcher.