In Beware, the Snallygaster, a children’s chapter book by Patrick Boyton, eleven year-old Middletown Middle School students Holly Cooper and Peter Henderson work to uncover the mystery of a giant winged creature reportedly sighted in their small town. Although Boyton's Halloween storybook is entirely fictional, the author has spent many years researching the very real history and folklore of Maryland's Snallygaster monster.
Dating back to the 19th century, residents of Frederick County shared tales of the Snallygaster whose name derives from the German“Schneller Geist,” which means “fast-moving spirit or ghost.” Stories of the one-eyed, dragon-like monster swooping down from the sky to snatch chickens and even small children were passed down from generation to generation. On February 12, 1909, the Snallygaster unexpectedly made front page news in the Middletown Valley Register when a man named Bill Gifferson was allegedly attacked and killed by the blood thirsty beast. Reported sightings and genuine fear spread throughout the region.
Adapted for a young audience, Boyton has weaved historical accounts of the Snallygaster into his own creative monster legend. Boyton explains how he “grew up reading authors like Ray Bradbury and John Bellairs [and] wanted to capture that nostalgic eeriness found in their children’s books.” Fans of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series are likely to enjoy Beware, the Snallygaster, while parents will appreciate Boyton's decision “to avoid anything gross or overly frightening, choosing instead to emphasize character and mystery.”
Just in time for Halloween, Beware, the Snallygaster is available for loan at all Frederick County Public Libraries, and for purchase at Snallygaster Gifts in Middletown and Turn the Page in Boonsboro. It can also be ordered online at Amazon.com.
For more information, visit http://bewarethesnallygaster.wordpress.com or contact pboyton@comcast.net.
As long as we keep the campfire story alive, the Snallygaster will be with us. But the fire is dying. It's up to us to tell the tale.
Nicole Moorman is a contributor and former intern at Maryland Life.
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