Page 39 - Ziptales Program Manual - US

Horror

The Open Window: A nervous young man has been sent to the countryside to recuperate after
a nervous collapse. He presents himself at a grand house. While he is waiting to be received,
he is told a series of harrowing stories by a young girl – with hilarious consequences.
(998 words) (Zip Stage 9)

Trapped: A boy is playing on the beach, while his mother sunbathes. He discovers a sea cave
and decides to explore it. What he doesn’t expect is that the rising tide will prevent him going
back the way he has come. Will this be a fatal adventure? (1230 words) (Zip Stage 9)

Three Wishes: A soldier returns from India with a mysterious mummified foot. It has magical
properties – the power to grant wishes. Reluctantly he gives it up, warning that the wishes
come true in strange ways, and often with a sinister twist. The rest of the story sees the
working out of one set of fatal wishes. (2402 words) (Zip Stage 9)

Black Knight: A young couple have bought a beautiful house in the country. It has a long and
dark past. Gradually they learn about the local legend of a black knight, whose effigy lies in the
church on top of the hill. On Halloween, the knight is said to rise from the dead. A chilling and
really spooky tale. (2766 words) (Zip Stage 10)

People and Values

Mimi’s Gift: Rosie finds herself lost in Paris. She’s annoyed with her family, who seem
uninterested in her. However the crisis causes a major and welcome change in her life,
and her relationships. (1216 words) (Zip Stage 9)

The Stones: Myra is the new girl at school and it turns out that she has magical powers.
To everyone’s surprise she sees off the class bully and saves the life of a classmate.
A charming story of magic realism. (1603 words) (Zip Stage 9)

Nan: Nan is forgetting things. Her family are worried and take her to the doctor. Sure enough,
she is diagnosed with dementia. This gentle and revealing story charts the fatal progress of a
common disease with moving insight. (2375 words) (Zip Stage 9)

The Drifter: The time is the First World War. Meredith Burgess’ husband is away fighting.
One day a stranger appears. Meredith treats him kindly. He is grateful, and eventually
goes. Then terrible news comes. However, Meredith’s kindness is rewarded in the most
extraordinary way. (2211 words) (Zip Stage 9)

True Tales

The Vanishing Author: Agatha Christie is known around the world as the creator of
Hercule Poirot, and the author of 80 bestselling detective stories. She has sold more books
than anyone else in history. But the author herself once disappeared, in a bizarre story that
could have come from one of her own novels. (1060 words) (Zip Stage 9)

Runaway Ghost Train: One night in New Jersey, a locomotive was mysteriously started.
The ‘ghost’ loco, with no one in charge, came out of the railroad yards and jumped the points,
beginning a frightening journey down the main line. How could the authorities stop it before
it caused massive casualties? (2045 words) (Zip Stage 9)

Mayday: One night, a yacht was rolled and dismasted in a freak storm. The skipper was
seriously hurt in the accident and the only other crew, his wife, radioed for help. But who
could possibly rescue them in such conditions? (2211 words) (Zip Stage 10)

At the end of every story are two interactive 37
comprehension tests, for immediate feedback.

Worksheets are available for every story.