Book Review: All Hallows’ Eve by Anthony DeStefano
As a Catholic parent, I’m always on the lookout for stories that capture my children’s attention while nurturing their faith. All Hallows’ Eve by Anthony DeStefano does just that. It’s both spooky and sacred—a story that reclaims the true purpose of Halloween and reminds families of the beauty behind this holy day.
Author DeStefano reminds us to keep the Hallow—or “holy”—in Halloween. He opens the book by explaining that Halloween is actually All Hallows’ Eve, the first of three days known as All Hallows’ Tide, which includes All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. These are days meant for honoring the saints in heaven and praying for the souls in purgatory. Sadly, secular culture has largely stripped these days of their meaning, replacing reverence with commercialism and, sometimes, fear.
Truths Revealed
Through the story of four children who meet the mysterious Hulga May in a moonlit cemetery, DeStefano brings these truths back to life. Hulga gently reminds them that Halloween is not about monsters or mischief, but about prayer, penance, and respect for the dead. Her haunting yet hopeful words teach that those who are in purgatory will one day reach Heaven but they need our prayers and sacrifices to help them on that journey.
I love a lot of things about this book: the transformation of a young girl, the ending you won’t see coming, and the opportunity it creates for faith-filled family moments. Older siblings can read it aloud to younger ones (so they can get the message without having to “read” a children’s book). The rhyming text moves quickly, and the eerie yet beautiful illustrations by Erwin Madrid pull everyone into the story. The experience becomes more than just story time, but helps everyone share in both the thrills of the story and the deeper spiritual message.
All Hallows’ Eve belongs in every Catholic home library. It’s a beautiful way to reclaim Halloween, restore its sacred meaning, and remind our children that holiness, not horror, is at the heart of this holy tide.
Reviewed by Martha Haenni, CCL Family Foundations Assistant Editor and PeakDay Podcast host.