Sunday, January 20, 2013

book reviews: supernatural series fiction

When it rains, it pours. It seems my grand plan to incorporate reviews into this blog has turned extraordinarily fruitful in a very short period of time, such that now I kind of have too many books to review and far too little time. Never enough time! But that's a fine problem to have, I think. Better than the obverse. But let's get to the good stuff!

Winkler, Henry and Lin Oliver. Ghost Buddy #3: How to Scare the Pants Off Your Pets. Scholastic. January 2013. Grades 3-6. 176p. ISBN 978-0-545-29884-1


Hoover Porterhouse III (a/k/a the Hoove) loves goats, hates lizards, and is highly allergic to paint fumes. He also happens to be an extremely self-confident tween ghost whose closest friend is mild-mannered sixth grader Billy Broccoli. When the Hoove is grounded by the Higher-Ups for his noted shortcomings in accepting personal responsibility, Billy hatches a plan to get his friend back in their good graces and teach him a valuable (after)life lesson. This middle-grade/tween novel offers two likeable protagonists, and though the story may drag at times, it is carried by its silly humor and a sweet heart. While the Hoove likes to hog the spotlight, it’s Billy Broccoli and his struggles readers will empathize with most readily: crushes, bullies, and adjusting to a blended family.  




Stine, R.L. Goosebumps Most Wanted #2: Son of Slappy. Scholastic. Jan. 2013. 160p. Grades 4-7. ISBN 978-0-545-41799-0

You might call Jackson Stander something of a goody-goody; he always gets his homework done, relishes doing chores, and even volunteers at the local youth center. But when he and his sister Rachel return from a spring break visit with their eccentric Grandpa Whitman, Jackson finds a sinister stowaway in his luggage: a creepy ventriloquist dummy who is the son of infamous Goosebumps villain Slappy. Middle grade/early YA spooky supernatural fiction firmly in the familiar Goosebumps tradition, this series fiction novel moves relatively briskly with a relatable protagonist, an over-the-top baddie, and just-spooky-enough twists and turns to keep genre fans engaged.




All novels were reviewed in their galley formats. The published books may differ from the review copies, and this reviewer was not able to review finished artwork.

No comments:

Post a Comment