Slime Doesn’t Pay by R.L. Stine

What worked:

This book takes a bratty little brother to a whole new level. Young readers with annoying siblings will relate to the issues Arnie creates for his older sister Amy. Most of the book is full of mean-spirited pranks which begins when he ruins Amy’s sleepover with three of her friends. He torments kids at school and gets kicked off his soccer team. Amy spends most of the book fuming that Arnie is out of control and laughs when he doesn’t respond to stern talks from their parents. The opening pages of the book foreshadow when she’ll do something terrible to get revenge and Amy will remind readers throughout the chapters to develop anticipation.

Most authors provide clues about a monster before having it make an appearance, but interestingly enough, a creature is introduced very early in this plot. Amy is the only character who sees it, and another monster later, so most of them start to suspect she’s imagining things. They doubt her even though there is damage to her clothes, injuries on her body, and black spines atop a pizza. Another creature attacks her later but it doesn’t look anything like the first one. This brings up the possibility that there may be more than one.

The synopsis summarizes most of the book so I’m not giving away any spoilers. This book is definitely a family-friendly version of Stine’s spooky novels as the fright and scariness never go too far. Amy’s scratches are the worst physical harm readers will encounter and her family and friends are key participants in the plot. Amy confides in her friends for support as they’re well aware of the mental trauma her brother creates. Her parents are sympathetic but they don’t have any useful suggestions for handling Arnie. The title indicates slime will have a major role in the story although readers don’t know the details and consequences.

What didn’t work as well:

Arnie’s bratty behavior can wear on readers’ nerves as he relentlessly harasses his sister and classmates. It begins to feel like overkill as the author stresses Arnie’s horrible antics beyond what is necessary. His character is clearly evil. However, the story’s resolution reveals why the author overdoes the description and it will all make sense in the end. The synopsis shares way too much information!

The final verdict:

This book is actually an excellent introduction to Stine’s novels. It’s not too scary but still gives young readers a taste of his style. It’s an enjoyable tale of monsters and slime and I recommend you give it a shot. 

Mahahaa by Neil Christopher

What worked:

The characters and story reflect Canadian Inuits and each page contains English language and Inuktut symbols. The English version contains translations of Inuktut vocabulary and the book includes a glossary of these terms in the back. The author wants to ensure this folktale, and others will be passed down to future generations. The story features Aulaja as she leaves her igloo to venture onto the icy lake to go jigging for fish. She’s told by her father to keep Siku, the family dog, close by for protection.

Of course, Aulaja innocently leaves Siku by the igloo while she goes fishing. Readers will scream for her to bring the dog along because they’ve been forewarned that dangers lurk in the wild. However, what would happen to conflict and suspense if kids always listened to their parents? The preface informs readers of the mythical Mahahaa that can tickle its victims to death. This may not seem like a life-threatening monster but young readers can relate to times when their older siblings tickled them to tears. The descriptions and illustrations of a scraggly beast with long bony claws will surely create some shivers. The cover is enough evidence of this.

What didn’t work as well:

The picture book is very short so the narrative is shared in a straightforward style. There’s little embellishment or description so the myth of Mahahaa is the entire story. While the plot develops quick tension, it lacks any character development and doesn’t go beyond a surface-level retelling of events.

The final verdict:

It’s always fun to read tales from other cultures and this book won’t disappoint. The illustrations are a highlight and help to make up for a lack of details in the narrative. Overall, this book is a spooky, quick read and I recommend you give it a shot.

Vivian Van Tassel and the Secret of Midnight Lake by Michael Witwer

What worked:

The most intriguing part of the book is the fact that Murkwood Middle School was one of many insane asylums located around Myrtle Lake. The school’s history makes it a creepy setting and the less-than-friendly teachers, except for Ms. Greenleaf, only add to the cold atmosphere. An immediate question is why there were so many sanitariums located this close together and readers will wonder if there might be lingering bad vibes and juju in Vivian’s school. She discovers many of the patients were diagnosed with very similar symptoms and delusions which adds to the evidence that something very strange was happening in Midnight Lake. Vivian’s school assignment is to report on the history of her school building but it evolves into solving the mystery of Mirror Lake.

Vivian’s character and personality are complicated and they often make her interactions with others challenging. She’s feeling anger and sadness since she blames herself for her mother’s death. She knows her emotions are on edge but she often can’t stop the fury from erupting. This loss of control results in physical altercations with classmates or sassy, disrespectful comments to her teachers. Vivian’s father offers to spend more time with her and talk when she’s having trouble but she just can’t bring herself to open up to him. Vivian begins to feel uneasy when she often notices a gray man keeping his eye on her from across the street or rooms. She doesn’t know his intentions so it’s easy to think the worst in the town of Midnight Lake.

Vivian begins to hang out with four misfits she finds playing a version of a Dungeons-and-Dragons-type game during the lunch period. The game’s creator once lived in Midnight Lake. The misfits are non-judgmental and Vivian can be at ease around them. Her anger comes in handy at one point when she steps in to help one of the kids deal with the school bully. However, Vivian won’t call them friends because becoming close to others only sets her up for future pain. The misfits welcome her whenever she chooses to show up and they offer her support as she adjusts to the new school. Their expertise in playing the game comes in handy when Vivian uncovers unbelievable news about the history of Midnight Lake.

What didn’t work as well:

Vivian’s personality makes it hard to feel sorry for her. Yes, the loss of her mother has caused her anger but she doesn’t develop honest, positive connections to any other characters. She tells her father she spends time with the misfits for research and she leaves their games suddenly without sharing any explanation. Her disrespect for characters and self-absorption in her own life may keep readers from feeling too sorry for her. Rest assured Vivian eventually transforms into a more positive character.

The final verdict:

The secret of Midnight Lake offers a thrilling mystery for young readers. Some clues are fairly obvious but the author still includes some surprises for later. Overall, I recommend you give the book a shot.

Alex Wise vs. the End of the World by Terry J. Benton-Walker

What worked:

The Shadow Man is a mysterious character that’s rarely seen. Alex thinks he sees something in the dark one evening, and Mags confirms she’s seen it too. Their uncertainty about its existence and the fact that it lurks in the shadows will have readers anxiously anticipating its official appearance. Alex is afraid to admit his experience to anyone because his mom won’t believe him, and he doesn’t want to worry his little sister. The Shadow Man materializes in Alex’s room one night, but it seems to be specifically targeting Mags. The Shadow Man kicks off the conflict, although it remains unclear exactly what he is and why he’s chosen Alex’s little sister.

The most unique aspect of this plot is having a brother pitted against his little sister. Mags is possessed by Death, one of the Four Horsemen signaling the apocalypse, and she becomes the main antagonist. Another god enters Alex’s body, although Alex maintains control over his decisions and personality. He is endowed with the power of Sense, but it doesn’t seem like much compared to Death’s ability to kill and destroy with a wave of the hand. Alex continues to have faith that Mags is still in her body even though Death is wreaking chaos across Los Angeles. It’s strange to combat a demon that happens to be living within his little sister.

Books involving godlike characters with magical powers usually take place in imaginary worlds, but this story is set in modern-day California among humans. Death, Famine, Pestilence, and War take over a local news broadcast, and Alex is restricted to common forms of transportation to fight them. How does a person get across town through snarled traffic to have a showdown with the enemy forces? A simple problem like this adds a little humor and tension to the conflict. The famous Hollywood sign becomes headquarters for the Four Horsemen, where they face off against the army’s soldiers, helicopters, and tanks. Alex and his friends ride their bikes or have Mr. Dexter, a teacher, drive around in a mini-Cooper while their foes are transported among the shadows.

What didn’t work as well:

A lot is going on in the plot, but it sometimes moves too slowly. There are various subplots providing backstories on the characters and events, but the actual conflict with the Four Horsemen is put on the back burner. However, this book is the first in a series and is setting the backdrop for future episodes. The history behind all of the characters and events in the book will be important to know in the book’s sequel.

The final verdict:

An important internal conflict concerns Alex’s lack of confidence, which includes admitting to others that he’s gay. His battle against Death is complicated since he doesn’t want to harm the possessed body of his little sister. The overall adventure should entertain middle-grade readers, and I recommend you give it a shot.

Three Tasks for a Dragon by Eoin Colfer and P.J. Lynch

 What worked:

This book reads like a fairy tale as it even begins with “Once there was a prince…” It’s possible to read it in one sitting. Prince Lir lives with his stepmother, the queen, but his stepbrother Prince Delbayne has evil plans to become king. Rulers of the kingdom have traditionally displayed control over hellhounds and Lir hasn’t displayed anything close to that ability. Delbayne masters blood magic and has bewitched his mother to send Lir, rightful heir to the throne, away from the kingdom forever. Lir’s only hope of returning is to complete a quest to rescue a maiden from the dragon Lasvarg. Will Lir live happily ever after?

The beautiful illustrations creatively blend with the narrative to depict Lir’s quest in pictures. I’m not an expert when it comes to art. However, the use of mostly pastel colors elicits a mysterious, magical tone that matches the events in the story. The illustrator catches the mannerisms and expressions of the characters, including Lasvarg, which enhances their descriptions. There’s a balance between realism and abstract so the images are easily understood without being too detailed. The illustrations come in a variety of sizes ranging from small corner spots to full, two-page layouts. They wonderfully enhance the story for young readers to make reading the book a magical experience.

The highlight of the book is LIr’s character and his relationship with Lavarg. Despite being a prince, Lir has no desire to rule the kingdom and would rather learn and study science. He has a creative, logical mind as exhibited while completing tasks before the formerly terrifying dragon. He decides it’s a terrible idea to attempt dangerous, life-threatening tasks and chooses to find ways to actually help Lasvarg. He’s able to utilize resources in new ways to create practical inventions. Lir’s new attitude toward defeating the dragon keeps Lasvarg from eating him right away and the pair develop a unique connection as a result.

What didn’t work as well:

The book’s ending almost feels like an epilogue, although it’s not, but the resolution is left to readers’ imaginations. The author might have left the story with a more predictable future to help readers with closure. As it is, the plot could easily lead into a sequel although I don’t know if that’s in the plans.

The final verdict:

The fairytale-like format makes the plot easy to follow as young readers have an idea of what to expect. The author includes his own twists to keep the story fresh and entertaining and I recommend you give it a shot.

Forever Twelve (The Evers) by Stacy McAnulty

What worked:

The narrative is told from multiple points of view, mostly focusing on Ivy and Ronan. These two students have vastly different motivations for attending West Archer Academy and it’s helpful to know what they’re thinking. Ivy has her life goals planned out as she’ll eventually become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. She doesn’t want friends and other distractions to derail her plans. Ronan has never been a dedicated student but he wants to attend the boarding school where no one knows his mother is a psychic. The third point of view is from Abigail who is one of the Evers. She introduces the conflict that becomes the focus in the second half of the book. Abigail’s best friend disappeared decades ago and it seems Ivy bears a striking resemblance to her. There are a few other chapters with flashbacks to inform readers of events from decades or centuries ago.

The author slowly develops the topic of eternal life to help Ivy and readers accept the idea. There are mentions of character experiences that couldn’t have happened until Abigail reveals the truth to an unbelieving Ivy. Being immune to aging, diseases, and most injuries creates discussion about the topic of living forever. It may seem like an ideal concept for mortals but the Evers share a different viewpoint. They’ve experienced the downside of living eternally among humans who must die and a couple of the characters express some regret for their situations. This difficult mixture of feelings provides readers with food for thought about the possibility of living forever.

The character relationships add intrigue to the plot. The author mentions Abigail’s younger brother James but he’s absent for most of the plot. The two of them had a disagreement in the past but readers are left to wonder about the source of the problem. Abigail is also Ivy’s roommate and she enlists Ivy’s help in finding out what happened to her best friend Grace. Este is the “oldest” Ever and she displays great animosity toward Ivy. Ivy has no idea where the anger comes from but she avoids being near Este whenever she can. Ronan becomes closer to Ivy but he’s unaware of the Evers and the issues they’re dealing with. His importance in the plot is minimal until Ivy discovers a secret he’s hiding and asks him for help.

What didn’t work as well:

Readers will connect with Ivy’s character but the rest of them aren’t developed as much. Ronan is absent from most of the scenes involving the Evers and Abigail is mostly focused on finding Grace. Little is known about the other Evers until some secrets are shared toward the end of the book.

The final verdict:

Ivy’s challenging relationship with the Evers carries the story and readers will appreciate the difficulties that arise. The book addresses common thoughts about eternal life and may inspire readers to consider them too. Overall, this book is enjoyable and thought-provoking and I recommend you give it a shot.

Bite Risk by S.J. Wills

What worked:

The opening page is sure to grab the attention of young readers. It describes Sel getting ready for the evening by tossing a bloody steak into his mother’s iron cage. This routine introduces us to a world where adults and those around the age of fifteen transform into monsters every month on Confinement Day. Everyone in Tremorglade accepts that this is the way things are and kids are responsible for taking care of the adults when they Turn. Sel’s best friend is his neighbor Elena and her teenage brother Pedro goes through the changes. Together, they begin to realize the cause of the doldrums kids experience during Confinement and it’s only the start of even more stunning discoveries.

There’s a company called Sequest that provides a wide range of products to help the citizens of Tremorglade exist among Rippers. They produce medical supplies, tranquilizer darts, and holding cells that are crucial for surviving the myriad of problems in the town. However, there are a few practices that might be invasions of privacy and Sel and her friends discover something shocking the night pigeons go crazy. An elderly friend named Harold, who is one of the very rare humans immune to the Ripper transformation, is convinced there’s a secret conspiracy that involves Sequest. Most people chalk it up to being a crazy old man but Sel and his friends slowly suspect there’s substance to what he’s saying.

There’s more to this book than readers might expect. It begins by describing a world with Rippers and then focuses on the complications in Tremorglade. The suspicions about Sequest’s motivations and policies add another layer of drama and create a mystery for the main characters to solve. Sel and Elana don’t know who can be trusted and they’re constantly worried about the welfare of their parents. The tension amps up more when an important character disappears which emphasizes the magnitude of the problem. Just when readers sense the plot may be predictable the author saves some big surprises and twists until the very end. Characters switch from allies to enemies and vice versa.

What didn’t work as well:

The timeline of events seems a little off. Confinement happens once each month and there are a number of them in the plot. However, it doesn’t feel like enough time passes between them. Also, the revelation about Tremorglade’s past doesn’t make sense when readers consider the age of the adults.

The final verdict:

This book is more than werewolves and the unexpected developments in the plot are highlights. It reinforces the fact that those people in control of information are also the ones who create reality. Overall, this book is very engaging and creative and I recommend you give it a shot.