Trigger Warning: Mushrooms 🍄 (Seriously, Why?) Okay, first things first—why did no one warn me about the mushrooms? I mean, yuck. How do people eat those things without questioning their life choices? But once I got past the fungal horror, I dove into what turned out to be a stellar middle-grade horror novel. Sure, I’m a few decades past the target age group, but how could I resist a story from the twisted genius behind A Head Full of Ghosts?
Summed Up (No Spoilers, Promise): Casey’s going through a hard time after a humiliating online classroom incident leaves him isolated and friendless. Things take a bizarre turn when a mysterious stranger shows up at his doorstep with an unexpected houseguest: a waxy, practically faceless boy named Morel. He doesn’t eat. He doesn’t sleep. He’s definitely not normal. Who—or what—is Morel? You’ll have to read to find out.
What Worked: This book is unsettling in the best way—even for the young at heart!! Paul Tremblay doesn’t know how to write not creepy, and I’m grateful for that. The story kept me guessing, which is rare in middle-grade horror, a genre that often leans on predictable tropes. What are the dark forces swirling around Morel? Why is his appearance shifting so rapidly? And what’s going on with Casey’s parents, who seem to be drifting into some kind of dazed oblivion? I tore through this in one afternoon because I had to know.
Thoughts on Character Development: Tremblay doesn’t just deliver scares—he builds characters you care about. Casey’s loneliness, his awkwardness, his desperate need for best friend – it all brings back so many memories from my mispent youth. He’s also navigating life with a visible disability, which Tremblay handles with authenticity. Seriously, so many YA authors need to take notes because it seems like they’re just ticking off some boxes to stay on top of the trends.
Final Verdict: This debut middle-grade horror novel is eerie, emotionally resonant, and totally absorbing. Young readers will find themselves in Casey’s struggles—and older readers will appreciate the creepy foreshadowing and twist ending!
The gist: Raf and his sister, Brianna, are dealing with a LOT! Their incarcerated mother is about to come home and possibly derail their lives again, and they’re being tormented by an evil force that kills children under the red moon. It’s up to Raf to break the curse before he becomes the next victim of the Caretaker–mu ha ha ha-HA!
What I liked: This book has some faults (we’ll get into that later), but the author did an amazing job with Raf. I absolutely loved this character for many reasons. He’s a fighter and a fierce protector of his sister. Their relationship gave me Dani and Max vibes from Hocus Pocus, and I could almost hear the musical score during chase scenes in the haunted forest. So, if you’re looking for a YA spooky season read, this is it!
What irked me: I loved everything about this book except for the moral of the story. The Caretaker is scary, but the more threatening dark force looming over these kids is the soon-to-be-paroled incarcerated mother. We get bits and pieces of the chaos, negligence and child endangerment Raf and Brianna endured, and I’m not okay with any of it. Raf is justifiably angry and fearful, yet his grandparents and sister just keep pestering him to embrace his mother with open arms. I’m glad this is a work of fiction, otherwise, I’d fear for their safety. Who knows what could happen when the mother falls of the wagon and whisks them away to some chaotic drug den. Come to think of it…shouldn’t she be in some sort of treatment facility or halfway house for recovering addicts instead of returning straight home to her children? As nice as it sounds to forgive and move on, life just doesn’t work that way, and I feel like this book sends the wrong message to people. Here’s my message: Don’t pressure or shame others who aren’t ready or willing to forgive. Child abuse and neglect is serious, and I don’t think the author handled this very well. Period.
The spook factor: On a scale from one to ten, I’d give this an eight on the spook-o-meter. We’re dealing with witchcraft, a child-killing demon, a haunted pond, and even a demonic furry toe! Again, perfect for Halloween reading.
Overall: Aside from the problematic morality tale, I really enjoyed this creepy adventure. I’ve seen this storyline a time or two in movies (ex: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Goosebumps), but a few new elements were added to the mix to keep it fresh–including a spotted shape-shifting kitty named Balam. I recommend this to fans of R.L. Stine and Mary Downing Hahn.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with this ARC! One look at this cover—and the title—and I knew I had to read this cute little book filled with adorable dogs romping around a Brooklyn park. This is a very cute little book that delivers feel-good dog stories without the tears and tissues at the end.
I enjoyed following the stories of the dogs and their families, who are all going through life’s challenges. Even though this is a fun and fluffy book of dog stories, we’re dealing with some weighty issues—from dealing with a mom in rehab, to living with anxiety amidst major life changes, to losing a best friend.
I can see a lot of youngsters finding at least one relatable character in this ensemble cast of dog lovers. My only gripe is that it’s too short, and I want more dog park fun! I highly, highly recommend this one for parents who like to read to their kiddos. The illustrations are super cute, and I’m sure this will be a gorgeous hardback once it hits the shelves on November 5.
Wowza—it’s been a minute since my last post. I’ve had a rough go of it lately with the whole job-loss thing and equally depressing job-search thing. Life sure can throw some curveballs, eh? Either way, we’re here to have fun, so let’s talk five-star reads! Here are some highlights from my spring 2024 reading list:
Nimbus by Jan Eldredge
Cat lovers, you’re in for a treat! This is such a cute book with magical felines, a kind-hearted witch, and the cutest little sweater-wearing, Shakespeare-quoting rat sidekick! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and was completely invested in little Nimbus’s homeward-bound journey. Fantasies aren’t really my cup of tea, but I made an exception for this one. The cover alone sold me. I mean, how could I turn away from those adorable little faces? The evil dream demons were terrible, but the worst characters were the cruel humans dumping their pets. Nimbus’s newfound friends have tragic backstories involving human cruelty, which can be hard to read, but the kind-hearted witch, Agatha, renewed my faith in humanity, reminding me that there’s a lot of good in this world. I loved getting to know each of the resident cats–even the grumpy ones–through Nimbus’ magical dream-walking escapades. They’re all quite fascinating, and I’m rather fond of the tubby calico, Fern, and her stuffed squirrel toy. This story is just too cute and the ending was the cat’s meow!
Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan
This book was a fun—and much-needed—surprise that arrived at my doorstep, thanks to my sister! She even sent me a Disney cats throw blanket so I could cozy up with a good book during my dark days of sudden unemployment. Isn’t that the nicest thing? Anyhoo, this book proved to be the perfect distraction with its cast of vampire-slaying Southern women. Judging by the cover, I was expecting more of a light paranormal romance, but this book was SCARY!!! Yo! I was not expecting grisly scenes of vampires/zombies (a hybrid, I guess?) tearing people apart. This is NOT a cozy little Southern romantasy, people! Lucky for me, I absolutely love gross horror stories with feral, non-sparkling vampires terrorizing the town. I also loved that this story centered around four generations of vampire-slaying women. One of whom has a dark secret that comes out later in the book…when things get real. Whilst protecting the town from the newly-turned vampire/zombies, they sort out their family drama issues, and boy does it get messy. Think Steel Magnolias meets 30 Days of Night meets Six Feet Under. Loved it!!!
Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowman
Once again, I’ve realized I can never go wrong with a Royal Spyness mystery. I only “read” these books via Audible because the narrator cracks me up with the characters’ voices. Since watching “Emily in Paris” (please don’t judge me!), I’ve been drawn to books that transport me to this fascinating city with streetside cafes, dazzling cityscapes, and croissants galore. Naturally, this story surrounds a fashion show by none other than Cocoa Chanel! Hijinks ensue when Lady Georgianna stumbles upon a dead body at a VIP runway show and soon becomes suspect number one! Seriously, the detectives in these books are always so clueless. I mean really…why would a pregnant British woman come to Paris to kill a complete stranger? Is it terrible that I was happy the murder victim turned out to be a pushy, entitled, “new money” woman who thought she could buy her way into everything? Ugh…Americans! Anyways…I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical whodunnits that are heavy on comedy and light on mystery.
Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano
I love, love, love a slow-burn horror story, but only if it’s done well. It could be ruined with an underwhelming ending or turn into a convoluted, confusing mess. Lucky for me, this book delivered a dark, creepy ending that left me wanting more. The premise alone gives me the willies! Imagine going to a sparsely populated island with secretive townsfolk who are all living in a time warp. There are just SO MANY QUESTIONS! Why don’t the townsfolk ever leave the island? Why did an outsider’s dead son scribble “Clifford Island” on the floorboards of his bedroom right before he died? Why do the islanders participate in strange daily rituals? And why is it so scary for them to deviate from their routines? What’s out there in the woods peeking inside of windows??? All these questions had me glued to the pages—and boy was I creeped out. We’re dealing with different narrators throughout the book: Willow, the interloping woman trying to solve the puzzle of her dead son’s cryptic note; and Harper, Willow’s brother searching for his missing sister—a quest that gets darker and stranger by the day. Slow-burns aren’t for everyone, but I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with creepy, ghostly stalkers lurking in the woods.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
Kakaweeeeeee! Oh my goodness, y’all, this book was a hoot! With his mix of comedy and horror, Grady Hendrix is an acquired taste. For the most part, I avoid horror satire, but Grady Hendrix is an exception because his characters and storylines are just so entertaining. This one revolves around a divorced single mom who’s summoned back to her dreaded family home to take care of her dead parents’ affairs. To make matters worse, she must deal with her deadbeat brother who is a real piece of work. He carries some deep-seated disdain for his sister, and we soon learn why as the memories of their bizarre childhood start to unfold. Something is VERY WRONG with that house, and it all boils back to their eccentric mother’s love of puppets. One puppet in particular is Pupkin, a demonic toy that tends to take control of its handlers! Think Slappy from Goodbumps meets the Exorcist. Things escalate very quickly—power tools are involved. Seriously, this book would make one heck of a movie. Despite the comedy aspect, this book has some very creepy parts, especially the childhood flashback of Pupkin whispering in ears and forcing people to do some bad things. Trust me, it’s intense!
Confession: I’m a sucker for middle grade mysteries! They take me back to the days of yore when I had nothing to do with my time other than climbing trees and riding my beloved mountain bike around the neighborhood. Boy do I wish I held on to that old bike. We had us some good adventures around the mean streets of Santee, California (the armpit of San Diego).
But I digress, this is a quality read, even for the not-so-young adults who love a good dog-themed mystery. CeeCee especially loved the two preteen detectives who stopped at nothing in the name of canine justice. Woof!
The gist: Two kiddos, ZeeBee and Keenan, form a friendship while tracking down the murderer of ZeeBee’s beloved neerdowell dog Barney. They have their work cut out for them because practically all the Centerville Island townies have ample motives for snuffing out the massive beast.
What I liked: What didn’t I like about this book? It’s got everything I love about YA fiction: mystery, treasure hunts, bike—riding adventures and puppy sidekicks. What really makes this book unique is the little island of Centerville. Located on the Canadian-Michigan border, it’s a hop, skip and a jump from one country to another. I just loved the descriptions of the quaint little touristy village, which took me back to my vacations in Traverse City and Mackinac Island. I also really loved that it is packed with gangster legends and lore—such fun!
Favorite character: I saw SO much of myself in ZeeBee, so she won my heart. Although I wanted to smack her upside the head every time she ignored her poor little dog, Barney Two. Wracked with grief over her murdered dog, she couldn’t bring herself to love another pooch, but despite her indifference, that poor little fluffy spaniel loved her fiercely. Alas, the heart wants what the heart wants. Dogs are kind of funny that way, aren’t they?
Aside from ZeeBee’s misguided ways, I truly felt for her when she was the outsider looking in at all the cool kids having fun at the park. Branded as “that weird girl who is obsessed with gangster history,” she gave up on making friends (of the human variety) until Keenan came along. She was further isolated by the wonky school districting that forced her to attend a school across the island, away from all the kiddos in her hood. So yeah, it’s hard not to empathize with a lonely social outcast like ZeeBee. But don’t worry, dear readers, things have a way of working out. This is a YA book after all.
Thoughts on the mystery: I have to hand it to the author, this is a solid whodunit that really kept me guessing! Could the murder have been committed by the elderly sisters who hated Barney for trampling their prize-winning plants? Could it have been the local grocer who was terrorized by the massive beast in search of snacks? Or perhaps it was the uptight soccer dad around the block who was bitter about Barney demolishing his fence! There are so many suspects, so many clues—and it all leads back to the fascinating prohibition-era gangster lore. Such fun!
Overall: This is my first introduction to Gordon Korman’s mastery of children’s fiction, and now I know why he’s so wildly popular. If you enjoy a good story with lovable, quirky characters, snappy dialogue, fun settings, mystery and lore, this book is for you! I would love to see more adventures of Barney Two, ZeeBee and Keenan, but sadly I think this is a standalone.
BUBBLE BUBBLE BOOKS & TROUBLE 