Halloween’s coming and what better time to read mysterious fiction than after the sun goes down? All of these books, except the last book, are good for ages nine and older. The last book is an early chapter reader book good for ages seven to nine.
Zombie Baseball Beatdown, by Paolo Bacigalupi, is much more than just a zombie story. Three middle school buddies smell something strange coming from the local meatpacking company and soon discover that the cows are living in filthy conditions and don’t appear to be normal. When their baseball coach becomes strange as well, they are very suspicious. This very clever book involves several levels of interest. The story weaves values of courage, loyalty and friendship throughout, as well as humor. But, this great mystery will certainly draw even the reluctant reader in because of the zombie component.
Rules for Ghosting, by A. J. Paquette, is a fast-paced ghost story that has short chapters and is not overly long with only 257 pages. A twelve-year-old ghost, Dahlia, has been stuck in an old manor for years and has no memory of who she is or how she died. Oliver and his family have just moved into the large house to prepare it for auction. He is determined to not move again and wants to make this house his permanent residence. Meanwhile, a special ghost arrives to help Dahlia move on. But this special ghost is kidnapped by a ghost hunter. Now Dahlia must break the most important law: never contact the living. She contacts Oliver to get help. You’d better make time before opening this book because once started, you won’t stop!
Gustav Gloom and the Nightmare Vault, by Adam-Troy Castro, and illustrated with pictures sprinkled throughout by Kirsten Margiotta, is a sequel to “Gustav Gloom and the People Taker”. Gustav can’t ever leave his house and yard. He has made friends with Fernie who lives nearby. They are both facing a new danger: an enemy named October. He is attempting to get inside Gustav’s home in order to locate the locked up vault that contains nightmares. Even though the outcome is predictable, it doesn’t slow the pace of anticipation as pages will likely be turned to reach to end.
Ghost Buddy: Always Dance with a Hairy Buffalo, by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, is another delightful tongue-in-cheek story featuring a most helpful ghost: Hoover. He usually gives his expert advice to Billy as he’s always attempting to help him. But problems ensue when one night at a museum, Hoover meets his match with a ghost of an Indian princess and this is when the roles are reversed and now Billy gets to advise Hoover.
The Lonely Lake Monster (The Imaginary Veterinary series), by Suzanne Selfors, and filled with imagination drawn by Dan Santat, finds Pearl and Ben helping Dr. Woo at his hospital for imaginary creatures. But Pearl finds something mysterious out in the middle of the lake and poor Ben is suddenly captured by this mysterious something and taken captive. Now what will Pearl do? This is an excellent series with just enough outstanding pictures to keep the new chapter reader going!