INVASION OF THE ROAD WEENIES

Jeremy keeps hearing loud thuds in the night; he’s sure something is living in his septic tank. Some drain cleaner quiets the noise but actually stinks up the house. When the plumber comes to pump the tank, Jeremy discovers there really is more than bacteria in the tank. Andrea learns there’s a reason kindergartners are taught to line up straight; Eric learns that the dead won’t hurt you unless you hurt them first. Wish fulfillment, just deserts and adults who don’t listen are the frequent themes of these sometimes creepy, sometimes silly and sometimes lame stories. Lubar’s second volume of Weenie vignettes is better than the first, but make no mistake, these stories feature no character development and often-nonsensical plots. That said, fans of the first will find this compulsively readable. Others looking for a light, quick read might enjoy them, too, as long as they don’t invest too much thought in the whys and wherefores. A few offerings, including the first “Last Halloween,” will even make fun read-alouds in dimly lit rooms. (Fiction. 9-12)