FRANKENSTEIN'S HAMSTER

Griffiths debuts with a group of scary stories that are guaranteed to shock and delight young readers with their deft plot spins and bold swashes of gore in a deceptively ``normal'' world. In the title story, a nerdy schoolmate mixes robotics and taxidermy to contrive a permanent best friend; in ``Decorating the Bridge,'' a student dies in a train accident and is reincarnated as his bumbling, alcoholic teacher; in ``The Slipscream,'' a boy thinks he has done away with a potential stepfather—only to be haunted forever by his apparition. Tersely worded and swiftly paced, the ghoulish fun features comically eerie b&w illustrations, matching the tales' coolly ironic tone. Just right for Gorog fans. (Fiction/Short stories. 10+)