BOY MEETS GHOUL

This sequel to Boy Meets Hamster (2020) does not suffer from sophomore slump.

After escaping a summer caravan park with his dignity (and a new boyfriend), English teen Dylan and his family are back in a second adventure complete with the same dry wit and frantic humor of their first outing. This time, football-savant Dylan is signed up for Feet of the Future, a weeklong soccer training camp in Manchester during his school’s half-term break. Best friend Kayla is tagging along once more, as she’s signed up for the accompanying cheerleader training. Of course, this is a ruse: Kayla is really there for metal group Deathsplash Nightmares’ Ghoulish Games gig on Halloween. Sure, the concert is sold out, but Kayla has plans to create a viral video in order to win tickets from a local radio station. With Leo off dancing in a show and their contact limited to text and the occasional video chat, Dylan is distracted by fellow footie teammate and original school crush Freddie. Readers of the first story will be clamoring to pick up this second adventure, and its British slang combines with quick-paced humor to deliver a hilarious punch. Most main characters are White; the first volume cues Kayla as biracial (Filipino/White) and Leo as Black.

Will have readers rolling on the floor with laughter.