UP TO NO GHOUL

Evil takes root in this chilling sequel.

Ander’s Landing is a “beacon for the unusual and the insidious.” Most denizens go about their days without noticing. Those who do notice blame it on the ghouls. Despite this, Grey, a biracial middle schooler (his mother is brown-skinned; his father presents as White), maintains his forbidden friendship with Lavinia, a young ghoul, through secret rendezvous and gifts left in the cemetery. When a mysterious blood drive pops up in town, the adults start obsessively donating, sleepwalking, and more. Young people soon follow. Through truly terrifying (and beautifully rendered) nightmares, Grey brainstorms the possible culprit behind it all. His theory: vampires. But, with no one to believe him, Grey must risk it all to enlist Lavinia’s help to save both their homes—or else. Bunn expands upon the ghoul lore introduced in The Ghoul Next Door (2021) to create a compelling supernatural history. Though the vilification of ghouls throughout is pervasive, toward the end, there’s an empowering moment for Lavinia, who embraces her ghoul identity. Farris’ dynamic paneling and Melanie Ujimori’s evocative lettering add playfulness (and occasional comedy) to the grim plot. The vibrant illustrations, rendered digitally and in watercolor, ink, and mixed-media paper, feature bloodlike drips on the copyright page—a thematic and immersive touch.

Gorgeous art meets ghoulish, monster-hunting fun.