Young Dinkin Dings is afraid of everything—from the usual scary things to the inexplicable ("trees, peas, knees, fleas"). When a new kid moves in next door, he is convinced that the innocent-looking girl in the “100% Pony Crazy” T-shirt is something to be feared—a “flesh-eating alien space zombie from beyond horror!” Yes, Dinkin knows that little Molly Coddle and her family are bent on rapacious, brain-eating, zombie-creating terror. The only things that don’t scare Dinkin are his helpers—creatures that he summons from under his bed each night. Perhaps it’s because these Frightening Things are just as scared as Dinkin is. Though amusing details, like the statistics at the beginning of each chapter ("Chance of rain: 27% / Chance of world ending: 65%"), and over-the-top exaggeration should move the narrative along, the plot drags as readers wait for the Dinkin to find out the truth about his neighbor. Frequent pen-and-ink illustrations of bug-eyed children and goofily retro parents remind children that this is not really supposed to be a scary story, making the surprise ending even more of a surprise. Plays on words, exaggerated fears and an unexpected allergy add up to a funny book for new readers of the very patient variety who like something just a little bit scary. (Fiction. 7-10)
Pub Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-448-45432-0
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2011
Lighthearted spook with a heaping side of silliness—and hair.
Fifth graders get into a hairy situation.
After an unnamed narrator’s full-page warning, readers dive right into a Wolver Hollow classroom. Mr. Noffler recounts the town legend about how, every Oct. 19, residents don fake mustaches and lock their doors. As the story goes, the late Bockius Beauregard was vaporized in an “unfortunate black powder incident,” but, somehow, his “magnificent mustache” survived to haunt the town. Once a year, the spectral ’stache searches for an exposed upper lip to rest upon. Is it real or superstition? Students Parker and Lucas—sole members of the Midnight Owl Detective Agency—decide to take the case and solve the mustache mystery. When they find that the book of legends they need for their research has been checked out from the library, they recruit the borrower: goth classmate Samantha von Oppelstein. Will the three of them be enough to take on the mustache and resolve its ghostly, unfinished business? Whether through ridiculous plot points or over-the-top descriptions, the comedy keeps coming in this first title in McGee’s new Night Frights series. A generous font and spacing make this quick-paced, 13-chapter story appealing to newly confident readers. Skaffa’s grayscale cartoon spot (and occasional full-page) illustrations help set the tone and accentuate the action. Though neither race or skin color is described in the text, images show Lucas and Samantha as light-skinned and Parker as dark-skinned.
Lighthearted spook with a heaping side of silliness—and hair. (maps) (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: Aug. 31, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-8089-6
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A cutely grotesque tale with thrills and heart.
A stitched-together creature discovers his purpose.
Fulbert Freakfinder’s Traveling Carnival of Unnatural Wonders has arrived in the village of Grubbers Nubbin, but the show doesn’t wow the jaded audience. Suddenly, howls fill the air, sending the villagers scurrying indoors, and Freakfinder follows the sounds to a dark castle on a hill. Meanwhile, in the castle, Stitch Head, the first creation of Mad Professor Erasmus, hides in the rafters, forgotten for decades, watching his maker animate yet another almost-alive creature. As with past endeavors, Stitch Head is prepared to stop this new creation from bringing harm to the village—and to keep the villagers from destroying the castle in revenge. Freakfinder soon arrives to find new wonders for his carnival, and Stitch Head must decide if he wants to find fame with the carnival or take a chance at new friendships in the castle where he’s lived a lonely life protecting the best friend who forgot him. Young readers looking to move beyond early chapter books will enjoy this silly, creepy story, while older readers will recognize the deeper themes of loneliness, friendship, being forgotten, and looking beyond the surface to discover that the real monsters are sometimes human. Reminiscent of Edward Gorey’s and Charles Addams’ art, the dynamic black-and white illustrations convey characters’ emotions and offer fun details. Human characters are pale-skinned in Williamson’s art.
A cutely grotesque tale with thrills and heart. (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 9781664340626
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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