Frighteningly fun.
Three friends discover real monsters lurking underneath an amusement park’s haunted house.
Cautious Mateo, brash, reckless Taylor, and levelheaded Zari, who’s often caught in the middle between the other two, are enjoying a night out at local amusement park ThrillVille. Before they leave, they plan to try one last ride, a haunted house built on the site of the original home of the town’s legendary necromancer, Hezekiah Crawly, who disappeared 100 years ago. As luck would have it, on their way through the jump-scare–packed Grimstone Manor, their car breaks down right as the park is closing, leaving the three 12-year-olds searching desperately for an escape. They find a secret passageway to the basement of the haunted house and monsters that are definitely not the animatronic ones from the ride. The answer to the mystery of Hezekiah Crawly may also be closer than they imagine—if they can survive long enough to figure it out. Leaning more heavily on the monsters than the mystery, this series opener features a small cast of imperfect but relatable and well-developed characters. It also deftly explores themes such as courage and the challenges of being vulnerable with friends. There are no dull moments in this rapidly paced tale that’s loaded with action, including physical altercations with various monsters (though the end does come a bit too abruptly). Zari has dark brown skin, Mateo is brown-skinned, and Taylor presents White.
Frighteningly fun. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: May 9, 2023
ISBN: 9780593530696
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Thrilling and filled with twists; will leave readers eager for the next adventure.
In this follow-up to Isle of Ever (2025), 12-year-old Everly “Benny” Benedict plunges deeper into a world of mystery, hidden clues, and pirate lore.
Benny continues to unravel the puzzle-filled legacy of her ancestor, Evelyn Terry. Although she believes she’s cracked Evelyn’s will, her triumph is short-lived. Upon arriving at the elusive island linked to the Blood Orange Moon, Benny and her friends must break a centuries-old curse by tracking down missing pirate treasure—the only thing that can save both her friends and the inheritance. The novel’s standout feature is its deft use of dual timelines, which take place in 1825 and 2025 and are interwoven with journal entries, notes, and newspaper clippings that add clues and visual texture. The narrative shifts between the enigmatic island and present-day Greenport, where Benny races against time. If she fails, the Isle of Ever will vanish for 200 years and possibly fall into someone else’s hands, making for high stakes that heighten the tension. Benny remains a compelling protagonist, facing betrayal, forming new alliances, and uncovering long-buried family secrets. The mysterious pirate Grace adds a dynamic layer of conflict as she pursues the treasure, becoming both a threat and a catalyst for intense confrontations. Fast-paced and full of peril, this sequel offers answers while opening the door to new mysteries.
Thrilling and filled with twists; will leave readers eager for the next adventure. (map) (Fantasy adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
ISBN: 9781728277066
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
Contagiously goofy and fun.
Area 51 gets its first new resident in 5 years—and a new mystery.
When her grandma moves into a kid-free retirement home, 12-year-old orphan Priya “Sky” Patel-Baum and Spike, her pet hedgehog, relocate to Area 51 to live with Sky’s eccentric Uncle Anish. At 51, humans and Break Throughs (government-speak for aliens) live together off-grid in harmony. Unfortunately, several Zdstrammars (one of many Break Through species) mysteriously disappear, disrupting the base’s harmony and contributing to feelings of suspicion. Despite being deputy head of the Federal Bureau of Alien Investigations, Uncle Anish becomes a prime suspect. Can Sky and Elvis, her alien classmate, prove Uncle Anish’s innocence and find the missing Zdstrammars before it’s too late? YA author Buxbaum’s middle-grade debut is a rip-roaring series opener complete with over-the-top characters and jokes galore. Naidu’s black-and-white cartoon illustrations extend the comedy with ongoing commentary that smartly interacts with the prose. The cast of Break Through species—like Audiotooters, Galzorian, and Sanitizoria—have hilariously creative on-the-nose names with illustrations to match. Sky is coded biracial, with a White dad and Indian mom. Aliens appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors; Elvis shape-shifts but looks like a brown-skinned boy to Sky. Though the main mystery is neatly wrapped up, the cliffhanger ending promises more laughs.
Contagiously goofy and fun. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-42946-4
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
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