Review Detail

What I Loved:

A school populated by ghouls, vampires, ghosts, and other monstrous creatures where every class period is an adventure in how to stay alive? Sounds fun! And that's exactly what this book is: fun. The teachers are each a different monster and are larger-than-life caricatures of those monsters. The scary parts always turn out funny or can be quickly solved by another staff member. Nothing is at it seems, and there are new adventures waiting around every corner.

My middle grade son loved the book. We read it together, and he often laughed or commented on the story line. He was so engaged that he asked for the next book in the series so that he could read it on his own. With short chapters, interesting illustrations, and the constant scary/funny factor on every page, this is a great series to pull in those reluctant middle grade readers.

What Left Me Wanting More:

While the overall structure of the book suggests a cohesive plot line, the chapters themselves are each devoted to introducing a new teacher or staff member at the school, so the book feels episodic rather than like a complete story. That didn't deter my son's enjoyment, but it may detract from the enjoyment of readers who prefer more straightforward stories.

Final Verdict:

Scary, ghoulish fun on every page and an approachable narrator make for a book that is perfect for those just moving out of chapter books or younger readers of middle grade fiction.