Scare Scape

Gr 4–7—If the welcome sign is to be believed, Dimvale is the "Darkest Town in the Civilized World." With its "bylaws controlling light pollution," it is a perfect fit for the Clay children's newly widowed astronomer father, but their derelict new home is a bit too ominous for all but the youngest of the family, Morton. Sent by his dad to spruce up the unkempt lawn, he finds a gargoyle inscribed with instructions on how it can grant three wishes. A fan of the horror comic Scare Scape, Morton wishes for his Scare Scape dolls to become more realistic. As in the classic "The Monkey's Paw," what he desires comes to pass; his hideous, poisonous, fanged stuffed animals come to life to wreak havoc on the town. This scary, but not too scary, horror novel has excellent characters; a well-developed plot; and clear, well-paced writing. The main figures accurately represent teen siblings. They fight and squabble, but pull together when things go awry. The book tactfully explores the perception of those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged when the protagonist develops a strong friendship with an underprivileged boy who is perpetually accused of being a thief. An interesting, illustrated guide to the monsters in the novel is included. In a classroom, this title could be a fun supplement to the classic tale, but it will more likely find a home with horror-fiction lovers, filling the gap between R. L. Stine's "Goosbumps" (Scholastic) and Darren Shan's "The Demonata" series (Little, Brown).—Devin Burritt, Wells Public Library, ME