Fright Club

Starred review from July 27, 2015
After a witch, vampire, ghost, and other creatures convene for a tree house meeting of Fright Club, it soon becomes clear that the club’s first rule is that cute creatures need not apply: “Fright Club is for monsters only!” says vampire Vladimir as he shoos away a fluffy white rabbit. However, the club’s monsters aren’t very good at “ghoulish faces” and “scary moves,” and the bunny—along with a squirrel, turtle, and other traditionally unscary creatures—could actually show them a thing or two. Long’s dark, ghostly palette sets an appropriately eerie mood, and he has a lot of fun with the cuddly animals’ reign of terror (a butterfly wields chains, Jacob Marley style, as it chases a ghost). Don’t worry about what goes bump in the night, Long seems to suggest—daylight can be plenty scary, too. Ages 4–8. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management.