My Haunted House

August 14, 2006
In this humorous, fast-paced paper-over-board caper, Sage (the Septimus Heap series) introduces narrator Araminta Spookie (who also gives the series its name), a spirited gal who lives in a large Victorian house. Her crabby Aunt Tabby is constantly doing battle with a malfunctioning boiler, and Uncle Drac slumbers in a sleeping bag hanging from the joists of a bat-filled turret. When her aunt announces that she wants to sell the house and move to someplace modern, Araminta muses, "We couldn't possibly move, not before I'd found at least one ghost." The heroine, determined to sabotage the sale of her beloved home, scares off several real estate agents. Her big break comes, however, when she finds an old key in the foot of Sir Horace, an ancient suit of armor (who turns out to be a ghost), along with a note saying it's the key to the balcony over the entryway to the house (a perfect spot to launch an "Awful Ambush" on potential buyers). Her quest to reach the balcony leads to an exciting series of adventures, involving a secret passageway and a ride on a dumbwaiter. Araminta indeed pulls off an elaborate ambush, creating comical mayhem with unexpected, satisfying results. Pickering's quirky art adds to the kooky—and in spots somewhat spooky—fun (especially his clever renderings of the ghosts). Araminta returns in The Sword in the Grotto
(ISBN 0-06-077484-3), due the same month. Ages 7-10.

February 1, 2007
Gr 2-4-Araminta Spookie lives in a sprawling haunted house. She spends her days hunting for ghosts, avoiding her cranky Aunt Tabby, and helping her nocturnal Uncle Drac. In the first book, her aunt wants to sell the house and the little girl does all she can to scare away potential buyers. Things turn out better than expected when the ghost-loving Wizzard family shows interest but decides instead to move in with the Spookies. In the second book, Araminta and the Wizzards' daughter find themselves in danger when they try to retrieve a sword from a cave for the house ghost's 500th birthday. These straightforward stories are filled with exposition and description but little action, until their funny and fitting finales. Reluctant readers may have lost interest by then, however. What the books lack in action, though, they make up for in setting. Kids who use "weird" as a compliment will delight in the charming details of Araminta's life. Trapdoors and secret passageways get her into forbidden places. Frogs, bats, and ghosts are part of the family. Pickering's full- and half-page illustrations and cobwebs dangling from the page corners add the perfect mood. However, Araminta is less interesting than her surroundings. She speaks with a consistent, peevish tone, remaining unchanged throughout her adventures. These books offer few surprises, but will be fun escapism for readers who like their spooky without the scary."Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.