Attack of the Shark-Headed Zombie

March 15, 2011

Aimed straight at proto-Goosebumps fans, this formulaic series opener pits two 9-year-olds against a great white shark with legs. Having lost his bike in a lake thanks to the latest hare-brained scheme of his impulsive cousin Henry, bookish Keats reluctantly agrees to finance a replacement by earning some money taking on odd jobs at a spooky local mansion. The prosaic task of weeding the garden quickly turns into an extended flight through a series of magical rooms after a shark monster rises out of the ground and gives chase. Dashing from one narrow squeak to the next, the lads encounter a kitchen with an invisible "sink," a giant vomiting bookworm in the library, a carpet pattern in the hall that (literally) bites and, most usefully, a magic wand that they get to keep (setting up future episodes) after spelling the monster away. Tilted points of view give the occasional illustrations more energy than the labored plot ever musters, and the characters rarely show even two dimensions. Fledgling readers will do better in the hands of Jim Benton's Franny K. Stein series or Bruce and Katherine Coville's Moongobble and Me books. (Horror. 8-10)

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April 15, 2011
Grades 3-5 This entry in the Stepping Stones series presents a fresh and appealing option for those readers who are new to chapter books. Adventure-prone cousins Henry and Keats find themselves in a pickle when they lose their bikes during a stunt at Steep Cliff Hill. When their mothers deny their request for funds to replace them, a job seems like their only option. Responding to a cryptic advertisement, they find themselves signing on to clean Mr. Cigams decrepit and creepy mansion. Third on Mr. Cigams to-do list: Battle and defeat the shark-headed zombie. With enchanted scepters, wizard spells, disappearing chickens, and magical tornadoes, this book reads exactly like the wandering imagination of a creative youngster, offering up an absurd premise that will be a hit with boys in particular and reluctant readers in general. Accompanied by black-and-white illustrations showing the boys and the zombie in action, Doyles reader-friendly and engaging story packs in a remarkable amount of action and fun.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)