Scare Me

June 1, 2020

Gr 5 Up-Kevin is an expert at conceptualizing and building haunted houses. Each year, the town of Happy Hills holds a haunted house contest at a local museum, where teams of kids come up with new ways to scare people. The scariest team wins bragging rights and a year's worth of pizza. Kevin, Julie, and Tanesha, otherwise known as the Bloody Banshees, held the winning record until last year when newcomer Patricia usurped the victory despite breaking the rules. Determined to reclaim their spot, Kevin and his team get to work. While cleaning out the basement where they are setting up, he finds a porcelain mannequin dressed in an old wedding dress. Kevin learns that she is the Ghost Bride, and the story is creepier than anything he and the Banshees have created. Kevin's discovery awakens not only the Ghost Bride, but the house as well, and the Bloody Banshees and the other contestants face the reality that the scares they planned are coming to life. VERDICT A solid choice for fans of creepy fiction, perfect for middle grade audiences.-Stephanie Wilkes, Good Hope M.S., West Monroe, LA

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