The School Is Alive! (Eerie Elementary #1)

Gr 1-3--Sam is Eerie Elementary's newest (and only) hall monitor. He figures it will be a boring job and probably one that earns him enemies. He doesn't count on the school itself being enemy number one. After nearly being swallowed by quicksand and then attacked by a fire hose, Sam is ready to find answers. Could the school be alive? Are all the students in danger, or is it just Sam the school wants? When a play draws all of Eerie Elementary together in one location, the school makes its move. The counterattack is up to Sam. Illustrations are done in a fuzzy outline style that makes them appear not quite solid. While they fit the spooky theme, a few of them are hazy enough to be slightly distracting. That small quibble aside, the text and art are a good match. Give this early chapter book to readers who want something scary but aren't ready for the "Goosebumps" or "Scream Street" series.--Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA