Escape from Grimstone Manor

March 15, 2023
Three friends discover real monsters lurking underneath an amusement park's haunted house. Cautious Mateo, brash, reckless Taylor, and levelheaded Zari, who's often caught in the middle between the other two, are enjoying a night out at local amusement park ThrillVille. Before they leave, they plan to try one last ride, a haunted house built on the site of the original home of the town's legendary necromancer, Hezekiah Crawly, who disappeared 100 years ago. As luck would have it, on their way through the jump-scare-packed Grimstone Manor, their car breaks down right as the park is closing, leaving the three 12-year-olds searching desperately for an escape. They find a secret passageway to the basement of the haunted house and monsters that are definitely not the animatronic ones from the ride. The answer to the mystery of Hezekiah Crawly may also be closer than they imagine--if they can survive long enough to figure it out. Leaning more heavily on the monsters than the mystery, this series opener features a small cast of imperfect but relatable and well-developed characters. It also deftly explores themes such as courage and the challenges of being vulnerable with friends. There are no dull moments in this rapidly paced tale that's loaded with action, including physical altercations with various monsters (though the end does come a bit too abruptly). Zari has dark brown skin, Mateo is brown-skinned, and Taylor presents White. Frighteningly fun. (Fiction. 8-12)

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March 20, 2023
A sepulchral theme park tests a trio of 12-year-olds in musician McMann’s debut, a pared-down adventure with Goosebumps vibes. Visiting amusement park ThrillVille, friends Mateo, Taylor, and Zari approach haunted house Grimstone Manor near closing time. It’s built on the grounds of a mansion that once belonged to suspected necromancer Hezekiah Crawly, whose mysterious disappearance 100 years back is the stuff of local lore. The three gain a grim opportunity to explore the legend firsthand when their ride through the animatronic manor grinds to a halt, stranding them. Tensions, already high between wary Mateo and impulsive Taylor, boil over—despite reserved Zari’s exasperated attempts at peacemaking—resulting in a fight that reveals just how real the local yarn is. The action proves unrelenting as the friends fight and flee from all manner of possessed skeletons, mummies, and more in scenes that pause just long enough for the group to attempt reconciliation. An abrupt ending seems designed to propel readers into the next book, while a combination of interpersonal vulnerability and monster mayhem drives a horror-tinged thriller that’s more rollicking than revolting. Mateo and Zari are described as having brown skin; Taylor presents as white. Publishing simultaneously: The Snatcher of Raven Hollow. Ages 8–12. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.