Terry, Laura Graveyard Shakes 203 pgs. Graphix (Scholastic), 2017. $13.
Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G Violence: PG13 (Child killer)
GRAPHIC NOVEL
Two
sisters are starting a new boarding school –one really wants to fit in, and one
just wants to be accepted for who she is. Meanwhile, in a nearby crypt, a
father is desperately trying to keep his son alive (a semblance of life) by
using some kind of ritual, which requires the life of another child. Time is
running out for him to find this child to sacrifice, and it looks like one of
the sisters is going to work out just fine. Throw in a friendly ghost boy and a
whole flock of scary ghosts, and you add in some laughs, some sadness, and
some extra scary. Features subdued illustrations with lots of personality.
This
book was just downright creepy, which I think is the point. The child killer,
kidnapping, and just overall scary factor nixes it for me in the elementary
library. Even I was a bit disturbed, its just dark –though the ghost boy and
the spunkier sister add a bit of light. I think middle school students would enjoy
this read, maybe 6th grade and up. One thing to note is that the
father –who has killed many children to keep his son alive –walks away at the end
to make amends, which I don’t care for.
MS
-ADVISABLE. Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author
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