ALA Booklist (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

Bay Harbor, Maine, was a quiet seaside town until horror novelist Frank Goolz and his two daughters moved in next door to 12-year-old Harold Bell. Life for wheelchair-using Harold was generally predictable, except for Alex Hewitt's bullying, which Harold and the Goolzes took care of in A Bad Night for Bullies (2018). Little time has passed between then and now, but their adversary has changed quite a bit. The foursome now faces the Mallow Marsh monster, whose bite turns others into monsters as well. In their effort to get the monster, Harold is bitten and begins to act strangely. Time is now of the essence if they want to get him an antidote before it's too late. Harold's first-person narration brings increasing suspense into the fast-paced plot of this second paranormal adventure. Ghislain's rather unorthodox, yet delightfully fun, mix of characters and their wild adventures makes trite the old adage, "Nothing ever happens in my town." With just enough fright and action, he weaves another page-turner for middle-grade readers that will leave them wanting more.

Kirkus Reviews

Wheelchair-using seventh grader Harold Bell and his ghost-hunting neighbors return to take on the town monster.Days after the events of A Bad Night for Bullies (2018), Harold and the Goolzes-horror author Frank Goolz and his daughters, beautiful Ilona and her impish kid sister, Suzie-accept a gruesome new assignment. The unnervingly "synchronized" Farrell twins explain that their mother has disappeared…except for the severed foot they've found. Claw marks, discarded teeth, and an ominous message-"I'll be back for you"-suggest that their mother's turned into the dreaded Mallow Marsh Monster, Bay Harbor's local legend. Anyone the monster bites becomes a monster themselves-so when the monster bites Harold, the Goolzes must act fast to lift the curse. Unfortunately, this sequel to a likable first volume feels unevenly paced and somewhat halfhearted. Though budding monster Harold's seismic belches might raise some giggles, the previous book's humor is largely absent. Harold and Ilona's budding romance is awkwardly sweet, but most characters are one-dimensional caricatures, lessening suspense. The twins, in matching, old-fashioned clothes and perfect unison, resemble "creepy mannequins in a tacky haunted house," and their "nerdy" scientist parents are "discreet, bespectacled, and unfashionable"; a "giant," likely overweight character is messy and inexplicably eats napkins. However, the Goolzes' matter-of-fact inclusion of Harold is heartening. After a somewhat hasty resolution, a cliffhanger ending sets up another adventure. Most characters appear white; one twin has two different-colored eyes.Monsters notwithstanding, weak characterization and uneven pacing create a rather toothless read. (Horror. 8-12)

School Library Journal (Fri May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

Gr 4-7 This sequel picks up right where the previous volume, A Bad Night for Bullies (2018), left offin the Goolz's kitchen with a severed foot. Found in the swamp, the Farrell Twins are convinced this foot, boneless and stinking, is proof that their mother is the latest victim of the Mallow Marsh Monster. But that's just a legend, right? The Mallow Marsh Monster cannot possibly be real. Harold, Ilona, and Suzie team up once again to find out. The story unfolds as a fast-paced paranormal action adventure that kicks into high gear when, during the investigation, Harold is bitten and begins to change into the very thing they are hunting. The ending will leave readers curious about what is next for Harold and the Goolz. Character relationships feel authenticboth friendships and a budding romance. This, coupled with a bit of humor, helps keep the title spooky rather than scary. VERDICT An additional purchase; good for libraries where the first title and other middle grade spooky mystery series like R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" or Jonathan Stroud's "Lockwood & Co." are popular. Jessica Caron, Bancroft School, MA