A biracial (white and Latinx) child of divorce, Will moves with his mother from New York City to middle-of-nowhere East Emerson for "a fresh start." He misses his old home, his best friend, and, most of all, his father, but even that pales in comparison to the horror of starting sixth grade not only in a new town but also in a new town full of monsters, which apparently only he can see. After his beloved dog is the latest pet to go missing, Will teams up with fellow outcasts (and transracial adoptees; Korean and Black, respectively) Ivy and Linus to find out what's really going on in East Emerson. Ogle's (Free Lunch, 2019) fun series starter is narrated by a "monster," leading to many humorous asides, though it sometimes leans too heavily on the stereotype of middle-school children being the real monsters. Scattered throughout the text are hidden messages and puzzles, a great, interactive bonus in this inclusive, voice-filled middle-grade novel full of monsters, cryptograms, and town secrets.

Will's new town is filled with monsters, mythical creatures, and secrets, but hardly anyone believes him.When his dad left, life was upended. Now Will and his mom are leaving New York City to move to Massachusetts, far from everything familiar. To his mom, East Emerson is a nice town where they can start fresh, but Will sees unearthly beings and wants to leave. When he's magically transported to a cemetery and witnesses a terrifying ritual, a mystical fox chants a command to him: "find the animals, destroy the crown. Save the animals, and save the town." At first Will thinks it was just a nightmare, but when the townspeople's pets begin to disappear, he starts to suspect something evil is at play. He connects with his new neighbors, adopted siblings Ivy, an athletic girl who can also see monsters, and her genius brother, Linus, who are, respectively, Korean and Black. Together, Will (whose mom is Latina and father is implied White) and his new friends uncover the town's spooky, mysterious history. This is a fast-paced, exciting first installment in a fantastical series filled with "monsters, myths, magic, and mad science." Although there are scary parts, the monster narrator interrupts the story to address readers directly, introducing comedic relief. Readers can decipher codes and secret messages throughout the story, adding to the mystery and thrill. Themes of family, navigating change, poverty, listening to feelings, and finding courage are also present.A fun, interactive read for lovers of the supernatural. (Paranormal. 8-12)

Following his parents- divorce, 12-year-old Guillermo -Will- Hunter moves with his Latinx mother from Brooklyn to the tiny island town of East Emerson, Mass., which he swiftly discovers is inhabited by all manner of myths, monsters, and magical creatures that only he can see, including librarian lamias and mummy history teachers. Happily, he soon befriends a couple of classmates: energetic, athletic Korean American Ivy, who can view the monsters using an enchanted ring, and her Black adopted brother, bookish Linus, who-s unaware of the beings. As the pets of the town, including Will-s dog, begin to disappear, the tween encounters a prophecy: -Find the animals, destroy the crown. Save the animals, and save the town.- Now he and his new friends must figure out how to thwart an ancient evil. Narrated by an unseen Adam Monster with an alliterative, wry voice, this tongue-in-cheek adventure scatters beginner-level secret messages and puzzles-sometimes engaging, sometimes distracting-throughout the text as Ogle-s (Punching Bag) intrepid heroes unravel the secrets of their monster-infested home. A lively tale mixing humor, horror, and heart. Ages 8-12. Agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US. (Feb.)

Gr 46 Nothing is as it seems in East Emerson, MA. The story begins with Will, a Latinx middle schooler, who is moving after a tumultuous breakup between his mom and dad. He is leaving everything behind: Brooklyn, his best friend, and hardest of all, his father. Instead of settling into this new life, Will finds himself face-to-face with monsters, and they are monsters no one else seems to see. Mythological beings, science fiction creations, and all the things which go bump in the night are out in force in East Emerson, and strange things start happening to Will. Luckily he lives across from Ivy and Linus, and the trio begins to investigate what lurks in the shadows and tunnels of the strange town. Ogle has created a series for elementary students with a diverse cast and an adventurous spooky angle, all told by an unknown "monster" narrator who provides advice, information, and subplot through interjected soliloquies. The plot evolves well, and the reader lands at the last page fairly breathless, eager for more adventure through this Goonies -esque story. VERDICT A recommended purchase for an elementary or middle school library looking for a tame thriller or horror adventure novel. Ogle crafts a likable cast and world for younger students to enjoy. Rachel Joiner