Ethan Pitowski, self-described scaredy-cat and ball of anxiety, accepts the challenge to watch the "scariest movie ever made" with the entire sixth-grade class. His two besties, Olivia and Harley, won't let him miss out, but in true Ethan-like fashion, he shows up after the real scare happens, when everyone loses their head to the movie terally: the titular "monster movie" is an actual monster movie, taking the screen as its body and chomping heads clean off (bloodlessly). Ethan makes ready to run, but when his besties are taken by the monster, he must risk his own head to help them. In this delightfully thrilling follow-up to his middle-grade debut, Dust and Grim (2021), Wendig leans into his signature wry humor while drawing up relatable characters in uncanny scenarios. And while this horror novel glows with enough gruesome detail to rival the best B-rated monster flicks, it's the sci-fi twist at the end that will keep readers up at night. Recommended for the Goosebumps crowd and fans of classic horror.

A timorous sixth grader is the only one who keeps his head, literally, after a private viewing of the scariest movie ever madeThis work is more allegory than unvarnished shockfest-but along with creating a monster creepy enough to squick even hardened readers out, Wendig expertly ratchets up the terror and suspense to a feverish pitch. Already subject to panic attacks, Ethan reluctantly bows to heavy pressure from best friends Harley and Olivia to take a quick peek at a classmate's showing of the legendary, impossible-to-getDemons of Death 4: Death Fingers. He arrives at Kevin's house just in time to see the TV sprout limbs and, horribly, a mouth to nip off the heads of his whole sixth grade, leaving their still-breathing bodies otherwise intact beneath necks covered in "smooth Silly Putty skin patches." TV Head next gets to all the adults who are at school for parents' night and then everyone else in town. Summoning the courage to tackle the eerie, seemingly irresistible monster head on and rescue its victims proves so life-changing for Ethan that he's even able, afterward, to persuade his parents to stop discouraging his interest in art. The book includes a pitch to let kids watch (developmentally appropriate) horror films as part of their preparation for real life: "It's like a vaccine." Olivia is Black; other major characters present white.A bit message-heavy, but top of the class when it comes to frights.(Horror. 9-12)

Gr 3–7— Ethan Pitowski is scared of everything. So, when his classmate, Kevin Rook, invites the whole sixth grade to his basement to watch the scariest movie ever made, Ethan refuses to go, even when his best friends Harley and Olivia beg him. He eventually changes his mind, arriving at Kevin's house just in time to find his classmates hypnotized and frozen in front of the TV screen. To his horror, the TV transforms into a monster that climbs off the wall and eats the students' heads one by one, only there's no blood, and their bodies seem to still be alive and breathing. The monstrous TV Head appears to be unstoppable and intent on invading every home and building in the city. It is up to Ethan to face his fears and solve the mystery that will save the world. This imaginative horror novel for kids is suspenseful and engaging, with a truly terrifying monster—but also full of funny, exaggerated characters and descriptions that keep the tone light. Ethan is an endearing, unlikely hero who learns the importance of fighting for the things and people you love. The races of most of the characters are not identified, but from the descriptions, they are assumed white, with the exception of Olivia, Ethan's best friend, who is Black. VERDICT This funny, fast-paced celebration of horror movies will appeal to fans of "Goosebumps" and similar series.— Ashley Larsen