Curse of the Werewolf Boy (Maudlin Towers) - Hardcover

Chris Priestley is the author of The Curse of the Werewolf Boy, Mister Creecher, The Last of the Spirits, and several other spooky books for young readers. He worked as an illustrator and cartoonist for twenty years before becoming a writer. His books have been nominated for many awards, including the Edgar Award and the Carnegie Medal.

Gr 3–6—Friends Arthur Mildew and Algernon "Sponge" Spongely-Partwork share a mutual disdain for their education at Maudlin Towers School for the Not Particularly Bright Sons of the Not Especially Wealthy. It's no wonder that they're quite flummoxed when Mildew spots an odd little Viking sprinting along the ditch at the end of the sports field. They set out to discover the identity of the mysterious Viking as well as the whereabouts of the School Spoon. Without the Spoon's return, their teachers have threatened to cancel the school holidays. It's imperative the boys persevere despite encountering multiple red herrings, a ghost in the attic, and a time machine. Young readers will enjoy the silly shenanigans as much as they will delight in putting the pieces together to solve the mysteries. The unconventional characters, mildly menacing ghostly presence, and dramatic plot twists are sure to keep readers hooked. Quirky Britishisms sprinkled throughout the text plus the engaging illustrations add to the narrative's strong Victorian flavor. VERDICT More humorously odd than creepy, this engaging read is sure to serve as a solid warm-up to Trenton Lee Stewart's The Mysterious Benedict Society or Lemony Snicket's "Series of Unfortunate Events."—Julie Shatterly, W. A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC