The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly (Scholastic Press, 240 pages, grades 4-7). When Lila’s Grandpa Clem dies, leaving an old inn to her father, the whole family has to leave their home in Phoenix to spend the summer at the inn in Ohio, sorting out the estate. Lila’s despondent about the trip, fearing it will further estrange her from her two former best friends, who have started accusing her of being overdramatic and leaving her out of things. The inn is pretty creepy, and Lila begins seeing strange people appear and disappear, including her late grandfather who she never met. When he tells her he was murdered, Lila is determined to figure out what happened to him and teams up with her neighbor Teddy and her brother Caleb to solve the mystery. As the people around her start having nightmares that reflect their worst fears, the situation becomes increasingly desperate, and Lila finds that the personality traits she’s often been criticized for having are an asset when it comes to dealing with ghosts and haunted mansions. Thanks to Scholastic for providing me with a free copy of this book.

This is a classic Scholastic series: a bunch of popular authors each write a book in a series, combined with a gimmick that will have kids clamoring for the latest installment at their book fairs or Scholastic flyers (think 39 Clues or Horizon) In this case, a few of the illustrations have QR codes that lead readers to a site where the ghosts tell their stories and allow readers to solve mysteries. While this method of storytelling is unlikely to showcase Newbery winners like Kelly (and book 2’s Jasmine Warga) at their creative best, this is a fun ghost story with an engaging protagonist who learns that what she’s been told is “too much” is actually her own imaginative and courageous personality.

Troubling Tonsils! (Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales) by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 88 pages, grade 1-4). Our old Creepy Carrots/Crayon/Pair of Underwear friend Jasper Rabbit introduces main character Charlie Marmot and his tonsils, then the tale begins innocently enough with Charlie coming down with a sore throat. A trip to the doctor reveals tonsillitis, and an operation is scheduled for a few days hence. Charlie’s actually excited, asking the doctor if he can put the tonsils in a jar to bring in for show-and-tell. By the time surgery day arrives, Charlie’s throat feels better, and the doctor is shocked when he does a quick pre-op check and discovers that the tonsils are gone! No one can explain this, but Charlie is sent home, where he starts to experience strange sights and sounds in the middle of the night. Finally, exhausted, he falls into a deep sleep one night, only to discover upon waking that he….

Well, now, I guess you’ll just have to read this short chapter book to find out, won’t you? To be honest, the Creepy books aren’t my favorites, but kids can’t get enough of them, and I trot them out every Halloween to universal joy. Fans will be delighted to see this new chapter book series, perfect for those who are just moving up to that level. The story is a perfect blend of funny and creepy, with an ending worthy of The Twilight Zone. Look for book 2, Unsettling Salad, in February, 2026.