FIELD GUIDE TO THE SUPERNATURAL UNIVERSE

A tween spends the summer with his eccentric grandfather, ghosts, and more.

After a viral video taken on the last day of sixth grade solidifies his status as “Class Weirdo,” Maxen Smith wants nothing more than to be normal. Trouble is that Max can see ghosts—the real culprits behind what adults at school call his “incidents”—but nobody believes him. Reaching his last straw, Max’s dad sends him to stay with his estranged paternal grandfather, Ramhart Woodbead, in his mansion in Glimmerville. As the mansion and its inhabitants’ secrets slowly reveal themselves, Max learns that his weirdness is part of a family legacy. But when a dastardly plot renders Ramhart out of commission, Max finds himself woefully unprepared to take his place in keeping order between realms. With the help of a young ghost and a squad of Supernaturalists, Max must save not only his grandfather, but the world. Noël combines a quick pace, zany characters, and plenty of comedic relief to create a quirky adventure with heart. Strong themes of family legacies, personal mythologies, and destinies—if slightly heavy-handed—enhance the cautionary tale of hiding one’s true self. The over-the-top first-person narration keeps the tone infectiously light. From a Chupacabra to mutant glowworms, the creatures encountered mix the familiar with the original for delightful worldbuilding. Max and family are White by default, but side characters add some ethnic diversity.

Spectral silliness with high appeal.