THE TROLLS WILL FEAST!

A group of smart misfits unearths a smelly supernatural threat that stands to destroy their entire town.

Something stinks in Pumpkins County, quite literally. In addition to the malodorous malady, two kids have gone missing. The racially and ethnically diverse Creeps—Carol, the computer whiz; Mitchell, the monster expert; Rosario, the compact couturier; and Jarvis, the invention-meister—know that something otherworldly must be afoot. They soon discover that a band of invisible (and very stinky) trolls who feed on stressed-out people are planning to feast upon their entire town and all its residents. They team up with a seasoned troll hunter and his prized secret weapon—illicit aerosol deodorant—only to have their arsenal seized in the name of protecting the environment. Will they be able to foil an entire tribe of hungry trolls before it feasts? Schweizer's pacing excels, and his worldbuilding is a clever delight, making for a boisterous narrative smartly depicted in comic format. Labeled a band of misfits, the Creeps may save the day, but they're still trying to find acceptance in the social strata of their school; not even saving the town automatically earns them popularity. Schweizer also imbues this sequel to Night of the Frankenfrogs (2015) with sly jabs at social media and people's willingness to believe anything they read online, giving his engagingly silly tale a dash of cultural relevance.

No slump here; a satisfying and rollicking sophomore offering that improves on the first