SCHOOL OF PHANTOMS

Kat and Levi return to battle another evil foe.

It’s been a few months since Levi and Kat rescued Cowslip Grove’s lost children from the wicked being known as the Boojum. Unfortunately, peculiar goings-on have resumed: Dozens of creepy snowmen have been popping up all over town, seemingly overnight. To make matters worse, a freak blizzard hits during the school day, forcing the students and teachers to shelter in place and wait out the storm. Power outages, howling wind, annoying classmates, and creepy snowmen soon become the least of Kat and Levi’s worries: Something is stalking the dark halls, something hungry for children. Levi and Kat band together with new allies to fight off this malevolent force in a sequel that smartly maintains every winning element of its predecessor. The spooky, inked illustrations set the perfect mood for intrigue, suspense, and flashes of true terror. Levi and Kat’s friendship remains charming, and the new characters add just enough to the dynamics to feel earned rather than like obligatory add-ons. This is a smart sequel, one that organically evolves the characters and their peculiar world, dropping breadcrumbs and hints that set up for a third entry while maintaining focus on the monsters at hand. Levi and Kat are White; sixth grade science teacher Ms. Padilla and new friend Dante read as Black.

A spine-tingling sequel that is well worth readers’ time.