MONSTER PROBLEMS

Guess which batty historical guest is coming to town?

Fresh from a face-off with the infamous Blackbeard, aspiring chef Javi Santiago; his brainiac best friend, Wiki; and his fierce younger sister, Brady, are looking forward to a new school year free from dangerous adventures. Then Dorothy Gale, their school principal, shows up at Javi’s house in the middle of the night, looking to return to Oz via the magical table. Totally normal. She leaves the boy with one rule: Don’t bring any other historical figures—real or fictional—into the present day. With Ms. Gale gone, Finistere temporarily falls under the leadership of the strict Ms. Vlad. Uh oh. School improves, however, once a new vice principal joins the staff: the cool, smooth Mr. Dragon. But something’s off. Students begin to show up lifeless and colorless, and a strange Transylvanian castle now sits in the middle of the nearby woods, seemingly plucked out of nowhere. Even some of the teachers seem worried. When the truth behind Mr. Dragon’s identity and his nefarious plans comes out, Javi, Wiki, and Brady must once more form an eccentric crew to take down the latest baddie. Book 2 of Piñeiro’s hilarious, delightful series features a few new characters and even more over-the-top shenanigans while still maintaining its undeniable charm. Though not as deliriously surprising as its predecessor, this sequel reconfirms the author’s knack for gut-busting one-liners and solid character-building.

All in all, a joyful winner.