(3) 4-6 Lubar returns with his ninth Weenies collection, offering the scariest and silliest stories yet. This time, he includes not-so-scary vampires, suspicious pets, a mold-infested library, and a Black Friday gone horribly (and hilariously) wrong. Perfect for those who like creepy but not too creepy, these very brief tales will engage reluctant readers and bibliophiles alike.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) YA Cliff is a normal senior suffering from the angst of: 1) love-at-first-sight; 2) having no idea what to do with his life after graduation; and 3) probably getting thrown out of the house by his callous, unemployed dad when he turns eighteen. Lubar's sympathetic protagonist, entertaining metafictive devices, and pitch-perfect teenage-male voice deliver an honest, amusing take on a difficult time in life.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 This eighth Weenies collection includes thirty more of Lubar's gently spooky, darkly humorous short stories. Creepy twists at the end of each add a layer of fascination, and readers will enjoy trying to guess how the story will turn on its head before the big reveal. An appended note explains each story's inspiration; a reading and activity guide is also included.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(3) YA Word nerd Scott Hudson (Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie) returns, confident that his brains will see him through sophomore year. Demanding teachers, the school newspaper, and other dramas knock him down a few pegs as he continues to record his observations for his baby brother and to be wishy-washy in his almost-relationship with Lee. This novel's humor should appeal to cerebral teens.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 1-3 Looniverse series. Illustrated by Matt Loveridge. Ed and his friends win a playwriting contest, but when it comes time to perform, Ed realizes it's a big mistake. Ever since he acquired a magic coin (in the first volume), bizarre, inexplicable things occur; now, with a rare blue moon approaching, things get stranger still. Events are not very logical in this wacky, fast-paced chapter book. Black-and-white illustrations are appropriately offbeat.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 4-6 Monster transformations continue at Washington Irving Elementary. When Norman joins his sister Angie and friend Splat on a walk in the woods, he sprouts hair and takes to howling at the moon. But Norman's troubles have only begun: he realizes he really enjoys his new form. Readers will quickly absorb this fast-paced monster fantasy with mildly eerie, full-page black-and-white illustrations.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Marcos Calo. Two more Washington Irving Elementary kids experience monsterly transformations. Sebastian and Angie's little brother Rory is suddenly able to walk through walls and doors (Ghost), while Lud Mellon develops his own insect qualities after suffering several bug bites (Bug). Like Lubar's previous Monsterrific episodes, these fantasies are fast paced and amusing; mildly eerie, full-page black-and-white illustrations are included. Review covers these titles: The Bully Bug and The Gloomy Ghost.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 As he does in his other Weenies short-story collections (Beware the Ninja Weenies, etc.), Lubar presents dark, slightly humorous tales in which characters expire in gruesome and mysterious ways by monsters, aliens, ancient curses, and spells. Fans of the macabre will relish this. An author's note gives readers insights into why and how he created each story.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Marcos Calo. Two more Washington Irving Elementary kids experience monsterly transformations. Sebastian and Angie's little brother Rory is suddenly able to walk through walls and doors (Ghost), while Lud Mellon develops his own insect qualities after suffering several bug bites (Bug). Like Lubar's previous Monsterrific episodes, these fantasies are fast paced and amusing; mildly eerie, full-page black-and-white illustrations are included. Review covers these titles: The Bully Bug and The Gloomy Ghost.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Marcos Calo. Elementary science teacher Miss Clevis accidentally ingests chemicals and is transformed into a Jekyll/Hyde character--nasty substitute Ms. Hyde and sweet sixth grader Jackie. The pressing dilemma: how to counteract the chemical reaction before the normally well-liked teacher remains in this dual role-reversal forever. This is an entertainingly creepy story with a good-prevails-over-evil theme and intermittent black-and-white drawings.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 1-3 Looniverse series. Illustrated by Matt Loveridge. Ever since Ed was given a strange coin, bizarre things have been happening. In these outings, pigs appear in his kitchen, weather changes drastically, and a blue dinosaur follows him home. Ed and the neighborhood kids must embrace the strangeness to get out of each mess. The kooky, lightweight chapter books for freshly independent readers include fittingly offbeat illustrations. Review covers these Looniverse titles: Dinosaur Disaster and Meltdown Madness.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) YA In his first short story collection for teens, Lubar mines some truly grim stuff, drawing from previously published works and adding some original pieces to shock, horrify, and frighten older readers. Thirteen stories cover revenge, murder, dismemberment, and a myriad of other awful fates. Lubar's sharp, sardonic writing is effective, and his moody, evocative settings are vivid.

Reviewer: April Spisak

(3) 4-6 The strange transformations begun in Hyde and Shriek continue at Washington Irving Elementary when Sebastian wakes up as a vampire and his sister Angie is unwillingly endowed with the powers of a witch. Can they revert to their normal human selves before it's too late? Lubar's mildly horrific stories provide intrigue and a classic good-versus-evil theme. Review covers these Monsterific Tales titles: The Unwilling Witch and The Vanishing Vampire.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 1-3 Looniverse series. Illustrated by Matt Loveridge. Ever since Ed was given a strange coin, bizarre things have been happening. In these outings, pigs appear in his kitchen, weather changes drastically, and a blue dinosaur follows him home. Ed and the neighborhood kids must embrace the strangeness to get out of each mess. The kooky, lightweight chapter books for freshly independent readers include fittingly offbeat illustrations. Review covers these Looniverse titles: Dinosaur Disaster and Meltdown Madness.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 4-6 During a field trip to a math museum, sixth graders Benedict and Logan encounter a number-crunching robot that "numbs" them, rendering them incapable of doing math. The boys race against the clock to pass a series of tests and reboot their skills. Helpful both for explaining concepts to math-phobes and for geeking-out math lovers, this companion to Punished! is suspenseful and funny.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 1-3 Looniverse series. Illustrated by Matt Loveridge. Ed is a normal third grader until the day he finds a strange coin in his lawn with "Strange, Stranger" imprinted on it. Suddenly people start acting stranger than usual toward him and weird occurrences pile up. While light on actual plot aside from these strangenesses, the eccentric bizarro-world setting, brought to life by illustrator Loveridge, may draw readers.

Reviewer: Margaret Nell Becker

(3) 4-6 The strange transformations begun in Hyde and Shriek continue at Washington Irving Elementary when Sebastian wakes up as a vampire and his sister Angie is unwillingly endowed with the powers of a witch. Can they revert to their normal human selves before it's too late? Lubar's mildly horrific stories provide intrigue and a classic good-versus-evil theme. Review covers these Monsterific Tales titles: The Unwilling Witch and The Vanishing Vampire.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Just as the title implies, these are tales of the weird and macabre, not meant for the squeamish. Characters explode, are kidnapped, die horrible deaths, turn into statues, get eaten by vampire fish, and more. Each grisly but humorous short story, featuring more boys than girls, is clever and tightly written. An author's note gives readers insights into Lubar's inspirations for each story.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 This collection of clever, short, accessible stories, though humorous, is not for the faint of heart. Each Twilight Zone–type tale comes with an unexpected twist, and most of the characters meet a violent and grisly end. The writing is catchy and contemporary--vampires make frequent cameos--and will appease genre fans.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie series. Nathan enters a competition in hopes of bringing down an evil organization. He uses his undead talents (e.g., cutting off his head) to overcome the bad guys and find the way to bring himself back to life. Series fans will continue to be entertained by the mix of spy adventure, school drama, gross-out humor, and endearing friendship in this fifth installment.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan