Scary School (Scary School, 1)

In the last several months, I've been on an exhaustive search for age-appropriate books to read to my seven-year-old son. I love to read aloud to him, but so many of the books that are age-appropriate bore me to tears and don't really keep his attention as well as they should. As a result, I've done an exhaustive search of Google, the library and the big book stores to find something that would capture his imagination...and maybe a little of my own imagination, too.Scary School by Derek the Ghost looked promising. It received a full 5-star review from Amazon readers, 4.5 stars from Barnes and Noble readers, and the overwhelming consensus of adult readers was that it was laugh-out-loud funny to both kids and adults. If the reviews weren't exaggerated, this was exactly the book I needed!Written as a series of short stories and anecdotes surrounding the daily happenings at a school run by monsters, Scary School is better than laugh-out-loud funny. It's creative and witty, and downright bizarre at times.What could be more fun than a book narrated by the ghost of a kid who met his demise during a school science experiment gone wrong? Well, you might start with the new kid at school named Charles Nukid. When his classmates greet him as "Hey New Kid!" on his first day of school, he's thrilled that they already know his name.Not funny enough for you? How about a T-Rex in a blue dress who is responsible for detention? Every day at lunch time she lets out a loud "roar" and if you don't run to your own lunch quickly enough, she might just choose you for her next meal!Still not enough? How about a one-fanged vampire-teacher named Ms. Fang? Or a school principal with the last name of Headcrusher? Perhaps the hallway monitor, Mr. Spider-Eyes, will spark your attention? Maybe being sent to the school health office to see Nurse Hairymoles will capture your imagination? If none of that grabs you, then wait until you meet the student body!Scary School is quite simply a great read. The bizarre antics of the characters will elicit belly laughs from young readers and bring more than a few giggles to adult readers as well. Most surprisingly to me, it captured the interest of my almost-16-year old daughter who once asked if she could sit in on a reading. Yes, it's that entertaining!

I am not normally a big fan of monsters or scary stories. They just don't appeal to me much. But I have to say I quite enjoyed the humor in Scary School. As a teacher there are times when I just want to pull all my hair out. Being able to do as Ms. Fang does (suck out a student's blood) or Mr. Dragonbreath (eat students who don't follow the rules) would be an interesting, if gross way to handle class management. Note: none of the students die permanently. I liked the way desert was served in the lunchroom with students having to catch their desert before they could eat it.I also appreciated the organization of the book. Each chapter is its own story but there is an overarching theme holding the book together, the school year and the Ghoul Games (similar to the Olympics only for monster schools). This makes the book work well as a read-a-loud with natural stopping points. And I have to say, the illustrations made me giggle, they fit the story to a tee. My favorite is the picture of Principal Headcrusher with her huge hands and Franz Dietrich Wolfbark, the man in charge of the Ghoul Games, looks exactly like a villain which he is. Wolfbark plots to close down Scary School by having the winners of the Ghoul Games, eat the losers, providing a plot unlike any I've read before.I read the first chapter of the book to a class of fifth graders and they enjoyed it. Although I think some students weren't quite sure what to make of it, they did listen quietly, which is always a miracle with a class of 34 students. Overall, I'd say this book provides a light, humorous, and entertaining read that is perfect for reluctant readers.

I teach 5th Grade and am currently reading this book aloud to my class. The book is entertaining and funny. It keeps my students interested and attentive.

My 11 year old does not enjoy reading but he loved this book so much we are ordering the rest of them.

My 4th graders can't get enough of Scary School! It is hilarious. Many of them have started writing their own "scary school" stories. A big hit with everyone, but especially my 4th grade boys.

Good book. Kept a fourth grader's interest. Well made. Nice and scary, but not too scary.

Fast paced and imaginative characters. I enjoyed the book being told from the narration of Derek, the ghost who once attended this school.

This book was amazingly great because mr. Wolfbark died and mr. Spider eyes was eaten by his own wife and dr. Dragonbreath ate almost all of his kids. Everyone chose lollipops at the ghoul games and ms. Fangs magically ate a lollipop and her fang magically grew back.Abby K. Age 6