Chupacabra

Gr 5–8—Plunging readers in where Tentacles (Scholastic, 2009) left off, this fast-paced novel opens right after Grace discovers that her twin brother, Marty, is in fact her cousin, and that her father's unscrupulous enemy, Noah Blackwood, is actually her grandfather. She is forced to join the mad scientist's household, located in a wildlife preserve. Kept under close observation at all times, the girl is held captive until Marty and his best friend, Luther, infiltrate the compound in an attempt to spirit her away. Mayhem ensues and their efforts are hampered by guards, security cameras, and Blackwood's vicious henchman. The trio face a genetically engineered chupacabra, a mythical beast from South and Central America with a nasty habit of sucking blood from goats. Though this sequel suffers in comparison to the previous books in the series, Smith adeptly adds enough new characters, dangers, and cool science to reel in reluctant readers and keep them turning pages long after their lights should have been turned off.—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK