Ghoulfriends Just Want to Have Fun

Gr 4–6—This story centers on the friendship of three Monster High students: Venus Mcflytrap, Robecca Steam, and Rochelle Goyle. These "ghoulfriends" try to abide by the Gargoyle Code of Ethics, and Monster High is like a regular high school except with monsters, gore, and scare fests. They are very excited to be invited to join the "Frightingale Society," "an all-ghouls sorority dedicated to community service and fostering lifelong friendships among monsters," but when Robecca sees a white cat, the trio knows that the bad omen means something evil is afoot. This series takes naming to the extreme with various plays on words. There's the expression "bat on a hot tin roof," "Fearleading" rather than cheerleading, "Scarisian" instead of Parisian, etc. Characters have names such as Miss Sue Nami and say things such as "Merci boo-coup" and "fangtastique." Students take Mad Science, G-ogre-phy, and Physical Deaducation and check their iCoffins for their class schedules. The writing is fast paced, scattered, and laden with "Monster High" marketing as the author references the franchise often without context. The black-and-white animelike illustrations work well with the text.—Lisa Gieskes, Richland County Public Library, Columbia, SC