I am a huge fan of creepy. Books, movies, decaying abandoned houses. So when The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken became available on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it. This book is the whole package of eerie while still having the humor middle grade readers love.

We meet Prosper on the first page and that’s where I fell in love with his voice. He’s not the best student or the most popular, but he has a personality you can’t help but root for. Especially when we’re introduced to an ominous stranger who spies on Prosper, an angry and sadistic grandmother, a basement he’s forced into, and a ritual that involves a knife. (We haven’t even gotten to the haunted house yet!)

The fantastic characters don’t stop with Prosper. All are well-developed and have such strong motivations, it is easy to cheer them on, including the demon, Alastor, trying to possess him. It’s because of the strength of the characters that we don’t see the plot twists, and at one point, you have no idea who is good or evil.

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding is not just a tale to send chills down your spine or give you goosebumps. It’s not just about a boy who may or may not escape (no spoilers!) a centuries old pact with a demon. This story is about an underdog who puts others first and learns his own self worth.

What a creepy little novel. I really liked the story on this one. Prosper has a demon living inside of him because of a broken deal that an ancestor made 300 years ago. 12 year old Prosper is a most interesting child. His character is well developed and you can't help but love the kid. The world building was a little bland, something I had seen before, but not boring. I gave the book a three stars and think that people will love this little read around Halloween.

Wow! I can't wait to share this with my students when it comes out on 9/5. Thank you to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for the chance to read this early.
5/5 for this middle grades fantasy. It will be the perfect book to curl up with in the fall, as leaves start changing and the wind gets a chill. The Redding family has basically run a Cape Cod town called Redhood. Everyone in the family is ridiculously lucky; except, actually, for Prosperity (though he goes by Prosper). He chalked it up to karma, since his twin sister actually really needed her luck to beat cancer as a child. Then he discovers that he is actually the chosen one in his family - and not in a good way. He finds himself with a demon inside him, in a new town with relatives he has never met, fighting for his life. This is a deliciously spooky, action-packed book. I might need extra copies for the library.

This is one of those middle-grade books that is catered to younger readers but will be fun for older readers. The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding was a spooky, atmospheric read that is the perfect start to the Halloween season. The plot is rich with a compelling story and isn't afraid to play with the reader's expectations. I can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes this story.

For a full review, please check out my blog post: http://coffeecocktailsandbooks.com/2017/08/13/the-dreadful-tale-of-prosper-redding-by-alexandra-bracken-spoiler-free-arc-review/

Prosper Redding's family is very wealthy and has been around for ages, pretty much owning and controlling all that happens in the town named after them. He's never felt like he belonged, even with his own twin sister. One of his ancestors made a deal with a demon in exchange for all wealth and then broke that deal. When Prosper finds out he is possessed by said demon who is determined to destroy the Redding family, he must find a way to extricate the demon and still protect his sister and parents.

THE DREADFUL TALE OF PROSPER REDDING by Alexandra Bracken is the first book in a series. Fair warning, if you don't like first books that end in cliffhangers, you might want to wait until the other books are published to read this first as one as it does exactly that. The real winner in this story for me was the setting and atmosphere. It was creepy in all the right ways and felt so rich and detailed. I loved being in Salem, MA during Halloween time and experiencing it from both Prosper's and the demon's points of view. A fun, creepy tale that I think kids will enjoy.

*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. The premise seemed interesting: a boy who is the black sheep of his highly influential family finds out that his body is actually a vessel for the centuries-old demon that is responsible for his ancestors' fortune in the first place. However, I wasn't originally completely sold.

And then I read the first page.

Honestly, this is the perfect fall book for middle-graders--or anyone, really. The witty banter and autumnal atmosphere hooked me from the beginning. Not to mention that the majority of the plot is set in Salem, Massachusetts. I grew up loving the movie Hocus Pocus as a kid, and this seemed like the perfect book comparison for me.

I also highly enjoyed the characterization. From the biracial, tough-as-nails young witch Nell to the witty Prosper and even curmudgeonly Alastor, the characters felt very realistic for what could be dubbed as a fantasy. I found their back-and-forth banter to be entertaining throughout the entire story.

The only thing that keeps me from giving this a full five stars is the somewhat clunky plot progression. I also felt that I knew what was going to happen next when the plot twists came along.

Overall, I feel that this is a middle grade novel that could be enjoyed by more than just its intended audience. The witchy, fall vibes are exactly what I needed on a hot summer day, and I can't wait to pick this up again in October for a reread.

I would definitely recommend this to my 4th and 5th grade library patrons who like books that are slightly scary. This book has a bunch of them to keep one interested malefactors, witches, fiends, howlers, ghouls and to top it off a bunch of promises made and broken, lies told and the truth hidden. How far would you go to protect your family?

A fantastic middle grade read! I love the authors writting. The story is amazing! A perfect book for fall!?

Alexandra Bracken does not disappoint! This is a delightful start to a series for younger readers. The characters are well-developed, as is the world. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Prosper Redding is 12 years old. He and his twin sister, Prue are part of the rich and successful WASP family who live in Redwood, Massachusetts. His parents are off on another charity project so they can't stop Grandmother from performing a ritual that could endanger one of the twins. There is a secret that they have kept in the family -- not telling the twins about it. During the ritual, Prosper discovers that he has a demon in it. He manages to escape. He teams up with his disgraced Uncle Barnabus and cousin Nell who will soon be a witch. In 1693, a relative made a deal with the demon. When the demon is betrayed, he curses them. Prosper is at times completely controlled by the demon, Alastor. Uncle Barnabus and Nell have promise Prosper that they will get the demon out of him. Will they get the demon out?

The author has written characters you won't forget or the humor in this novel. There are many twists and turns that kept me glue to the story. I kept wondering what was going to happen next. I was surprised when the story ended as it left me saying "what?" I think that this must be the first book of a series or trilogy. I want the next book!

This is from an advance review copy for which I thank the publisher.

I wavered on this book from liking parts to disliking other parts, and back and forth, and in the end, it was the end which decided me, because it was there that the novel hit the sourest note, because there is no ending! In the final analysis, all this book is, is the prologue for a series. I can't abide that and I cannot support it. "Dreadful Tale" is an appropriate title for this, it turns out.

I know that series are lucrative for publishers and writers if they can lure a reading public into becoming OCD over one, but I do not play that game. It's one of the reasons I detest series as a general rule, and for an author to cynically say "Here's an entire book," and then to end it on a cliffhanger so you "have" to buy the next to find out what happens is inexcusable. Do not read this in the belief that you will get a complete and full story here. You will not.

This is book one of a "The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding" series, and if I'd known that, I would never have requested to review this one, but there was no hint whatsoever on net Galley that it was not a self-contained story. Shame on you Net Galley and on Disney Hyperion for not being honest and up front with readers and for demanding nigh on eleven dollars for an incomplete story. And what's with the ebook costing exactly the same as the print version?! What trees are worth nothing these days? That's a truly sad and sorry way to look at Earth.

For me series are too easy, unimaginative, derivative, and abusive of the reader. I'd rather follow a road less traveled than feel like I'm covering the same ground I already visited.

The other thing this author got away with is first person. I'm even less of a fan of first person than I am of series, if for no other reasons than that it's such a selfish, self-absorbed, self-obsessed voice, and it's so limiting in that nothing can happen in the story unless the narrator is present, which often results in absurdly artificial, unlikely, and clunky events occurring in order to get the narrator on the scene.

I don't know why authors are so obsessed with limiting themselves in this fashion. It was not such a nauseating voice here, so I appreciated the author for that, but even she admits she made the wrong choice of voice because she has to devote several chapters to third person voice to detail activities where Prosper is not the main actor, and they clunked down jarringly. They were so bad that I skimmed and skipped those. They contributed nothing to an overly long story and would have made for a more intelligent read had they been omitted altogether.

The story is of Prosperity Redding, your usual trope boy raised in ignorance of his true value to the story, and without parents (he has parents, they're just not on the scene), and raised by apparently cruel relatives, although I have to grant that those clichéd cruel relatives don't usually want to stab the main character with an iron knife as they do here!

"Uncle" Barnabas comes to the rescue, spiriting Prosper, as he prefers to be called, away just before that iron knife strikes, to hide out in a haunted house. Yes, it's haunted both for real, and as a funhouse - a scary one, for tourists - and it's here that Prosper learns the truth - or part of it at least.

It turns out that Prosper has a demon inside him and if it cannot be got out before his thirteenth birthday, two weeks hence, it will ruin his entire family. This demon is the price his family paid for the prosperity (yes!) it has enjoyed over the years - centuries even, and all would have been well had some great grandpa not reneged on the deal. Now Prosper's relatives (all except Barnabas, and "cousin" Nell who predictably happens to be Prosper's age and equally predictably doesn't like him), believe the only way to fix - or at least defer - the disaster, is to kill Prosper before he turns thirteen, so he believes. Meanwhile, Alastor the demon (not his real name, hint hint) is inside Prosper and growing stronger by the day.

There were one or two writing issues (other than cliffhangers and first person!) which took away some of the little joy of this I did have. These are very possibly things the intended age range might not notice (unless they're my kids, of course! I think they would notice these things, but then they grew up with me, and they're also edging out of middle-grade at this point).

"Told whom?" was the first clunker I read. Writers seem to think they have to inject correct English into their stories and 'whom' is such a big offender that it's become a pet peeve of mine. This is what Prosper says to correct Nell when she says, "For who?" Quite frankly I think this word is antiquated and pretentious, and needs to be dropped from the language altogether, but that's just me.

The truth is though, that no one actually uses it in conversation, especially not kids, so in the context of this story, this bit clanged like the liberty bell. It's highly unlikely any middle-grade kid, even one from a rich family, would correct someone on the use of 'whom', especially when that kid has not been set up a priori as an English language fanatic, so this was a fail: an example of an author lecturing her readers through her character instead of letting the character be themselves.

Here's another: "Her skin was a warm bronze, a shade or two lighter than her black hair." This made for an odd read. I think I see what the author is trying to say here, but strictly speaking, a shade or two lighter than black would mean that she has gray skin! Shade relates to how much black in is a color I think this could have been worded better - maybe describing the skin as a dark bronze or something like that, but I don't think you can describe hair in terms of skin color or vice-versa when one is black and the other is bronze, which is a distinctly brown color. If she'd had brown hair that would be a different thing.

Another one was: "Uncle Barnabas's face with pink around the edges at that." This sounds like it should read "...went pink around the edges." The last one I can recall noting was: "The spines were all shades of leather, brown, black, blue, and soft from being handled so much" this felt like it needed a colon after 'shades of leather'.

The demon is introduced as being evil and bent upon revenge, yet he behaves like a naughty friend to Prosper, chiding him on one hand and then rather benignly helping him to do something on the other. This was a complete contradiction given that the demon feeds on Prosper's discomfort and sadness. Why would he help prosper to do something that would make him feel better? It made no sense to me! It seemed obvious that eventually Alastor and Prosper would become friends, or at least partners, although given that this is merely a prologue, I can't say for sure if that's what will happen.

Neither did it make any sense as to why none of this family knew that to control a demon, you need its real name! That's so out there in folklore that everyone knows it, even in the real world where demons are pure fiction, so people who have been dealing with a demonic threat all their lives, and who have libraries of books about demons, had no excuse for not knowing it.

But Alastor was a fail. He was such a pompous and prolix punk that that he was far more of a joke than ever he was a demonic presence. To me, Alastor never came across as being anywhere near as evil and vengeful as he was supposed to be. This was a problem with the plotting. Maybe middle graders won't concern themselves with it, but I know my kids would find him as much of a joke as I did.

There was also the issue in any magic story which is: why are there any restrictions and rules? We're told that in order to get the demon out, certain materials need to be gathered, yet despite Nell being a quite accomplished witch she isn't able to magic up the ingredients?

Admittedly, one requirement is a bit out of the ordinary. She needs toes; real human toes, but it's never clear until the end if it's the actual toe, or just the toe bone. This apparently needed to be ordered abroad? That made no sense. Why not just magic them out of a grave - or go dig them up?

I've encountered this problem repeatedly in books where magic is part of the world: there's either no explanation offered as to why something can't be 'magicked', or there's some arbitrary rule "explaining" why the magic won't work. At least in this story we got a cute explanation as to why the spells always rhymed: they were easier to remember that way! That was a bit of a cheat since they were so simple that you'd have to be a moron not to remember them, but it was a cute idea, and I liked the cheekiness of it even though it evoked the schlockiness of the Charmed TV series which I actually couldn't stand.

I really liked Nell as a character. I find I often do this: prefer the side-kick or the friend to the main character. Nell would be worth reading about, but I wasn't keen at all on Prosper or Alastor. maybe middle-graders will like this, but I can't rate it positively when there were so many problems with it.

Note that there were some formatting issues with the ebook, with the text not filling the whole screen in some parts - like there were hard carriage returns in it, but this was an ARC, co perhaps those issues have been resolved in the actual published version

There were a couple of reasons why I requested this book on NetGalley. One was because of the cover. I feel that the cover of The Dreadful Tale Of Prosper Redding totally captures what this book is about. The white fox in the mirror with a candle is creepy and a little surreal. The other reason is a personal one. I am forever on the look out for books for my 9-year-old to read. So, when this book turned up on my homepage, I requested it.

I wasn’t disappointed with The Dreadful Tale Of Prosper Redding. It was a quick read with likable main characters, evil secondary characters and a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. Now, saying that I do think that it might be a little too scary for some Middle-Grade readers. There are some situations and scenes that could scare a tween/early teen. Like the scene in The Castle….when Prosper and Prue were getting tested or the scene at the end of the book with the mirrors. So just keep this in mind if you are going to buy/take this book out from the library.

I felt bad for Prosper in the beginning of the book. He was bullied mercilessly by everyone, including his own twin….who he used to super close with. His grandmother reminded me, strongly, of Joan Crawford and I won’t even begin to talk about his parents. What I got out of those first chapters was that they weren’t around much, leaving him to be with his grandmother most of the time. His family was also almost unnaturally gifted. Everything they touched turned to gold. Prosper was one of the only ones in his family that weren’t good-looking or had a gift (or so he was told). It was a very screwed up family dynamic going on in those first few chapters.

The night that Alastor, a malefactor from Downstairs (the different realms are fully explained in the book), who is heir to the throne of Downstairs (again, explained in the book). He got sent into Prosper’s body during the ritual that Prosper was forced into. He had a vow that he would destroy the Reddings and then go back to the Downstairs to retake back his position as heir. But, it was easier said than done because Prosper was doing everything in his power to get rid of Alastor….that didn’t include killing Prosper. The dialogue between Prosper and Alastor was pretty funny and Alastor did make himself known in different ways throughout the book. Like when he made Prosper run super fast and he smelled like eggs afterward or when he forced Prosper to write in Greek. He also would hijack Prosper’s body and go around town, trying to find out who was ruling the Downstairs.

Now, I did figure that something shady was going on with Nell and Barnabas but I was a little floored by what it was. I had actually liked Nell. She was the first person, ever, who actually treated Prosper like a person worth spending time with. So yeah, I was a tad floored when certain things were revealed about her and Barnabas.

I really liked that the author took her time and researched Salem. Having lived the next town over for years, attended college there, given birth to 2 out of my 3 children there, and having gone to the Salem Willows every summer for years, it irks me when I read a book and everything is wrong. She got present day Salem, with the strip malls and the touristy shops, right. She also had the history of the Salem Witch Trials right too. They weren’t just held in Salem. They were also held in Danvers, Andover and a couple of other cities nearby. Actually, in my hometown, there is a monument, which off the bike trail, to the only man who was executed (and his wife) during the Salem Witch Trials. So yeah, I was pretty happy to see that she did her research.

Like I said above, there were a couple of twists at the end of the book that I didn’t see coming, besides the Nell and Barnabas one. The one that shocked me the most happened literally at the end of the book and I was left going “What just happened”. The other one, I should have seen coming because there were plenty of hints but I didn’t catch onto it.

I am hoping that there will be a book 2 because I need to know what happens to Alastor, Nell, Prue, and Prosper. Also the other people….but mainly them.

How many stars will I give The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding: 4

Why: A deliciously scary story with a great plotline and great characters

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Young Teen

Why: Mild violence. Like I said above, there are some situations in this book that could scare a tween/young teen reader.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Remember how I said Middle Grade books win this year? Well, this book just proves this fact in Alexandra Bracken's newest book that comes out this fall. It also happens to be my new favourite book by her, and I've read at least the first book of each of her series that are currently out. And here's why: We follow the story of Prosper Redding, a bit of a sad kid who's bullied at school and who has become distant to his once close twin sister. He doesn't fit in with the rest of his family either. More so when he finds out his ancestor made a deal with a demon, who just happens to residing in Prosper currently. I don't want to give much more away about it though. You'll have to trust me that Prosper's tale manages to become even more magical from there. Just take the warning in the first few pages of this book to heart, don't trust a Redding. Or really anyone for that matter.

The writing in this book is just so much fun. To me, it was one of Bracken's better crafted stories and it doesn't get too boring, only a few moments that slowed down and left me crazy because I needed to know where the plot went past the filler section. As someone who loves witches and grew up on Harry Potter magic, this book had just the right amount of magic in it while bringing us a whole new ideas while feeling familiar. It also has the right amount of spookiness without being completely scary. I admit, I was creeped out a few times, so maybe not read this with younger readers just yet, but let them once they're in middle school, in my personal opinion just to keep it on the safe side. As for the writing quality, it was good. Unlike in some of the past books I read from Bracken, there wasn't as much unneeded moments in this book. There was a few that I wouldn't mind not seeing, but most of them come with at least a small purpose behind it, which we do find out later. I think she finally found the right balance in my opinion.

Do I recommend this book? Yes. Highly. I'd seriously run to my store and preorder it now. If that isn't an option yet, then wait for it to be, mark on all your calendars and whatever else until you can. It's the perfect book for most ages and is perfect for fans of Hocus Pocus. It might be the only thing that ever comes as good and so purely Halloween as this movie.

I really like the work of Alexandra Bracken and I was rather curious about discovering her new novel which is a middle grade (gender that I quite enjoy).

This book is a urban fantasy book, we follow Prosper, 12, who comes from a great and old family, the latter will realize that his family has secrets and a big one, a curse has been cast on 400 years ago. Sadly for him, he is the target of it an gets possessed by a malefactor named Alastor. I loved the magic in this book, it was fun to discover the story of the Redding family, the origin of the curse, the various demons and others stuffs. I do not think that the universe uses an original and unique folklore, but it is, in any case, very well exploited.

Prosper is a very touching boy. I appreciated his voice very much, I found it funny and engaging, it makes the book very pleasant to read. I also liked his character, he's a loner, he's often sidelined, but he has a certain love for his sister and his parents, and he's willing to sacrifice himself for them. The malefactor, Alastor, brings humor, and I kind of really like him at the end of the book.

As for the intrigue and the rhythm, it is rather successful, as I said, I do not find the world building absolutely new, but I find this book well done, it is a story about family and friendship with a touch of revenge and it works well. So if you like this author or middle grade, do not hesitate to read this book, I'm sure you will like it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of “The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding A Fiendish Arrangement” by Alexandra Bracken. Alexandra Bracken has such a way with words and character development. This middle grade novel will appeal to a wide variety of children. The magic is quite interesting and has a darker side which is quite popular for this age group. Overall, this book is very well written. My only concern is the topic of possession for tweens. Some parents may not wish for this age group to read about such topics but that will ultimately be decided by the parental figure.

I'm a big fan of Alexandra Bracken, I adore The Darkest Mind trilogy so I was very excited and grateful to pick up her first pre YA book. While it has been a while since I was YA let alone pre YA, I jumped into this read and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The spellbinding adventure story follows a boy, a fiend and an deep dark family secret on an journey filled with magic, bugs and trust issues. Keeping you guessing and rethinking to the last page this story will pull you into the mirror and send you flying on the adventure.
The characters were fantastic. Where can I get a Toad? And who wouldn't want to be in Nell's Drama class? They are fun, filled and fantastic. The Reddings will make you appreciate your family and the scenery will have you reaching for your passport.
Fantastic read to share with preteen readers who are just getting into the fantasy genre.
Grab this book for a holiday/vacation read. Medium length snappy chapters make it great for intermittent reading. Save it for Halloween and soak up the atmosphere of the Season and truly immerse yourself in the witchy world.

This was such a fantastic middle grade novel! A perfect read for the fall! (AND LOOK AT THAT COVER!)

Prosperity Redding is the odd duck in his family full of successful, wealthy, and just plain lucky people. And one a day near his thirteenth birthday he learns why. His family's luck and wealth is due to an ancestor who made a contract with a demon - a malefactor - whom he discovers, has been living dormant in his body.

We follow Prosper on his journey to rid himself of this malefactor before it gains enough power to leave his body and destroy his family, meeting all sorts of strangely lovable characters on the way.

This book was seriously a delight. The author is so descriptive with the settings and characters, it was so easy to picture everything in my mind. Alastor and Prosper both cracked me up, they were so opposite, yet similar in some ways. Their relationship (is that what you'd call your interactions with a demon living inside you? Haha) was hilarious, and was probably my favorite part of the book. The book ended on a perfect note - answering some questions but leaving so many more for the sequel!

"The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding" by Alexandra Bracken is a middle-grade fantasy novel about a boy, Prosperity Redding, who discovers he has a malefactor named Alastor (a demon who makes deals with humans) trapped inside him. With the help of his long-lost Uncle Barnabas and his dauther, Nell (a witch), Prosper fights to get rid of Alastor before he escapes and destroys the Redding family.

I enjoyed reading "The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding" and only has one complaint. For some reason, when I received the ARC, I did not see that it is Book #1 in a series. The book ends with major cliffhangers. Even with series books, I do prefer ones that stand on their own. No waiting, no torture! That said, it's a great book with a caveat for parents (from a faith standpoint).

The characters in this book are so very interesting. They come to life with their quirks and personalities leaping off the page. They also have depth that might surprise readers and teach them that good guys aren't always good, bad guys aren't all bad, and those who think less of themselves actually have much more to offer. The settings are just as good with their own personalities and quirks. The descriptions of each place (from Redhood to Salem, from the Cottage to the House of Seven Terrors) is well-crafted that it's easy to be there.

I finished this book in one day! I just had to keep reading to know what happens (and so when it ends on a cliffhanger...*heartbreak*). There are good plot twists and surprises here and there. Most of the book is in Prosper's first-person point-of-view, but there are parts where it is in Alastor's third-person point-of-view. I'm not a big fan of multiple POVs because they're not always done well. Bracken does it well, and I think, it's because the switch is from first to third person and isn't overdone. I don't think it would confuse younger readers.

Now for the caveat. This book is geared for 9-12 year-0lds or Grades 3-7. How overactive is the imagination of your child? Because if I had read this as a 9-year-old, I would have had nightmares. Also, I would have had a million questions about demons and possession. Yes, I was that kid. And if you have that kid, this caveat is for you.

I think this is a great fantasy book that kids will enjoy. It's very imaginative overall (in plot, in characters, in settings). From a faith standpoint, it would raise questions about spiritual things that parents need to answer. Read it yourself first to determine if it's right for your family. But don't be afraid to have deep spiritual conversations with your kids. Don't be afraid to talk to them about the similarities and differences between fictional worlds we find in books and the spiritual world the Bible describes.

"The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding" also addresses family, friends, growing up, being different, and finding your courage. If you like fantasy that's hard to put down, and don't mind cliffhangers, then pick up this book.

Equal parts charming and spooky, Alexandra Bracken's first foray into middle grade doesn't disappoint. I enjoyed every minute of it and can't wait to read more.

Bracken always creates characters you instantly root for, and this novel is no different. Prosper is a funny and extremely likable main character and the rest of the cast is equally as interesting - particularly Nell, a young witch. Alastor provides both spookiness and comedy and I really liked how Prosper and Alastor team up on occasion, while also maintaining their enemy vibe. Each character has such a distinct personality and it was fun to read about all of them.

Ultimately, this is a story about family, legacy, and revenge and trying to escape a history that technically has nothing to do with you. Prosper has to deal with the many consequences of his ancestors' actions, as well as those within his immediate family, and his struggles are compelling. As I said in the beginning of this review, this book has a good balance of humor and creepy, making this a perfect fall read. Fans of Bracken's YA should enjoy this, as well as those new to Bracken's work. It's a lot of fun!