Cute and fun, this is perfect for the middle grade/young adults in your life. My son enjoyed it and found the plot to be engaging and entertaining. A comfort read for spooky season.

Cleverly imagined, in its own subtle way as scary as Hitchcock's iconic avian film [that pig scene! terrifying!], SCREECH SCHOOL is second in the CREATURES AND TEACHERS Series by Jennifer Killick. Designed for Middle Graders, this Series stars a disparate group of kids who are intrepid and when it counts, fearless, who are forced to battle against a couple of mad-scientist types who glory in genetic engineering of--well, monsters. Nothing in common at first, these students bonded through adversity and now exhibit a deeply-founded friendship, necessary against the perpetually determined villains.
Release September 17 2024.

Middle grade spooky novels are always fun to read. This one was alright and I think many middle grade readers will enjoy the thrills and chills in this book. This is one I would recommend to readers who are looking for a few thrills but not a big spooky book reader

Screech School is an intriguing story with interesting characters. It's creepy and suspenseful. The author keeps you guessing as to what is going to happen next. She also puts the characters through a lot of horror from their nemesis that adds to the story. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more in the series.

This was a pretty easy read once you got into. It definitely gave me Goosebumps vibes in the best way. The dynamic between the kids was great and was really fun to read. I will definitely look forward to more books by this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the ARC!

Jennifer Killick’s Screech School is a suspenseful addition to the Creatures & Teachers series, blending humor, horror, and friendship into a quick-paced adventure. The story follows Angelo and his friends as they prepare for what should be their biggest challenge—the school dance. However, the arrival of giant vampire birds throws their plans into chaos, turning the dance into a fight for survival.

Killick excels at creating a creepy atmosphere, with vivid descriptions of the winged predators that make them feel genuinely menacing. The tension builds as the group tries to figure out how to stop the birds before it's too late, and the dynamic between the characters adds heart to the horror. Their camaraderie and witty banter provide moments of relief in an otherwise intense narrative.

The plot, while engaging, occasionally feels a bit rushed, especially toward the climax, where the resolution comes almost too easily. Despite this, the story remains entertaining, with enough twists and scares to keep readers hooked. The mix of everyday school life with supernatural elements is well-executed, making this sequel a fun, if slightly predictable, read for fans of the genre.

Overall, Screech School is a solid sequel offering plenty of thrills and chills, even if it doesn’t soar to new heights. It is a must-read for those who enjoyed the first book and for anyone looking for a spooky, light-hearted adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an eARC of Screech School by Jennifer Killick.

Let your fears take flight in this scary sequel of the Creatures & Teachers series where a group of friends must protect their school from vampire birds!

Angelo and his friends know that together they can handle any pretty much anything together. The scariest thing they think they have to worry about these days is the upcoming school dance.

But when a terrifying new enemy attacks from above it seems they have met their ultimate match . . . giant vampire birds after BLOOD.

Can they save their school before the big dance or will they dicover terror in the air like they've never seen before?

I am always on the look out for new spooky books for my middle schoolers, as that is a popular genre in that particular age group. Screech School was cute, but Creatures and Teachers was my favorite out of the two. I was hoping for a different antagonist this round- so it did get a little repetitive at times. There was great character development because of the extended time with the same characters. I will recommend this to my kiddos at school!

The same couple that keep harassing these kids for their grandchild is getting a little old. It would have been better if the children are facing another nemesis. Not sure if would read the next book in the series.

Very excited to be back in the world of the Dread Wood. While not as thrilling as the first, still an enjoyable, fast paced creep fest. The humor and banter are as chuckle worthy as before and Gus is one of my favorite characters in middle grade literature that I’ve been introduced to this year. Anxiously awaiting the third installment (I hope!)

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC.
Angelo, Hallie, Gustav, and Naira survived Detention, and the Larricks and their horrific spiders,
and are now friends and think things are looking up for the group; unfortunately, they are wrong. Their first sign that something is awry, is when they notice a ton of birds surrounding the school, and when the blood-sucking birds attack one of the beloved pigs, the kids know something bad is happening. The birds are not the only problem though; there are also scarecrows that have come to life, and as the school prepares for the field day and school dance, things go from bad to worse. The kids will have to work together

Killick's books are popular in my library, and I loved the first book in this series. For some reason, this book seemed to flatline a bit and had uneven pacing. I will probably purchase, but only because the first one is popular.

After defeating the Latchitts in the last book, Angelo Hallie, Naira, and Gustav hope that they’ve seen the last of the elderly couple who caused havoc in the school using nursery rhymes. While watching his brother, Angelo gets attacked at home. Soon, ominous flocks of vampire birds are attacking students at school, and someone is leaving threatening notes for Angelo. When spring sports day turns disastrous, Angelo and his friends start to think that the Latchitts are back. With the school dance coming up, can the quartet save the school before it’s too late? Are the Latchitts really back? Who is behind all the attacks?

The plot is well developed and full of humor. Characters are well-developed, witty, and believable as they deal with difficult situations. The world-building continues from the last book and is draws readers into the novel. Readers who like Katherine Arden’s Small Spaces series, horror, humor, and mystery will want to pick this one up. It is recommended, however, that readers read the first book in the series first. Recommended for most library collections. Gr 4 to 8, 5 stars.

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

This was published in the UK as FLOCK HORROR, and is the third in the series. The second book, FEAR GROUND, appears to have different characters in it, so it makes sense to consider this the second in the series.

Angelo and his friends are back after battling the giant, mutant spiders, but the Lachitts aren't done with them. Giant vampire birds are menacing the school, both at field day and during the school dance. When the kids are setting up for this event at the Aviary (a local shopping center), things go badly wrong, and the Lachitts reappear. In addition to the giant, vampire birds, there are also creepy scarecrows. The Lanchitts are arrested at the end, but there are two more books, Deadly Deep, and Fright Bite, which both include the Losers Club characters. This was a bit slower paced than the first book, which allowed for more character development.