Middle School Bites

October 15, 2019
All Tom Marks wants is to be an ordinary kid--invisible, in fact. But it's hard to be invisible when you're a Vam-Wolf-Zom. Tom's many plans for middle school include the "Girlfriend Plan," the "Easy Grade in Art Class Plan," and, most importantly, the "Invisible Tom Plan." He does not, naturally, have a "What If I Turn into a Vampire-Werewolf-Zombie Plan." The day before school starts, however, what should be a perfectly routine visit to his grandmother's cabin in the woods goes horribly awry, as he is bitten by a bat, a mangy dog, and what seems to be an eerily lifelike zombie prop within the span of several hours. Now Tom must juggle disturbing physical changes alongside tough classes, locker sharing, friendships old and new, a persistent bully with an unfortunate home life, and the ubiquitous desire for acceptance. Tom's first-person narration is frank and engaging; much of the novel's humor arises from his wry, self-aware commentary. A good portion of the remaining humor is drawn from Fearing's grayscale spot cartoons, with their exaggerated facial expressions and exquisitely scratchy details. The monstrous premise, though admittedly far-fetched (so much so that its being far-fetched is directly addressed in a prologue), adds a delightful twist to the classic navigating-middle-school plot. The colorful personalities of Tom's family, classmates, and teachers further enrich this not-so-spooky saga. The cast defaults white. This series opener is a howling good time. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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December 1, 2019

Gr 4-7-When 11-year-old Tom Marks is bitten by a bat, a wolf, and a zombie, his plans to survive middle school by flying under the radar are dashed. On his first day of school, the sun feels burning hot, he finds himself howling in chorus, and he has a strange craving for blood. Tom realizes that being a vam-wolf-zom has some advantages, but will superhuman strength, hearing, eyesight, and speed save him from notorious bully Tanner Gantt? And how will he fit in at school once his monstrous secret is revealed? This new novel by the head writer of SpongeBob SquarePants combines typical middle school angst with a hilariously over-the-top monster movie premise. Likable, funny Tom dreams up far-fetched visions of the future. Black-and-white cartoon drawings by Fearing ramp up the humor. The cliffhanger ending ensures that there will almost certainly be a sequel. VERDICT With its enjoyable characters and wacky concept, this novel is sure to have wide appeal.-Ashley Larsen, Pacifica Libraries, CA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2019
Grades 4-6 Middle school arrives and Tom has plans?for everything from getting a girlfriend to staying invisible. But they all go out the window when he's bitten by a bat and a strange dog and then scratched by a decayed sideshow exhibit on the last day of summer vacation. Suddenly he's got a supersensitive nose, superstrength, pointy ears, an aversion to sunlight, and a thirst for blood?yes, he's turning into a Vam-Wolf-Zom. Subverting expectations in this set-up volume, about the only character who responds predictably to his eventual full-moon transformation is his drama-queen older sister; while she barricades herself in her bedroom with garlic, crosses, and a plastic stake, his parents just give him a pass on the family's vegetarian diet, his school principal delivers a speech about inclusivity, and his friends and odd locker mate Abel (pretty certainly more than he seems) take it in stride. Fearing adds images of pop-eyed cartoon monsters and middle-schoolers to almost every spread, capped by a startling twist at the close to set up further misadventures. A fang-tastic kickoff.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)