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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
Best: Really engaging, excellent learning approach.
Very Good: Engaging, very good learning approach.
Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
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Our child development rating guidelines

Book reviews for holidays & monsters, ghosts, and vampires

72 results
  • Review
    Teacher's Pest: Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #3

    Bug-monsters offer light horror hijinks in third volume.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Charles Gilman
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    In the Shadow of Blackbirds

    Spine-tingling ghost story haunts long after reading.
    AGE
    12
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Cat Winters
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    A Box of Gargoyles

    Friendship and family in Paris in exciting, creepy sequel.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Anne Nesbet
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace

    Fast-paced coming-of-age tale about finding yourself.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Nan Marino
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Doll Bones

    Tween tale is both creepy and sweetly poignant.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Holly Black
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Slither Sisters: Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #2

    Goofy comedy for young boys riffs on horror cliches.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Charles Gilman
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Elite

    The Selection sequel is more romantic, still superficial.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Kiera Cass
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Legend Thief: The Hunter Chronicles, Book 2

    Frenetically paced, complex monster fantasy.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By E. J. Patten
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Ultra Violets

    Fast-paced girl-power confection made for superhero fans.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Sophie Bell
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Clockwork Princess: Infernal Devices, Book 3

    Enthralling trilogy conclusion tugs at the heartstrings.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Cassandra Clare
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Return to Exile: The Hunter Chronicles, Book 1

    Monster-hunter series too complex for younger fantasy fans.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By E. J. Patten
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Poison

    Fun, fast-paced fantasy with potion-packing heroine.
    AGE
    12
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Bridget Zinn
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Beautiful Chaos: The Caster Chronicles, Book 3

    More black magic, less exciting action in third outing.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    I Have a Dream

    Stunning art amplifies meaning of King's words for kids.
    AGE
    6
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Kadir Nelson
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Etiquette & Espionage

    Delightful steampunk fantasy about girl spies and assassins.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Gail Carriger
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Madness Underneath: Shades of London, Book 2

    Cool main character holds together 2nd London mystery.
    AGE
    12
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Maureen Johnson
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Indigo Spell: Bloodlines, Book 3

    Third Bloodlines adventure takes a romantic, magical turn.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Richelle Mead
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Case File 13: Zombie Kid

    Goofy horror tale has light scares and lots of body humor.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning
    Select
    By J. Scott Savage
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Warm Bodies

    Gory but sweet romance of teen girl and zombie.
    AGE
    15
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Isaac Marion
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Name of the Star: Shades of London, Book 1

    Macabre modern Ripper meets hip Brit boarding school.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Maureen Johnson
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Rise

    Sexual themes and violence weigh down Nightshade prequel.
    AGE
    16
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Andrea Cremer
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Joshua Dread

    Hilarious saga of middle-schooler with supervillain parents.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Lee Bacon
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Abe Lincoln's Dream

    Girl's journey with Lincoln's ghost applauds U.S. progress.
    AGE
    5
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Lane Smith
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Summer of the Mariposas

    Fantastical quest explores sisterhood and Mexican legends.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Guadalupe Garcia McCall
    (Book, 2012)
  • Review
    Magic Tree House Series

    Fun, educational chapter books have something for everyone.
    AGE
    6
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Mary Pope Osborne
    (Book, 2012)