A Plague of Bogles

Scary fantasy creatures called bogles live in dark places, eat children, and are described in detail as they try to snatch children. Main characters in many perilous situations trying to kill them. Half a dozen mentions of blood, but no detail. Past mention of a villain putting an ax through a man's gut and setting fire to a cellar. Baby farming is described, and it's speculated that a villain either sold babies off or fed them to bogles. Blows to the head, strangling, and kicking in the only fight described. A child is hit on the hand with a cane and gets a red welt and is slapped in the face. The waning of public execution as a spectacle is lamented, and people's need for blood sport is asserted by a minor character.

"Hell," "damn," and "damned" once each.

Many scenes take place in taverns and include frequent mention of beers, brandy, gin, port, and grog. Cold beer and a drunkard are each used in simile. Adult Alfred frequently drinks brandy. Birdie, 11, has watered-down port, and Jem, 11, always wishes for gin or brandy but is never able to get any. Various background people are mentioned smoking, a tavern becomes smoky, and Alfred lights a pipe once.

Parents need to know that Catherine Jinks' A Plague of Bogles is the second of a planned trilogy, set in Victorian London, that began with How to Catch a Bogle. Here, the bogles -- scary fantasy creatures straight out of nightmares that hide in dark places and eat children -- are back in greater number. A boy and girl, both 11, are frequently in peril as they help to trap and kill the monsters, and there's a lot of suspense and genuine fright. Alcoholic drinks are mentioned frequently, especially as many key events take place in taverns, and the adult Alfred is frequently mentioned drinking brandy. Smoking or a smoky atmosphere in taverns is mentioned a few times. Only one instance each of "hell," "damn," and "damned."