Reading Metrics
Description
When Professor E. Gore comes to Hauntly Manor to work with Hilda, Annie and Jane suspect they are trying to clone monsters. The coauthor is Debbie Dadey.
Quick Summary
If your kid loves silly spooky stories, this one hits the mark it's got just enough creepy atmosphere to feel exciting without being actually scary, and the humor comes from the monsters themselves acting ridiculous rather than anything dark. The plot centers on three friends who get suspicious of a professor showing up at their haunted manor and start investigating what the grown-ups are really up to, which gives kids that satisfying feeling of kids-outsmarting-adults that always goes over well. It's part of the Mysterious Tales from Stone Creek series, and the writing keeps things moving at a quick pace with short chapters, making it a solid choice for kids who are transitioning from picture books to chapter books or who might be a little hesitant about diving into longer stories. The monster cloning angle is genuinely fun and sparks some goofy scenarios, and at an AR level of 3.8 it's approachable without feeling babyish. Parents will appreciate that the friendship between Hilda, Annie, and Jane takes center stage, and there's a nice message about trusting your instincts without being preachy about it. Fans of this book would probably also enjoy the Bailey School Kids series if they want more "monsters are real" adventure stories.