Recess is a Jungle

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy Library, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 10, 2017

Review

One of the titles in the very popular "Branches" series by Scholastic, Eerie Elementary is great for those horror-loving elementary readers who are eager to be scared, but too young to be terrified. This is book three in the series and the only book that this reviewer has read to date. The history of this haunted elementary school is explained within the action of the plot in a sufficient manner for those who are starting at book 3. And to its credit, I found myself wanting to go back and read the first two books just to catch up on the mischief of this creepy property. Orson Eerie has cursed the school and Sam, Antonio, and Lucy have been made protectors of the children within the school from the odd goings-on. In this installment, the three kick a soccer ball just outside the boundaries of the playground and, believing that the curse does not extend past the gate, decide to retrieve the errant ball. They find that they are mistaken and the woods are just as cursed as the school and its immediate grounds. As they wander through the now-foggy, verdant jungle, dodging sea creatures in the "wasn't-there-before-but-is-now" swamp, they are able to rescue the ball. They find proof that Mr. Eerie's reach does extend to this part of the grounds and that they have been lured into the jungle so that the children of the school remain exposed to supernatural mischief. As they fight their way across the playground, now a huge labyrinth with vicious, child-eating playground equipment, they find that their soccer skills come in handy and make it to the back door to avert disaster. This type of book offers one episode with plenty of action, readable vocabulary, and constant pictorial assistance (black & white, pen and ink style illustrations that are clear and highly narrative). A solid addition to a library collection with 2nd-5th grade readers who want a touch of scary to their story.

Overall Book Score: good