This is the second book I have read by this author, and think it's a great book for kids wanting to delve into the horror genre.
My daughter borrowed this book, as well as Zombie Winter for me from her school library when she found out how much I enjoy horror stories. While the book(s) are clearly written for kids, I'll read nearly anything that's put in front of me. And if it keeps my kids looking and exploring their own likes and dislikes,pushing them to read and think about what to read, I'll encourage it!
The story was well written using words that kids could easily comprehend, and with a glossary in the back of the book, it's all the more easy for early readers to pick up.
Using subjects that kids follow today is also a great move on the authors part, however there are some incongruity with the computer/gaming theme that I wish had been a bit better researched. That aside, using things like gaming to capture a kids interest is a great way to get and keep them reading, something I found a bit lacking in my own childhood, causing me to jump from early reading to adult novels perhaps a bit too early.... Looking back, authors like Stephen King and Dean Koontz might not have been too appropriate for a grade schooler.
I'm also a fan of the stories being tied together in an almost x-files type fashion. I've always been a fan of series type books and while these stories can be read as a standalone book, being tied together is also a fun way for kids to explore different story types in the same genre.