A Bite Above the Rest

by Christine Virnig

A boy moves to a Halloween-themed town only to realize there may be more to the tourist trap than meets the eye in this fast-paced romp of a middle grade novel perfect for fans of The Last Kids on Earth and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library !

When Caleb’s mom decides they are moving to her childhood home in Wisconsin, Caleb is not thrilled. Moving schools, states, and time zones would be bad enough, but Mom’s hometown is Samhain, a small and ridiculously kitschy place where every day is Halloween.

Caleb is not a fan of Halloween when it only happens once a year, so Halloween-obsessed Samhain is really not the place for him. How is he supposed to cope with kids wearing costumes to school every single day ? And how about the fact that the mayor is so committed to the bit that City Hall is only open from sundown to sunup to accommodate his so-called vampirism? Sure enough, Caleb becomes an outcast at school for refusing to play along with the spooky tradition like the other sixth graders. Luckily, he manages to find a friend in fellow misfit Tai, and just in time, because things are getting weird in Samhain…or make that weird er .

But there’s no way the mayor is an actual vampire, and their teacher absolutely cannot really be a werewolf—right? Caleb discovers Samhain is so much stranger than he ever could have imagined. As one of the only people who realizes what’s happening, can he save a town that doesn’t want saving?

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Halloween, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile, Holiday

320 pages, Hardcover

First published August 6, 2024

About the author

Christine Virnig is a fan of books, candy, spooky stories, poop jokes, and coffee… in no particular order. As a former physician, Christine now spends her days writing books, reading books, and working at a library where she is surrounded by books.

Christine lives in southern Wisconsin with her husband, two daughters, a ridiculous number of dust bunnies, and one incredibly lazy cat. You can visit her on the web at christinevirnig.com.

Reviews

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t wait for Halloween and this book is perfect as we roll into the Fall.

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good spooky fun for readers ages eight and up! Adventure and mystery await Caleb when his mother returns them to her hometime at the highlight of Halloween chaos. He's not thrilled about it, but he'll do his best to try and save the town from themselves. Great fun and a joy to read!
~Tanja


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[Paige (pagebypaigebooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 Stars

“Nothing says town hall like a guillotine.”

I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.

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Content Warnings: grief, loss of a parent (past)

This was the perfect spooky read for fall! The setting of a Halloween-themed tourist town was so much fun to explore, from the citizens dressing up in costumes every day to the various supernatural-themed stores. At first, Caleb is very much not a fan of his new town but I loved seeing him gain confidence and build his friendship with Tai. The mystery of whether supernatural creatures were real was intriguing to follow and made for a fun read. I thought that the plot was well-paced and gave the reader time to put together clues with Caleb and Tai while also having a sense of urgency. However, I wish that there had been more surprising plot twists. While this story does have spooky elements it was evenly balanced out with plenty of humour including Caleb's pun-themed costumes. The occasional illustrations were also a perfect touch to the story and added another layer of whimsy. We ended off with an exciting cliffhanger so I'm excited to see what happens to the town next!

[Tara Kat (MagnoliaPigeonBookBlurbs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witches, Vampires & Werewolves…Oh My!!

When Caleb & his momma move back to her home town, he realizes things may not be quite what they seem. Samhain celebrates Halloween all year round and even encourages wearing costumes every - single - day! If that isn’t enough, Caleb begins to question if all the decorations and costumes are really just pretend. Is the town really just obsessed with Halloween…or are the neighbors really monsters in disguise?

🎃 Halloweentown
🧛🏻‍♂️ Vampires?
🐺 Werewolves?
🔍 Sleuthing
🔮 Witches?
🫖 Cozy
📚 Research
🫶 Friendship
🏫 Middle Grade

I absolutely loved this! A Bite Above the Rest is such an adorable Middle Grade read! Touching on tough subjects of loss, fitting in, feeling like an outsider and starting over in a new town in such a cozy, lighthearted and relatable way. This cute & spooky read will resonate with readers of all ages!

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours for sending me a copy!

[HF · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun. It's like a blend of Halloweentown and Goosebumps, though it's definitely more fantasy than horror. The friendship between Caleb and Tai was cute. They play off of each other well. There's also a subplot of Caleb coming to terms with his father's death, as well as his relationship with his mom now that it's just the two of them, and I think it was done very well. Ending's a bit rushed, but not enough to take away my enjoyment of the first 80%. I don't know if a sequel is in the works, but I'm hoping there is. I'd love to explore Samhain again.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun! It did have a Tragic Past; there’s a dead dad that kid and mom are still actively mourning, but it’s background as Cal adjusts to a new school, makes a new friend, and freaks out about whether some of the people pretending to be monsters in the themed town are truly vampires and werewolves oh my! He and his friend try various kid-appropriate sleuthing tricks and it’s a fun ride.

The ending tickled me as well. I liked how Cal was a self-admitted scardy-cat, how Tai had her own stuff, and the various costumes were fun.

[Courtney (pawsitivelybookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so spooky and fun and even dealt with some more serious subject matter

The town of Samhain was giving Halloweentown which instantly drew me in! Tai was so quirky and sweet and such a good friend to Caleb. She was exactly the kind of friend he needed to adjust moving to a new deal while dealing with the grief of losing his dad.

I’m curious to see if there will be a sequel!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book. Especially with Halloween right around the corner. Can’t wait to share this with my 8 year old granddaughter and to plan a creative anti-costume (just like Caleb!). This book did NOT vacuum big time 🤣

[Stephanie Affinito · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this middle grade novel, a boy moves to a Halloween-themed town only to realize there may be more to the tourist trap than meets the eye. Caleb has just moved to Wisconsin with his mom after losing his dad and is having trouble fitting in…along with sneaky suspicions about the town and the people in it. Filled with such vivid descriptions that made me want to literally jump into the pages, Caleb and Tai are the most relatable characters you’ll ever meet, even if they are wildly different. Together, they’ll nail a school report AND uncover the truth underneath all of the disguises. This book has so many themes to connect to: Halloween, family, loss, friendship, moving, anxiety and more. Readers are sure to settle in and want to stay for a long while.

[Susan Apps-Bodilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this debut novel by Wisconsin author Christine Virnig. It's an excellent read for anyone who loves a spooky mystery and includes characters you love and wonder about! Vampires? A Werewolf for a teacher? A witch for a neighbor? This is the most interesting fictional town to visit in Wisconsin!

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/4/2024 V fun MG novel that was a total blast to read. Now if only I could persuade my eldest to read it, too... Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.

8/5/2024 Oh gosh, I really do hope this is the start of a series! It's so cute, and the ending is the perfect setup for sequels galore!

Eleven year-old Caleb isn't super thrilled to have to leave California and all his memories of his late dad. But his mom enjoyed growing up in small town Wisconsin and wants a similar (and also more affordable) upbringing for her kid, so here they are in the quirky town of Samhain. Immersively, if not outright aggressively, themed as a Halloween-town, everyone dresses up every day in a place which is always decorated for spooky season. Even the kids wear full-out costumes to school, which Caleb finds pretty strange in an already super disorienting, pumpkin-spice-filled environment.

Luckily for him, his classmate Tai has volunteered to show him around and help him get settled. Caleb immediately assumes that plucky, vivacious Tai already has lots of friends, before realizing that mixed race Tai doesn't really fit in with the rest of the Samhain denizens either. The two fall into an easy friendship, and decide to collaborate on a Social Studies project together with the aim of figuring out local government. Tai has a bit of an ulterior motive: her family is still mystified by a decision made by town council years earlier, and she wants to get to the bottom of it.

Their investigations into a seemingly dull bureaucratic issue, however, soon have them wondering whether the people behind Samhain are really just pretending to be monsters... or whether they actually are supernatural creatures preying on the unsuspecting. Soon, Caleb and Tai are racing to outwit some of the town's most esteemed residents, even as those closest to them are being targeted. But what could exposing the truth potentially cost them?

This was an absolute romp of a middle grade novel, as two outsiders work to explode a town's secrets while striving to protect their families. It's easy to sympathize with both Caleb and Tai, who have perfectly reasonable questions and reactions to some less than welcoming behavior. It's also a treat to see how the supernatural is handled here. As a Malaysian, when the witch next door introduced herself as Mrs Dukun, I got chills!

I also really enjoyed the big twist ending, and hope to read more of the town of Samhain and of Caleb and Tai's efforts to protect it. I tore through this book overnight and am super ready to press it on my kids once they decide they're ready for some spooky season reading, along with the exceptional first book in The Doomsday Archives series, The Wandering Hour. Scary, funny and with real emotional depth at their core, books like these make Middle Grade horror my favorite of all the horror subgenres.

A Bite Above The Rest by Christine Virnig will be published tomorrow August 6 2024 by Aladdin and is available for pre-order from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
Caleb’s difficulty fitting in may resonate with some young readers. He’s warned that he needs to wear a Halloween costume to school but he refuses. He’s okay with his decision but it doesn’t make the hallway stares and bullying any easier. He then chooses to wear creative “costumes” based on puns and wordplay. For example, he glues plastic coins on his shirt and calls himself a quarterback. Caleb’s father has passed away and Caleb misses him dearly. He promised his father that he’d take care of his mother so Caleb feels like he must keep all of his pain to himself. He doesn’t want to worry her so he keeps his sorrow and insecurities bottled up inside.
Tai becomes Caleb’s best friend and she’s the most interesting character. She’s embraced the concept of the town celebrating Halloween year-round as she’s dressed as a fairy when Caleb first meets her. She’s also thrilled when Caleb thinks the zombie mannequin on her porch is really “alive”. She’s most upset that her parents’ idea to start a shop featuring things to ward off the supernatural, like holy water, wooden stakes, and amulets, was not granted a permit by the town. Tai convinces Caleb to partner with her on a class project where they’ll investigate the mayor and the town’s reasons for not supporting her parents’ plan. Despite the dangers they uncover, Caleb realizes he doesn’t want to flee Samhain and Tai and lose the closest friends he’s ever had.
The author tries to leave room for doubt but it’s quickly evident that real monsters are living in Samhain. Caleb suspects this right away but he’s forced to find ways to convince Tai and his mom; he won’t tell his mom about any of it until he’s certain. How can he prove monsters are living in Samhain without endangering himself? What will happen to the town if the citizens realize vampires and werewolves are living among them? Caleb and Tai try to uncover the mystery but discover everyone in town who might have information has forgotten what they once knew. Caleb is surprised to discover the cause and the thought of the monsters watching him is unnerving. The author uses these events to create suspense as the plot counts down to Halloween.
What didn’t work as well:
The climax is a little anti-climactic as readers might expect more of a face-to-face confrontation. Caleb’s plan works but, surprisingly, there’s not more resistance as it unfolds.
The final verdict:
This book will be hugely popular for lovers of Halloween! Caleb versus the Samhain monsters is the main topic of the plot but his grief after losing his father and his budding friendship with Tai are equally engaging. Overall, this book will be enjoyed by most young readers and I recommend you give it a shot.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🎃 could eat pumpkin spice whatever all year round
🧛‍♂️ believe your mayor is actually a vampire
👻 love Halloween and want to celebrate it every day
🧜‍♀️ have ever been bewitched by a mermaid

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

When Caleb’s mom decides they are moving to her childhood home in Wisconsin, Caleb is not thrilled. Moving schools, states, and time zones would be bad enough, but Mom’s hometown is Samhain, a small and ridiculously kitschy place where every day is Halloween.

Caleb is not a fan of Halloween when it only happens once a year, so Halloween-obsessed Samhain is really not the place for him. How is he supposed to cope with kids wearing costumes to school every single day? And how about the fact that the mayor is so committed to the bit that City Hall is only open from sundown to sunup to accommodate his so-called vampirism? Sure enough, Caleb becomes an outcast at school for refusing to play along with the spooky tradition like the other sixth graders. Luckily, he manages to find a friend in fellow misfit Tai, and just in time, because things are getting weird in Samhain…or make that weirder.

But there’s no way the mayor is an actual vampire, and their teacher absolutely cannot really be a werewolf—right? Caleb discovers Samhain is so much stranger than he ever could have imagined. As one of the only people who realizes what’s happening, can he save a town that doesn’t want saving?

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such a fun and creative middle grade novel! I loved Caleb and his interactions with Tai! She helped him come out of his shell a lot after moving to a strange new town where Halloween is basically a year round event. While I did guess that the town was full of monsters, I actually expected to find that there was simply valid explanations for everything, but I was pleasantly surprised that this wasn’t the case! And that ending! Please tell me we’ll see a sequel in the future!

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out my review and Christine Virnig's Top Ten Addictions on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

Imagine moving to a town where people dress in Halloween costumes all year long. It might be a dream for some people, but for Caleb, it’s super annoying. And then, when he starts to suspect some of the supernatural beings in his town might actually be real, it becomes downright creepy! Caleb makes it his mission to expose the truth and convince his mom to get the heck out of Samhain before it’s too late.

This book is super entertaining. Caleb’s disdain for Halloween costumes means he goes through a slew of simple punny costumes that kids will get a kick out of, and the mystery of just which characters might be actual monsters will keep them guessing. The book includes supernatural creature lore that goes beyond the obvious basics, which adds some interesting twists to Caleb’s investigations. Plus, the friendship that forms between Caleb and his new ally Tai is really wonderful and the fact that Caleb is missing his father who recently passed away feels poignant and important without ever completely taking center stage. Even though the story is definitely resolved, the ending introduces a twist with a bit of a cliffhanger, so I hope that means this is the start to a series!! I’m eager to find out what happens next!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC read - The perfect fall read for back to school season! A spooky and hilarious ride through Halloween town as a shy boy and his confident bestie investigate whether there is more to the holiday kitsch! I would love to live somewhere where everyone dressed up and the stores are themed with holiday puns. Not so much for 6th grader Caleb. After the death of his father, Mom moves them back to her home town for a fresh start. New school, new ghoul, new kid fear manifesting in plain site? Everyone can tell he is the new kid because Caleb is the only one not wearing a costume and the only one shrieking in fright at the kids who are. Luckily he teams up with Tai who has lived her entire life in Samhain to find where math class is and embark on a social studies project to learn how those puny businesses in town are approved. Of course they can only go to townhall at night as it operates on vampire hours. When they press the mayor on why Tai's family's application for an amulet and defensive magic shop was denied, the response is more bootastic than bureaucratic and sets them off to solve the mystery of whether Samhain is just a tourist trap or if something more sinister is afoot. I loved this bestie duo, both how they follow the clues and how they support each other. The writing is funny and fresh, and Caleb has a great character arc as he finds his way to bravery when it means standing up to protect his mom, Tai, and the other people in town. Highly recommend!!!

[Jenna Lee-Yun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not long after his father dies, 12-year-old Caleb’s mother moves them to her hometown of Samhain, Wisconsin, a place where every season is spooky season and every day is Halloween. Caleb isn’t happy about leaving his home where all of his memories with his father were made and he’s not thrilled about being the new kid and the target of a bully. What’s more, he becomes convinced that there’s something truly sinister hiding behind the costumes, plastic fangs, and cotton spider webbing. Luckily, Caleb finds a friend in Tai, who quickly becomes his accomplice in his plans to uncover the town’s dark secrets and convince his mother to move them back home. Despite the creepy setup and setting, the story offers plenty of comedic relief with both funny and punny moments involving Caleb’s attempts at going along with the town’s unofficial-official daily dress code of Halloween costumes as well as his humorous, and at times self-deprecating, internalizations. And while he is often a very earnest character, Caleb never takes himself too seriously. He also has a huge heart, which Tai seems to see in him from the start. And that’s actually how I would describe the story as a whole as well. It may be dressed up to scare, but beneath the surface, there’s a wealth of heart and humor to be found in the explorations of love and loss, friendship and family, and learning to trust yourself.

[Lenoire · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig is about a young boy, Caleb, who moves to Samhain, Wisconsin with his mother after his father passed away. His mother had great memories when she used to live in Samhain and loves that the small town celebrates Halloween every day. Kids and adults, all dress in costume, and businesses and houses are decorated with ghoulish décor.

Caleb isn’t a fan of Halloween when it normally occurs once a year. So, with Samhain being obsessed with Halloween, Caleb isn’t looking forward to moving to the new town. He feels that the town is being over the top with kitschy vibes. In addition to wearing costumes daily, the mayor is so committed to his act of being a vampire that he is only available in the City Hall during sundown to sunup. Caleb is the only one at his school who refuses to dress up, so he is constantly picked on by other students. He does manage to befriend another fellow misfit, Tai. The timing of his new budding friendship couldn’t come at a better time, as he has noticed weird things happening around Samhain.

The children’s book is a fun and quirky read. It was easy to read and had a few funny jokes. The book was straightforward and didn’t have any unexpected twists. Even though the book had a few spooky themes, it isn’t scary for young readers. It was fun reading how Tai and Caleb were trying to find ways to discover if monsters do exist. The ending does leave an opening for the second book.

[Ashley Urquhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if you moved to a town obsessed with Halloween? But what if it was actually a cover for supernatural beings? Your neighbor is a witch, your English teacher is a werewolf, and the mayor is a vampire! Caleb isn’t sure about living in Samhain where everyone wears a costume to school year round. But when he meets Tai and starts looking at the town more closely, he’s not sure that he and his mom will be safe there.

I thought this book was so fun and perfect for Halloween. Caleb was a sympathetic character and you really rooted for him and Tai. The ending didn’t go exactly where I thought it would, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and I’m really intrigued about a possible next book…? I would recommend this for anyone wanting to get into the Halloween spirit or anyone who likes reading about weird towns.

Note: I received an early finished copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Aladdin for this advanced reader's copy. This book was absolutely adorable!! Caleb just moved to the Halloween-obsessed town, Samhain. The kids who live here wear costumes EVERY SINGLE DAY. City Hall is only open from sundown to sunup due to the mayor's vampirism? Soon, Caleb is an outcast for not being on board with all the costumes like his other 6th grade classmates. He finally finds a friend with Tai as things are getting even weirder around school and town. Is their teacher a REAL werewolf?! Is the mayor a REAL vampire?! There are REAL witches?! Samhain is definitely stranger than anyone knows, and Caleb and Tai are going to save the town, whether they want to be saved... or not. And that ending.... Is there going to be another book????

[Becky • bookmarked by becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bite Above The Rest is an engaging Halloween tale that cleverly intertwines themes of bravery, camaraderie, and the quest for belonging. This bewitching story seamlessly blends elements of mystery, adventure, and the supernatural, perfectly balancing eerie moments with middle-grade humor.

What I Loved:
✨Halloween Town: where everyone dresses in costumes every day, houses look haunted, and decorations are up year-round
✨Caleb’s pun costumes
✨Fun Sketches from Caleb’s notebook
✨Witches, Vampires, Werewolves

Caleb, our sixth grade MC, and his sidekick Tia make the perfect duo: smart, funny, and full of heart! These two kids are so lovable that every reader will be rooting for them. Christine Virnig seems to have left the door slightly open for a sequel, and I really hope she writes it. I can't wait to read more about Caleb and Tia's next adventure in Samhain, Wisconsin!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve spoken with so many librarians recently who have said kids are clamoring for both scary and funny books, and they are going to LOVE this one!

Caleb’s struggles fitting as a kid who isn’t a huge fan of Halloween in a VERY Halloween-obsessed town in will definitely be relatable, even if the specifics are very unique to this story and the quirky setting Virnig has crafted. Between the charming bestie duo, the short, fast-paced chapters (many of which end on a cliffhanger), and the strange details Caleb begins to notice as he tries to unravel to figure out what’s REALLY going on in the town, this is the truly perfect fall read. And the funny chapter names are an extra bonus! As someone from the upper Midwest myself, I loved the Wisconsin setting as well. Definitely recommend picking up a copy for back-to-school, and for any kid who loves Halloween.

[Sandy Grubb · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Caleb’s father dies, his mother moves to a small town where it’s Halloween every day, every resident is in costume, and every house and business is decorated to the max. It’s supposedly to promote their tourism appeal. However, it’s not long before Caleb suspects something sinister is going on. He enlists the help of his new friend Tai to investigate and test whether perhaps some of the vampires, witches, and werewolves are for real. It’s a terrific mystery and at times very fun while other times scary. Christine keeps the story going at a good pace while allowing us to share Caleb’s tough journey with grief, being the new kid, enduring taunting for his size, and trying to keep a difficult promise he made to his dad before he died. I especially loved the creativity Caleb showed in creating all his non-costumes. Very clever!

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4. 5 This is such a fun read for spooky season and all seasons. The main character is hilarious because he comes up with the most creative Halloween costumes that are smart puns. Halloween is not his thing but he just moved to a town with his mom (after his Dad passed away) and everyone dresses up every single day. He finds a great new friend and they start to investigate why her family was denied to open an amazing store in town. There's too much vampire in the mayor and it's not the only supernatural creature living about. It's unexpected, fun, and well-written. Emotional but also funny in good measure. I love the cover a lot.
Thank you publisher for the copy.

[Megyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows a young boy who moves to a town where it is Halloween all the time. Caleb loses his dad and is not happy with the new Halloween town. When him and his new friend start investigating the town, things are quickly shown to not be as they seem in this town.

This was a cute middle grade book! It had some fun Halloween vibes throughout. I loved the Halloween town and the characters. I think the story was light but also dealt with some big issues like grief.

This would be a great book for Halloween lovers! I had a lot of fun reading it and I would recommend!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of all things Halloween, the synopsis of A Bite Above the Rest alone piqued my interest. Though this novel features things that go bump in the night it is more spooky fun than outright horror. The novel is intended for middle-grade readers but appeals to an older audience as well. The story captures the spirit of the season and other things most people enjoy about Halloween. There are eerie decorations, Autumnal treats, getting dressed up in a creative costume, and the overall feeling of having fun.

Read the full movie review on the blog at: https://www.lifeofafemalebibliophile....

[Nedda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bring on Halloween!

I was so lucky to get to read an advance copy of Virnig's debut novel. It was all the things I needed this month—cozy, fun, mysterious, and teeming with vampires, werewolves, and witches. The town of Samhain is spookily enchanting. I loved escaping to it every night. Cale and his friend Tai are a wonderful tag team. I so enjoyed all the witty ways Cale chooses to dress up (in Samhain, everyone wears a Halloween costume every day), like scribbling "Go Ceiling Go!" on his hoodie to portray a ceiling fan. If you love Halloween like I do, this book is for you!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun! Easy, spooky Halloween story about a boy who moves to a Halloween-themed town and starts to suspect some of the monsters are real. I do have a gripe, though: there was never any discussion between Caleb and Tai about what alternatives the monsters had—they were just trying to live normal lives, right, and this seemed like the best way to do it. There was the thread about disappearing tourists that carried all the weight for the monsters being evil, but that wasn't explored enough to work for me. All in all, good book, worth reading; I've just been spoiled by Animorphs.

[Robin Dickert · Rating 4 out of 5]

'A month ago, if someone had told me I’d soon believe in vampires, I’d have laughed in their face.'

Fun and spoopy!
Samhain, Wisconsin. A town where every day feels like Halloween. When Caleb and his mom move there, he starts to suspect the costumes aren't all costumes. Is his teacher a real werewolf? Is the mayor truly a vampire? Is his neighbor a good witch or a bad witch? Also, if you're looking for any DIY costume ideas, Caleb has you covered!🤣

'Was it possible that the entire town of Samhain was nothing but a giant smokescreen? Could real supernatural beings be living here?'

[Wisconsin Alumni]

Christine Virnig ’98, MD’02
Author

From the author:
When Caleb moves to Samhain, Wisconsin, he expects strange. Samhain is a Halloween tourist town, after all, where costumes are worn year round and the Halloween decorations never come down. But things quickly go from strange to spooky when Caleb begins suspecting that the vampire mayor might be an actual vampire and his werewolf teacher might be an actual werewolf. And it’s up to him to uncover the truth!

[Erica Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frighteningly fun read! By the end of the first chapter that I was so ready to move to Samhain and completely immerse myself in the city's magical Halloween vibes and mingle with the quirky residents.

This book was so much fun and so perfect for Halloween (or any time of the year, if you love Halloween). I hope that this book eventually becomes a series, because oh...my....god I want so much more of this!

Fun. Festive. Fantastic.