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Peril at Price Manor
A tween aspiring horror movie actress pairs up with the twin children of her favorite director to defeat zombifying octopus-like creatures!
Halle dreams of becoming a scream queen. She practices her loudest scream every day and has learned a lot from studying the horror movies of her favorite director, Maximus Price. Maximus lives just outside town, and when the chance to go to his home arises, Halle grabs it with both hands. She doesn't realize that real life horrors await her at Price Manor.
Paisley and Argyle, Maximus's twin children, think that the creepy, squid-like creatures that have attached themselves to the faces of the manor's staff, putting them in a zombie-like stupor, are just another one of their prankster dad's tricks. When Halle arrives and is attacked by one of the creatures, she meets the twins and assures them that this is no joke. The three kids will have to work together using all of their unusual talents to defeat the monsters--and maybe even save the world.
Halle dreams of becoming a scream queen. She practices her loudest scream every day and has learned a lot from studying the horror movies of her favorite director, Maximus Price. Maximus lives just outside town, and when the chance to go to his home arises, Halle grabs it with both hands. She doesn't realize that real life horrors await her at Price Manor.
Paisley and Argyle, Maximus's twin children, think that the creepy, squid-like creatures that have attached themselves to the faces of the manor's staff, putting them in a zombie-like stupor, are just another one of their prankster dad's tricks. When Halle arrives and is attacked by one of the creatures, she meets the twins and assures them that this is no joke. The three kids will have to work together using all of their unusual talents to defeat the monsters--and maybe even save the world.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published August 8, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
August 24, 2023
Synopsis
Halle loves horror movies and dreams of becoming a "scream queen," the damsel in a horror movie who lets out a blood-curling scream, and, much to the dismay of her family, she has been practicing. Her favorite director, Maximus Price, just happens to live in her hometown. Halle would do anything to meet the acclaimed director and this story chronicles her opportunity to do just that. Unfortunately, when she arrives at the manor, Price is missing and his two sheltered children as well as the manor's servants are under attack by slimy, face-sucking monsters. Can Halle put her extensive horror movie knowledge into practice and defeat these parasites before the entire town is infected?
What I Didn't Love
I have nothing of substance to list here. I would have liked more of everything - more description of the creepy manor, more depth, more backstory for Halle - but I think the length and depth was about perfect for the middle-grade audience.
What I Loved
The pacing was perfect for the middle-grade novel. It never got bogged down in detail, yet I could see the manor vividly and I was completely invested in Halle and the Price children's plight. The tension was constant. There were few moments to breathe and take it all in. I loved it and I think it would equally engage younger readers.
I highly recommend this for your 2nd - 5th grade reader.
Halle loves horror movies and dreams of becoming a "scream queen," the damsel in a horror movie who lets out a blood-curling scream, and, much to the dismay of her family, she has been practicing. Her favorite director, Maximus Price, just happens to live in her hometown. Halle would do anything to meet the acclaimed director and this story chronicles her opportunity to do just that. Unfortunately, when she arrives at the manor, Price is missing and his two sheltered children as well as the manor's servants are under attack by slimy, face-sucking monsters. Can Halle put her extensive horror movie knowledge into practice and defeat these parasites before the entire town is infected?
What I Didn't Love
I have nothing of substance to list here. I would have liked more of everything - more description of the creepy manor, more depth, more backstory for Halle - but I think the length and depth was about perfect for the middle-grade audience.
What I Loved
The pacing was perfect for the middle-grade novel. It never got bogged down in detail, yet I could see the manor vividly and I was completely invested in Halle and the Price children's plight. The tension was constant. There were few moments to breathe and take it all in. I loved it and I think it would equally engage younger readers.
I highly recommend this for your 2nd - 5th grade reader.
April 13, 2023
"We've got to be smart. We've got to assume we're in peril."
Words to live by, Halle--words to live by! Peril at Price Manor plays delightfully with horror tropes: the scream queen/damsel in distress, the bumbling friends, rules to survive, a gothic manor with lots of servants and a spooky atmosphere, etc...and it gives me just enough scares and tension mixed with hilarity. Rich, sheltered twins Paisley and Argyle make the perfect helpless foils to Halle's more capable/knowledgeable personality--and the three of them banded together to fight the tredecapuses, rescue the adults, save the day, and realize that they have agency and power is incredibly charming. At its heart, Peril at Price Manor speaks to the perils of parents overprotecting their children and not letting them learn and experience life as it really is--and stresses that kids don't need to have the loudest voice to make the biggest difference as long as they work together to accomplish what seems scary. A new middle grade fave!
*ARC received through NetGalley.
Words to live by, Halle--words to live by! Peril at Price Manor plays delightfully with horror tropes: the scream queen/damsel in distress, the bumbling friends, rules to survive, a gothic manor with lots of servants and a spooky atmosphere, etc...and it gives me just enough scares and tension mixed with hilarity. Rich, sheltered twins Paisley and Argyle make the perfect helpless foils to Halle's more capable/knowledgeable personality--and the three of them banded together to fight the tredecapuses, rescue the adults, save the day, and realize that they have agency and power is incredibly charming. At its heart, Peril at Price Manor speaks to the perils of parents overprotecting their children and not letting them learn and experience life as it really is--and stresses that kids don't need to have the loudest voice to make the biggest difference as long as they work together to accomplish what seems scary. A new middle grade fave!
*ARC received through NetGalley.
September 18, 2023
'The Addam's Family' meets 'A Series of Unfortunate Events.' Paisley is a regular girl with unique dreams and interests and she's excited to deliver a flower arrangement to the Price Manor. He favorite celebrity lives there--Maximus Price. So do his too quite odd children. As Paisley heads there for the delivery, the Price children begin discovering the start of this story's mystery.
This was a fun read. I adored the characters. They're so unique and intriguing. This would be a great whodunit with quirks for middle graders. I certainly enjoyed it and would have loved to read it as a kid.
This was a fun read. I adored the characters. They're so unique and intriguing. This would be a great whodunit with quirks for middle graders. I certainly enjoyed it and would have loved to read it as a kid.
July 18, 2025
One of the few books that I actually skim through over half to get through the end. Unconvincing irritating, slow characters unrealistic would not recommend this book to anyone. will definitely not be on the list of top SSYR a books at the end of the year.
July 4, 2023
Halle is a flower delivery girl for her family's flower shop but she dreams of becoming a Scream Queen. She enjoys practicing her screams and facial expressions in the mirror. One morning Halle gets to deliver flowers at a house of a famous movie director, Maximus Price, who is known for his creature features. He has twins, Paisley and Argyle, who he wants to protect at all costs so they never leave the manor. While Halle tries to deliver the flowers, she finds a weird looking squid creature stuck to an adult's face. The twins wake up that morning to find their staff in a stupor and their faces are covered by a creature. Is this an elaborate birthday prank for the twins or did something deadly show up at their home?
This is a very fun Middle Grade Horror book! I liked that it was a creature type horror. All three of the kids are fully written and equally enjoyable. It's a good mix of fun and freaky. There is a wonderful bonding scene between them in the middle of the book that I really enjoyed as it gave more depth to the characters in the middle of chaos. Overall this is a great children's horror book that gives off Snicket vibes!
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is a very fun Middle Grade Horror book! I liked that it was a creature type horror. All three of the kids are fully written and equally enjoyable. It's a good mix of fun and freaky. There is a wonderful bonding scene between them in the middle of the book that I really enjoyed as it gave more depth to the characters in the middle of chaos. Overall this is a great children's horror book that gives off Snicket vibes!
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
April 9, 2023
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was a really fun story! The characters were unique and quirky, which made this so entertaining. I really enjoyed that the characters aided in building each other up and working together to solve their perilous predicament. The story was creepy in a fun way, and the plot was great. I highly enjoyed reading this!
I thought this was a really fun story! The characters were unique and quirky, which made this so entertaining. I really enjoyed that the characters aided in building each other up and working together to solve their perilous predicament. The story was creepy in a fun way, and the plot was great. I highly enjoyed reading this!
September 12, 2023
What a delightfully creepy middle grade that seemed like the perfect starting point for younger readers when it comes to entering the horror genre.
August 14, 2023
Author Laura Parnum knows how to do middle-grade horror well. Peril at Price Manor has a silly-scary vibe that works well with kids who don’t really want to be scared with violence and gore but enjoy a Goosebumps-like tale.
Parnum’s writing is bright and conversational, making it a comfortable read for both her intended audience and grownups who we’ll enjoy reading it aloud as well.
The story is told from all three kids’ viewpoints, adding depth and color throughout. And it is great fun to have the kids solve the problem rather than rely on adults. There’s a lot of growth here as they learn their own strengths.
Peril at Price Manor is a quirky read that should appeal to a large cross-section of readers.
Parnum’s writing is bright and conversational, making it a comfortable read for both her intended audience and grownups who we’ll enjoy reading it aloud as well.
The story is told from all three kids’ viewpoints, adding depth and color throughout. And it is great fun to have the kids solve the problem rather than rely on adults. There’s a lot of growth here as they learn their own strengths.
Peril at Price Manor is a quirky read that should appeal to a large cross-section of readers.
August 8, 2023
Rule number one: Avoid Peril at All Costs.
But the exact opposite happens! Peril at Price Manor is a light horror story filled with creepy, globby creatures that are everywhere. Halle, Paisley, and Argyle try to save themselves and the town. They try together, they try separately, they try everything. But the creatures multiply, threatening to harm everyone and everything. Finally, they discover there is only one thing that can help them, and that one thing is perfectly fitting for a horror story. Woven within a fun narrative are the endearing personal discoveries of each character. Lastly, I want to live at Price Manor. It houses every activity a kid could want: a ski lift, a medieval room, a roller rink, and more. This book was fun, fun, fun. I highly recommend Peril at Price Manor. Thank you so much, HarperCollins, for the early read.
But the exact opposite happens! Peril at Price Manor is a light horror story filled with creepy, globby creatures that are everywhere. Halle, Paisley, and Argyle try to save themselves and the town. They try together, they try separately, they try everything. But the creatures multiply, threatening to harm everyone and everything. Finally, they discover there is only one thing that can help them, and that one thing is perfectly fitting for a horror story. Woven within a fun narrative are the endearing personal discoveries of each character. Lastly, I want to live at Price Manor. It houses every activity a kid could want: a ski lift, a medieval room, a roller rink, and more. This book was fun, fun, fun. I highly recommend Peril at Price Manor. Thank you so much, HarperCollins, for the early read.
July 6, 2023
Twelve-year-old Halle Thompson wants to become a Scream Queen. She's practiced the many poses and expressions of her heroines in the mirror. She's got her scream perfected. And she happens to live in Bedlamton, a sleepy town that also happens to be the home of one of the maestros of horror film: Maximus Price. When her mom's delivery van breaks down, Halle gets the unexpected opportunity to deliver Mr. Price's black roses herself. This could be her big chance to meet the director, impress him with her credentials, and maybe even be (gulp) discovered for his next movie. Halle never dreams she might be riding her bike and floral burden into a real life horror picture …
The Price twins, Paisley and her brother Argyle, are waking up to a really weird day. No one bothered to come get them up, no one's brought them breakfast, no one's provided the day's schedule (crucial! To! Life!), and now they are having to get dresses by themselves and look for answers. When they find the housekeeper lying in a pool of slime, some icky thing clinging to her face, the twins know what's happening: their dad is home from his latest film and is trying out a new special effect! Probably to scare their governess Mrs. Pennywhisker. Maximus loves making her scream. When they find the cook down, too, they have second thoughts. Maybe it's this year's birthday prank. The twins are twelve and set to turn thirteen on April 1, just two days away. Their dad always pulls some kind of shenanigan for their birthdays. Could this be it? The reality doesn't sink in until a new girl arrives, and the sheltered/homeschooled twins witness the staff behaving so very, very wrong—even a prank would not allow the tidy housekeeper to smash an antique chair without pause or a break in her monstrous new character.
Soon enough, Halle and her new allies/soon-to-be friends Paisley and Argyle Price are dodging blob monsters, racing around the house, and trying to keep one step ahead of Dire Circumstances. Sadly, the Price twins are not properly schooled in horror, so it's up to a thirteen-year-old horror movie enthusiast to give them the rules, keep them alive … and maybe save the town from this infestation of weird, slimy creatures. Where did the strange creatures come from? What do they want? And where is Mr. Price? These are the questions lying at the heart of Laura Parnum's Peril at Price Manor.
While those might be the questions, the themes of Peril at Price Manor are friendship, self-reliance, finding the courage to do the right thing, and the dangers of helicopter parents. All lovely themes, of course. But this is not a heavy book. Even with slimy monsters abounding and overwhelming every adult they encounter, reproducing in a slimy-ewwww-gross-out fashion, the book feels light, fast, and fun throughout. Laura Parnum's novel is not horror as a delve into the dark, this is a rollercoaster ride and it's an effective one.
The book oscillates between three point of view characters: Halle first, Paisley second, Argyle third, and then back again. Always in that order from start to finish, with perhaps one or two exceptions here and there. The chapters are as long as they need to be and therefore do not conform to a standard length. Some are meaty, some are concise, none overstays their welcome.
The mood is always chipper and cheery despite some darkness in the backstory. The Price Twins are sheltered because their mother passed when they were wee. Her passing involved a strange, almost blackly comic circumstance (which resulted in bagels being banned from the house) and convinced their father to keep his precious children away from the world and its many possible threats. So, Maximus Price confined them to Price Manor, brought in all the help needed to educate them. If they wanted to try skiing, he would have a special effects crew construct a hill for such use. If they wanted to see a movie on the big screen, there's a screening room and therefore no need to go to town. The house was intended to be, as is often repeated by the twins, The Safest Place on Earth … which also happens to be shrouded in spooky fog (thanks to fog machines) and home to spooky props and pranks (because of their Dad's passion and his wonky sense of humor). Which makes it the perfect place to stage a real horror movie. But instead of having the characters feel even the slightest tension for the readers to share in the opening scenes, these twins are so blasé and reading things improperly. It's a clever way to raise the stakes for the reader: We know something weird is happening long before the twins do and therefore feel heightened tension despite them wandering about, utterly innocent.
Halle is our point of view character, and she's been shaped both by the movies she loves as well as the Aunt who introduced her to them. Aunt Rhona is a more or less typical movie watcher, someone who expects they would not make the same mistakes as characters in a picture. Someone who has a very solid sense about how to stay alive, which pretty much means avoiding any instances of plunging into the direst circumstances. It's from her example as well as her own observations that Halle has fashioned her rules for survival, many of which make sense but which taken together seem to be a bit confining. She may recognize danger, and she may have better than basic survival skills, but she's also in need of a chance to learn how to trust in herself and her own strengths.
And not a one of the characters in this book has a solid friendship when the book opens. This will change by the conclusion.
Laura Parnum has fashioned a page turner of a story. Self-contained, there seems little opportunity for a direct sequel, but I wouldn't be surprised if one comes along featuring these characters. Peril at Price Manor is a charming book, a fun page turner with quirky characters and a zany sense of humor. Also, there is a metatextual approach to the stuff of horror that's utterly delightful.
On the one hand, this is a middle grade novel about one kid who knows her horror movies and has thought about them as much as Stephen Graham Jones and his character Jade Daniels (star of My Heart is a Chainsaw and Fear the Reaper). She's generous with her info, hopeful for her dreams, and heroic (though she's denies any such thing). Still, she brings in all the lore she's accrued from the fictitious movies of Maximus Price, which nevertheless ring true to any horror fan.
On the other hand, running underneath the surface are easter eggs that adult readers will catch but young ones might not. For example, when one character notices a red Plymouth Fury and a beat to hell yellow Oldsmobile in the garage, those aren't just randomly chosen cars. They have the weight of horror history: the first referencing Stephen King (and a fine John Carpenter film adaptation) and the second … well, we're never told it's a beat to hell 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88, but maybe we know it has to be. After all, that's Sam Raimi's classic, the car Ash drove through the various installments of the Evil Dead franchise. The car that appeared in many, many, many of that director's films (and all of his horror pics, starting with the original Evil Dead). Needless to say, when I encountered this in the text, I guffawed quite a while, highlighted the text in my eARC. Is it crucial to the plot? Nope. Will most kids in the target age group get this? Nope. It's a little mention intended to appeal solely to readers like me. Laura Parnum is my kind of writer, all right. That the kids who read this now, who might develop an affection for horror pop culture may come back to it in future years and have that same "Aha!" moment tickles me. Books ought to have things to offer on rereads.
Hmm. And there I went expostulating for hundreds of words like some overly enthusiastic geek about one line in the novel. Sometimes a book just hits you in that sweet space.
Peril at Price Manor is a fun middle grade read, spooky and icky but never gratuitous and peopled with clever kids who save the day because the adults can't. This book hammers all my Critters-school of fright story buttons. Joy!
#
Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Price twins, Paisley and her brother Argyle, are waking up to a really weird day. No one bothered to come get them up, no one's brought them breakfast, no one's provided the day's schedule (crucial! To! Life!), and now they are having to get dresses by themselves and look for answers. When they find the housekeeper lying in a pool of slime, some icky thing clinging to her face, the twins know what's happening: their dad is home from his latest film and is trying out a new special effect! Probably to scare their governess Mrs. Pennywhisker. Maximus loves making her scream. When they find the cook down, too, they have second thoughts. Maybe it's this year's birthday prank. The twins are twelve and set to turn thirteen on April 1, just two days away. Their dad always pulls some kind of shenanigan for their birthdays. Could this be it? The reality doesn't sink in until a new girl arrives, and the sheltered/homeschooled twins witness the staff behaving so very, very wrong—even a prank would not allow the tidy housekeeper to smash an antique chair without pause or a break in her monstrous new character.
Soon enough, Halle and her new allies/soon-to-be friends Paisley and Argyle Price are dodging blob monsters, racing around the house, and trying to keep one step ahead of Dire Circumstances. Sadly, the Price twins are not properly schooled in horror, so it's up to a thirteen-year-old horror movie enthusiast to give them the rules, keep them alive … and maybe save the town from this infestation of weird, slimy creatures. Where did the strange creatures come from? What do they want? And where is Mr. Price? These are the questions lying at the heart of Laura Parnum's Peril at Price Manor.
While those might be the questions, the themes of Peril at Price Manor are friendship, self-reliance, finding the courage to do the right thing, and the dangers of helicopter parents. All lovely themes, of course. But this is not a heavy book. Even with slimy monsters abounding and overwhelming every adult they encounter, reproducing in a slimy-ewwww-gross-out fashion, the book feels light, fast, and fun throughout. Laura Parnum's novel is not horror as a delve into the dark, this is a rollercoaster ride and it's an effective one.
The book oscillates between three point of view characters: Halle first, Paisley second, Argyle third, and then back again. Always in that order from start to finish, with perhaps one or two exceptions here and there. The chapters are as long as they need to be and therefore do not conform to a standard length. Some are meaty, some are concise, none overstays their welcome.
The mood is always chipper and cheery despite some darkness in the backstory. The Price Twins are sheltered because their mother passed when they were wee. Her passing involved a strange, almost blackly comic circumstance (which resulted in bagels being banned from the house) and convinced their father to keep his precious children away from the world and its many possible threats. So, Maximus Price confined them to Price Manor, brought in all the help needed to educate them. If they wanted to try skiing, he would have a special effects crew construct a hill for such use. If they wanted to see a movie on the big screen, there's a screening room and therefore no need to go to town. The house was intended to be, as is often repeated by the twins, The Safest Place on Earth … which also happens to be shrouded in spooky fog (thanks to fog machines) and home to spooky props and pranks (because of their Dad's passion and his wonky sense of humor). Which makes it the perfect place to stage a real horror movie. But instead of having the characters feel even the slightest tension for the readers to share in the opening scenes, these twins are so blasé and reading things improperly. It's a clever way to raise the stakes for the reader: We know something weird is happening long before the twins do and therefore feel heightened tension despite them wandering about, utterly innocent.
Halle is our point of view character, and she's been shaped both by the movies she loves as well as the Aunt who introduced her to them. Aunt Rhona is a more or less typical movie watcher, someone who expects they would not make the same mistakes as characters in a picture. Someone who has a very solid sense about how to stay alive, which pretty much means avoiding any instances of plunging into the direst circumstances. It's from her example as well as her own observations that Halle has fashioned her rules for survival, many of which make sense but which taken together seem to be a bit confining. She may recognize danger, and she may have better than basic survival skills, but she's also in need of a chance to learn how to trust in herself and her own strengths.
And not a one of the characters in this book has a solid friendship when the book opens. This will change by the conclusion.
Laura Parnum has fashioned a page turner of a story. Self-contained, there seems little opportunity for a direct sequel, but I wouldn't be surprised if one comes along featuring these characters. Peril at Price Manor is a charming book, a fun page turner with quirky characters and a zany sense of humor. Also, there is a metatextual approach to the stuff of horror that's utterly delightful.
On the one hand, this is a middle grade novel about one kid who knows her horror movies and has thought about them as much as Stephen Graham Jones and his character Jade Daniels (star of My Heart is a Chainsaw and Fear the Reaper). She's generous with her info, hopeful for her dreams, and heroic (though she's denies any such thing). Still, she brings in all the lore she's accrued from the fictitious movies of Maximus Price, which nevertheless ring true to any horror fan.
On the other hand, running underneath the surface are easter eggs that adult readers will catch but young ones might not. For example, when one character notices a red Plymouth Fury and a beat to hell yellow Oldsmobile in the garage, those aren't just randomly chosen cars. They have the weight of horror history: the first referencing Stephen King (and a fine John Carpenter film adaptation) and the second … well, we're never told it's a beat to hell 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88, but maybe we know it has to be. After all, that's Sam Raimi's classic, the car Ash drove through the various installments of the Evil Dead franchise. The car that appeared in many, many, many of that director's films (and all of his horror pics, starting with the original Evil Dead). Needless to say, when I encountered this in the text, I guffawed quite a while, highlighted the text in my eARC. Is it crucial to the plot? Nope. Will most kids in the target age group get this? Nope. It's a little mention intended to appeal solely to readers like me. Laura Parnum is my kind of writer, all right. That the kids who read this now, who might develop an affection for horror pop culture may come back to it in future years and have that same "Aha!" moment tickles me. Books ought to have things to offer on rereads.
Hmm. And there I went expostulating for hundreds of words like some overly enthusiastic geek about one line in the novel. Sometimes a book just hits you in that sweet space.
Peril at Price Manor is a fun middle grade read, spooky and icky but never gratuitous and peopled with clever kids who save the day because the adults can't. This book hammers all my Critters-school of fright story buttons. Joy!
#
Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! It brought me right back to when I would the Goosebumps books growing up. This book is the perfect amount of scary for upper elementary and middle school students, but I think adults looking for a light horror book will enjoy it. 10/10 and a reccomendation. Special Thank You to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2023
I simply loved this novel. I could visualize it perfectly as a classical horror movie presenting all the classical tropes and then making them all go wrong. Fun!
It is the perfect read for fans of classic monster movies or for young readers who never saw one/read this type and may start to love them indeed. It is horror but not creepy, nightmarish gore stuff, instead a humorous zombie/alien kinda attack of squid-like creatures with pinkish slime.
Halle loves all the movies from her favorite horror director Maximus Price and one day she helps her mom by doing the regular delivery of the order of flowers to the mansion herself. There she meets twins, about her age, who never leave the house. The entire staff of the house was overtaken by the strange creatures and at first, they think it is their birthday prank made with props but soon they have to run and hide for their lives. It's fun, and exciting and three kids bring a lot of different ideas and personalities to the story. No annoying characters or slowing down chapters, great pacing, page-turner.
The mansion becomes their adventure ground and soon they realize it's up to them to find the solution and grow up a little because they can't rely on any adults.
Lots of action and fun tips. I love their dialogue the funny horror bits of the creatures hunting them and how their friendship brought so much positivity into all their lives. Loved it.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this eARC.
It is the perfect read for fans of classic monster movies or for young readers who never saw one/read this type and may start to love them indeed. It is horror but not creepy, nightmarish gore stuff, instead a humorous zombie/alien kinda attack of squid-like creatures with pinkish slime.
Halle loves all the movies from her favorite horror director Maximus Price and one day she helps her mom by doing the regular delivery of the order of flowers to the mansion herself. There she meets twins, about her age, who never leave the house. The entire staff of the house was overtaken by the strange creatures and at first, they think it is their birthday prank made with props but soon they have to run and hide for their lives. It's fun, and exciting and three kids bring a lot of different ideas and personalities to the story. No annoying characters or slowing down chapters, great pacing, page-turner.
The mansion becomes their adventure ground and soon they realize it's up to them to find the solution and grow up a little because they can't rely on any adults.
Lots of action and fun tips. I love their dialogue the funny horror bits of the creatures hunting them and how their friendship brought so much positivity into all their lives. Loved it.
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this eARC.
May 29, 2023
A fun middle-grade read perfectly appropriate for the younger reader interested in spooky, yucky, scary stuff. Halle was a strong protagonist; I'd love to see her again.
January 23, 2024
Paisley and Argyle are the twin children of famous horror movie director Maximus Price. Ever since the death of their mother, their father has been super protective of the twins. They have a full-time chef to take care of all their food needs, and a governess who teaches them at home and does everything from tie their shoes to teach them music. When they awake to find some of the household staff collapsed with strange octopus-like creatures attached to their faces they think their father must be pulling his annual birthday prank a day early (just to keep them on their toes). They are very impressed by how dedicated the staff are to playing their roles, but also a little annoyed that they have to find the kitchen, figure out how to make their own food, and then set their own agenda for the day. All that changes when a girl named Halle stumbles into the manor. Halle has dreamed of meeting Maximus Price for ages. She loves his movies and is practicing her scream to one day become a scream queen. But when she arrives to deliver the flowers from her mom's shop and witnesses a staff member get attacked by a strange creature, she finds herself living one of his movies...and she can't even get out a whimper in her fright. Halle eventually meets Paisley and Argyle and quickly convinces them that this is no prank. There are very real monsters on the prowl at Price Manor, and it appears to be up to them to stop the creatures from spreading and taking over the world.
I love a good monster story, and these zombie-producing 13-armed mollusks that can replicate definitely fit the bill (the kids call them tredecapuses). Argyle and Paisley have been super sheltered by their father and Halle has to teach them quite a lot about everyday activities. Meanwhile, they also have their own skillsets to bring to the world-saving adventure and help Halle realize some things about herself. They turn out to be good friends for each other. Laura Parnum managed to create a premise such that it is entirely believable that Argyle and Paisley think it is all a prank for quite a while (and the readers also may get to questioning it too). This was a pitch perfect monster horror story for middle grade. It is thrilling but not super scary, and . Lots of fun!
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: People are attacked by monsters but no fatalities (see spoiler)
Ethnic diversity: Not really specified
GBLTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Some of the kids get stuck in places or up places for a while. One of the kids gets very low on energy if they don't eat regularly; they hint that it might be anemia, but it is described more like hypoglycemia (which isn't even mentioned as a possibility).
I love a good monster story, and these zombie-producing 13-armed mollusks that can replicate definitely fit the bill (the kids call them tredecapuses). Argyle and Paisley have been super sheltered by their father and Halle has to teach them quite a lot about everyday activities. Meanwhile, they also have their own skillsets to bring to the world-saving adventure and help Halle realize some things about herself. They turn out to be good friends for each other. Laura Parnum managed to create a premise such that it is entirely believable that Argyle and Paisley think it is all a prank for quite a while (and the readers also may get to questioning it too). This was a pitch perfect monster horror story for middle grade. It is thrilling but not super scary, and . Lots of fun!
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: People are attacked by monsters but no fatalities (see spoiler)
Ethnic diversity: Not really specified
GBLTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Some of the kids get stuck in places or up places for a while. One of the kids gets very low on energy if they don't eat regularly; they hint that it might be anemia, but it is described more like hypoglycemia (which isn't even mentioned as a possibility).
July 8, 2023
Disclosure Statement: I received a digital copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions shared in my review are exclusively and authentically my own and have not been influenced in any way by the publisher or author.
Peril at Price Manor is all about B-movie tropes and finding your own voice, a delectable combination of important thematic meaning and humorous (mis)adventure. Halle, a wannabe Scream Queen, finds trouble at the Price mansion, where movie-maker Maximus Price lives with his children, Argyle and Paisley. As the trouble unfolds, Halle and the Price twins have to look within themselves for their best traits and rely on themselves to save Price Manor, their town, and maybe the world.
Parnum's characters are delightful, playing with archetype but never being so lazy as to only be one-dimensional. Halle is street-smart, but insecure about her own value; Paisley is athletic and active, but lacks direction for her ambition; Argyle is intelligent and ambitious, but lacks the executive skills to manage what he wants. As the story advances, each of the three kids have to learn to overcome their limitations and embrace their own authority, learning to think, act, and speak with the intent of being seen, heard, and believed.
In many ways, Peril at Price Manor is all about bridging the gap between childhood and adolescence, of learning what it means to take on a mantle of authority. While the stakes might be fantastic and even a bit silly, Parnum writes the story with a real thematic conviction. All too often, I think middle grade literature misses some of the point of this critical age of transition, of learning how to be who you are, but Parnum keeps this idea at the forefront of much of the book. She deals, too, with the problems of helicopter parenting, or of authority figures who forget that it is just as important to equip children with the tools to function with authority and agency in their own lives.
Whether you're looking at the book for its B-movie tropes (which are seriously delightful) or for the conversations the book can open, Peril at Price Manor is an often hilarious adventure fit for any kid approaching that transition between the child they are and the person they will eventually become.
Peril at Price Manor is all about B-movie tropes and finding your own voice, a delectable combination of important thematic meaning and humorous (mis)adventure. Halle, a wannabe Scream Queen, finds trouble at the Price mansion, where movie-maker Maximus Price lives with his children, Argyle and Paisley. As the trouble unfolds, Halle and the Price twins have to look within themselves for their best traits and rely on themselves to save Price Manor, their town, and maybe the world.
Parnum's characters are delightful, playing with archetype but never being so lazy as to only be one-dimensional. Halle is street-smart, but insecure about her own value; Paisley is athletic and active, but lacks direction for her ambition; Argyle is intelligent and ambitious, but lacks the executive skills to manage what he wants. As the story advances, each of the three kids have to learn to overcome their limitations and embrace their own authority, learning to think, act, and speak with the intent of being seen, heard, and believed.
In many ways, Peril at Price Manor is all about bridging the gap between childhood and adolescence, of learning what it means to take on a mantle of authority. While the stakes might be fantastic and even a bit silly, Parnum writes the story with a real thematic conviction. All too often, I think middle grade literature misses some of the point of this critical age of transition, of learning how to be who you are, but Parnum keeps this idea at the forefront of much of the book. She deals, too, with the problems of helicopter parenting, or of authority figures who forget that it is just as important to equip children with the tools to function with authority and agency in their own lives.
Whether you're looking at the book for its B-movie tropes (which are seriously delightful) or for the conversations the book can open, Peril at Price Manor is an often hilarious adventure fit for any kid approaching that transition between the child they are and the person they will eventually become.
July 30, 2023
Twelve-year-old Halle Thompson loves horror movies, and her greatest desire is to one day become a Scream Queen on the silver screen. As fate would have it, Maximus Price, the most famous horror movie maker of all time, happens to live in Halle’s town. And, he has a standing weekly order at Halle’s mom’s flower shop for a bouquet of black roses. This week, Halle has the unprecedented task of hand delivering the requested flower arrangement to her idol. But when she arrives at Price Manor, she learns that something sinister has taken root, and Halle may end up needing her well-practiced horror movie scream more than she ever expected.
This engaging middle grade novel has equal parts humor and horror, which blends the story into one that is accessible for young readers while giving them just a small taste of what the world of horror movies is really like. Told through multiple points of view in the third person, the narrative elegantly introduces the problem from the perspectives of three different characters who each experience the situation in their own way. Because Maximus Price is a well-known trickster, his children presume that the unexpected events at Price Manor are innocuous and just part of his elaborate annual birthday plans. But Halle sees things differently, and the three protagonists are fortunate to be able to combine their individual skills to survive the horror film unfolding around them.
Middle grade readers will delight in the fast-paced, cinematic nature of the narrative, which flows quickly from one scene to the next. The peril in which the characters find themselves enhances the forward momentum of the plot, and readers will find this book difficult to put down. Early on in the story, the primary characters are left without any adults to guide and protect them, so they must work together to resolve the problem and survive the advances of an unfamiliar enemy. Though there is an element of horror to the storytelling, the book is presented in a way that promotes lighthearted feelings over scary ones. Older readers will appreciate the loose homage to the Alien franchise as the danger increases, as well as the diverging differences between the two stories. This is an entertaining and mildly frightening tale that is a positive addition to library and classroom book collections for middle grade readers.
This engaging middle grade novel has equal parts humor and horror, which blends the story into one that is accessible for young readers while giving them just a small taste of what the world of horror movies is really like. Told through multiple points of view in the third person, the narrative elegantly introduces the problem from the perspectives of three different characters who each experience the situation in their own way. Because Maximus Price is a well-known trickster, his children presume that the unexpected events at Price Manor are innocuous and just part of his elaborate annual birthday plans. But Halle sees things differently, and the three protagonists are fortunate to be able to combine their individual skills to survive the horror film unfolding around them.
Middle grade readers will delight in the fast-paced, cinematic nature of the narrative, which flows quickly from one scene to the next. The peril in which the characters find themselves enhances the forward momentum of the plot, and readers will find this book difficult to put down. Early on in the story, the primary characters are left without any adults to guide and protect them, so they must work together to resolve the problem and survive the advances of an unfamiliar enemy. Though there is an element of horror to the storytelling, the book is presented in a way that promotes lighthearted feelings over scary ones. Older readers will appreciate the loose homage to the Alien franchise as the danger increases, as well as the diverging differences between the two stories. This is an entertaining and mildly frightening tale that is a positive addition to library and classroom book collections for middle grade readers.
October 16, 2023
Halle Thompson is a scary movie devotee of a famous fright film director Maximus Price. His children, Paisley and Argyle lives at home where they are home-school taught. They have never left their home as their father tells them it’s the only safe place. It’s not safe to go to town or anywhere. Halle’s mother has an ongoing order to deliver flowers to Mr. Price’s home every week. When the driver calls in sick with the flu, Halle convinces her mother that she deliver Mr. Price’s flowers by riding her bicycle. By the time she gets there she is panting and the flowers are drooping. She meets Paisley and Argyle as they open the door. Earlier that day, Paisley woke up finding no one had woken her up or pick out her clothes to wear for the day It was the same for Argyle. When they go out of their rooms, they come across someone who has a grotesque tentacled blob monster on their face. Halle, Paisley and Argyle run to a room, which is empty but not for long. They run into another room and try to figure out where the monsters came from. Will they ever find out? Why can’t they find Paisley and Argyle’s father? They know he had one of the monsters on his face. Will they be able to save all the staff with the monsters on them?
The author has written a laugh-out-loud scary story. The novel reminds me of R.L. Stine’s “goosebumps series.” The story is scary and creepy with humor that makes it so much fun to read. I truly enjoyed reading it and recommend reading it!
Disclaimer: I received an arc from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own
The author has written a laugh-out-loud scary story. The novel reminds me of R.L. Stine’s “goosebumps series.” The story is scary and creepy with humor that makes it so much fun to read. I truly enjoyed reading it and recommend reading it!
Disclaimer: I received an arc from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own
July 31, 2023
I received an ARC from NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review; all opinions are my own.
Genre: Middle Grade Horror, Middle Grade Mystery, Middle Grade Fiction
Scare Factor: Just right for 8-13 year olds
Halle has a clear goal of becoming a scream queen—and the book makes sure to give enough information so that kids know what that means. The fictional horror movie references are hilarious and remind me of the B movies that are very old.
Once Halle gets to Price Manor, I kept wondering how the author would solve the problem of the creepy, squid-like creatures attached to people's faces. Seriously, I didn't know how this would work out. But the author did it! Hooray for middle grade horror!
PERIL AT PRICE MANOR is perfect for middle grade readers (8-13ish) because it's got a bit of a silly factor, monsters, zombie-like people, and a trio of friends with unusual talents.
I highly recommend this book for an audience who wants goosebumps and things to go bump in the night. Kids love horror when it's at the right level for them. (You can ask a psychologist why.)
Happy (creepy) reading!
PS: If you love this one, check out The Very Unfortunate Wish of Melony Yoshimura by Waka T. Brown, The Mystery of the Radcliff Riddle by Taryn Souders, The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste, and Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker.
Genre: Middle Grade Horror, Middle Grade Mystery, Middle Grade Fiction
Scare Factor: Just right for 8-13 year olds
Halle has a clear goal of becoming a scream queen—and the book makes sure to give enough information so that kids know what that means. The fictional horror movie references are hilarious and remind me of the B movies that are very old.
Once Halle gets to Price Manor, I kept wondering how the author would solve the problem of the creepy, squid-like creatures attached to people's faces. Seriously, I didn't know how this would work out. But the author did it! Hooray for middle grade horror!
PERIL AT PRICE MANOR is perfect for middle grade readers (8-13ish) because it's got a bit of a silly factor, monsters, zombie-like people, and a trio of friends with unusual talents.
I highly recommend this book for an audience who wants goosebumps and things to go bump in the night. Kids love horror when it's at the right level for them. (You can ask a psychologist why.)
Happy (creepy) reading!
PS: If you love this one, check out The Very Unfortunate Wish of Melony Yoshimura by Waka T. Brown, The Mystery of the Radcliff Riddle by Taryn Souders, The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste, and Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker.
October 6, 2024
This book was a ton of fun. I would have absolutely loved it as a kid (and really enjoyed it now as an old man). ;) It's hard to get into a lot of details without dropping some spoiler alerts, but the main characters are Halle, a 12-yo girl who is obsessed with horror movies, and whose family runs a flower shop; and Paisley and Argyle, twin sister/brother who are on the eve of their 13th birthday, and also the children of horror movie director Maximus Price. Paisley and Argyle have been sheltered away in Price Manor their entire lives, following the death of their mother, as Maximus' intends to keep them safe from all the dangers in the outside world. He provides them everything they could possibly want...a roller rink, a theater, rock climbing walls, even a ski lift and fake snow. Expecting their father to return home to stage an elaborate birthday prank, Paisley and Argyle think nothing of the weird creatures attaching themselves to the staff members' faces, other than that they are very good special effects...until Halle arrives to warn them that they are in real danger. The pacing here is perfect, with a solid mix of (mostly tame) scares, action, and humor, with plenty of interludes to let the young characters form solid bonds of friendship and recognize their own individual strengths, that, when combined, give them the power to save the world.
September 3, 2023
Laura Parnum's middle grade debut is the perfect combination of humor, menace, and mystery with a camp MG horror voice that will have young readers howling and hiding. Halle is a huge horror movie fan with plans to star in them some day. She even practices her Scream Queen Scream with the hopes of getting cast. (Just accept now that your kid is going to be doing some blood-curdling screams while they're reading). She can't pass up the chance to make a delivery to a famous horror movie director's house for her family's florist. There, twins Paisly and Argyle have been shut out from the world after the tragic loss of their mother. When a horrifying blob creature takes over their manor, the twins think it is a birthday prank. Until all three kids combine forces to Save The World. I don't want to spoil anything, but the solution is elegant, hilarious, and worth the entire book!! In addition to the typical middle grade horror elements, readers may want to check content notes about parent loss and a police interaction. Highly recommend this fantastic book! Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read early!
March 24, 2024
This is a fun story about three kids - one who is an aspiring horror movie actress and the other two are sheltered twins children of a horror movie director - surviving what feels like a combination of body snatchers and a zombie apocalypse. I imagine the story will resonate with fans of the horror genre as it feels like it's a bit of a parody of horror films.
The story has a Series of Unfortunate Events feel to it's tone. Early in the story, there is a backstory about bagels being banned that I think makes it pretty clear the level of seriousness the story has for itself. I didn't find the book scary, but I don't think is was the intention. The plot was solid and it was fun watching these kids run around the manor trying to stay alive.
The characters are all pretty one-note, which feels appropriate for a horror film homage. I don't mind this if the characters are charming. The two girl characters, Halle and Paisley, are fun, but I wasn't a fan of Argyle. His trait is 'hungry'. The story tries to have an in-universe explanation, but it's still a stereotype to make a teen/tween boy food-obsessed.
Overall, this was a fun one to read!
The story has a Series of Unfortunate Events feel to it's tone. Early in the story, there is a backstory about bagels being banned that I think makes it pretty clear the level of seriousness the story has for itself. I didn't find the book scary, but I don't think is was the intention. The plot was solid and it was fun watching these kids run around the manor trying to stay alive.
The characters are all pretty one-note, which feels appropriate for a horror film homage. I don't mind this if the characters are charming. The two girl characters, Halle and Paisley, are fun, but I wasn't a fan of Argyle. His trait is 'hungry'. The story tries to have an in-universe explanation, but it's still a stereotype to make a teen/tween boy food-obsessed.
Overall, this was a fun one to read!
October 23, 2023
Halle is a superfan of horror film director Maximus Price and dreams of being an onscreen Scream Queen one day. She jumps at the opportunity to make a delivery from her family’s flower shop to his estate, hoping she’ll get the chance to meet her idol. She arrives at the manor to find all the estate’s workers under attack by slimy creatures and in a zombie-like stupor. The director’s twin children, Paisley and Argyle, initially seem unconcerned, thinking it is a birthday prank set up by their father, but begin to have second thoughts. Halle and the twins team up to use their skills to save the residents of the manor and stop the creatures from taking over the world.
With her knowledge of the horror movie genre, Halle is the perfect heroine to lead the sheltered Price twins in battling the creepy creatures that threaten their safety. Peril at Price Manor has the perfect mix of horror and humor for middle grade readers looking for a scare.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to read and review.
With her knowledge of the horror movie genre, Halle is the perfect heroine to lead the sheltered Price twins in battling the creepy creatures that threaten their safety. Peril at Price Manor has the perfect mix of horror and humor for middle grade readers looking for a scare.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to read and review.
October 7, 2023
HAHAHAHAHAHA, I Love The Opening Lines . . .
‘A shrill scream pierced through the otherwise quiet morning in the sleepy town of Bedlamton. It was the kind of scream usually associated with axe murderers, vengeful spirits, or toxic-sludge monsters. The only monsters in sight, however, were the ones in the movie posters plastered all over the walls of the tiny bedroom where Halle Thompson stood alone, facing down her own reflection. Her scream was followed by an equally alarming yell from the kitchen down the hall.
‘“Halle, cut that out! You’ll give the neighbors a heart attack!”’
PERIL AT PRICE MANOR — by Laura Parnum
‘She dreams of acting in horror movies—she never wanted to live in one . . . .’
That. Was. Awesome!! Heartwarming and Creepy Good—Highly Recommend!
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of PERIL AT PRICE MANOR at the request of an honest review.
May 30, 2023
Peril at Price Manor is a fun, humorous story with just the right amount of creepiness and kid-friendly horror. This fast-paced book has quirky characters and an amazing setting that will delight young readers. The story features Halle, a horror movie fan who dreams of being a Scream Queen, along with Paisley and Argyle, twins whose famous father has constructed a world inside their home designed to keep them safe. But what will happen when that safe world is invaded by terrifying, slime-covered, blob-like creatures who leave their victims in a stupor? This book is filled with hilarious moments along with the scary stuff, yet also touches on deeper themes of protecting those we love, while also allowing them to live full lives. Five stars for this imaginative, amazing debut.
June 6, 2023
Quirky, wacky and whimsical, packed with every possible type of action imaginable (plus a lot that is unimaginable!).
I loved that underneath all these fantastical layers of spookiness, creepiness and mystery lay important questions— What if the place we believe to be the safest is actually more dangerous than we could have ever imagined?
What if in order to be safe we need to be secluded from the rest of the world?
Parnum cleverly explores these questions and more. She shines a light on the importance of friendships and demonstrates how the dangers of this world are worth its wonders.
At the risk of sounding creepy I’ll say,
I wish I could crawl into Parnum’s brain and take a close look at her imagination at work —Wow!
I loved that underneath all these fantastical layers of spookiness, creepiness and mystery lay important questions— What if the place we believe to be the safest is actually more dangerous than we could have ever imagined?
What if in order to be safe we need to be secluded from the rest of the world?
Parnum cleverly explores these questions and more. She shines a light on the importance of friendships and demonstrates how the dangers of this world are worth its wonders.
At the risk of sounding creepy I’ll say,
I wish I could crawl into Parnum’s brain and take a close look at her imagination at work —Wow!
November 7, 2023
Excellent! All the trappings of a scary movie/book without the real scare. Great for a solid middle of the road reader, not too wordy or flowery with the language.
The kids in this books are infuriating at first (what 12 yo can’t pick out their clothes or make a snack or tie their own shoes!!) but that eventually becomes endearing and they do start to learn something. The grown ups are bumbling non actors in this book and the kids are the big heroes, as it should be! Nice themes of friendship and how friends change over the years and how we can always make new ones when we meet our people.
Great book. Can’t wait to hand it to my 4th grader who thinks he like scary things, but doesn’t like to read about it at night 😜
The kids in this books are infuriating at first (what 12 yo can’t pick out their clothes or make a snack or tie their own shoes!!) but that eventually becomes endearing and they do start to learn something. The grown ups are bumbling non actors in this book and the kids are the big heroes, as it should be! Nice themes of friendship and how friends change over the years and how we can always make new ones when we meet our people.
Great book. Can’t wait to hand it to my 4th grader who thinks he like scary things, but doesn’t like to read about it at night 😜
August 1, 2025
Juvenile/MG
Horror
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This is a backlist read from 2023 that’s been catching my attention from our youth shelves for too long
and is about a tween girl named Halle who dreams of becoming a ‘scream queen’ or horror actress and takes the initiative to visit the famous local horror director, Maximus Price, at his home to show him her skills but ends up trapped in his mansion with his two homeschooled twin children while it is taken over by fantastical creatures and must save the day.
This was fun and humorous rather than spooky or scary (although there is lots of suspense) and reminds me a lot of Jeff Strand’s mg sci-fi/horror novel, Nightmare in the Backyard! Perfect for Summerween!
Horror
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This is a backlist read from 2023 that’s been catching my attention from our youth shelves for too long
and is about a tween girl named Halle who dreams of becoming a ‘scream queen’ or horror actress and takes the initiative to visit the famous local horror director, Maximus Price, at his home to show him her skills but ends up trapped in his mansion with his two homeschooled twin children while it is taken over by fantastical creatures and must save the day.
This was fun and humorous rather than spooky or scary (although there is lots of suspense) and reminds me a lot of Jeff Strand’s mg sci-fi/horror novel, Nightmare in the Backyard! Perfect for Summerween!
August 9, 2023
This book was adorable and I had so much fun with it!
Halle is our final girl. Our scream queen. Our heroine of horror. She's been dedicating time to her screams and her love of director Maximus Price and his terror-inducing movies. I related so much to this character as I was also one of the weird kids who loved horror movies and scary stories. I was one of a few who wanted to read Stephen King at age 10 (much to my mom's surprise). Halle was brave, steady, and incredibly smart. I really enjoyed her perspective!
We also have two others pov's throughout the book which are Price's children (who Halle does meet!). Argyle and Paisley are twins and have never been able to leave the home. Both of them are surprised to find Halle in their door and don't believe her when she says monsters are attacking. They fully think she's in on a practical joke, led by their father, to celebrate their birthday. Once they realize this isn't a joke, we get to see them take on their fears and embrace being a kid. And also having a friend.
This was a very sweet tale of friendship amongst some truly creepy crawly creatures. Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for my advanced ebook!
Halle is our final girl. Our scream queen. Our heroine of horror. She's been dedicating time to her screams and her love of director Maximus Price and his terror-inducing movies. I related so much to this character as I was also one of the weird kids who loved horror movies and scary stories. I was one of a few who wanted to read Stephen King at age 10 (much to my mom's surprise). Halle was brave, steady, and incredibly smart. I really enjoyed her perspective!
We also have two others pov's throughout the book which are Price's children (who Halle does meet!). Argyle and Paisley are twins and have never been able to leave the home. Both of them are surprised to find Halle in their door and don't believe her when she says monsters are attacking. They fully think she's in on a practical joke, led by their father, to celebrate their birthday. Once they realize this isn't a joke, we get to see them take on their fears and embrace being a kid. And also having a friend.
This was a very sweet tale of friendship amongst some truly creepy crawly creatures. Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for my advanced ebook!
August 8, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! Imagine Alien and House on Haunted Hill mixed together for middle grade readers. It was funny, spooky, original, and oh so fun.
The book starts, and we meet Halle. Her ultimate dream is to become a scream queen. So she spent a lot of time in front of the mirror, and you guessed it, practicing her screams. Her mom has a flower shop, and she won't be able to make a delivery to the secluded Price Manor. Immediately, Halle volunteers, only because one of her favorite horror directors lives there. Once she's there, spooky and weird people start acting funny. She'll also meet Paisley and Argyle, a mysterious bother and sister who will work together to uncover a mysterious menacing entity. This was truly perfect, young, and not so young readers will adore this story. It had such a Vincent Price vibes and the author is my new middle-grade hero.
The book starts, and we meet Halle. Her ultimate dream is to become a scream queen. So she spent a lot of time in front of the mirror, and you guessed it, practicing her screams. Her mom has a flower shop, and she won't be able to make a delivery to the secluded Price Manor. Immediately, Halle volunteers, only because one of her favorite horror directors lives there. Once she's there, spooky and weird people start acting funny. She'll also meet Paisley and Argyle, a mysterious bother and sister who will work together to uncover a mysterious menacing entity. This was truly perfect, young, and not so young readers will adore this story. It had such a Vincent Price vibes and the author is my new middle-grade hero.
October 27, 2023
Very enjoyable chapter book with humor and suspense. Empowered children work to save themselves, the adults, and even the whole town from unexpected alien-like creatures. Two of the children have been isolated and insulated from the real world and the third was just visiting to deliver flowers. Together they teach each other lessons and exhibit courage and ingenuity to solve the problems they face.
Quick paced, action packed, funny and heart-warming characters. Chapters shift among the perspectives of all 3 children. Definitely one I'd recommend to kids who want something slightly creepy but not scary.
Quick paced, action packed, funny and heart-warming characters. Chapters shift among the perspectives of all 3 children. Definitely one I'd recommend to kids who want something slightly creepy but not scary.
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