Illustrations – Eugene Smith
Things are getting stranger at Lovecraft Middle School. Sarah and Sylvia, the twins who mysteriously disappeared in the first book, are back but there’s something not quite right about them. Not that that’s going to stop me from casting my vote for Sarah for student council president. Cupcake Friday will always have my vote.
Robert has gone from having no friends to three, four if you count Pip and Squeak as two. He might still need help opening jars of spaghetti but that’s not stopping him from taking on a threat I’m sure he can’t even fully comprehend yet.
In between the campaigning and figuring out who they can trust, the kids have a Halloween dance to get ready for. The boys aren’t sure what they’re going to wear but Karina can always dress as herself. Sort of.
I was a bit puzzled that Robert’s mother, a nurse, wasn’t comfortable discussing puberty with him. She really disappointed me, especially when she came up with this clanger.
“I just wish you had a father to answer your personal questions”
Come on, Mrs Arthur! You can do better than that!
I also wasn’t a fan of Howard’s disability making up almost the entirety of his character for much of the book.
I wonder if the fact that this book was published in 2013 can account for both of these. Maybe if this was written now, the disability representation would be significantly different and Mrs Arthur wouldn’t be shying away from talking to her son about puberty.
When Robert and Glenn were debating whether to look inside Tillinghast Mansion for another gate, I wondered why they didn’t just ask Karina where one was.
“I know my way around.”
Maybe it’s not so bad at Lovecraft Middle School, though. You know what day of the week it is by checking the colour of Mr Loomis’ sweater vest and the librarian makes house calls.
I’m beginning to really look forward to Eugene Smith’s illustrations as I’m reading. The creatures in particular are a lot of fun to see.
I’m pretty sure I’d brave Tillinghast Mansion just so I could see the tapestries. You may want to bring some lemonade with you into this read.
“Just remember, its beak is worse than its bite.”
This book contains huge spoilers for the first one so if you’re planning to attend Lovecraft Middle School, be sure to enrol on the first day.
Once Upon a Blurb
This second novel in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series begins right where Professor Gargoyle ended. Seventh-grader Robert Arthur has discovered that two of his classmates are actually sinister snake-women in disguise. Even worse, his new middle school is full of “gates” to a terrifying alternate dimension – a haunted mansion full of strange spirits and monstrous beasts. For Robert to protect his teachers and classmates, he’ll need to return to this haunted dimension with his best friends Glenn and Karina. Can they uncover the secrets of Lovecraft Middle School before it’s too late?
The Slither Sisters features more bizarre beasts, more strange mysteries, and more adventure. It’s perfect for readers ages 10 and up. Best of all, the cover features a state-of-the-art “morphing” photo portrait – so you can personally witness the sisters transforming into their slithering alter egos. You won’t believe your eyes!
Schizanthus Nerd 