School of Fear
Grade 4–6—"Large glass lanterns [hung] from rusted old chains." Descriptions like this one set the scene for a secret, yet elite school for eradicating children's fears. Four 12-year-olds are sent there with the hope that they'll overcome fears of bugs, confined spaces, water, and death. When they arrive, they discover that they are the only students in a school run by a seemingly crazy ex-beauty queen. Forced to learn waving and proper pageant smiling for hours on end, the students wonder if they'll ever escape. Of course, they must face their fears in order to get away and bring back help for a servant. The school isn't what it seems, and the villains aren't who they appear to be. The story is hilarious for its over-the-top gloominess. Each chapter begins with the definition of a type of fear, e.g., arachibutyrophobia (the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth). Suggest this one to fans of Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (HarperCollins).—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.