Welcome to scare school

This frightfully fun book by Lerner (the Nat the Cat series) collects all the paranormal creatures of the night into a boarding school setting. Quivering with dread, Bash, an insecure young ghost, enters Scare School, fearful that he will fail the classes meant to test his ghostly skills, including flying, invisibility, and intangibility. Bash isn't as proficient as his talented older sister Bella, and worries he'll be doomed to haunt small-time locations like closets or dresser drawers as a result. He's surprised to discover he (mostly) enjoys Scare School: the headless headmaster is kind and his roommate, Itsy Spider, is his first real friend. Still, the classes are just as difficult--and the teachers are just as fearsome--as Bash anticipated. Even with amateur hypnotist Itsy as his study buddy, Bash struggles. But while he fumbles his attempt to use his powers to rescue Itsy from bullies, Bash's actions provide a distraction that allows Itsy to scurry to safety. Via Bash's "TOTALLY PRIVATE" journal entries, Lerner utilizes howling humor and occasional b&w comics to depict timid Bash, who--with help from his new friends and an unexpected source--faces his fears and (mostly) succeeds. Ages 5--8. (July)

A young ghost arrives at Scare School. Unlike big sister Bella, late bloomer Bash has never been good at "all the GHOST STUFF." Dad's sure that Scare School is just what Bash needs. Bash isn't so certain; he's intimidated by his classmates and teachers. But he perks up when he meets his roommate, Itsy, a smart, welcoming spider, though he vows to steer clear of mean-spirited Vlad and Vicky. Still, the dreaded Creature Aptitude Test worries Bash. To pass, he must pass through solid objects and turn himself invisible--skills he struggles with. Bash doesn't want to be kicked out of school, so he'll have to buckle down. With Itsy's help and encouragement from his classmates, Bash realizes he's more capable than he thought. Written in first person from endearingly anxious Bash's point of view, the book has a diarylike feel. The text is presented in a handwritten font, while grayscale cartoon illustrations are peppered throughout. The supportive, sincere friendship between Bash and Itsy is the most compelling part of the story. Letters between Bash and Bella shed further light on Bash's personality and their relationship. Though the book's takeaway--believe in yourself, and you can do anything--is a familiar one, it's just what many children need…and who better to deliver the message than an adorably nervous ghost? Approachable and comfortably predictable. (Fiction. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

For all of the fearless school librarians     PRIVATE     Do NOT turn another page...     ...OR ELSE!     MY SCHEDULE     Student: Bash (ghost)     Homeroom: Graves     Period       Class       1     Introduction to Scare Tactics with Ms. Graves     2     Cackles, Laughs, and other     3     Human Behavior with Headmaster Dave     4     Lunch with Captain Loosebeard     5     Advanced Creeping and Crawling with Prof. Snekk     6     Philosophy of Fear with Ms. Scully     7     Creature Intensive with Mr. Crane     Sunday     Tomorrow is my first day at Scare School. Dad's dropping me off in the morning. And since this is my TOTALLY PRIVATE notebook that no one else is going to read EVER, I guess I can say...   I'm kind of SCARED.       Which is kinda silly, I know. kids go to Scare School to learn how to BE SCARY, not to BE SCARED.   But I can't help it. I've just never been very good at all the GHOST STUFF.           Dad says I'm just a late bloomer. He says I'll learn my skills in no time, and that being at Scare School will help. He says the teachers there are the best of the best, and that soon enough I'll be as scary a ghost as any. He also keeps talking about how I'm going to make SO MANY friends....       But I'm not so sure about all that. And maybe the friend thing especially. I haven't spent much time around creatures my own age. And every time I have? Well, let's just say it never goes well.       Dad also keeps bringing up my sister.   "Bella went to Scare School," he says. "She loved it!"   And yeah, I know. But that's because Bella is Bella.       Bella was passing through brick walls as a baby. She could go invisible for a whole day by the time she was four. (She used to do it all the time when she didn't want to play with me.) Sometimes I think Bella was born with so much talent, there was none left over for ME.       Another thing I'm kind of worried about is that I'm going to have a ROOMMATE. That means I have to share a bedroom with somebody else FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE YEAR! AND I DON'T EVEN GET TO PICK WHO IT'S GOING TO BE!                 But I have one more night here at home with Dad. So for now, I'm just going to focus on that.   Last dinner at home with Dad (we are all my favorite things)         (I just realized all my favorite foods start with the letter p....)     Excerpted from Welcome to Scare School by Jarrett Lerner All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.