Review by Booklist Review
Siblings Tim and Martha both love sounds: Tim loves collecting them on his tape recorder and Martha loves making scary music. Lonely in their new neighborhood, Martha is ready to give up on her music, sure she'll never find anyone who will like it--or her. Determined to help, Tim sets out with his cat Frankie to find the perfect spooky sounds to inspire Martha to finish her song. But even the local haunted house is silent. While Tim sulks, Frankie convinces the two resident ghosts to (loudly) haunt the house so Tim can get the sounds he needs to help his sister. Using short sentences, easy sight words, and a limited number of easy-to-follow panels, this graphic novel will work well for most new readers who are ready to level up. The illustrations are more detailed than those usually found in easy readers, and the images of Frankie talking with the ghosts are delightful. For readers looking for a spooky story that's not at all scary, this book sounds about right.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Accompanied by orange cat Frankie, young Tim relishes recording the sounds of his new neighborhood--chirping birds, croaking frogs, and an engine's "PUTTPUTTPUTT." But older sister Martha is languishing in the unfamiliar surroundings--she feels friendless, lacks energy to make the "creepy" songs that are her creative passion, and takes face-down naps. Tim stumbles into a solution upon following Frankie into a seemingly abandoned mansion. After encountering two spectral residents, the cat communicates Martha's plight via a dramatic display of feline charades. In sympathy, the skeletal inhabitants conjure up a cacophonous symphony of sounds: a spatula flies through the air with a "FWWSH," bathroom bubbles go "BLUB," chess pieces "CLACK," and in a bravura spread, Sears (the Double+ Adventures series) shows the living room as a swirl of animated objects emitting sounds. When the bounty of eerie recorded sounds shakes Martha out of her funk and into bonding with Tim, she even suggests a visit back to the source. Ghostly shenanigans take center stage in this graphic novel, illustrated in the creator's signature thin-lined layers, which also offers an intriguing picture of a sibling relationship--low-key in its expression but deep in its connection. Ages 5--7. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2--Tim is eager to help out his sister Martha, who likes to make scary tunes, when she feels isolated and no longer wants to play music. In a search for unique sounds for Martha to sample and mix, Tim stumbles into the town's haunted house. At first, he hears nothing but silence, but Tim's cat is able to persuade two friendly ghosts to liven up the place and make as many spooky sounds as possible. As Tim explores each room, readers are treated with an appreciation of sounds, complete with onomatopoetic words with thick typeface. Sears's accompanying chunky cartoon style makes the piece very gentle and fun, which pairs well with the softer tone. The simpler word choice also makes this perfect for young kiddos who want a "scary story," but need something a little tamer before jumping into the deep end. VERDICT A pleasant and scary-but-not-too-scary addition.--Peter Blenski
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Review by Horn Book Review
This story combines apprehension about moving to a new town, the determination of one sibling to help another, the spine-tingling fear of a haunted house, and the cunning of a resolute cat -- all in one brief, absorbing graphic novel. While Tim enjoys exploring his new town with his faithful cat, Frankie, his older sister, Martha, is having a harder time adjusting. Once immersed in producing original scary music, now Martha can't seem to regain her groove or make any new friends. Determined to help her enter a talent show (and hopefully find some pals), Tim and Frankie embark on a quest to record the creepiest sounds imaginable to give Martha some musical inspiration. But when they find an old, seemingly abandoned house, it's as silent as a crypt. Just as Tim is about to call it quits, Frankie makes an amazing discovery that leads to the spookiest sounds Tim can imagine. The cartooning is fast paced and easy to follow, with just enough text bubbles to establish context and communicate the hilarious and all-knowing motivations of Frankie (who steals the show). The use of bright colors on every page and in many panels' onomatopoeia (to express the spooky sounds) makes the "scary" parts still whimsical and entertaining. Plus, readers will love being let in on the big secret of the story, known only to them and Frankie. Lindsay BayerSeptember/October 2024 p.87 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A boy goes in search of spooky noises and finds them. Tim loves walking around the neighborhood with his leashed cat, Frankie, collecting sounds on his portable recorder and microphone. When asked to listen in, older sister Martha declines, since she's feeling down. Tim encourages her to recommit to a "creepy" song she's been working on, but it's missing something. To help, Tim goes in search of some matching sounds. Frankie jumps the fence around a seemingly abandoned old house, forcing Tim to follow. At first, the site is eerily quiet. Then Frankie implores the two skeletal residents to aid in making some "scary sounds," so Tim (who can't see the specters) can record a whole plethora of auditory shenanigans. There are no macabre vibes here, just some supernatural fun. The intentionally simple text leads to a few clunky dialogue scenes and some basic plot contrivances, but the overall story is entertainingly quaint. The art is reminiscent of classic newspaper comic strips--think hand-drawn lines, squat characters with round heads, and flat, layered colors--and will induce nostalgia in adult readers. Scenic details populate many panels, while the many onomatopoeias likewise establish a playful setting. Tim and Martha are both light-skinned. A solid, spooky tale, with vintage-quality illustrations. (Graphic easy reader. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
