About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their middle-grader is expressing an interest in darker, spookier themes but still needs a safe, structured environment to explore those fears. It is an ideal bridge for a child who wants to feel grown-up through scary stories without encountering adult themes or truly traumatizing content. The story follows a young protagonist, Shep, whose family is haunted by the infamous ventriloquist dummy, Slappy. Through a mix of slapstick humor and supernatural peril, the book explores themes of bravery and resilience. Parents will appreciate the way R.L. Stine uses the uncanny nature of the ghost to validate a child's intuition that something is wrong, while ultimately empowering the child to take action against their fears. It is a fast-paced, entertaining read that uses a classic horror trope to build a child's confidence in handling spooky situations.
