![Picture](/uploads/5/5/9/4/55948695/2813297.jpg?217)
Eerie Elementary: The School is Alive!, by Jack Chabert, illustrated by Sam Ricks, 2014, New York, NY: Scholastic. 96 pages. ISBN: 978-0545623926.
Series: Eerie Elementary Series
Age/Interest Level: 6-8 years
Lexile Level: 460L
Awards: N/A
Reader Annotation: Sam does not want to be hall monitor of Eerie Elementary. However, when odd things begin happening, he discovers he’s the only one that can save the students from a school which might be alive.
Plot Summary: Sam Graves is less than thrilled to be chosen as the newest hall monitor of Eerie Elementary. He definitely does not want to wear the orange sash. Fortunately, his best friends, Antonio and Lucy, offer to help him out. However, they can’t always be around, and Sam begins having strange experiences when he’s alone, including almost being swallowed by quicksand on the playground. Mr. Nekobi, the groundskeeper and original hall monitor, explains that it’s the duty of the hall monitor to protect the students from the school, which happens to be alive. Sam spends his time training with Mr. Nekobi and learning the ways of the school. Antonio and Lucy may or may not believe Sam’s theory, but he will stop at nothing to protect the students of Eerie Elementary from whatever the school is plotting.
Critical Evaluation: This is a genuinely spooky work with an appealing premise. While it’s high on action sequences, Chabert molds Sam into a fully realized character who genuinely cares about his friends and the students around him. It’s an exploration of taking on what oftentimes is a thankless role, but which the individual knows is necessary and important. These concepts are highlighted by superb illustrations, and Sam Ricks makes the most of black and white illustrations which seem to be grappling to take over the text and book. It adds an eerie effect, letting the reader know there’s always a hint of danger hidden within the school.
Why Included: This is a strong work, particularly for some more reluctant readers. It has strong action sequences, but these are punctuated by scenes of character growth. Sam is a delightful main character whose story is completed within this one work, but the series does continue, allowing readers to explore future adventures. The illustrations are incredibly unique to this chapter book and their extensive use bridges picture books over to chapter books.
Series: Eerie Elementary Series
Age/Interest Level: 6-8 years
Lexile Level: 460L
Awards: N/A
Reader Annotation: Sam does not want to be hall monitor of Eerie Elementary. However, when odd things begin happening, he discovers he’s the only one that can save the students from a school which might be alive.
Plot Summary: Sam Graves is less than thrilled to be chosen as the newest hall monitor of Eerie Elementary. He definitely does not want to wear the orange sash. Fortunately, his best friends, Antonio and Lucy, offer to help him out. However, they can’t always be around, and Sam begins having strange experiences when he’s alone, including almost being swallowed by quicksand on the playground. Mr. Nekobi, the groundskeeper and original hall monitor, explains that it’s the duty of the hall monitor to protect the students from the school, which happens to be alive. Sam spends his time training with Mr. Nekobi and learning the ways of the school. Antonio and Lucy may or may not believe Sam’s theory, but he will stop at nothing to protect the students of Eerie Elementary from whatever the school is plotting.
Critical Evaluation: This is a genuinely spooky work with an appealing premise. While it’s high on action sequences, Chabert molds Sam into a fully realized character who genuinely cares about his friends and the students around him. It’s an exploration of taking on what oftentimes is a thankless role, but which the individual knows is necessary and important. These concepts are highlighted by superb illustrations, and Sam Ricks makes the most of black and white illustrations which seem to be grappling to take over the text and book. It adds an eerie effect, letting the reader know there’s always a hint of danger hidden within the school.
Why Included: This is a strong work, particularly for some more reluctant readers. It has strong action sequences, but these are punctuated by scenes of character growth. Sam is a delightful main character whose story is completed within this one work, but the series does continue, allowing readers to explore future adventures. The illustrations are incredibly unique to this chapter book and their extensive use bridges picture books over to chapter books.