cover image Samantha Slade #01: Monster-Sitter

Samantha Slade #01: Monster-Sitter

Susan Smith. Archway Paperbacks, $2.5 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-671-63713-2

The first book in the Samantha Slade series begins slowly, as Sam lands her most lucrative babysitting job ever$6 an hourfor the strangest children ever. Lupi, the girl, is a little hairy, and turns into a werewolf once or twice in the course of the story. Her brother Drake has mad scientist tendencies and their small cousin Kimmie is telekinetic. The plot involves Samantha and her friend Iris's creation of a school fund-raiser, a haunted house. Thanks to the children, it's a scary success. The book has all the gross and horrible ingredients necessary to fascinate kids, but as a story, it's as limp as worms. Nothing happens beyond special effects, and readers may hope that Samantha learns to stifle her endless screams before the next book in the series. Ages 10-up. (October)