Peril at Price Manor

In this good-humored romp, horror film mega fan Halle Thompson, 12, leaps at the chance to deliver flowers to the lavish home of Maximus Price, creator of one of her favorite movies, The Manic Marmoset Invasion. Meanwhile, on the morning before their 13th birthday, Price’s twin children Argyle and Paisley abruptly awaken to find their usually orderly estate in shambles. Upon investigation, they discover that the heads of the mansion’s adult caretakers have become encased in slimy, squidlike creatures; these appear to be controlling the adults, and they spontaneously replicate when they sense a new host. Initially believing their trickster father was pulling a prank, the twins are ill-prepared to handle the mayhem, until they meet Halle, who teaches them the rules for surviving “Dire Circumstances” (“Number one rule: Avoid Peril at All Costs”). By combining Argyle’s vast knowledge of animal behaviors, Paisley’s acrobatic prowess, and Halle’s expertise on all things horror, the trio works together to defeat the multiplying invaders. Debut author Parnum keeps the scares gentle but gooey via lively prose that conveys a vibrant setting. Quick-moving chapters and alternating perspectives that showcase the characters’ dawning agency make for a propulsive creature feature. Characters default to white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kaitlyn Johnson, Belcastro Agency. (Aug.)