Professor Gargoyle

The Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series launches with a story that pays tribute to the tentacled horrors from the imagination of H.P. Lovecraft. Seventh-grader Robert Arthur (nods to Heinlein and Clarke, perhaps?) is part of the first class to attend state-of-the-art Lovecraft Middle School; unfortunately for Robert, the only kid he knows is a bully from his old school, Glenn Torkells. It’s soon apparent that things at Lovecraft are not what they seem: a plague of rats freaks out the student body on the first day, and Robert discovers a mysterious attic in the school’s expansive library. When students start to disappear, Robert, Glenn, and Robert’s new friend Karina try to figure out what’s going on and what it has to do with surly science teacher Professor Garfield Goyle (the book’s eye-catching lenticular cover shows Goyle morphing from bearded teacher to red demon). Smith’s occasional b&w spot illustrations contribute to the otherworldly atmosphere; fans of Goosebumps and other lightly creepy fare will look forward to spending more time with a series that even manages to find the dark side of recycling. Ages 9–up. (Sept.)