Ghost Attack

Lubar (the Weenies series) takes a page from the Goosebumps playbook in a series opener that mixes laughs and light chills. During a visit to his grandparents’ house, allergy-prone fraidy cat Alex starts breaking out in an unusual (and unusually itchy) rash, then discovers the culprit: a ghost. Using the rash to track (and communicate with!) the ghost, Alex and sister Sarah try to uncover why he’s hanging around. West’s b&w spot illustrations amplify the lightly creepy mood, but it’s Lubar’s sharp humor (“If mice make you scream, you’re going to lose your voice this week,” Grandma cracks) that will have readers looking for the next book. Ages 7–10. Illustrator’s agency: Astound. (June)