Jennifer Killick is one of the most amazing authors of funny books (see her Alex Sparrow series or Mo, Lottie and the Junkers) so I was more than a little intrigued when I heard that her next book was going to be scary. Maybe even – a horror! Would she keep her trademark humour or play it strictly for scares?

Lance and his mates are off on their Year 6 residential trip to Crater Lake. Although Lance hasn’t had the easiest time at school, partly due to an underlying health issue which makes him ‘different’, and partly down to the fact that his teacher, Miss Hoche, seems to hate him, he’s hoping that the trip might be fun.

However, their welcome by the mysterious, babbling blood-stained man who tries to stop their coach is not quite what anyone was expecting. Neither was the cross-country hike to the centre carrying their luggage. Or the lack of staff to greet them. And their tea of tomato soup certainly didn’t hit the mark!

Things take a definite turn for the worse when night falls and those who are awake and eating sweets soon realise that something very strange and very disturbing is happening to their classmates whilst they sleep. And when they wake up, they’re something quite different indeed.

Will Lance and the gang survive the night? Will they find a way to rescue their friends and escape? And when will they get something decent to eat?

A fast-paced, creepy middle grade read with lashings of street-cred and big, big laughs. I would highly recommend this for any reader who has love the Goosebumps or Point Horror series and is looking for a slightly more sophisticated read.

If you’re on Twitter, search for #FunnyBookChat to read Jennifer talking about the creation of Crater Lake and tardigrades!

Library Girl.

*Thank you to Firefly Press for sending me this title to review*